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

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:

CHAMPIONS

• WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Big Van Vader
• NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Barry Windham
• WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Vacant
• WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
• WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Hollywood Blonds (“Stunning” Steve Austin & “Flyin” Brian Pillman)

LINEUP

• Paul Orndorff [c] vs. Ron Simmons for the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP [RECAP]
• 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell vs. Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce [RECAP]
• Erik Watts vs. Lord Steven Regal [RECAP]
• Johnny B. Badd vs. Maxx Payne [RECAP]
• The Hollywood Blonds [c] vs. The Horsemen for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP [RECAP]
• IRON MAN CHALLENGE: Dustin Rhodes vs. Rick Rude for the vacant WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP [RECAP]
• Barry Windham [c] vs. Ric Flair for the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP [RECAP]
• Sting & Davey Boy Smith vs. Big Van Vader & Sid Vicious [RECAP]

RESULTS & RATINGS

SHOW RECAP

FINAL THOUGHTS

*****

–Eric Bischoff and Missy Hyatt hype tonight’s show on the fake beach set up in the entrance area. Bischoff has his shirt tucked into his shorts like a NERD. They take it to Schiavone at ringside, who is without his broadcast partner. Ventura is found at the tiki bar on the entrance stage, Schiavone reminds him he’s got a job to do and he marches to the ring with four beautiful ladies on his arms as only “The Body” can pull off. 

–

“Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff [c] vs. “The All-American” Ron Simmons for the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP

In addition to the usual pinfall and submission, it’s announced that if Orndorff gets himself DQed he will LOSE the World Television Championship. Sounds like somebody’s been a stinker in the weeks leading up to this one, CLASSIC ORNDORFF. 

Orndorff gets distracted with “PAULA” chants and pendants in the crowd, Simmons clocks him with a right and tears his robe off. Back in the ring Simmons belts Orndorff with a back elbow followed by a dropkick for the 1..2…Orndorff kicks out and QUICKLY rolls to the floor to break the momentum. Orndorff misses an elbowdrop, Simmons goes to work on the left arm with clubbing forearms and headbutts. Orndorff breaks a hammerlock with a back elbow, Simmons dodges him in the corner and slows it back down with an armbar. Orndorff ducks a clothesline and jumps on Simmons’ back with a sleeper. Simmons almost escapes, Orndorff sends him into the corner and connects with a belly-to-back suplex perfectly executed. Orndorff hurts his leg after missing a top rope splash, giving Simmons another limb to weaken. Orndorff pulls Simmons to the floor and rams him into the commentators’ TV monitor followed up by a series of stiff shots to the sternum. Back in the ring Orndorff traps Simmons in a chinlock, his knee digging into the spine. Simmons escapes, Orndorff brings him back to the canvas with a kneelift and applies a front facelock. Simmons escapes with corner jabs but gets caught charging with a boot from Orndorff, who follows up by driving his head into the canvas for the 1…2…Simmons kicks out, Orndorff goes back to the chinlock.

Simmons escapes and connects with a powerslam for the 1…2…Orndorff kicks out, interrupting Ventura’s bullying of Schiavone’s sunscreen-covered nose. Simmons with a sunset flip for the 1…2…Orndorff escapes once again. Orndorff tries a dropkick, either missing or Simmons no-selling, the camera wasn’t in place. Simmons runs Orndorff over with a clothesline and follows with a back elbow for the 1…2…Orndorff kicks out, Simmons immediately connects with a suplex for the 1…2…Orndorff drapes his arm over the bottom rope. Orndorff with a thumb to the eye, Simmons blocks the Piledriver and backdrops him over the top rope, forcing the ref to call for the bell! Simmons ignores it and keeps going, hitting a Flying Shoulderblock and covering but the ref doesn’t make the count. Womp.

Paul Orndorff [c] defeated Ron Simmons via DQ to retain the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (11:15)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Perfectly Acceptable Wrestling to open the show, nothing too exciting but the crowd was real into it, especially digging into Orndorff with those Paula chants/pendants. I also appreciate the match being built around Orndorff being DQ prone only for Simmons to f*ck himself over and get DQed himself. (*3/4)

Simmons, ever the good sport, attacks Orndorff after the bell and poses with the TV Title despite not having won it. 

