I’ve been doing this long enough to formulate theories. I’m not going to share them all right now because I’m really struggling to come up with some of these introductions and I may need them at a later date. One will suffice for today.
Every other year in wrestling is awesome.
Let’s work backwards quickly, shall we?
1993: Notoriously rough with cartoony characters and bad booking despite some bright spots.
1992: The final year of the WWF boom and WCW’s in-ring product is revolutionary.
1991: WCW in this year makes my case alone.
1990: Big, new stars are made and both products feel fresh
Going back to the 80s is where this starts to fall apart, so let’s settle on the decade of the 90s as the actual test subject. This is only our fourth show in 1994 and the first two didn’t set the world on fire. However, you will be hard pressed to find a better one-two combination of back-to-back shows than WrestleMania X and Spring Stampede 1994.
If the rest of the year breaks the pattern, it sure won’t be any fault of the men and women at MSG in March nor the ladies and gentlemen at the Rosemont Horizon in April.
Which show is better, though?
PAY PER VIEW NUMBER 72- WCW SPRING STAMPEDE 1994
Written on 7/11/21
THE FIRST THING YOU SEE: Simple clips recapping the show in an inset box while Western guitar plays. Brian Pillman takes a piledriver on the floor from Lord Steven Regal, The Great Muta is back and Rick Rude wears all black tights randomly. Even the non-title matches are recapped like the debut of Bunkhouse Buck. We got LIVE in Rosemont, Illinois. No wonder this show has the rep that it does because we are in my favorite wrestling building. Mean Gene sounds excited and has a different tone to his voice. Singing the National Anthem is AARON NEVILLE! The first jump in the WCW/WWF war! He is wearing a silk, leopard print tank top. It’s somehow better than his all denim attire from SummerSlam 1993. Is this the first instance of the target logo on the ring? His rendition never gets old for good and bad reasons. The crowd sounds dubbed while Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan preview the show. Jesse Ventura is joining them at some point, too. I knew he was still around for a little bit after Weasel’s debut.
-Johnny B. Badd enters with a serious disposition, but still carrying two Badd Blasters. He is also wearing one hell of a cowboy outfit. Tony calls the stuff from the Blasters “litter” and Heenan harps on him for it. The engines rev for DDP’s entrance alongside KIMBERLY PAGE as his Diamond Doll. Good God. Fuck it, here’s an MVP. I don’t know what’s up with this company and little black bag gimmick because Kimberly gives Bobby one and it apparently has diamonds in it. According to Bill Lawrence rules, if I drop a picture of Kimberly here, I have to drop a picture of Johnny B. Badd. Worth it. (Of course, I can’t find one from the actual show and I don’t want to be extra pervy and pick a random one, so here’s a promotional shot from 1994. Don’t worry, the picture of Marc Mero is from later in the show.
MATCH NUMBER ONE: Johnny B. Badd vs Diamond Dallas Page w/Kimberly
-The heel jumps Badd at the bell, but takes a clothesline over the top. After a recovery suplex, we settle into a rest hold.
-I love Chicago crowds. They react to all of the cool stuff like a backwards bridge and unique snapmare counter by Badd.
-DDP hits a series of impressive moves while the commentators bicker over his name.
-A smart mark in the crowd says “We Want Tammy and Chris.” I’ll be looking for more of those. Badd launches into a flurry including a KO punch to the floor and a dive over the top.
-Back on top and that might be the best execution of that move I’ve ever seen.
WINNER: Johnny B. Badd in 5:53 with a top rope sunset flip
FINAL WORD: As effective of a six-minute opener as you can ask for.
-Post replay, Bobby rabbit ears Tony and makes some body bag jokes. Mean Gene is with Ventura in a suit. He is definitely pissed about his demotion shilling the hotline, but gets off a good line about Gordon Solie not being around too much longer. They do a LONG bit about dirt and a steak dinner bet for the main event.
