James Casey

April 4, 2020

I'm going back to MAW.

It's been 10 years since I played as them - and that was on 2008. It's time to get my small fed head on again, and playing a quasi-developmental territory is exactly up my street.

(Cue MAW finally becoming TCW's actual developmental territory in this version).

March 22, 2020

AJ Styles (moreso from Promotion Wars, but he was great in EWR/TEW if you could get him away from TNA), the Second City Saints and the Backseat Boyz were all favourites of mine.

I was also a big fan of Special K just based on the game. I wanted to sign them up (and Altar Boys Luke and Matthew) and push them as a skeezy pack of obviously-but-never-stated drug addicts kept working for their next fix by James Mitchell who'd exploit them in the name of salvation and pocket the lion's share of their winnings. There would eventually have been a redemption arc where they uncovered his exploitation and turn on him,

But even 15 years ago I knew that signing a dozen or so cruiserweights and indy guys to WWE, pushing them as drug addicts and having them in an abusive, dependent relationship with a preacher figure would be... dodgy. But I never stopped wanting to do it, and have toyed with the idea in some fashion in most diaries I've written without ever quite getting there.

March 21, 2020

OOC: I hope everyone is well and safe. We all have a strange few months ahead of us. Look after one another and yourselves.

And wash your hands, eh?

*

World Championship Wrestling presents: Clash Of The Champions XXVII

Thursday, Week 4, March 1993

Ross:

Welcome to the twenty-seventh Clash of the Champions! We have a loaded card tonight featuring some of the best talent in the world-

Dangerously:

And

the

best – namely Owen Hart and Steve Austin!

Schiavone:

And what about Brian Pillman, or Rick Rude?

Dangerously:

As much talent as the Dangerous Alliance has, Schiavone, we can afford to bench some of them from time to time.

Ross:

Well, let’s kick things off with the a match for the Television Title as new champion Michael Hayes defends against an opponent announced tonight on the WCW hotline – that’s 1-900-909-9900, and be sure to get the bill payer’s permission before you call!

WCW Television Title

Michael Hayes © vs. Kevin Von Erich

Hayes’ opponent was, perhaps, not quite the level of superstar as Nikita Koloff – but for fans in Texas the appearance of one of the legendary Von Erich clan represented the resumption of one of the wildest feuds in wrestling history. Fans were split in cheering for Von Erich and the Freebird, but Hayes soon showed that he’s not wholly shed his black hat past as, after a heavily cheered brawl that spilled out of the ring and into the crowd, he rolled Von Erich up and got the win with his feet on the ropes.

Dangerously;

If you don’t know, we always get our way. That’s the way it is down here on Badstreet USA...

Schiavone:

Do you

have

to sing?

NWA World Tag Team Titles

Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell vs. The Stocks And Shares Express ©

Vicious and Bagwell, having come so close to the gold a month ago, had a surprise cornerman for their rematch as Koko B. Ware joined the pair, leaning on a cane and clearly still suffering the effects of the assault at the hands of the Stocks And Shares Express months before. His presence seemed to spur on the crowd favourite duo, with the loudest cheer probably being for the double chokeslam that Vicious unleashed on Robert Gibson and Richard Morton after a double clothesline took Bagwell out of the ring. Alexandra York tried to pass Gibson her laptop to use as a weapon, but Ware intercepted it with his cane, which he then jabbed into Gibson’s throat. As Gibson reeled, Morton stumbled upright only for Vicious to heave him up into the air and deliver a thunderous powerbomb to score the pin – and the titles!

Ross:

It’s an odd pairing, but it works!

Arn Anderson and The Thrillseekers vs. Big Van Vader and The Malenkos

The newest incarnation of the Horsemen have been butting heads with Harley Race’s revitalised Kingdom since the two sides were unveiled last month, but this was the first chance for them to face off in-ring. As Race, Ric Flair, Mike Awesome, Tammy, Fifi and Steven Regal all watched on from ringside their six allies went after one another with everything they had. It didn’t take long to become clear that Vader had a sheer power advantage over every other competitor in the match, and Anderson, Chris Jericho and Lance Storm could only manage to stagger him by working together. With the Malenkos working alongside him, Vader was only rarely in peril from the three Horsemen, and could probably have won the match with an almighty powerslam on Jericho – but Tammy slid into the ring and put herself between the Mastodon and her client. Vader stared at her in bemusement before picking her up and dropping her over the top rope to Awesome, who set her down in a chair in turn and glowered at her, fixing her in place.

Back in the ring Storm and Anderson used the opportunity to drag Jericho into their corner and Anderson tagged in, catching a charging Vader with a big boot to the stomach and firing off rights and lefts that caught the bigger man again and again on the sides of his head. As Vader tried to fend Anderson off, the Enforcer closed in and drilled Vader with a DDT – but the cover only got one as Vader hurled Anderson off him and into the Kingdom corner. Now it was time for the Malenkos to get involved, swarming the ring to beat Anderson down. As Storm tried to get involved Vader swept him up and rocked the ring with a spinebuster. As Flair yelled at the referee, and Race yelled at Flair, Regal slid into the ring and cracked a chair across Vader’s back – a move that only seemed to anger Vader! But with Awesome joining the fray and Jericho recovered enough to back up his teammates, and Race and Flair having to be separated by officials at ringside, the referee called the match to a halt as all hell threatened to break loose.

Dangerously:

Let them fight!

Especially

Flair and Race – I never got to seem them go at it live the first time around!

Flair and Race did get some shots in on each other, but only before the backstage emptied of security guards and WCW officials who, by sheer weight of numbers, managed to separate the two warring sides. Commissioner Ventura watched on silently from the aisle as the Horsemen and the Kingdom were shepherded out of opposite sides of the arena.

Schiavone:

The Commissioner is always planning ahead, and I think tonight has given him a lot to think about...

Street Fight

Barry Windham vs. Scott Steiner

Ross:

From one form of chaos to another – I don’t think either Windham or Steiner needs any more motivation ahead of this match, but the crowd isn’t happy that last contest ended without a decisive finish. There’ll be no such problem here; A street fight will give us a definite outcome!

It did – but first the two fighters unloaded on one another with everything in their arsenals, and made liberal use of the lack of rules to try and beat one another senseless. The match had barely begun before Windham clotheslined Steiner out of the ring, and the big Texan leapt from the ring apron with a second clothesline to put Steiner down on the mat. But the Animal was not in the match to be easy pickings. Instead he fought back fiercely, delivering a belly-to-belly suplex that sent Windham over the guard rail and into the front row. Climbing over the rail himself he ignored the scattering fans and snatched up a chair that he smashed over Windham’s back. Suffering, Windham struggled to get back to his feet as Steiner battered him around the ringside area, eventually delivering a Steinerline of his own that sent Windham back over the guard rail. Steiner paused to taunt the crowd – and Windham rallied with a blow to the face from the timekeeper’s bell, splitting Steiner’s forehead open. That gave Windham the opening he needed to deliver a beatdown to Steiner which only ended when a weary Steiner moved – or slumped – out of the way of a charge that sent Windham into the ringpost.

Schiavone:

Both men are down! We said this would be a decisive finish, but what if both men are knocked out?

The referee’s count reached six before either man began to stir, but with the crowd willing him on Windham was upright at eight, while Steiner only just beat the count. He fended Windham off with a weak kick and grabbed a chair before heading into the ring. Toting the chair he waited for Windham to follow him, but the canny Texan had moved around the ring and slid in behind Steiner. Spinning Steiner around Windham booted him in the stomach and, as he dropped the chair, set him up for a DDT. But Steiner shoved him off and into the ropes, and as Windham rebounded-

Schiavone:

Frankensteiner!

Ross:

On the chair! Windham landed on the chair!

The three count duly followed with Windham barely able to move, let alone kick out after the devastating impact.

Ross:

As though the Frankensteiner wasn’t devastating enough!

Dangerously:

You know Randy Savage hasn’t been the same since he faced Steiner. Let’s see how Windham rebounds from this...

NWA World Title

Ricky Steamboat © vs. Terence Taylor

Two master technicians locked horns with the gleaming NWA World title on the line. Taylor, still smarting from last month’s title loss, was the aggressor in the early going. But Steamboat fought back with all his guile and grit, laser-focused on the task of retaining his title. Alexandra York at ringside was once again left searching for answers, frantically hammering at her laptop as Taylor was unable to breach Steamboat’s defences, eventually falling to a Flying Crossbody from the top rope.

Ross:

Steamboat retains! The Dragon is still the champion!

Backstage, Steamboat, Vicious and Bagwell celebrated with their gold – as Taylor, Morton and Gibson were left looking inconsolable, Alexandra York trailing silently in their wake.