[BACK TO TOP]

–

2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell vs. Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce

If you were a WWF New Generation kid growing up then you likely remember Slazenger & Pierce better as Henry O. & Phineas Godwinn. Here though they’re rough and tumble Texas outlaws, Pierce (Henry O.) under a hood. Scorpio & Bagwell have been teaming throughout 1993 to no real direction, other than WCW asking Scorpio to do the impossible and make Bagwell seem cool. Someone in the crowd has a sign that simply says “Texas”. Lots of thought and care put into that one.

Pierce shows some power to start, backing Bagwell into the corner and yelling “TEXAS” because he’s a Texas outlaw, you see. Bagwell responds by yelling “BILOXI” for the cheap pop and they lock up again. Bagwell ducks a clothesline and catches Pierce with a crossbody, Slazenger runs in but gets sent to the apron. The four brawl on the ramp, Scorpio & Bagwell toss their opponents back in but they quickly scurry to the floor to reset. Slazenger tags in and goads Scorpio into making the tag. Scorpio obliges and does a little dance that backs Slazenger into the corner for some reason. Slazenger drops Scorpio with a shoulder tackle and a backdrop that sends him so far Scorpio’s legs get caught up on the top rope. That could’ve ended way worse. Scorpio comes off the middle buckle with a crossbody followed by a dropkick and an armdrag takedown. Bagwell tags in, they connect with a double hip toss and he covers for the 1…2…Slazenger kicks out. Pierce tags in, Bagwell takes him to the canvas with a drop toehold and grabs an armbar. Pierce runs over Bagwell, Bagwell makes him run with dropdowns and leapfrogs before connecting with a hip toss into another armdrag takedown. Slazenger tags in and sends Bagwell into the ropes, Pierce kicking him in the back to give their team the advantage. Slazenger connects with an armbreaker into a hammerlock, dropping a knee right to the elbow. Bagwell surprises Slazenger with a sunset flip for the 1…2…Tex kicks out and connects with a clothesline for the 1…2…Scorpio makes the save. Pierce tags in and connects with a knee to the arm, covering for the 1…2…not yet. Pierce taunts Scorpio into the ring, Slazenger further hurting Bagwell’s arm over the top rope, Pierce trapping him in a chinlock. Bagwell escapes, Pierce catches him with a kick and connects with a gutwrench powerbomb for the 1…2..Scorpio makes the save once again. 

Bagwell almost fights out of an armbar, Pierce takes him down with a drop toehold and tags Pierce back in. Pierce misses an elbowdrop, Slazenger quickly tags in and connects with a forearm to the back of the head to stop the tag attempt. Slazenger connects with a shoulderbreaker, Pierce with an elbowdrop and arrogant cover for the 1…2…Bagwell kicks out. Bagwell dodges Pierce in the corner and crawls through his legs to make the hot tag to Scorpio! Scorpio clears Slazenger from the ring with a leaping kick then drops Pierce with a superkick and flying splash but Slazenger breaks it up before the count can even be made. Bagwell & Scorpio send Slazenger & Pierce into each other and clear Slazenger with a double dropkick. Bagwell hits Pierce with a back suplex, Scorpio follows up with the 450 Splash for the 1…2…3!

2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce via pinfall (12:46)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Longer than it needed to be but a good match nonetheless, probably the longest Slazenger/Pierce match from their WCW run. The Tag Team division in ‘93 WCW is one of my favorites of all-time, got a lot of depth and also randomness to it (Cole Twins, anybody?). Scorpio hitting that 450 Splash never gets old. (**)

[BACK TO TOP]

–

-Hyatt is standing by with the victorious Paul Orndorff and a man known as The Equalizer (aka Dave/Evad Sullivan). Orndorff says he’s the John Wayne of pro wrestling, a man who plays it straight down the middle every time. He wants Simmons fined and suspended for throwing him over the top rope. Orndorff calls The Equalizer his good friend who is going to help him get even with a lot of people, then makes fun of Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat for being an old man who has to color his hair or some sh*t, I don’t know. SO IT’S ORNDORFF’S FAULT WE END UP WITH THAT DAVE SULLIVAN RUN LATER ON.