-Flyin’ Brian’s music and Hollywood Blonde gear just doesn’t gel with me. Michael Buffer introduces him as well as Steven Regal and his perpetually taped thigh. It’s like how Tony Danza is always named Tony in his roles, even if it’s a nickname like Taxi. Screw it, Taxi is our reference challenge.
MATCH NUMBER TWO: TV TITLE MATCH- Brian Pillman vs Lord Steven Regal w/Sir William (Champ)
-Match starts with a rare case of the babyface jumping at the bell with typically loud chops from Brian. Some unique, scrappy grappling follows and Regal eats a slap to the face. A Japanese arm drag makes Pillman our first real MVP.
-Something is wrong with Heenan’s headset, so it’s just noise as Brian owns Regal’s arm by slamming it into the rail and post. The noise at the booth is distracting and finally acknowledged by Tony.
-Awesome catch by Regal mid-air into an overhead suplex that gets great appreciation from the crowd. Nick Patrick ruins a near fall with his awful counting pattern while the clock is accurate so far.
-Regal shows his technical prowess with the Regal Stretch and a modified crossbow.
-His Lordship saves a botch with the Regal Roll and Patrick is the LVP once again with a delayed two count.
-The crowd gets temporarily distracted while Pillman is trapped in another submission. He fights off, but gets trapped in a half crab. The five-minute warning gets boos.
-These two are great at trading blows. Two minutes left after several double downs and stalling spots. Regal keeps getting caught with kicks.
-The countdown begins and Bobby helps, but both men tumble over the top rope with a few seconds to go. The timing is very odd. Brian hits William and suplexes Regal in as time expires.
WINNER: Time Limit Draw at 15:00
-Both men leave post haste. The pace and scheduling of this at the very end was particularly odd.
FINAL WORD: Those styles clashed in a way that largely worked.
Mean Gene interviews Col. Robert Parker and Bunkhouse Buck. Buck is mockingly called a fertilizer salesman while Parker cuts a sprawling, messy promo. He has a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist for some reason. Buck talks about his daddy and warbles on and on as well.
-It’s time for the Chicago Street Fight where falls count anywhere. The Nasty Boys walk out and are somehow dressed for a bigger fight than usual. This match is non-title. The crowd is obviously geeked up for this. The wanted poster match graphics are great. Cactus Jack wearing a SuperDad shirt walks out and his head is already wrapped. I’m going to try and keep up here.
MATCH NUMBER THREE: CHICAGO STREET FIGHT- The Nasty Boys vs Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne
-Chaos breaks out immediately. Knobbs tangles with Jack and Sags brawls with Payne. Pool cue shots seem to be of the working variety so far.
-An open chair shot to Maxx’s shoulder followed by a LOUD cracking shot to the head of Jack UNPROTECTED by Sags. This just feels real because it largely is.
-Bobby is great and not really telling any jokes here. Cactus’ fresh loss of ear is discussed constantly as the messy action continues. Payne and Knobbs fight over to the souvenir stand. Two camera capture both fights in a great touch.
-UNPROTECTED trash can shot to Maxx! UNPROTECTED open chair shot to Cactus in the crowd! UNPROTECTED chair shot to Sags! I hope Knobbs had UNPROTECTED sex on this night.
-Payne slams Knobbs through a table covered in merch and chokes him with a Nasty Boys shirt for good measure. Tony has a good line about it not even fitting.
-Heenan couldn’t resist and makes a joke about Tonya Harding’s house as Jack is thrown over the rail and Payne is thrown through the stand’s fake wall. Sags batters Jack overhead with the table four times, but his head is ducked for it thankfully.
-One of my favorite spots ever: Cactus Jack essentially German Suplexes an open table onto Sags. “He’s not going to play cards with it!”
-UNPROTECTED SHOVEL TO THE HEAD on Cactus to break up a pin attempt. Sags tries to piledrive Jack through a table, but it just collapses under their weight.
-Here’s a one-two combo for the ages related to the dumbest thing Mick Foley does on this show. I’m not even going to type it. Just watch.
