WCW Worldwide 6/19/1993

Taped from only God knows where

Airdate: June 19, 1993

Hosted by Tony Schiavone and Jesse “The Body” Ventura

Our monthly installment of WCW Worldwide from Classics On Demand features Sting and The British Bulldog in tag team action. Also another mini-movie from the Masters of the Powerbomb will be shown. Additionally Colonel Rob Parker will be the special guest on “A Flair for the Gold.” Finally, the main event will pit Johnny Gunn and Z-Man against Sid Vicious and Big Van Vader.

For those unfamiliar The Wrecking Crew consists of former #1 contender to the WCW title, occasional Goldberg opponent, and tag team partner of Kevin Nash Al Green along with Marcus Laurinaitis whose biggest distinction is being the brother of Johnny Ace. Smith and Rage (Green) start the match. In a not so swift manner Rage tries to match strength with the Bulldog. Guess who wins.

A rope sequence culminates with a Smith flying body press for a quick 2. Smith grabs the arm to assert control; however, Rage delivers a forearm to the head and tags in Fury. Even before Fury can enter the ring Bulldog takes over on both men then hiptosses Fury. Sting tags in and the young girls squeal. Fury takes over on Sting in the corner, cross-corner whips him, and nails him with a clothesline.

Sting gets cross-corner whipped again, leapfrogs over Fury, and then gives him a dropkick. He follows up with a monkey-flip and an armdrag. As the crowd chants “Stinger” Sting maintains an armbar and then a wristlock until Fury gives him a knee to the midsection. He whips Sting off the ropes, gets reversed, and receives another armdrag.

Fury comes back with a head butt and a slam before coming off the ropes with an elbowdrop for 1. Rage tags in, and the Wrecking Crew double-team Sting with a whip and a back elbow. Rage cross-corner whips Sting again but comes up empty when charging forward. As Smith tags in Sting delivers the Stinger Splash to Rage knocking Fury to the floor. Smith gives Rage the running powerslam for the pin. *

In our first installment of the WCW Magazine Gordon Solie describes the US title situation involving “Ravishing” Rick Rude and “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes. Highlights of a match between Rude and Kensuke Sasaki from WCW Saturday Night are shown. As Rude gets DQ’ed for using the briefcase Rhodes comes to Sasaki’s aid and brawls with Rude. As Rude’s mercenaries keep Rhodes occupied Rude scampers away with the belt.

Tony and Jesse are on camera and discuss the hunt for Cactus Jack. This week Catherine White is in Cleveland, Ohio. While White lists the zany places Cactus Jack has been spotted (e.g. entering a UFO in Roswell, NM) she mentions a “reliable” source in a letter from young Stephen LeBlang from Shagger Heights (isn’t that where Francine is from?) that Cactus Jack was spotted in Cleveland on skid row. Perhaps the kid was listening to “18 and Life” when he saw him? While White and a cameraman walk through a dark alley filled with hobos their search comes up empty yet again. Meanwhile “Swampy” speaks up and cons White out of $50 and her business card before this segment can end. To make matters even worse she gets her purse swiped. Oh boy.

Upon a collar-and-elbow tie-up Simmons gives Zane a fireman’s carry takeover. Meanwhile we go split-screen so WCW World Television champion “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff can cut a promo on Simmons. Zane comes off the ropes but gets shoulderblocked. They tie up again and Zane takes him to the corner. Simmons no-sells a forearm shot, wheels him around, and goes to work on him. He then double-cross-corner whips Zane and gives him a back body drop. He works on Zane’s back with a punch, a stomp, and a headbutt. Next he gives Zane the spinebuster for the pin. DUD

MINI-MOVIE TIME!

From “somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico” Sid Vicious, Big Van Vader, Colonel Rob Parker and Harley Race are aboard a boat. Vader and Sid are dressed to wrestle in lieu of wearing summer clothing. Parker is outraged that Bulldog and Sting are partying with some “snotty-nosed kids.” Race points them in the direction of the island where their nemeses are located. An island in the Gulf of Mexico?

Meanwhile Sting and Bulldog are playing a friendly game of volleyball with some kids on the beach.

Race tells Parker that if they don’t accept the challenge from the Masters of the Powerbomb they’re in for a big surprise. He then asks Parker if Cheetum can handle the surprise. Both Sid and Vader offer, but Parker believes Cheetum is the right man for the job.

A shark fin swims across the camera view, but Cheetum is using it as a disguise. After he shoos some little girls away he carries a beverage cooler to Sting and Bulldog’s boat. He removes a bomb and places it in a compartment on the boat.

As Bulldog and Sting continue to play volleyball the landing craft containing the Masters of the Powerbomb arrives. If you look closely Sid is wearing flip-flops. A stand-off occurs, and Race is outraged that his proposal wasn’t accepted. Parker again offers them two tickets to the retirement home of their choice or “suffer the consequences.”

Sting contemplates their offer as Bulldog is stunned and the kids are disheartened. They immediately reconsider by shouting “I don’t think so!” The kids jump for joy and Parker slams down his hat. Race then notifies Sting and Bulldog that they have “signed their death warrant.” Parker informs our heroic duo that they should enjoy their time here as they may be here for a long time. The heels laugh maniacally.