–

Erik Watts vs. “Lord” Steven Regal [w/ Sir William]

Watts is the son of the legendary “Cowboy” Bill Watts and as such got the rocket strapped to him as a rookie when he was running WCW in 1992. Unfortunately it was readily apparent that Erik was in no way ready for the spot he was given and quickly gained the ire of the WCW fans despite supposedly being a white-meat babyface. Even as he makes his entrance for this match carrying USA flags no one gives a sh*t. Yikes. I believe this is Regal’s WCW PPV debut, having joined the company earlier in the year. At his side is Sir William, better known to Memphis wrestling fans as Bill Dundee. I remember being THROWN when I found out Sir William was not only a pro wrestler but a pretty famous and successful one. Still have never actually seen him wrestle though so he’s Sir William to me DAMMIT. Regal is awesome during his entrance, sneering in disgust and confusion at all the beach stuff. Fun fact: he was only 25 years old at the time of this match. He’s got that Arn in him.

Watts tries to lock up, Regal walks away, erm, regally to psyche him out. Regal grabs a wristlock, Watts counters with one of his own, Regal tries to go after the legs but Watts is much taller and can keep him at bay. Regal escapes via snapmare and grabs an armbar back into the wristlock. Watts kicks Regal away and connects with a backdrop, keeping hold of the wrist and transitioning into an armbar on the canvas. Regal nips up and counters, Watts bridges out of a pinfall attempt and rolls through a double wristlock to reverse the pressure. Regal traps the arms and legs and flips Watts into a sunset flip for the 1…2…Watts counters for the 1…2…and they reset. Real good exchange, good enough that Ventura gets mad at the crowd for not applauding. GET ‘EM, BODY. Watts goes back on the offensive, Regal counters a hammerlock with a backdrop, Watts counters back with a sunset flip roll-up for the 1…2…Regal kicks out and applies a toehold followed by a series of European uppercuts and forearms to the sternum. Regal pulls the kneepad down but MISSES the kneedrop, Watts goes after the hurt leg and applies the STF but SIR WILLIAM SLAPS HIM OVER THE REF’S BACK forcing Watts to break the hold. Watts confronts William, Regal rolls him up with a handful of tights for the 1…2…3.

Lord Steven Regal defeated Erik Watts via pinfall (7:31)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Just a great wrestling match full of smooth counters and transitions from Regal, with Watts more than holding up his end of the bargain FAR MORE than I expected him to. Came into this match making fun of Erik Watts, came out of this going “oh damn maybe he’s not as bad as I remember”. Probably a testament to how great Regal really was/is/forever will be. (***)

After a promo for Fall Brawl in September, the show cuts to ringside where Ventura is standing by with Regal & William. Regal says Watts was supposed to be an all-american athlete but didn’t break a sweat beating him (he is DRENCHED in sweat), and is on a mission from the Queen to take back the World Television Title, telling Paul Orndorff to watch out.

[BACK TO TOP]

–

-Bischoff shows footage of Maxx Payne shooting the Badd Blaster into Johnny B. Badd’s face to hype up the next match.

–

Johnny B. Badd vs. Maxx Payne

Payne made his way to WCW earlier in the year, challenging right away for the United States Championship at SuperBrawl III in a match that stunk the joint out. After that…mess, Payne moved onto a feud with Badd, stealing the Badd Blaster then giving it back the month prior by shooting it into Badd’s face, forcing the prettiest man in wrestling to wear a mask to hide the scarring. A grave sin committed by the heavy metal man (mountain rock) for sure.

Badd immediately attacks Payne, getting a two-count off a crossbody. Badd peppers Payne with jabs, Payne dodges a corner splash and Badd sends himself out to the floor. Payne starts softening Badd’s arm with a hammerlock slam and an armbar. Badd almost escapes, Payne stomps that out with a backbreaker for the 1…2…not yet. Payne snares Badd into the Payne Killer but Badd is too close to the ropes and forces a break almost immediately. Payne with a vertical suplex for the 1…2…Badd kicks out once again and Payne reapplies an armbar. Badd brings Payne over after a struggle with a sunset flip for the 1…2…Payne kicks out and catches Badd mid-air with a slam. Badd dodges the elbow and sends Payne to the floor with a dropkick, following up with a splash that the camera barely caught. Payne sends Badd into the post, Badd dodges and Payne also goes into the post, Badd rolls Payne back in and climbs the buckles; Payne stumbles around, Badd hops off the buckles then onto the middle buckle again for a flying crossbody and the 1…2…3.