WINNERS: The Nasty Boys in 8:58 when Jerry Sags pins Cactus Jack after an UNPROTECTED SHOVEL SHOT DIRECTLY TO THE FACE
-Payne is shown trying to pin Knobbs to no avail. Sags runs up and gives one more UNPROTECTED headshot with a piece of broken table. “Was there really a winner?” What a great question. The answer is me! Jack does appear to rightfully be legitimately hurt.
FINAL WORD: Give these four men a match together every month. How was that ONLY nine munutes?!?! It was unnecessarily dangerous, but I’m desensitized to it still.
-Jesse interviews Johnny B. Badd still soaking wet. He wants the winner of the US Title match at Slamboree. Back to Michael Buffer introducing that match with more audio problems. The Great Muta gets a good reaction even though his title card just reads “Muta.” Steve Austin walks out with all the confidence and cockiness in the world. Meanwhile, one guy in the crowd is just holding an empty KFC bucket. Tony lists Muta’s credentials while Bobby launches into a poorly aged rant about the Japanese owning everything.
MATCH NUMBER FOUR: US TITLE MATCH- The Great Muta vs Steve Austin w/Col. Robert Parker (Champ)
-To prepare for this match, Austin beat three Japanese wrestlers and developed a submission finish called the Hollywood and Vine. It’s slow to start, but the crowd is still chanting Muta.
-Brain claims the deliberate pace is due to respect. I call it a probably language barrier. Nothing like Latka though (and we have one more reference to go). Aaron Neville is sitting next to Bobby. I missed a picture of him earlier, so here you go.
-Muta’s power drive elbow impresses Bobby. Back to working the headlock after that.
-Parker trips Muta and Austin knees him to the floor. Parker barely chokes him with a hankey.
-A guy in the front row appears to pretend interview Muta while he’s down and Heenan wonders if Muta understands the English language for the ref’s instructions and counting. Not a good look, fellas.
-More overacting by Nick Patrick on a cheating abdominal stretch spot.
-Austin hits a second rope elbow, but from the center part of the ring. That’s new.
-Muta rallies while Parker is incredibly annoying on the floor and it’s not in a good, heel way. It’s in the LVP way. A missile dropkick is missed and Steve tries for his submission, but it’s a total mess. Muta hits the Stun Gun on the master of it to a big pop.
-Handspring elbow, throat slit and hurricanrana from the top gets a massive reaction. He’s so dope. Gotta give him some MVP props. Parker eats a superkick and everyone is having fun until the BS rules of WCW rear their ugly head.
WINNER: Steve Austin in 16:30 by DQ to retain the title after being backdropped over the top rope
-Muta dives onto both heels, who eventually retreat.
FINAL WORD: Besides the last minute, that was an example of styles crashing, not clashing.
-Ventura interviews Dustin Rhodes while a clip of Buck blindsiding him with a trophy is shown. This promo is much less a Dusty impression than usual. It is good, solid Southern babyface fire.
-Buffer talks over Jesse’s wrap up to announce the International World Title match. Sting enters and he’s got what I consider to be Adidas-inspired face paint on. He gets an incredible ovation. Rick Rude walks out weirdly holding the Big Gold Belt over his head. He asks for the music to be cut and I get excited about one last promo from him. Alas, Harley Race interrupts to challenge the winner on behalf of Vader. He tries to attack Sting from behind, but gets beat up instead.
MATCH NUMBER FIVE: INTERNATIONAL TITLE MATCH- Sting vs Rick Rude (Champ)
-Rude jumps Sting and gets obliterated in a sea of noise to start. Nick Bockwinkel joins the commentators at ringside, but just to observe.
-Sting hits three big elbows with a bigger effect each time. He may be the MVP on charisma alone. He’s eventually crotched on the top rope after a long headlock. Bobby details the sound you make when twisted a windpipe and Schiavone does an awful job selling it as usual.
-Time for the patented Rude camel clutch broken up with hip swivels. He even adds in a butt flex that will haunt me forever.
-A mini fish out of water spot breaks out before a sleeper is applied. Rude makes Randy Orton at his worst look like Amazing Red with his offense. The crowd is still all for it.