WCW United States Title

Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin ©

Texan vs. Texan, rising star vs. rising star, ego vs. ego – Michaels and Austin are being hailed as the future of WCW, and this match gave them the chance to strut their stuff and show their mettle. Austin, entering as champion, took the lead in the early exchanges as he grounded the fast-moving Rough Diamond, driving him into the mat with a Thesz Press and raining in fists. Michaels bailed out of the ring and sought solace from DDP and Kimberley, while Austin had his brow wiped by Madusa – who looked with disdain at the Diamond Exchange trio.

Ross:

I don’t think Madusa cares for Michaels very much.

Dangerously:

You don’t know that, Ross. Maybe it’s DDP or his wife that Madusa doesn’t like. Or

maybe

she’s just very, very good at her job and will destroy

anyone

who stands against the Dangerous Alliance!

Regrouping, Michaels played stick-and-move as the action resumed, nearly catching Austin at one point with a savate kick – but Austin was able to duck under the strike and catch Michaels with a blow that, if not low, was definitely in that region.

Dangerously:

Did the referee disqualify him? No? Then that was a legal strike!

With Michaels staggered Austin went to work, hitting hard and methodically to wear Michaels down. While Michaels got his shots in, he was clearly struggling – until he caught Austin with a clear low blow as Kimberley distracted the referee. That brought Madusa into the ring with her own, more direct, attempt at involvement as she tried to catch Michaels with the title belt. Michaels was too quick, though; Dodging the blow he grabbed Madusa and seemed ready to pitch her out of the ring, but instead stopped and grinned cockily at her, releasing her to pose with a double bicep curl. Madusa looked annoyed, but then her expression shifted more to amusement as Michaels winked at her – and then Austin grabbed Michaels from behind and hurled him into the corner. Michaels went between the ropes, hitting the ringpost shoulder-first, and Austin dragged him out of the corner, hitting a Stun Gun for a close two count. Annoyed, Austin lifted the barely resisting Michaels once more for a second Stun Gun, and that was enough for the win and the title defence.

Ross:

Austin takes advantage of... shall we call that a distraction by Madusa? Or did the Rough Diamond distract himself?

Dangerously:

The Superstar kept his eyes on the prize, Ross, and that’s all there is to it!

WCW World Title

Sting © vs. Owen Hart

With Brian Pillman and Rick Rude behind him, Sting faced another member of the Dangerous Alliance here. Like Pillman, Hart is much lighter than Sting and couldn’t hope to match the world champion for strength. But where Pillman tried to outpace Sting, Hart opted for technical wrestling – and here he seemed to have the edge on the champion. While Sting is an incredible athlete and could match Pillman for stamina, if not quite speed, Hart was definitely the superior technician of the pair. With absolute focus, Hart worked over Sting’s legs, doing everything in his power to take out the champion’s base. Sting retaliated with power, hurling Hart around the ring when he could pry the young Canadian off his leg – but before too long Sting was limping.

Dangerously:

I love it when a plan comes together!

Sting dug deep, hitting Hart with everything he had. Trying to power Hart up into a military press, his knee buckled and Hart landed on top of the champion for a close two count. Hart kept up the pressure, delivering kicks to the injured joint as Sting grew progressively slower – and the vocal Stingers grew louder in their support. Hart, though, shocked them into silence as he took Sting down to the mat and manoeuvred him into his own Scorpion Deathlock. Hart locked the hold in tight as he turned Sting over and sat back, applying incredible pressure not just to the champion’s legs, but also his back, and for several long seconds Sting seemed lost. But Hart had erred in applying the hold too close to the ropes, and Sting was able to get one hand on the bottom strand to force the break.

Had Hart kept up the pressure at a constant tempo, it might have been enough to claim the win from that point, but he made a further mistake in charging Sting as he stood against the ropes. Acting quickly, Sting backdropped Hart to the outside, Hart landing heavily on the entrance ramp. Following Hart to the outside, Sting delivered a suplex and a body slam on the unyielding wooden surface before scoring with a dropkick that sent Hart tumbling to the arena floor. As the referee pleaded with Sting to bring the fight back between the ropes, Sting launched himself off the ramp to flatten Hart with a flying clothesline, and only then did he roll him back into the ring. With the challenger reeling, Sting had clearly found a second wind. Taking care to avoid putting too much pressure on his injured knee, Sting rocked Hart with a DDT before lifting him and whipping him into the corner. While this would normally have preceded a Stinger Splash, Sting instead limped after Hart and lifted the barely-resisting challenger onto the top rope, following him up to deliver a huge superplex – and he rolled through on the landing, putting himself at Hart’s feet, which he snared to tie Hart up in his own Scorpion Deathlock, right in the centre of the ring. The pain seemed to shake Hart from his stupor after Sting’s rally, but with nowhere to go and no way to drag himself free, Hart had no choice but to surrender and give Sting another successful defence!

Schiavone:

Sting wins! And listen to the Stingers!

Dangerously:

Ugh! One mistake – that’s all it took!

Ross:

Is that all you can say, Paul? Then I’ll say it for you – Owen Hart wrestled a nearly perfect match tonight, but Sting still found a way to win! All credit to the WCW World champion for the guts, the drive, the strength and the ingenuity to overcome such an incredible challenger!

March 14, 2020

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>February – March: Towards Clash Of The Champions XXVII</p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="on556lI.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/on556lI.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="K3PiItT.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/K3PiItT.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p>

</p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> With SuperBrawl still fresh in everyone’s minds, Owen Hart wasted little time in laying out his challenge to Sting for the WCW World title, confronting him on the next episode of Saturday Night.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Sting, I was the runt of the litter – the youngest child, always having to run to keep up with my brothers, always having to shout twice as loud to make myself heard over Bruce or Keith or...”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

He shook his head.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“No, this isn’t about them – any of them! This is about me! This is what I learned before I left elementary school: Whatever I wanted, whatever I had to achieve, I had to do it on my own through sheer force of will!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I didn’t just survive the Hart Dungeon, Sting. I thrived! The most vicious training in the world that turned out great and diverse talents like Abdullah the Butcher, the Junkyard Dog, Jushin Liger, Roddy Piper, Greg Valentine and Superstar Bully Graham – and each and every one of my brothers. And Sting, that’s the ones that survived. You should hear the tapes... We’d set up a microphone by the door to record the screams, the track stars and boxers and football players who thought they were tough, and then one of my brothers would hook ‘em or – God help ‘em – my father would get his hands on them. And then they would break. In seconds, sometimes.”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Hart paced back and forth in the ring.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“So imagine, Sting. Imagine what happened to me when I started training. My father and seven brothers weren’t going to take it easy on me, no way. They set the bar high and wouldn’t let me leave the Dungeon until I cleared it. And I did, Sting, and it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but I wouldn’t quit, no matter how long it took me. And once I graduated from the Dungeon, once I learned to beat my brothers, once I learned to survive when my father wanted to break me, then I went to Japan. Ever been to Japan to fight, Sting? Oh, I know you go there sometimes as a guest and Great Muta has a lot of respect for you so you get to fight the aces... I went into their dojo system because I wanted to be sure that I had what it took. And let’s be clear, Sting. Not one trainer in Japan respects American or Canadian wrestling, so being a graduate of the Dungeon meant nothing, which is just what I wanted. I needed them to push me hard so I knew when I excelled – and I did excel – that I did it myself, through sheer force of will. I was the first and still the only westerner to hold the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title... but now it’s time to step up to the big fights, and there’s nothing bigger than the WCW World title.”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

He stared down the camera lens, seeing not the equipment, but the World champion.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Now Sting, you know the Dangerous Alliance and how we’ve operated in the past. Maybe you’re worried about us jumping you from behind or after a match, but that won’t happen. Instead, Sting, I’m going to tonight, and tomorrow night, and every weekend between now and the Clash. I’ll do this on my terms and that means meeting you in peak condition with nothing left to chance. Too bad for you, Sting, but it means that you get to enjoy your next few weeks as champion – until we meet again at the Clash!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Sting’s reply, given from his locker room, was more succinct.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Owen, you have your match – but don’t think I have anything but the highest respect for you and your history. Anyone who survives the Dungeon has done more than half the wrestlers who ever set foot in the ring. And I’ve heard all about your time in Japan from Muta and Jushin Liger, so that’s not news to me. And we’ve fought, you and I, many times since you came to WCW – in singles, in tags, even in War Games. But never with the World title on the line, and I know better than most that this title makes all the difference. So yes, you have your match, and you and I will go to the well and see who walks out of the Clash with the World title. In three weeks... it’s showtime!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

True to his word Owen competed before the television cameras each time they were switched on up to the Clash, including impressive wins over El Tigre Blanco, Rey Mysterio and Barry Windham, albeit that the last of those came when Scott Steiner got involved. Sting, for his part, fought less often but still against a high calibre of opponents as he faced off against Joe Malenko, Terence Taylor and Scott Steiner – although that last match ended in chaos in part (although by no means wholly) because Windham got involved!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