Johnny B. Badd defeated Maxx Payne via pinfall (4:52)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: WCW learning from their SuperBrawl III mistake by keeping the Maxx Payne match short, good for them. Lots of brawling as expected, with Badd trying to wreck Payne’s face and Payne going after the arm, surprising finish that seemed like an accident. I wonder if he was gonna do the flying sunset flip until he changed his mind randomly. Either way not bad. (*3/4)

[BACK TO TOP]

–

-Schiavone & Ventura talk about what’s still to come tonight, Ventura visibly eating which is something I guess people used to get mad at him for. Let the dude have food, you nerds. Ventura keeps messing with Schiavone’s nose goop, Schiavone asks for someone to get the hook. 

–

The Hollywood Blonds (“Stunning” Steve Austin & “Flyin” Brian Pillman) [c] vs. The Four Horsemen (“The Enforcer” Arn Anderson & Paul Roma) for the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

The Horsemen reunited at Slamboree ‘93 back in May on an episode of A Flair for the Gold, with the newest member revealed to be former WWF stalwart “Pretty” Paul Roma. People did NOT seem to be into that but as a kid I just kinda went along with it, Power & Glory were awesome so why wouldn’t he join up with another awesome group in a new company? Austin & Pillman have been champs for most of 1993, making the best out of their “we have nothing for you” situation by becoming one of the greatest tag teams in WCW history. Not too shabby.

Bell rings and the Blonds immediately take a powder, Pillman jaw jacking with and getting in the face of a fan. Austin backs Roma into the corner and messes with his face to play some mind games before breaking. An unamused Roma backs Austin into the corner; Austin reverses and talks trash before breaking again. Roma drops Austin with a right, Austin rolls to the floor so Pillman can check the face, which obviously gets the homophobic crowd in Mississippi going. Pillman tags in and tells the ref to check Roma’s elbow pad, trying to grab an object of his own from his tights while the ref’s back is turned. It doesn’t work. Anderson tags in and drops Pillman with a back elbow, mocking Blonds’ camera taunt. Pillman floats over Anderson and connects with a hip toss. Anderson escapes a wristlock with a pull of the hair, Flyin’ Brian immediately snitching but the crowd backs Arn up on his innocence. Austin tags in, Anderson connects with an armdrag and shoulderblock, Austin responds with a high backdrop. Austin gets a series of nearfalls, Anderson sends him to the ramp with a forearm. Austin rolls back in and offers a handshake, Anderson takes the hand then clubs Austin down. Roma tags in with an armdrag and twist, keeping control of the wrist as the crowd goes…mild. Roma escapes a powerbomb and gets him over with a backslide for the 1…2…Austin kicks out and runs into an armdrag into the armbar. Roma ducks a clothesline but misses a crossbody and eats nothing but canvas. Pillman quickly tags in and lights Roma up in the corner with a pair of chops. Roma reverses a whip and places him on the buckles; Pillman leaps over and Roma catches him with a clothesline for the 1…2…not yet.

Anderson tags back in and keeps things in control with a wristlock. Pillman backs Anderson into the corner and connects with a chop, Anderson catches a float-over attempt and drops him throat-first across the top rope followed by a catapult into Roma’s fist. Anderson tries a whip but Pillman crumples to the canvas, calling for a time-out. Anderson tries again, Pillman collapses again. Pillman gets sent into the guardrail by Anderson, almost knocking him out but Pillman beats the count. Roma tags in and catches Pillman with a flying sunset flip for the 1…2…Austin breaks it up. Roma turns his back to Stunning Steve, Pillman sends him to the floor with a running knee. Pillman distracts the ref, Austin drops Roma across the guardrail. Pillman shows off some right butt check, choking Roma as he tries to get back into the ring. Austin tags in and connects with a gutwrench slam and does some push-ups, goading Roma to get back into the match. Roma starts to fight back, Pillman takes him back to the canvas with a drop toehold and holds him place so Austin can tag in and continue the offense. Roma catches Austin with a kick, Austin punches Anderson to prevent a tag. Roma connects with a buckle shot and comes off the top with a missile dropkick attempt but Pillman tries a dropkick of his own and they both hit NOTHING, commentary covering it up well.