-Punches are no sold and Rick is pantsed in an atomic drop. I almost saw his butthole. He flips so hard on a backdrop that he almost lands on his feet. He always works hard when he needs to and Sting is definitely one of his best partners. Something about those Power Team boys!
-The ref is squashed in the corner by Rude and the Stinger Splash. The Scorpion is locked on and Sting grabs the ref’s hair to wake up. Race runs out followed by Vader. Both are fought off.
-The overbooking continues with the crowd eating it all up. Sting is chop blocked and the commissioner admonishes Vader holding a chair on the floor. Harley takes Heenan’s chair and swings for Sting in the Rude Awakening position. It’s ducked and the Ravishing One takes it technically in an UNPROTECTED way.
WINNER: Sting in 13:08 to win the title after a Harley Race chair shot to the head
-The pop is almost as loud as Sting’s win at the Great American Bash 1990. He’s finally a “world champ” again and those quotes should be in bold. His shoulder is bloody and it’s probably from Rude.
FINAL WORD: There were a lot of bells and whistles, but it was crowd pleasing and solid. That’s a fine way for Rick Rude to go out on PPV.
-Bockwinkel and Neville are still hanging around as Rude is helped out. Tony and Bobby quickly talk about Ric Flair offering tickets to Hulk Hogan, but nothing happened. It’s Bunkhouse time and here comes Buck. I like his music, the flannel he’s wearing and the city of Bucksnort, Tennessee. Dustin Rhodes runs out and hits an AWESOME flying clothesline into the ring to kick us off.
MATCH NUMBER SIX: BUNKHOUSE MATCH- Bunkhouse Buck w/Col. Robert Parker vs Dustin Rhodes
-These two are throwing fucking punches! Dustin misses a cross body and goes flying out of the ring. He’s already an MVP threat when he gets a piece of wood broken over his back, shattering to pieces. He’s stabbed with the shard and naturally comes up bloody. Tony calls the stick a “1X2”. That’s called a flaccid Duggan.
-Inside out clothesline on the ramp and Rhodes is working his ass off to make BUNKHOUSE BUCK of all people vicious. Parker is so worthless, yelling nonsense and choking like shit.
-Powder to the eyes of the heel, or Texas dirt as Heenan calls it. Dustin heats the crowd up only to take a belt whipping including one shot UNPROTECTED to the face. Jesus Christ.
-Nick Patrick admonishes Buck’s blatant low blow in a no DQ match. Patrick and Parker are just spitting this LVP back and forth to one another.
-Buck gets stuck in the corner for some punts and elbows. A buckle shot/crotch thrust combo by the son of the son before his boot comes off and he delivers a stiff shot with it from the second rope. Buck is busted and Dustin is always engaging the crowd. Buck takes a bareback whipping.
-Bobby claims the match looks like a plane crash and he loves it. Buck loads a glove, but keeps taking bionic elbows. Dustin hits the bulldog, but Parker distracts the ref. He gets suplexed into the ring and whipped. He flails like an idiot before a weird false finish off of a roll up in this violent match.
-Parker hands Buck another weapon to load his glove with and it lands this time for an abrupt end.
WINNER: Bunkhouse Buck in 14:15 with a loaded punch
-Bobby points out that a Rhodes has lost a Bunkhouse match for the first time ever and laughs.
FINAL WORD: We had our modern brawl and here’s our traditional brawl to continue providing a different flavor for everyone on this show.
-Jesse interviews a livid Rick Rude bleeding from the mouth. He cuts an awesome promo before getting into a shoving match with Vader that all of the other heel champions have to break up. Regal makes some amazing faces and Sags is holding onto the towel wrapped around him for dear life.
-The Boss and Vader’s feud since SuperBrawl IV is recapped. Bobby seems actually upset at Tony for turning his back on him before the special grudge match is announced.