*</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="OEAyqMK.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/OEAyqMK.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="RaIRMkk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/RaIRMkk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Windham and Steiner were forbidden from interacting after SuperBrawl. The ban lasted for a week when Commissioner Ventura realised that there was no keeping the two apart, and sanctioning a return match between the pair was just good business – not least because it saved on medical expenses for the security guards the duo kept hurling out of their way!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

But with the return match not scheduled until the Clash, neither of the pair was prepared to be patient; Interfering in one another’s matches and cutting scathing promos on each other escalated when Steiner jumped Windham backstage, the resulting fight spilling into the arena and interrupting a tag titles match between the Diamond Mine and Thrillseekers. With the crowd unhappy about the spoiling of the contest, the Commissioner quickly emerged to confirm that the Clash rematch would be a streetfight.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="8OuOaKU.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/8OuOaKU.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“And if that doesn’t settle things between the two of you, then I’ll find something even worse but I’ll enjoy it whatever it is!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

*</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="fOAo68e.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/fOAo68e.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ALWOufW.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ALWOufW.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="WvKD1gB.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/WvKD1gB.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><img alt="3QAQ87s.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/3QAQ87s.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

With two titles to defend, and strict rules about how often they had to do so, the Diamond Mine were keen to maximise the time that they spent enjoying being champions. After putting down the Thrillseekers thanks to DDP’s interference on the last Saturday Night of February, they were quick to seek new challengers for the following week, taking on El Tigre Blanco and Konnan for both their titles on Main Event. Try though they might the giant champions struggled with their smaller foes but sheer attrition wore down Blanco and Konnan over time, even as their opponents’ speed drained their stamina. Champions and challengers seemed evenly matched, but while Team Luchamerica were backed up by the neophyte Rey Mysterio, the Diamond Mine had the more worldly DDP in their corner... and the devastating good looks of Kimberly... and Shawn Michaels vaulting the rail and laying out Mysterio with a thrust kick. With all that going on at ringside, small wonder that Konnan lost focus for a split-second – and that was more than enough for Vinnie Vegas to drill him with a big boot followed by Snake Eyes for the win!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Hey, yo,” the Diamond Studd declared after the match. “Me and the big man have got all sorts of plans... and none of them involve playing before you guys again any time soon. You want to see the Diamond Mine in action, you go buy a WCW videotape.”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“The Studd speaks the truth,” Vegas continued. “There’s a lot of beautiful women we’ve not met yet, and a lot of drinks that need our attention, and a lot of banks that the V man needs to break. We can’t do that when we’re stooping to the level of Luchamerica or those Canadian dweebs who keep sucking up to the Faux Horsemen. So we’ve done what we’re contractually obligated to for March, and I think it’s probably time for spring break – Fort Lauderdale, Miami Beach, maybe Cancun... Anywhere there’s tall drinks and tall blondes, we’ll be there. And we’ll see you all next month!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

True to their word, the Diamond Mine wouldn’t compete in WCW again until April... but they did find time to put in a brief appearance late in March, as WCW Saturday Night aired from Fort Lauderdale. As Shawn Michaels clashed with Dustin Rhodes to determine Steve Austin’s opponent for the upcoming Clash, Vegas and Studd were seen in the crowd. Clearing an entire front row for themselves, their drinks and their female companions, Vegas and Studd cheered loudly for Michaels. Somehow drowning out the pro-Rhodes crowd on their own, the duo clearly irritated the young Texan and this time it was Rhodes that lost focus, leaving him open to a savate kick from Michaels that gave the Rough Diamond the win.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Austin, this time it’s just me and you,” Michaels said. “And when you take away all the other distractions you’re left with nothing but pure Shawn Michaels. And as anyone who knows will tell you, that’s too much for anyone to handle!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

*</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="qOIM3UB.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/qOIM3UB.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="BiyIlky.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/BiyIlky.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="fbNfN33.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/fbNfN33.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="phYsT7k.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/phYsT7k.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="dYLgtcd.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/dYLgtcd.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><img alt="thpvZLl.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/thpvZLl.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="iClB5w2.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/iClB5w2.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ZRduAZP.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ZRduAZP.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="BLRhkmT.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/BLRhkmT.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="XtjeDny.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/XtjeDny.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The new Horsemen had their thunder stolen at SuperBrawl by the debut of the new Kingdom. Never one to willingly let the spotlight fall on anyone else, Ric Flair led the Horsemen into their new era at full volume, bawling out Harley Race and his charges at every turn.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“I put you out to grass a decade ago, Harley! Take the hint and stay out of my way; It’s best for everyone!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The Kingdom seemed to disagree.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

With the momentum of the Horsemen behind them the Thrillseekers were chosen to challenge the Diamond Mine for the WCW tag titles, but the Malenko brothers interfered in the match and took out Lance Storm, leaving Chris Jericho along against the two 300lb champions, with predictable results. As February turned into March the Kingdom seemed to be one step ahead of the Horsemen, several times catching the least experienced member Steven Regal unawares. With the Clash on the horizon Regal seemed to be smartening up a little... but that just meant that Big Van Vader and Mike Awesome ambushed Arn Anderson in the parking garage on Main Event just a few days from the Clash.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“This is a man’s sport, Ric,” Race declared as the Kingdom’s heavyweights tore Anderson apart. “You thought that you could bring in boys and survive, that the Nature Boy and the Enforcer could teach the next generation and maybe extend your own careers while you’re at it. But the only lessons worth learning are hard ones! We’ll teach your boys those lessons as long as you pretend they deserve the same stage as my warriors. And if you and Arn keep up the pretense, then we’ll keep teaching you the same lessons as well!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Eventually Commissioner Ventura ordered a match between the two sides at the Clash. As the worst-injured parties Anderson and the Thrillseekers stepped up for the Horsemen; For the Kingdom, Vader and the Malenkos were chosen as their side’s representatives.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“A super heavyweight destroyer and two technical perfectionists,” Race smirked. “And you’re sending two children and, I’ll grant you, a great wrestler. Honestly, Ric, you may have took the World title from me but I think I hit you harder than either of us ever suspected.”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

But rather than Flair it was Anderson who responded for the Horsemen.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Harley, you think this is a game? You think this is about our egos? We know who we are, and what we’re doing. We’re not chasing some shiny gold crown to make out like we’re still on top of the mountain – we know our place, we know what we can do... And we can still do a lot, Harley. We can do as much as anyone, and more than most. And at the Clash you’ll see that not only can we do a lot, but we know talent when we see it. The Horsemen has always been a collective, a gathering of the best talent in the business. Maybe this year we’ve gone younger than before... but do you think we’d discredit the memories of Tully, of Ole, of JJ by bringing in kids for the sake of having kids around? Stop and think, Harley – really think. Did we bring in Regal, Jericho and Storm because it makes us feel young... or because they’re good enough to run with the best that WCW has? I know why we chose them, and at the Clash, so will you!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

*</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="osRcosk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/osRcosk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="c9CYD8V.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/c9CYD8V.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><img alt="E1Szout.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/E1Szout.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ijtBtWD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ijtBtWD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="m01cILB.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/m01cILB.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="YjpHf2D.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/YjpHf2D.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The Clash would also see a pair of rematches from SuperBrawl III, with the NWA World and World tag titles on the line as members of the York Foundation fought for the gold. While the Stocks And Shares Express would be defending once more against Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell, Ricky Steamboat would be trying to hold off the challenge of former NWA World champion Terence Taylor.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Steamboat was clear in his pre-match message to Taylor:</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Terry, for months now we’ve been hearing you call yourself the Computerised Man of the 90s, but all that York’s laptop seems to tell you to do is cheat and run away. When I took the NWA title from you I out these ten pounds of gold back in the hands of a proud fighting champion, and here they’re going to stay!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Alexandra York spoke for her charges:</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

“Two matches, two titles, and two irrefutable calculations of how to walk out of the Clash with the gold around my clients’ waists. Form in wrestling is temporary – as transient as the rise and fall of the stock markets, but just as the York Foundation has made thousands on short-selling falling stocks, so will we make money by betting that you will be the ones that crash this Thursday night!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