Anderson gets the hot tag, sending Austin into the lights with a backdrop and planting Pillman with a DDT but the ref gets tied up with Roma and Austin hits Anderson in the back of the head, Pillman covering for the 1…2…Anderson kicks out. Austin tags in and comes off the top with a flying forearm drop for the 1…2…Anderson kicks out! Austin sends Anderson into Pillman’s boot, Pillman tags in and covers for the 1…2…Arn’s not done yet. Anderson fights back with left hands, Pillman rakes the eyes and stuns him with a headbutt. Austin tags in and tosses Anderson to the floor, Pillman rams his head into the guardrail while the ref’s back is turned. Hey so this match is taking awhile, huh? Anderson counters a floor piledriver with a backdrop, Austin clubs him as they both get back in the ring and covers for the 1…2…nope. Anderson fights out of the Blonds’ corner and goes for a DDT, Austin counters and hangs him out to dry across the top rope. Anderson counters an inverted atomic drop with a Stun Gun, Pillman tags in and clubs Roma to goad him in, Anderson rolls Pillman up but it takes the ref too long to get to the count and Pillman escapes. Anderson & Pillman knock heads and crash to the canvas. Austin gets the tag and plants Anderson with a belly-to-back suplex for the 1…2…Anderson kicks out. Anderson rolls to the apron and fights off Pillman, Austin tries a suplex but Anderson counters and tosses him to the floor! Anderson makes the crawl to Roma but Pillman gets the tag and clubs him from behind. Pillman counters a sidewalk slam with a headscissors, Pillman comes off the top but gets dropped with a forearm on the way down. 

Anderson revs up and rolls to the corner, getting the tag to Roma who throws both Blonds around like nothing. Roma clotheslines Pillman, Anderson tosses him to the floor. Austin ducks a clothesline, Anderson plants him with a spinebuster and Roma covers for the 1…2…Pillman makes the save! Roma rolls up Austin but the ref is distracted, Pillman clobbers Roma and Austin rolls him up, handful of tights, for the 1…2…3!

The Hollywood Blonds [c] defeated Arn Anderson & Paul Roma of the Four Horsemen to retain the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (26:14)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: A good match dampened by going an unnecessarily long 26 minutes. Still some good to be had, Blonds are an all-timer team and seeing Arn be the Ricky Morton of a babyface tag team is rare and fun, but GOOD GOD MAN keep it under 20 minutes, y’all. (**1/2)

[BACK TO TOP]

–

-Bischoff & Hyatt kill some time, Hyatt saying she hates Hollywood but LOVES the Hollywood Blonds. Me-ow. Bischoff asks Hyatt about the 30 Minute Iron Man Challenge, Hyatt calls two men for half an hour a DREAM. MEEEE-OOOOOW.

–

IRON MAN CHALLENGE
“The Natural” Dustin Rhodes vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude for the vacant WCW UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Rude was forced to vacate the U.S. Championship the prior year due to an injury, with Rhodes winning a tournament to become the new champion at the beginning of 93. Rude immediately targeted Rhodes to get his championship back, and the belt was vacated in May due to a double-pin where both men’s shoulders were on the mat. Now they meet in the Iron Man Challenge, the one with the most falls at the end of 30 minutes to be declared champion. Rude competed in an Iron Man Challenge at last year’s Beach Blast against Ricky Steamboat, so apparently the Ravishing One sees himself as the Iron Man of WCW. He does have a Tony Stark mustache so I guess he’s not totally wrong.

Rhodes & Rude lock up and spin around the ropes and corners, the ref forced to wedge himself in to force a separation. They lock up once more with a similar result, Rhodes & Rude yelling inaudibly at one another. Rude goes on the offensive with forearms to the kidneys and a boot rake. Rhodes connects with a backdrop, Rude bridging to sell the damage done to his spine. Rhodes continues to work on the spine, whipping him hard into the corners and applying a camel clutch-like chinlock. Rude eventually escapes and turns Rhodes inside out with a clothesline, following up with a top rope flying fist. Rude tries to gyrate but his back is in too much pain. Rude fights fire with fire, targeting Rhodes’ spine with forearms and applying a standing bearhug. Rhodes tries to elbow out, Rude turns it into a belly-to-belly suplex then applies a seated chinlock of his own. Rhodes stands and counters with an Electric Chair, hurting both men in the process, Rude counters a splash with a pair of knees and now no one is on the offensive as they hit the ten minute mark. Rhodes gets a burst of energy and goes after Rude’s leg, slamming it over the apron (hardest part of the ring, fyi) and applying a leglock, Rude trying to counter out with a chinlock. Rhodes briefly turns it into a toehold before switching into a Deathlock of sorts. Rude escapes and catches Rhodes with a kick followed by a backbreaker and the Rude Awakening for the 1…2…3! Rude:1 Rhodes: 0