-Boss enters to a muted response, but Vader’s response is a sustained roar. It feels like Chicago came to see him. He owns the room with pyro blasting off when Boss meets him on the ramp. Race holds Boss and eats his charge’s body splash. He got all of it, too. Heenan asks a very important question: “why does WCW even bother setting up a ring?” According to Electronic Arts in 2000, it’s not needed!
MATCH NUMBER SEVEN: GRUDGE MATCH- The Boss vs Vader w/Harley Race
-Boss gets some snug boots and punches in. Vader naturally answers back and slams Boss over the top rope from the ramp. He tries a running dive back into the ring, but Boss haphazardly gets the knees up.
-Vader gets whipped front first into the rail and crowd. He is just as crazy as Cactus Jack most of the time.
-Boss muscles Vader up for a slam before almost getting killed in a horrific back drop over the top. He thankfully grabbed the rope to prevent himself from landing right on his head. No DQ is called once again.
-Vader is bleeding from the mouth and eye (which is particularly gross). He throws one hell of a clothesline before getting thrown right on his shoulder from the second rope in a powerbomb-like move.
-A goddamn pseudo-DDT from the second rope by Boss for a two count. He hits a follow up cross body and then gets destroyed with a catching powerslam from the second rope.
-The Vader Bomb only gets a two count, but that move’s big brother sure does get the job done and the approval of the Chicago faithful.
WINNER: Vader in 9:18 with the Vadersault
-Race tries to cuff the Boss and fails. Both heels are lit up with the nightstick. The ref is knocked down by Boss and Bockwinkel interferes as Race is destroyed. Vader protects his manager (Aww…) before Boss is escorted out. Vader yells at the announcers per usual. Reverend Jim isn’t even that crazy (and the reference challenge is completed).
FINAL WORD: Plodding in the best way possible because it made for another super realistic match.
-Mean Gene promotes Sting on the hotline later tonight and Teddy Long later in the week. Call tonight! He puts Chicago over and talks the main event before cutting to the commish, the Boss and the Body backstage. Nick claims there’s been some “tough” matches tonight in the understatement of the century, but they were adhered to by the rules agreed upon by the participants. That’s not the case with the Boss, so he gets stripped of his nightstick, cuffs and name. Jesse calls the nightstick a wand to wrap up the most recent case of WCW avoiding litigation on PPV.
-Michael Buffer is back in the ring and seems to think he’s involved in amateur hour as theme music starts and stops. It finally resumes and Ricky Steamboat enters to pomp. Schiavone mentions that he has been in the shadows with all of the Hogan talk. He also mentions the crowd being split and he’s crazy because 2001 hits and everyone is all about the Nature Boy. The whole crowd stands in excitement and Buffer proceeds to summarize the history between the two. I just noticed his unfortunate earring. Ricky gets a mixed response and Flair is the overwhelming favorite. This intro is very long and detailed, but it’s okay because it’s Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat. Flair looks so weird wearing the WCW Title and not the Big Gold Belt. His wife is in the crowd, looking permanently pissed off.
MATCH NUMBER EIGHT: WCW TITLE MATCH- Ricky Steamboat vs Ric Flair (Champ)
-Tony points out the boos for Steamboat and Bobby claims they’d boo or mug the Easter Bunny. Mat wrestling starts us off.
-Bobby’s serious analysis is wonderful here. When he’s invested, he’s gold. He talks about both men’s history in the AWA while it’s meticulously scrappy. Then, BOOM! One face slap and slap back kicks it up a notch. The crowd knows they are in for the long haul and seem ready for it.
-Dragon has a great flurry of headscissors and dropkicks leading to a two count and a breather for Flair.
-Three straight nip ups by Steamboat means it’s chop city time. They sound like gunshots, but Ricky repsonds.
-Long, working headlock give Brain time to call Arn and Steamboat leeches while slipping up and calling himself one before claiming Flair acts even crazier at home. Is it too late for him to peek into the MVP conversation?
-I shat all over Yokozuna and Lex Luger reworking a rest hold at WrestleMania X and these two are doing the same thing here. The difference is the spots in-between. That said, they sure have slowed down from five years ago.