*</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="c9CYD8V.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/c9CYD8V.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="ijtBtWD.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/ijtBtWD.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="3ew1Lp4.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/3ew1Lp4.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="3p1PrYY.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/3p1PrYY.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="XtjeDny.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/XtjeDny.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="yLYFp2N.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/yLYFp2N.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Not for the first time the WCW Television title moved like a hot potato in the run up to the Clash; Terence Taylor rebounded from his loss of the NWA World title to claim the vacant strap and defended it twice, but lost it to Marcus Bagwell in an interference-filled contest. Bagwell didn’t manage even a single defence as Robert Eaton claimed the gold with the help of Alexandra York’s laptop.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Eaton was able to hold off Bagwell in a rematch, but a Sid Vicious chokeslam ended his reign – albeit that Konnan was the unwitting beneficiary. The Cuban’s inaugural singles reign was a short one, as Dean Malenko claimed the title the following week with the assistance of his brother. But that victory only attracted the attention of the Thrillseekers – no fans of the Malenkos to start with – and Jericho and Storm cost Malenko the title the following night as Michael Hayes won the belt. And so it was the Freebird who carried the Television title into Clash of the Champions XXVII...</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

*</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>WCW Clash Of The Champions XXVII</strong></p><p>

Sting © vs. Owen Hart – WCW World Title</p><p>

Barry Windham vs. Scott Steiner – Streetfight</p><p>

Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin © – WCW United States Title</p><p>

Arn Anderson and The Thrillseekers vs. Big Van Vader and The Malenkos</p><p>

Michael Hayes © vs. ??? – WCW Television Title</p><p>

Ricky Steamboat © vs. Terence Taylor – NWA World Title</p><p>

Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell vs. The Stocks And Shares Express © – NWA World Tag Team Titles</p></div><p></p><p></p>

March 3, 2020

WCW, Spring 1993

Franchise Players: Sting, Ric Flair, Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels Rick Rude

No surprise that the World champion tops the list ahead of the Nature Boy and the Superstar. Michaels has risen quickly over the last few months, pushing former World champ Rude down in a reflection of Rude's taking a backseat since losing the gold.

Next Big Things: Konnan, Cactus Jack, Chris Jericho, Mike Awesome, Owen Hart

Konnan? His skills have stepped up a grade or two in several places after spending a half-year seasoning in the midcard for us, but I wouldn't have put him top of the pile. Cactus, Jericho and Owen make more sense - Jericho will obviously be a star - while Awesome is a new arrival with a ton of potential.

Hot Prospects: Konnan, Awesome, Satoshi Kojima, Jericho and Marcus Bagwell

Kojima is 22 but signed to be half of an undercard tag team; He has a 0-0-20 record so far, only 9 of which made it to TV and only 1 appearance on an A show. Marcus Bagwell, on the other hand, is Ricky Steamboat's protege, a two-time TV champion, doing well out of working for WCW and UWF and has a genuine chance of becoming an S-tier wrestler due to Steamboat's influence on his performance skills and long hours drilling him on the mic.

Talk The Talk: Flair, Brian Pillman, Austin, Rude, Sting

Simply put, if you have Ric Flair on your roster, everyone he shares mic time with will improve.

Show Stoppers: Pillman, Sting, Michaels, Flair, Ricky Steamboat

Add Owen to the above list, while Diamond Studd (AKA Scott Hall) bagged the first A* of my game against Sting.

Ring Generals: Flair, Bret Hart, Arn Anderson, Stramboat, Dustin Rhodes

Rhodes' improvement is one of my favourite parts of my game. A surefire future World champion, no doubt.

Who's Hot: Lance Storm, Steve Austin, Ric Flair, DDP, Owen Hart

In order: Joined the Horsemen, long-running US champ, reformed the Horsemen, leads the double tag champions + Shawn Michaels and the 'Enforcer' for the Dangerous Alliance.

Who's Not: Brian Armstrong, Marcus Bagwell, Mike Droese, The Patriot

In order: Enhancement talent, Steamboat's junior tag partner who takes all the losses, enhancement talent and manager/occasional six-man partner to enhancement talents

Time Decline: Randy Savage, Michael Hayes

Savage was a spent force in real life by around 1993, at least compared to his prime in the mid-late 80s. Hayes was a spent force by around 1987 thanks to Jack Daniels and friends...

Hidden Gems: 2 Cold Scorpio, Luna Vachon, Norman Smiley, Eddie Gilbert, Bart Batten

They'll stay hidden. Scorpio is a poor fit for WCW, I don't have a women's division, Smiley would just be an undercard guy (and I already have Steven/William Regal for that role), Gilbert is a terrible backstage influence and... well, it's Bart Batten.

February 25, 2020

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="thadian" data-cite="thadian" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="47329" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I can't set up a company to work this way because the 2016 AI will either release them all or they will just be jobber division, or they will have integrated matches.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Yes this has always been an issue with TEW. In fairness to Adam, it's only in the last few years that women's wrestling has blossomed in North America and the UK. TEW 2016 was announced in January 2016; At that time we'd only just had the first Takeover headlined by women, Asuka was freshly debuted in NXT, the Becky/Charlotte/Sasha showstealer at WM was still 3 months away and they were still fighting over the <em>Divas</em> title... Yes, women's wrestling existed outside WWE, but it was rare for companies to present it as equal to the men's division.</p><p> </p><p> I'm delighted that AI feds will be able to run equal men's and women's divisions in 2020, but as a booker myself I either run fully integrated shows or have them as separate-but-equal; How else am I supposed to run a company where I have Lucy Stone-McFly <em>and</em> David Stone on the same roster?</p>

February 21, 2020

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="kzkZH7i.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/kzkZH7i.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p>

</p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">When I started this tale back in the summer of 2016 I’d been in the same job for nearly 8 and a half years. I had lots of time on my hands, and a burning desire to go back to 1991 and make the Dangerous Alliance the greatest stable of the 1990s. Everything else was secondary, although I was curious what I might do with Cactus Jack and Owen Hart if they weren’t given an artificial ceiling/were given the chance to fly on their own.</div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Nearly 4 years later, as TEW 2020 lies in the near future, I’ve changed jobs twice and no longer have the time to write at work. My update speed has consequently slowed to a crawl, if that. One of my great assets as a writer was having the time to write every day, or close enough, and being able to keep stories spinning all the time. I no longer have that, and while I’m happier in my work than I’ve ever been, it does mean I just can’t keep this kind of story going, not with any sort of consistency when it might take me 3 months or more to write 1 month’s worth of shows.</div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I’m going to wrap up this story. It was always intended to run to some point 1993, although insofar as I had a definite ending in mind it lay at Starrcade with something like the Flair/Vader match revisited – my intention was never to completely deviate from history, although of course I have, so very much.</div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Instead this story will run through the Great American Bash in July, which gives me a few more months to tell the remaining stories</div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"> and will round the story off at the two year mark. That’ll be done in </span></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">a more compressed format. After writing MAW, SWF, PSW and now WCW near constantly for 13 years now, I don’t think I have any more typical weekly shows in me. So the plan is to have ‘highlight’ posts akin to the feud recap videos you get promoting big PPV matches, and the PPVs themselves will be run in full – Clashes in March and April, WrestleWar in May, another Clash in June and then the Bash in July. I’d intended to run the shows in TEW and post abbreviated writeups, but I’ve not even found the time to do that, so from here on we’re basically into epilogue territory.</div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

What stories will get told between now and then, well... Let’s just see.</div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div><p></p>