Rude heads to the top and catches a stumbling Rhodes with a flying clothesline of sorts, covering for the 1…2…Rhodes gets the shoulder up and Ventura is FURIOUS at the ref stalling between counts. Rhodes rolls to the apron/ramp, Rude drops him across the top rope, catapulting Rhodes onto the ramp with an audible thud. Rhodes beats the count, Rude brings him to the canvas with a snapmare and wrenches in a rear chinlock. Rhodes escapes, Rude catches him in the corner with a knee to snuff out the momentum. Rude goes for a Tombstone, Rhodes counters and drives him into the canvas for the 1…2…RUDE KICKS OUT. No “shocked Undertaker eyes” from The Natural, though. Rude drops down, Rhodes sending himself out to the floor with his own momentum but once again he beats the count and Rude meets him with a snap suplex for the 1…2…Rhodes kicks out. Rhodes tries to fight back, Rude connects with another snap suplex for the 1…2…Rhodes kicks out once more. Rude takes too much time to showboat on the third and Rhodes counters with one of his own for the 1…2…Rude kicks out as ten minutes remain in the match. Rude bounces Rhodes’ head off the buckles and heads to the top once more for another flying fist. Rude tells Rhodes he ain’t sh*t, Schiavone awkwardly joking about the perils of live TV. Rude rakes Rhodes’ eyes across the top rope and applies another chinlock. Rhodes escapes, Rude applies a sleeperhold, humping the canvas to show how much pressure he’s putting on it. Rhodes gets to his feet and finally escapes with a jawbreaker, five minutes remaining. Rude connects with another thrust to under the jaw and sends him into the buckles. Rhodes wakes up with four minutes left connecting with a series of rights, Rude blinds him and Rhodes sends himself out to the floor. Rude toys with Rhodes, Rhodes catches him ducking with a BULLDOG for the 1…2…3! Rude: 1 Rhodes: 1

Rhodes heads to the top and connects with a flying Bionic Elbow for the 1…2…Rude kicks out. Two minutes remain as Rhodes hits the Piledriver for the 1…2…Rude gets his foot on the rope. Rhodes pummels Rude with right hands and connects with a slam and Bionic Elbow for the 1…2…Rude kicks out again and we’ve got one minute remaining! Rhodes levels Rude with a series of clotheslines and covers for the 1…2…Rude kicks out again! Rhodes traps Rude in a sleeper, Rude escapes with a jawbreaker and comes off the buckles, Rhodes drills him with a DDT but the bell rings! Ugh.

Dustin Rhodes & Rick Rude battled to a 1-1 draw; the WCW UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP remains vacant (30:00)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: You motherf*ckers spent 30 minutes boring me half to death and didn’t have the courtesy to come to a decisive finish? No. NO. HOW DARE. This was like watching paint dry and I never want to watch it again. (DUD)

[BACK TO TOP]

–

Barry Windham [c] vs. “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair for the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Windham and Flair’s history stretches back into the 80s, with Windham a charter member of The Four Horsemen. After years of trying he finally became the NWA World Heavyweight Champion at February’s SuperBrawl III, beating The Great Muta, but was chuffed when Flair, making his grand return to WCW, tried to put the belt around his waist. The animosity continued into June’s Clash of the Champions event where Windham cost Flair & Arn Anderson the World Tag Team Championship, and then on an episode of Worldwide where the two brawled all the way to the parking lot.