-Heenan points out that Flair’s opponents never go for his legs to counteract the Figure Four. One missed dropkick lets the champ methodically take over. The time is right on point 15 minutes in.
-Flair tries a pin SEVEN times in a row, each time getting a two count. He tries three more in a cradle. Chops back and forth until Flair begs off and it turns into that double cross body spot I never realized Ric did so much.
-Steamboat blocks a piledriver on the floor with a back drop, but misses a follow up attack and hits the rail, hanging like a bat.
-Things really start to pick up with a superplex and the corner flip spot into a chop. Then, the Dragon hits a top rope chop from the middle part of the ring to the floor.
-Ricky catches a knee drop and slaps on his own Figure Four in an awesome spot. The commentators and crowd are great here as Flair almost reaches the ropes, but gets pulled back to the middle. He finally breaks it up with a shot to the eye.
-The classic Steamboat bridge up spot impresses my wife and they’ve hit that gear. A suplex to the ramp is teased, but avoided. More fighting on the floor and Bobby wants to know if the ring is even the ring anymore.
-The patented Dragon cross body is a very believable two count. Ric answers with a stiff clothesline. He heads to the top rope, but gets CAUGHT. All time: 20 for 38 now. A big splash from the top is missed and the Figure Four is cinched on after some fight. It’s locked in for quite some time before Ricky ultimately makes it to the ropes. Incredible. The crowd is very happy.
-They run back the small package spot that Steamboat won the title with for two. Backslide for two. An even bigger superplex 30 fucking minutes in. Never doubt them. Flair spasms like a fish out of water, but still kicks out.
-The ref is sort of bumped on a roll up spot, but recovers to count two. The double chicken wing is applied and the commentators incorrectly assert that he won the title this way. Both men fall to the mat with their shoulders down and the ref counts to three, popping the crowd. Everything thinks we have a new champ.
-Another ref runs down and Bockwinkel enters the ring. Nick Patrick explains how both men were down. Ric Flair’s arm gets raised and Buffer announces him as still the champion as pyro goes off and Steamboat is rightfully livid.
WINNER: Double Pin at 32:21, Ric Flair announced as still champion
FINAL WORD: Even in their arguable best PPV ever, WCW can’t help but have a totally shitty ending to an incredible match.
-Bockwinkel explains to Schiavone that a draw goes to the champ because it’s the job of the challenger to beat them. At this moment, Flair retains. He says a lot and nothing all at the same time. The decision will get taken to the board. Bobby compliments him and their five second repartee is awesome.
-They shill WCW Saturday Night to find out if anything changes about the world title picture. Bobby throws a tantrum and crumples Tony’s paper, leaving the former frustrated as usual, but incredibly visually. They sign off as Bobby is still bothered and credits roll.
THE LAST IMAGE: Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan
THE WRAP UP
FINAL MVP of PPV: I don’t intend on this becoming like the Oscars and rewarding people who always come so close, but it sure works out that way sometimes. Dustin Rhodes put in an incredibly gutsy and heroic performance on a show chocked full of them. Congrats, young man.
FINAL LVP of PPV: It’s a great problem when you don’t have a lot of choices. The only real stinker on this show is Col. Robert Parker because he’s a worthless manager who distracts and falters in a negative way.
MY FAVORITE MATCH: Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat
MY LEAST FAVORITE MATCH: Steve Austin vs Great Muta
FINAL THOUGHTS: Yeah, this show fucking rules. It’s a shame Hulk Hogan is going to come in and fuck all of this up. That seems to be the trope of WCW: things are going really well and someone else comes in to “fix” what isn’t broken. This was violent and energetic and entertaining and cool. In a nutshell, this show felt like a throwback and a preview of the future all at once. The finishes leave a lot to be desired as usual, but I mostly desire more of THIS WCW. MULLET RECOMMENDS
NEXT TIME: It’s this era of WCW’s Waterloo with Slamboree 1994. After that, it’s Terry Time. Read that in Michael Cole’s voice.