February 16, 2020

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Hyde Hill" data-cite="Hyde Hill" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42193" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Love the backstage stuff. The more of it the better imho and you are really good at it. While you are somehow managing it any thought of cutting down the number of belts? World Champ, US Champ, TV Champ, NWA Champ, World Tag, US Tag, NWA Tag and trios. That makes 13 people in total holding gold which is a bit excessive maybe.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> </p><blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="to4sty" data-cite="to4sty" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="42193" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I’m glad to see a return to the backstage shenanigans (which are excellently written as always) I think I’ve mentioned it before but it was the behind the scenes narratives that initially drew me to this diary. It’s a hard dynamic to do ‘right’ (which you do, clearly) but when it’s good it adds so much depth to the overall product. Looking forward to seeing what Ol’ Naitch has planned</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Thanks, both. A little more backstage before we get back to the shows. I've always enjoyed dipping behind the curtain; It's fun to explore that side of things, and I'm glad to know other enjoy it too.</p><p> </p><p> *</p><p> </p><p> As for the titles, at the moment the champions are as follows:</p><p> </p><p> WCW World - Sting</p><p> WCW United States - Steve Austin</p><p> WCW World Tag + WCW US Tag - The Diamond Mine</p><p> WCW Television - Vacant</p><p> WCW Six Man - Luchamerica</p><p> </p><p> NWA World - Ricky Steamboat</p><p> NWA World Tag - Stocks And Shares Express</p><p> </p><p> So right now that's only <strong>10</strong> men holding gold! <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> I could drop some of the titles, but I quite liked all those titles floating around in WCW in 1991/92. If I were more organised I'd probably make Main Event the NWA show... but WCW =/= organised, even on their best days!</p><p> </p><p> *</p><p> </p><p> </p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="fbNfN33.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/fbNfN33.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><img alt="yLYFp2N.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/yLYFp2N.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /><p> </p></div><p></p><p></p><p> </p></div><p></p><p> </p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">“Naitch- I mean, Ric? Have you got a moment?”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ric looked up from the thick folder that contained Ted Turner’s thoughts, comments and reactions to recent WCW developments. This had become a habit on Turner’s part after recent big shows, and each time they got fuller and heavier. Ric dutifully read everything, made notes, and politely explained to the company owner why many of his ideas wouldn’t work.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Not with what I’ve got planned, anyway. With Vince, maybe... Maybe they should team up?</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Vince as a promoter with Ted Turner’s pocket book? Good luck everyone else!</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “PS, sure, come on in,” Ric said, waving the former Freebird into the seat across the desk from him. “What’s on your mind?”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Retirement,” Hayes said, dropping into the seat. He stared evenly at Ric, who looked back thoughtfully before replying.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>I have to say, PS looks better than I’ve seen him recently.</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>In fact, I </em></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">haven’t</div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em> seen much of him recently – not in the bars, anyway.</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Retirement, PS? You’re a decade younger than me, bud! You can’t retire!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Yeah, I agree Ric, so I don’t see why you want me to go work with Kevin and Funk down in Texas.”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Ah.”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ric leaned back in his chair. Kevin Von Erich had floated the idea to him during their last conversation about WCW’s development territory, operating under the World Class Championship Wrestling name.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “PS, </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Michael</em></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">, having you go down and work a spell with the kids is </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>exactly</em></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> what they need. Imagine it – you get the Cole twins and the Sampson brothers and that Matt Hardy kid and Bill Watts’ boy, and they’ve </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>finally</em></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> got the edge over the heels. The Bad Crew’s in retreat, Lawler’s kid is down, Bradshaw, Levesque, even that freaky Soultaker guy, they’re all on the ropes... Then Badstreet hits or, hell, maybe we’ll pay Lynyrd Skynyrd for the rights to use Freebird like back in the old days-“</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “If you think Fritz paid for the rights, Ric, you didn’t spend much time around him.”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “No, okay, but Ted Turner won’t thank us for getting sued! So whether it’s your old music or new, you come out and rally the troops. Maybe you wrestle, maybe you’re the man behind the man, you’d work that out with Kevin and Terry – but Michael, this is your chance to have a hand directly in WCW’s future. Go down for a tour, come back in a few months, and-“</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “And what? What happens when I come back, Naitch?”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ric paused again. Hayes eyes were alight with anger – not something Ric was used to seeing.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “I worked with the Pistols. I thought that was my spell working with the future of the company. Now you want me to go down to the minor leagues? Why not just fire me?”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Hey, now, Michael, hold on,” Ric said.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Where’s this come from? PS has never been an emotional guy, not like this!</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Well, we know how to calm him down...</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Look, it’s a little early, but how about a drink?” Ric stood up and walked over to the globe in one corner of his office. Rolling back the northern hemisphere, he picked up a bottle of Jack Daniels and offered it to Hayes.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “On the rocks?”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Hayes’ hands were clasped on the arms of his chair, but the white of the knuckles faded as he relinquished his grasp.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “One, sure. But I’m serious, Ric. I’ve been working hard these last few months. I’ve cut back on my drinking and partying. I’ve been training with Smothers and Armstrong, eating better... I’m in shape, Ric. I can go!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “PS...” Ric poured a generous measure into two glasses and dropped some ice into them. Handing one to Hayes, he sat back in his chair and took a slug, resisting pulling a face as the woody liquor passed over his palate.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>He drinks this stuff for fun. I guess there’s no accounting for taste!</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Which is probably what we’re going to discuss, at the core.</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Ric, let me show you what I can do. Give me a month – give me the TV title, let me have a little run. I don’t need to beat the big names, I can beat guys like Kanemoto and Quinn and all the job guys we’ve got coming in. I’m not talking about getting into a long programme with Sting, Ric. Give me until the next Clash, put Austin over me, see how it goes, that’s all I’m saying.”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ric took another sip of his drink, which was slightly more palatable with the melting ice taking a bit of the edge off it.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “...and when you see I can still go...” went unspoken but hung heavy in the air between them.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ric exhaled slowly. No-one understood the need to keep going better than him, to recapture the greatest feeling, time after time, night after night. No-one had captivated more crowd’s, more often, for longer, than he had.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Well, except maybe for Hogan.</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>And what did he have? Charisma, sure, and Vince’s marketing machine, but he didn’t do it with skill, blood and sweat – he did it with his twenty-four inch pythons and a bald spot that got bigger at the same rate his paycheck did!</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ric had worked in World Class with the Von Erichs and Freebirds. Yes, the territory had been hot – although it felt even sleazier than most once Fritz’s sons started dying – but it had only been hot for a few years, nearly a decade ago.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Michael’s day has passed. He needs to realise that.</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Maybe I need to tell him!</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Or...</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Or... let him work it out for himself. A match with Austin? On pay-per-view? Well, it would be sink or swim – and maybe Michael’s right, and he’s getting in shape, and he can go with someone like Austin who really </em></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em><span style="text-decoration:underline;">can</span></em></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em> go...</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ric lifted his glass and took a sip before staring at Hayes over the rim.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “When I spoke to Kevin, we didn’t have a definite time frame in mind. That angle can wait for a little while – hell, PS, you’re always going to be a big name down there, even if you make them wait for your encore!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> That clearly appealed to Hayes, who Ric knew well had held aspirations of a music career, and was still hard to keep away from the house mic on a night out.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “So, do you mean you’ll go for it?”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Ric nodded.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Yes, we will – you and Austin, next month or the month after so you can show me what you can do, Michael. I’ll do that for you, as a </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>favour</em></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">.”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> If Hayes noticed the stress on the last word, he didn’t react to it. Sitting upright in his chair, he beamed at Ric, who smiled back.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “Ric, you won’t regret this!”</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> “I know I won’t, Michael,” Ric said. He stood up and walked Hayes to the door, clapping him on the shoulder on the way out.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>I won’t regret another member of the booking team owing me one.</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>Woooo!</em></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p> </p>

February 1, 2020

The morning after the night before saw Ric arrive at the breakfast buffet at the same time as Eric, and Ric took the opportunity to greet him warmly.

“Not a morning person, Eric?” he asked, flashing a smile that could have lit up the room.

Eric glanced across the room, and then shrugged.

“I’ve never had much of an appetite for breakfast,” Eric said, setting his empty plate back on the stack and walking off without saying anything more.

Ric followed Eric’s gaze, and he smiled genuinely at the sight of Dusty sat with Turner at a table, bending the ear of the founder of TBS. Filling his plate, Ric walked over to the duo, taking his time to shake a few hands of fans who recognised him.

Dusty and Ted?

No rush. Let Ted get to know a rassler’s rassler, and appreciate what he has in the Nature Boy.

“Good morning Ted, Dusty. Do you mind if I join you?”

“Pull up a seat, Naitch! I’ve just been talking Mr Turner through the last couple of months.”

Ric frowned slightly as he sat down. Looking around, he gauged how close the other breakfasters were to the table.

“Strictly kayfabe, of course,” Dusty said, his voice lowered and a conspiratorial grin on his face.

Turner smiled into his breakfast.

“Don’t worry, Ric. Dusty’s been very discreet. It’s been a pleasure talking to him – as long as he and I have been in the same business, I’m not sure that we’ve ever had a real conversation.”

“You know, if ever you have any questions, you just need to ask, sir.”

Turner raised his glass of juice to Ric.

“Of course, but it never hurts to broaden my knowledge and understanding of the business, Ric. I’m not intended to get involved day-to-day, it’s not my place, even if there’s no National League in wrestling to say I couldn’t own

and

run WCW like with the Braves!”

He laughed. Dusty laughed. Ric forced a chuckle.

“Dusty’s been explaining the political side of the business to me. Of course, I knew that existed – I’ve had to deal with Vince McMahon, and there was Jim... But still, every business has its own quirks and traits, some more alike than others. This isn’t baseball, it’s not broadcasting... but the more I learn about wrestling, the more I see commonalities. I may never understand enough to be the head booker, of course, any more than I could really have managed the Braves, but it’s clear that having the right people in charge is critical.”

“And you do, sir. No-one could do Naitch’s job better than he does!”

“Thanks, Dusty,” Ric said.

“There’s no question that WCW has prospered under Ric,” Turner said. “And I’m delighted with that, and want to know how we can press on even faster, even more aggressively.”

“Like Vince did,” Dusty said.

“Just like Vince. I believe that Ric has shown he’s learned the lessons that his predecessors failed to heed. WCW is a success – and it’s done it

as

WCW. We rule the American airwaves and our live event business is a rousing success. The next step... Well, there we have to learn the WWF’s lessons – and avoid its mistakes!”