Sting tells Bulldog that “desperate people do desperate things” before returning to their volleyball game. In the meantime Sting talks to the two little girls who spotted Cheetum earlier. As Sting makes his way toward the boat Bulldog questions his whereabouts with the little girls. They tell him that they heard a “click, click, click” from the boat. Bulldog chases after Sting and tackles him off the boat just before the bomb explodes! The crowd is stunned in solemn silence until Sting and Bulldog emerge from underwater! Again the kids jump for joy. TO BE CONTINUED on July 18 at Beach Blast!

Jesse reminds us of “Stunning” Steve Austin’s comments from a couple of weeks ago where he questioned why Steamboat dressed up like a “lizard.” The lights dim and Steamboat blows a fireball. Jesse lets us know that Steamboat’s stunt “…looks like me after a shot of Cuervo Gold.” For those unfamiliar Yosha (or Yoshi) Kwan is better known as Chris Champion, part of the New Breed with Sean Royal.

They tie-up and Kwan ironically gives Steamboat an armdrag. Next they fight to a stalemate. Steamboat executes a leg sweep and a savate kick to the midsection. They trade hammerlocks until Kwan gets a takedown. A hiptoss and an armdrag put Steamboat back in control though. An armbar by Steamboat segues into a belly-to-back suplex for a 2 count.

A wristlock by Steamboat is countered into a headscissors by Kwan. Steamboat counters with a somersault rollup for 1. A short rope sequence culminates with a sharp spin kick by Kwan. Chops are exchanged by both men until Steamboat cross-corner whips Kwan. Kwan reverses and gives him an enziguri. Next he gives Steamboat a snapmare and a standing legdrop.

Kwan gives Steamboat a couple of sidekicks then applies a claw hold. Steamboat breaks it and delivers another savate kick to the midsection. He whips Kwan off the ropes and chops him. He follows that by whipping Kwan off the ropes but gets reversed. Steamboat, however, bulldogs him to the mat and heads to the top turnbuckle. He hits the flying body press for the pin. **1/2

After the match Tony interviews Steamboat. He hopes to be a living legend someday. I believe he achieved his goal.

Ric Flair wastes no time when he comes out by cutting a promo on Barry Windham. He desires to be the champion for the tenth time. He then introduces Colonel Rob Parker who proceeds to talk over last week’s announcement of the Masters of the Powerbomb. He then talks over part of the mini-movie from earlier in the show. Subsequently he offers Flair a cigar. To finish the segment Flair promotes “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes as next week’s guest.

In the second installment of the WCW Magazine Gordon Solie continues his segment on the US title situation. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes then cuts a promo on Rude.

For those unfamiliar Johnny Gunn is Tom Brandi aka Salvatore Sincere. Before Gary Michael Cappetta can finish the introductions all four men are hammering away at one another. Out of nowhere Sid chokeslams Gunn. He then tosses Gunn over the top rope. In the meantime Vader hoists Z-Man up for a powerbomb and receives assistance from Sid to add force to the maneuver.

Sid gives Z-Man a double snot rocket as he exits the ring. Some jobbers hit the ring and immediately get powerbombed by both Vader and Sid. Another couple of jobbers come in and get planted with powerbombs. As one of the jobbers lies upon the gurney Vader and Sid give another jobber a powerbomb similar to the one they gave Z-Man.

When both Sid and Vader go to the floor Vader holds the jobber so that Sid can boot the guy in the face. Another jobber gets laid to waste as Sid holds him and Vader clotheslines him off the gurney. They then proceed to turn the gurney upside-down and dump it on the fallen jobber. Neither Tony nor Jesse wants the opportunity to interview these guys. No match = no rating.

Hesitantly Tony gets in the ring with the Masters of the Powerbomb and Colonel Rob Parker offers him a cigar. He must have gotten them wholesale. Vader just grabs the microphone and shoves Tony aside as he refers to his team as the Masters of the Powerbomb. Sid then cuts a promo against Sting and Bulldog. He finishes his promo and the show with “do onto the man as the man would do onto you…but do it first!”

Overall the final “match” was the perfect illustration on how to get evil powerful heels over with the fans. Whether you boo or cheer the heel both Sid and Vader got reactions because of brutality such as this. They are well on their way to Beach Blast on July 18 to face Sting and Bulldog.

At the same time “A Flair for the Gold” was pointless minus the cigar distribution by Colonel Parker. The Kwan-Steamboat match was very evenly matched which I didn’t expect. Actually I fully expected Steamboat to come out on top without any issue. Glad I was wrong on that one.

If I can say anything about the mini-movie it’s that it was colossally over the top. I’m not sure if that was WCW’s intention, but a lot less money could have been spent to get a PPV main event across than what they accomplished here.

While the mini-movie promoting Beach Blast didn’t offend me the Catherine White segment in Cleveland was way too hokey. “Lost in Cleveland” can remain lost as far as I’m concerned. If I can add anything about the Sting/Bulldog versus Wrecking Crew match it’s that while the Masters of the Powerbomb destroyed everything in their path the babyfaces had a little tougher time with their opponents. We’ll see how this all plays out as the time grows closer to those infamous Disney tapings.

Stay tuned to more WCW Worldwide reviews from your resident Rock Star in the coming weeks!