Flair lights Windham up with chops, Windham bounces out of the corner with a clothesline. Flair connects with more chops, forcing Windham to take a powder to quell the momentum. Windham drops Flair with a shoulderblock and rains down rights in a full mount followed by a corner whip that sends The Nature Boy crashing out to the floor. Windham suplexes Flair back in, Flair responds with chops and a corner clothesline. Flair grabs a sleeper, Windham sends him head-first into the buckles to break it and follows up with a Samoan Drop. Windham connects with a powerslam and arrogantly covers for the 1…2…not yet. Windham drills Flair with a lariat and takes too long to cover, giving Flair the chance to kick out. Windham argues with the ref, Flair drops him with a pair of rights and a jackknife cover for the 1…2…champ kicks out. Windham catches Flair with a headbutt in the midsection, Flair ducks a clothesline and hits a crossbody, sending Windham over the top and to the floor (ref dodged the bodies and missed that part). Flair follows him out and gets slammed on the floor for his troubles. Windham’s corner rights gets countered with an inverted atomic drop, Flair brings him back to the canvas with a snapmare followed by a pinpoint kneedrop as the Nature Boy is wont to do. Windham blocks a suplex and connects with the Superplex, but is too hurt to float over and make the cover.

Windham comes off the top and misses a flying elbowdrop, both men stunned and struggling on the canvas. Windham finally drapes an arm over for the 1…2…Flair kicks out. Flair surprises Windham with an inside cradle for a two-count, Flair comes off the top with a crossbody but Windham rolls through into the lateral press for the 1…2…Flair kicks out! Both men collide and hit the canvas so hard it sounds like a gunshot, Flair connects with a belly-to-back suplex and goes after the knee, Windham gets to the ropes to avoid a Figure Four attempt. Flair trips Windham, Windham kicks him away but gets kicked right in the knee and this time Flair locks in the Figure Four! Windham reaches for the ropes, shoulders down for the 1…2…3! I think? Match goes on for a few seconds longer and the ref calls for the bell so the match is over for real.

Ric Flair defeated Barry Windham [c] via pinfall to win the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (11:28)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: With this win Flair can now call himself a 10-time World Champion, building his legacy and record even more. The NWA Title being considered a WORLD Championship in 1993 is a little sus but we’ll let it slide. Match was back and forth the entire time, both men playing off the fact they know each other so well due to their history, and I enjoyed it. I especially love when Flair gets to work babyface and actually hit his top rope moves; there’s just some magic power to being a good guy that makes that spot successful I guess. The ending didn’t hit very well as it seemed like everybody was confused as to what was going on there for a moment but hey it is what it is. I too have never seen a Figure Four win a match via pinfall so I would’ve been confused too. (**1/2)

Ventura interviews the victorious Flair at ringside. Flair says he beat a GREAT champion in Barry Windham but now it’s time to style and profile because he’s back. Flair tells people to believe what they want but go to bed knowing there’s only one World Champion going today and it’s the Nature Boy. 

[BACK TO TOP]

–

-Cut to Bischoff & Hyatt to hype the main event. Hyatt is very confident that The Masters of the Powerbomb will stomp out Sting & Davey Boy Smith.

–

The WCW Superpowers (Sting & “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith) vs. The Masters of the Powerbomb (Big Van Vader & Sid Vicious) [w/ Harley Race & Col. Robert Parker]

Sid made his surprise return at Slamboree ‘93 under the management of Col. Robert Parker, and immediately linked up with Vader to try and stamp Sting & Davey Boy Smith out of existence (including straight up murder, as you saw in the movie earlier in this recap). Smith almost won the WCW World Championship back in May at Slamboree but won via DQ so Vader kept the title. 

Sid shoves Sting, Sting takes him to the canvas and connects with a series of rights. Sting follows up with a series of faceslams, Sid recovers quickly and stops the onslaught with a chokeslam. The Masters toss Sting & Smith out and celebrate, the Superpowers catch them with dual flying clotheslines to pop the crowd and send Sid & Vader scurrying in frustration. About f*cking time this crowd got into something, goddamn. Smith and Vader tag in, Vader beating Smith into the canvas with rapid jabs, Sid getting in a kick from the apron for the hell of it. Vader connects with a short-arm clothesline and headbutt, Smith escapes a suplex and LIFTS VADER UP INTO A DELAYED VERTICAL SUPLEX but can’t keep him down for the three. An angry Vader absolutely bodies Smith and follows with an elbow to the midsection, a small “VADER” chant audible in the crowd. They know what’s good. Sid tags in and connects with a big boot, applying a chinlock right in Sting’s face to taunt his foe. Vader tags in and bowls Smith over off the Irish whip and heatedly throws his headgear at Sting leading to a mini-brawl. Smith goes for a sunset flip and dodges a seated splash from Vader, Vader quickly recovers and drops an elbow right to the spine. Sid comes off the middle buckle with a double axhandle and slows things down with a…meh…nervehold. Smith escapes and connects with a slam, hurting his back in the process, Sid tags Vader to avoid getting pin. 