He downed the last of his juice, and stood up.

“Dusty, I look forward to speaking to you again in the future. Ric, I’m sure we’ll be speaking again before the week is out. Think on what I’ve said – we must strike from a position of strength, agreed?”

“Yes, that’s sensible,” Ric said. ‘Striking’ was something Turner was keen on – striking Vince, striking the WWF, striking new markets...

I don’t speak Japanese or Spanish, but sure, we can make moves.

All the more eyes on the Nature Boy! They love wrestling out there – wait’ll they get a load of the Nature Boy’s WCW!

January 29, 2020

To placate Shawn it may help to hire people that he likes - which means Hall, Nash, Waltman and HHH. Maybe Jose Lothario, too.

That causes its own problems, of course.

A different tack may be to spread peace and joy throughout the land - have Shawn make friends with other people in the locker room, preferably those who're positive influences in their own right. This is a lot easier if you yourself are a positive influence. If you're playing as Vince, then... But doing that will calm him slightly and make him less likely to act up.

The other approach you can - and should - take is to flood your backstage area with positive influences. It doesn't matter if it's nothing but enhancement talents; The presence of good people backstage will improve your backstage rating and that will help neutralise the effect of a toxic pit like Michaels.

In 1997 your choice playing as the WWF is Shawn or happiness unless you put a lot of work into changing things. Vader's likely a lost cause, and Owen's heading the same way. The good news is that Vader in 1997 is likely a lost cause anyway, and Owen's talented and a great guy, but lacks the charisma and star quality to truly crack the main event. So if you want to keep Shawn you pretty much have to run with those judgments - back him, reap the benefits of those A* performances... and the F- attitude.

And try and have him make friends with Austin and Foley, because with those 3 in the mix, your main event is secure for the next year or two.

January 29, 2020

“Thanks again, Ted,” Ric said, as Turner’s limousine rolled up the ramp and into the night.

“I could hardly leave two of WCW’s top executives to walk back to the hotel, could I?” Turner said with a smile. He accepted a glass from Bischoff, who poured a measure of scotch into it. “Thank you, Eric.”

Ric waved away the offer of a drink and watched Bischoff pour one for himself before settling back in his seat.

“My assistant will handle things with the arena and your rental companies. There’ll be new cars waiting for you in the morning.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Yes, thanks,” Ric said, quicker than he intended. For a moment he wished he’d accepted the drink, but pushed the thought away.

I’m not Bischoff. I’ve been dealing with Ted for years. This is just another car ride in a limo, and God knows I’ve had enough of those!

“That was a great show, boys. The main event was phenomenal! I thought that Pillman was going to walk out with the title, which would have been a bold move so soon into Sting’s reign!”

“Well, we’re not afraid of bold, sir!” Bischoff said. “Hijacking the Horsemen reveal with the revamped Kingdom, well...” He looked at Ric, who had insisted on the arrangement.

Harley and I, with our new armies? This is one for the long-term fans – everything to everyone, or at least something for everyone.

Not that Bischoff gets it. He thought that the Kingdom should work its way up the card, like Vader on his own doesn’t make the whole lot of them a threat! And the Malenkos don’t need much time to get them all the way over, not as good as they are in the ring and on the mic!

“Ric?” Ric refocused on Turner, who was looking at him quizzically.

“Sorry, Ted. I was looking ahead over the next few months, making sure the long-term plans we have in place are all running in the right direction.”

“Of course,” Turner said with a smile. “As a viewer, I’ve enjoyed the long-term storytelling, but Eric says that things are changing?”

Bischoff was relaxing in his seat, savouring the glass of scotch.

“We’re not changing the approach,” Ric said, marshaling his thoughts quickly. “But the focus has to change. You can’t ride a horse too long before it breaks down, and the time is right to take Rude out of the spotlight for a spell, and let Sting be the sole focus of the hunt. That means that the Dangerous Alliance recedes a little – not completely, they’re still the number one group, but for the time being it’s Austin, Owen and Pillman. That’s not as big a threat as when they had five of the best.”

“Yes... Arn leaving the Dangerous Alliance never seemed to cause them too much concern, I must say.”

Ric resisted the urge to glance at Bischoff, who’d sided with Dusty Rhodes in a heated booking meeting on that point. Michael Hayes had eventually fallen in line with Ric and Jim Crockett, but only after Ric had outlined a proposal for the Alliance to exact revenge on Arn.

“Revenge is best served cold!”

That was some quick thinking right there. They can’t prove whether or not I forgot that point! Whoooo!

“It’s in hand, Ted. And it’ll pay off before too much longer, at the appropriate juncture, in due course, in the fullness of time.”

“When?”

“When?” Ric echoed. “Probably within the next two months,” he replied, a fraction quicker than he intended.

“Probably?”

“Yes. We have a lot planned for the spring, and I don’t want to commit

right now

to points that could move as we go along. Today, I think it’ll be inside two months. As we get closer, it may make more sense to move it along to the following month – or we may need to have that specific point come in sooner.”

“I see,” Turner replied. “I always had the impression that your plans were a little more... concrete.”

You try booking

and

competing!

I can only do it because I’m the Nature Boy!

“If you want to know where the World title will be in six months, I can tell you. The next United States champion? I know that, too. There’s always certainty, but as well there has to be room to move pieces around the board. We lost Rick Steiner to WWF, and I admit, we weren’t prepared for that. It caught us on the hop, and Ted, I don’t want to be caught on the hop again.”

He smiled, and Turner returned the expression, before turning to Bischoff.

“Eric was saying that there’s a challenge in booking a babyface champion.”

“There... can be,” Ric said, sensing danger. “WCW, and the Mid-Atlantic territory before it, has been a heel territory going back a lot of years. Now, if the Dangerous Alliance were in full swing they’d work great as rivals for Sting... but of course, that’s how he

got

the belt! So we need other challengers, and that means lining up plenty of reliable hands for him, without wiping out the credibility of the face side of the roster. It’s always a balancing act.”

“And have you considered moving into a situation where you have more than one month to build up a challenger, before moving onto the next one?”

Once again Ric resisted looking to Bischoff, from whom Ric was sure the notion had come.

“We’re considering all possibilities. And that definitely includes longer-term angles for Sting and a challenger across more than one month. Most feuds in our undercard run for longer, but for the time being I want Sting to have big wins on a regular basis. That tells the fans that he’s reliable, that he can weather the storm, and that they can get behind him. He’s not a transitional champion.”

“And does your booking team agree with you?”

No!

Hell

no!

“If they agreed with me on every point, there’d be no point in them being in the meeting with me,” Ric said, with his winningest smile. He only held it for a moment, aware as Turner looked at him that the owner of the company no doubt dealt with winning smiles and shaky arguments on a daily basis. But Turner declined to press the point, possibly more down to their arriving at the hotel than anything else.

Ric settled into his room and took a long shower. As he stood under the steaming hot spray, his fingers shook a little. He balled them into a fist, squeezing them tight to still the tremor.

Two years. Two years I’ve been running this company, and when have things ever been better?

Bischoff’s just trying to jump on the bandwagon – but this one’s fuelled by gold and kamikazes, and that’s Nature Boy territory!

Ric’s head dropped, and for a moment he rested his blonde mane against the wall of the shower.

Politics. God knows I’ve played that game for a long, long time in the locker room... but in the board room? Bischoff finessed me once to get in the door. Is he going to do it again?

And if he did, would it be the worst thing?

Ric raised his head, the thought hitting him from nowhere.

I...

Well, would it?

I’m not going to give up control. I know a lot better than Bischoff does about... everything, except maybe Teen Beat magazine.

Then I guess you need to stop feeling sorry for yourself, Ric. And stop getting caught out by Bischoff! That punk’s got nothing you haven’t got, and he especially doesn’t have the stroke with the boys that the Nature Boy does. Never has, never will!

Ric shut off the shower and stepped out. Catching sight of himself in the mirror, he stared at his reflection.

Maybe there’s a wrinkle or two, but...

Still the Nature Boy! Whoooo!

Ric smiled. It wasn’t a winning smile, rather it was a baring of teeth.

Eric, this is WCW, this is the Mid-Atlantic, this is Flair country.

And in Flair country, the Nature Boy is king!

January 23, 2020

Ric walked through the arena’s parking area, the cheers of the crowd still ringing in his ears. A month’s worth of TV to build to Owen and Sting would write itself, and then there was the Diamond Mine’s tag title match, the start of tensions between the Horsemen and the Kingdom, and the need to crown a new Television champion.

Plus Ricky with the NWA belt. It looks good on him.

It looked better on me, but...

He stopped short, taking in the sight before him. His rental car sat on slashed tyres, the driver’s door open, the glass in its window smashed in. Wrapping a handkerchief around his hand he pushed the door further open, glancing inside the car and grimacing at the slashed seats.

“You too, huh?”

Ric turned to face Eric Bischoff, who pointed across to another vandalised car.

“Owen and Brian, too. They got a lift out of here with Austin and Rude. Apparently our cars looked nice enough that they had to have something in them. Fortunately the only thing I left in my car was a pack of gum. You?”

Ric shook his head.

“No, I’ve been doing this too long. They got nothing, just-“

He waved a hand at the car.

“I guess Hertz will cross me off their list. Who’re you with?”

“Avis, you know, ‘we try harder’?” Bischoff said. “But they’ll have to try really hard to get me on the road tonight. You’re at the Hilton, right?”

Ric nodded.

“So’s Mr Turner. He offered me a ride, I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you tagged along!”

Eric smiled as he said it and Ric met the expression with one of his own, which fell away as Eric turned and started walking.

“Lead the way,” Ric said, staring at the back of Eric’s head.

January 18, 2020

Happy New Year!

...feels a little bit weird saying that when we're closer to February than December, I admit...

*

World Championship Wrestling presents: SuperBrawl III

Thursday, Week 4, February 1993

Your announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone and Paul E. Dangerously

Ring announcer: Gary Michael Cappetta

Backstage: Eric Bischoff, Patricia Robinson and Jason Hervey

Ross:

Ladies and gentlemen,

it’s time for the very best wrestling

you could possibly ask for as WCW comes into your homes live on pay-per-view!

Dangerously:

And because the Dangerous Alliance is the Dangerous Alliance we’re going to see Rick Rude destroy Bret Hart, Steve Austin beat three other men to retain the United States title, Owen Hart take down whatever challenger is lined up for his Television title and in the main event there’s going to be something truly beautiful as Brian Pillman becomes the WCW World champion and ends Sting’s reign of terror!

Schiavone:

Reign of terror? Do you ever listen to anything that comes out of your mouth, Paul?

Dangerously:

All the time, Schiavone. It’s the best way to get good commentary around here.

Ross:

Be that as it may, folks, we also have Steamboat and Taylor for the NWA World title, Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell – that’s right! – against the Stocks And Shares Express for the NWA tag titles.

Schiavone:

We also have Barry Windham tying it up with the Steiner Animal, Scott Steiner, and the Diamond Mine defending the United States tag titles against the Young Pistols.

Ross:

And let’s not forget the historic announcement of the latest members of the Four Horsemen!

Schiavone:

It’s going to be a big night – maybe the greatest night in the history of our sport!

Ross:

You may well be right, Tony. Let’s take it down to ringside to find out who’s going to be challenging Owen Hart...

Schiavone:

...it’s the Post-Soviet Superstar, Nikita Koloff!

Ross:

And that’s a huge challenge for Owen Hart! Koloff may be the strongest man in WCW!

Schiavone:

No smart remarks, Paul?

Dangerously:

If you

must

know, I’m preparing a campaign of revenge against Koloff and anyone else who gets in our way –

if

this ambush tactic causes Owen to lose the Television title!

WCW Television Title

Nikita Koloff vs. Owen Hart ©

Faced with the unexpected in the form of the Post-Soviet Superstar, Hart wisely bailed out of the ring to consult with Madusa. Koloff was having none of that, though – reaching through the ropes he grabbed Hart’s blonde hair and dragged him back into the ring, before hurling him right across the mat in an incredible show of strength! With no hope of overpowering his challenger, Hart had to make do with putting his speed and technique to their best use, which just about balanced the scale against the Lithuanian. Hart fell victim to a Sickle, but Madusa was in place to get her client’s foot on the bottom rope to break the count. As Koloff argued with the referee and demanded Madusa’s ejection from ringside, Hart used the top rope as a springboard to launch himself across the ring, drilling Koloff with a Missile Dropkick to snatch the three count before Koloff could recover! (B)

Dangerously:

That’s five! Owen’s done it!

Schiavone:

And not only is that a lot of money for this young man, but that guarantees him a shot at a title of his choice – and I wonder if that might mean a match against Steve Austin or Brian Pillman in the near future?

Dangerously:

Oh

please

, Schiavone. You ought to know the Alliance better than that…

Ric Flair, Arn Anderson and Fifi walked down the aisle to a rapturous response from the fans in attendance. Flair beamed as he soaked in the adulation, and even Anderson looked pleased at the fans’ reaction.

Flair:

For too long the Horsemen have been absent from WCW – but tonight we ride again!

Anderson:

The Horsemen are back, but this

isn’t

just about making sure the World title stays around the waist of the Nature Boy. Not this time! We both want to make sure that the Horsemen of the 1990s are as great as we were. Because we know that chances are, the way the Horsemen ride, Ric and I won’t see out this decade at the top of the pile, the way we came into it.

Flair held up a hand to forestall the crowd’s saddened reaction.

Flair:

It’s 1993. We’ve got a lot of years ahead of us, and a lot of roads to ride, but we’re looking to the future, and that’s why we’ve been looking for great young talent that we can pass the reins to – when the time comes. And having taken a couple of months to scout the best talent from around the globe, without further ado please welcome the new members of the Horsemen... the Thrillseekers, Lance Storm and Chris Jericho!

The crowd cheered the arrival of the popular young duo who, like Anderson and Flair, were dressed in sharp suits, looking ready to be Horsemen.

Anderson:

And! The Horsemen know talent when we see it, and during our scouting we came across a young talent with incredible technical skill – and after the show we caught him in the bar, and he had the women hanging off him. And that’s a Horseman! So please welcome the

fifth

Horseman... Steven Regal!

The young Englishman walked down the aisle and joined his new colleagues in the ring, but before the group could do any more...

Race:

I’d say that I hate to crash a party, but I’ve never minded spoiling your day, Ric. Now, you go ahead with your fraternity nonsense, because the Mastodon here has waited long enough. You see, we’ve been let down – Curtis Hughes, Ron Harris, Don Harris... They seemed like they walked the same path as Vader. But it’s become clear that’s not the case. So they’re gone, and in their place-

Jericho and Storm caught the attention of the other Horsemen, turning them around to the sight of...

...the Malenkos vaulting the crowd barrier, lead pipes in hand.

Race:

And not just them, but someone who was

too violent

for the Horsemen, which seems to make him ideal for the Kingdom!

Mike Awesome emerged from backstage, joining Vader partway down the ramp, flanking Race. Awesome was toting a baseball bat in his hands, and looked about as fearsome as Vader, unarmed but masked, huge and seemingly only restrained by Race partly blocking the way to the ring.

Race:

Now, you boys can go haze the new kids, or whatever you have planned. We’re going to get to work, getting

our

new members trained and ready to fight Vader. And if they can survive that, then anything else will be simple!

Race turned and walked up the aisle, Vader and Awesome following him, the Malenkos circling around the ring before disappearing backstage in their wake. The Horsemen, new and well-established, were left alone in the ring. Anderson looked troubled as Flair tried to rally the troops.

Dangerously:

I think their celebration got cancelled.

Ross:

If Flair and Anderson thought they just had to bring in some fresh blood for it all to go back to the way they’re used to, Harley Race clearly had other ideas.

Bret Hart vs. Rick Rude

Moving right along, a man who rejected the Dangerous Alliance came face-to-face with the group’s leader. The former World champion was aggressive from the off, perhaps spurred on by back-to-back defeats in recent big matches. Hart had to fight defensively, but for the Hitman it was clear that wasn’t a disadvantage – simply an alternative way of inflicting damage on Rude.

Schiavone:

He’s playing rope-a-dope! And Rude’s punching himself out!

Despite Dangerously’s protestations, Rude was certainly struggling to land the killing blow – and when Hart reversed a Rude Awakening attempt into a dangerously close two count, Rude bailed out of the ring. Rather than consult with Madusa, however, he seemed ready to walk out of the match until Hart chased up the ramp and the two exchanged punches. As the referee threatened to count the two out, Hart caught Rude with a boot to the gut before delivering a piledriver on the wooden ramp, drawing gasps from the crowd as Rude was left spasming on the ramp. Hart coolly broke the referee’s count before dragging Rude back into the ring, where a Russian legsweep and an elbow drop from the second rope brought two more close falls. Rather than get frustrated, however, Hart delivered a backbreaker to further jolt Rude’s spine, before grapevining Rude’s legs and turning him over into the Sharpshooter.

Ross:

And this was enough for Sting – will Hart’s version be as effective? Can Rick Rude escape?

With the hold locked in, and Hart seemingly anchored in the centre of the ring, Rude reached vainly for the ropes, for Madusa’s outstretched hands, even for the official to try and break the hold... but nothing came within reach, and with Hart twisting his legs and spine in unnatural ways, Rude had no choice but to surrender! (A)

Dangerously:

No! No! No!