Race holds Smith, Smith dodges and Vader knocks him off the apron! Sting gets the hot tag and cleans house, leveling Vader with a dropkick and sending Sid back to the apron with a right hand. Sting dodges a splash but Sid hits him from behind and Vader drops him with a THICC clothesline. Sid tags in and boot chokes Sting in full view of the commentators, Ventura continuing to mock Schiavone’s orange nose. Vader tags back in and beats the f*ck out of Sting with a series of forearms and strikes, following up with a flying body from the middle buckle. Sting fights Vader off the buckles with a bite, the big man crashing to the canvas but can’t make the tag as Vader drops another elbow. Sid tags in and focuses on the ribs with a series of field goal kicks. 

Sting dodges an elbowdrop and makes the tag to Smith, who drops Sid with a shoulder tackle but then ends up running to a big boot to stop that comeback. Vader tags in and hits a Samoan Drop, covering for the 1…2…Smith kicks out, arguing with the ref who took forever to make the count. Vader measures Smith and connects with the Vader Bomb out of the corner and covers, but Sting makes the save! Sting slams Sid on the ramp, Vader hits a MOONSAULT for the 1…Sting flies back into the ring to make the save. Smith ducks a clothesline and muscles Vader over with a crucifix for the 1…2…3!

Sting & Davey Boy Smith defeated Big Van Vader & Sid Vicious via pinfall (16:41)

• JON’S THOUGHTS: Fun main event, with Sting making two awesome saves for his team and Smith getting the pin over Vader to prove that he deserves another World Title shot. Sid & Vader are a tag team I never knew I wanted but now wish I had more of, like the Sid & Stan Hansen team that existed for like one match back in 1991. (**3/4)

Vader throws stuff around near Schiavone & Ventura, who stand to close the show. 

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*****

RESULTS & RATINGS

• Paul Orndorff [c] defeated Ron Simmons via DQ to retain the WCW WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP (11:15) (*3/4)
• 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell defeated Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce via pinfall (12:46) (**)
• Lord Steven Regal defeated Erik Watts via pinfall (7:31) (***)
• Johnny B. Badd defeated Maxx Payne via pinfall (4:52) (*3/4)
• The Hollywood Blonds [c] defeated Arn Anderson & Paul Roma of the Four Horsemen to retain the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (26:14) (**1/2)
• IRON MAN CHALLENGE: Dustin Rhodes & Rick Rude battled to a 1-1 draw; the WCW UNITED STATES CHAMPIONSHIP remains vacant (30:00) (DUD)
• Ric Flair defeated Barry Windham [c] via pinfall to win the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (11:28) (**1/2)
• Sting & Davey Boy Smith defeated Big Van Vader & Sid Vicious via pinfall (16:41) (**3/4)

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FINAL THOUGHTS

WCW Beach Blast 1993 has its moments but ultimately is a forgettable show full of matches that either overstay their welcome or in the case of Rhodes vs. Rude completely stink the joint out. The main event closed the night in an entertaining way but it felt like it took forever to get there. 1993 WCW is a sentimental time for me as it was the year I fully embraced the company and added them to my PPV diet (my parents upset at having to pay for MORE wrestling stuff) but some of this stuff is NOT holding up. That’s disappointing, it’s almost like the stuff you enjoyed as a kid is stuff you no longer enjoy as an adult. CRAZY. Anyway I would not recommend this show to anybody, really.

• FAVORITE MATCH: Erik Watts vs. Lord Steven Regal (I KNOW RIGHT?)
• FAVORITE MOMENT: Regal’s reaction to the beach setup and the Biloxi crowd during his entrance. No man did snooty judgment better than Regal.

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