Ross:

Yes! You may not like it, Paul, but Hart’s won!

Hart slumped to the mat, releasing Rude and showing the effect of his efforts as he could barely raise his arm even with the referee’s help. Rude seemed less effected even as he rolled to the outside, but once there he again shrugged off Madusa and stood on the ramp, hands on his head as he stared into space. He didn’t look back at the ring as Hart pushed himself upright, instead walking slowly up the ramp, shaking his head as he walked, limping heavily as he clutched at his back, leaving Madusa in his wake.

Dangerously:

This is... just a temporary setback, nothing more!

*

Backstage, Sting was running through some last-minute exercises ahead of the main event, stretching to loosen up his muscles and joints.

Dangerously:

I suppose he thinks he should try and keep up with Brian? Well, good luck with that!

WCW United States Tag Team Titles

The Young Pistols vs. The Diamond Mine ©

Months after the Pistols lost the US tag titles to the Diamond Mine the two teams clashed once more – and the burgeoning confidence of both sides could be seen as they threw everything that they had against one another, bombarding one another with their biggest and best moves. Steve Armstrong was lucky to survive Snake Eyes from Vinnie Vegas, only his partner’s intervention saving the pinfall. Tracy Smothers nearly got the win himself when the Pistols caught Diamond Studd with a double Missile Dropkick, but Studd managed to hook a leg over the rope to break the count. As the official tried to get the match down to two legal men, he missed DDP climbing onto the apron and, as Armstrong lunged at him, DDP socked him with a fistful of silver dollars, dropping Armstrong like a stone. As the referee turned around, Studd covered Armstrong for the tainted – but official – pinfall to retain the titles. (B)

Ross:

What a sickening result!

Schiavone:

I have to agree with you, Jim. Too bad for the Pistols – but fire like that makes me think Commissioner Ventura will keep them in mind for a rematch, and soon!

*

Eric Bischoff was waiting outside the Dangerous Alliance locker room for Owen Hart, who emerged with a broad smile on his face.

Bischoff:

Owen, congratulations on your victory tonight. Can I ask who you’ll be challenging with your guaranteed title shot?

Hart:

You can ask, but you’re not getting an answer, not now.

Owen smirked.

Hart:

That information is on a need to know basis, and right now you don’t need to know! Maybe I’ll share it tonight, maybe I’ll wait until Thursday, or maybe I’ll sit on that title shot until the moment’s right and then BANG, new champion!

Hart:

But for right now? That’s between me... and the rest of the Dangerous Alliance.

NWA World Tag Team Titles

Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell vs. The Stocks And Shares Express ©

Even after all this time, it’s still jarring to see Richard Morton and Robert Gibson fighting without honour – no matter how much money it may be making them! While the Express initially had some success double-teaming Bagwell, against the monstrous Sid they had no such luck, and so rattled were they that Bagwell got back in on the action, nearly taking a win with a Diving Crossbody from the top that his mentor would have approved of! With the Express on the back foot, Alexandra York’s computer seemed to suggest that discretion was the better part of valour and they walked away from the match, taking the countout loss – but keeping the titles! (B-)

Dangerously:

He who learns to run away lives to fight another day.

Ross:

Or to put it another way, you’ve gotta know when to fold ‘em.

Dangerously:

Hey, you and I agree on something, Ross!

Ross:

Excuse me while I go take a shower...

*

As the Diamond Mine celebrated their victory backstage with champagne, beautiful women and big cigars Commissioner Ventura crashed the party.

Ventura:

Gentlemen, great win – you got the job done, by any means necessary, and I appreciate champions and competitors who can see beyond the obvious. But you know that titles have to be defended every month and this weekend is your last chance to defend...

Ventura pointed to the set of World tag title belts, being sported around the waists of two statuesque blonde women.

Ventura:

...those. And as it happens, I have

plenty

of teams queuing up to compete for them.

As Ventura turned and walked away Cactus Jack and Ultimate Warrior appeared in the doorway of the Diamond Mine locker room. Diamond Studd was quick to his feet.

Studd:

What the hell do you want?

Cactus was practically bouncing up and down as he looked at the trappings of the Diamond Mine’s success.

Cactus:

Is this how champions train? Looks like fun!

Warrior:

Champions in name, but not in heart. The rewards of a true warrior are a harder fight tomorrow.

Cactus:

I thought it was to crush your enemies, see them driven before you and hear the lamentation of their women?

Warrior:

That as well. Come, Jack, there is much work to be done.

Warrior steered Cactus away as Vinnie Vegas shook his head, picking up a bottle and taking a swig.

Vegas:

“Champions in heart,” pffahh. I’ll take champions-in-paycheck any day!

Barry Windham vs. Scott Steiner

Fans wanting a decisive finish were left waiting again here, but certainly not wanting for action! Renewing a rivalry that months ago focused on tag gold, Windham and Steiner tore into one another like wild dogs, both seeming to enjoy the challenge of the other. The fight spilled out of the ring and out of the official’s control, and neither man seemed willing to show any restraint, but the referee called an end to affairs when Windham swung a chair at Steiner and gave the Animal the DQ win... (B)

...although Steiner was quick to snatch up a chair of his own and the pair tried to wipe one another out before security managed to intervene, separating them even as they tried to reach one another.

Dangerously:

Let them fight!

Schiavone:

And put them both on the injured list? No, Commissioner Ventura won’t go for that – not unless he has the chance to make more money out of it!

*

Like Sting before him, Ricky Steamboat was intent on his last-minute training ahead of his big title match. And with his allies Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell still fuming over the tainted finish to their match earlier in the night, Steamboat looked extra motivated as he wound down his routine and headed to the ring.

NWA World Title

Ricky Steamboat vs. Terence Taylor ©

From early in this match it was clear that the Stocks And Shares Express’ ‘tactical retreat’ was in Taylor’s thoughts, as the Computerised Man of the ‘90s tried to bail out of the match after Steamboat landed nearly all the offence in the opening exchanges. But the arrival of Vicious and Bagwell made it clear that escape wasn’t an option for the champion, and even when the Express tried to ambush Steamboat’s allies, that only obstructed the ramp even more. Taylor was left with no option but to fight Steamboat, and he set about the task with grim determination. With York and her laptop working overtime at ringside to try and keep strategies coming for her client, Taylor did manage to land a few good hits, but Steamboat was not to be denied, and with a Diving Crossbody from the top rope he finally managed to put Taylor down for three – and become the new NWA World champion! (B+)

Schiavone:

Steamboat is the champion! The Dragon takes the gold!

Ross:

And the NWA knows that it has a champion it can be proud of – and one who’ll face any and all challengers who come his way!

As the York Foundation gathered around Taylor, Bagwell and Vicious entered the ring to congratulate Steamboat. At first it seemed like they wanted to hoist him on their shoulders, but the disparity in height made that impossible, and instead Steamboat sat on the shoulders of Vicious alone, his newly-won title belt held aloft as Bagwell applauded his mentor and the fans cheered.

Ross:

And it just looks

right

.

WCW United States Title

Randy Savage vs. Dustin Rhodes vs. Steve Austin © vs. Shawn Michaels

This was never going to pretty. Not pretty, not controlled, and not slow, either. The official wisely took the decision to stay out of the way of the four fighters, between whom the levels of hatred have ramped up significantly over the last several weeks. Even between Dustin Rhodes and Randy Savage, partners in War Games less than a year ago, the desire to become United States champion – and perhaps as importantly, take the title from Austin – had stoked the flames of rivalry. What that all meant was wild chaos, with no quarter asked and none given, no alliance lasting for more than a few moments, and some unusual teammates working together, if only temporarily. Perhaps none was stranger than Austin and Rhodes, working together late in the match to fell Michaels with a barrage of punches and clotheslines that left their fellow Texan down in one corner of the ring. The brief spell of cohesion was interrupted as Savage sprang from the top rope and levelled Rhodes with a double axehandle, however – one which left the Macho Man open to a low blow from Austin!

Dangerously:

No disqualification! Austin can do whatever he wants to – and he will!

As Savage dropped to the mat, Austin hauled Rhodes upright and dropped him across the top rope with a Stun Gun. That was enough, with the added impact of Savage’s attack, to leave Rhodes down and give Austin the win – and allow him to keep his title! (A)

Ross:

I have a feeling we’ll be hearing about this for some time to come...

Patricia Martin joined Austin in the ring, but before she could ask any questions Austin snatched the mic from her.

Austin:

I’ll handle this. You want to know how I feel? You want to know what I think? I’ll tell you – I’m the Superstar, the greatest wrestler in WCW, the reigning United States champion and I’ll guaran-damn-tee it right now that I’m a future World champion.

Austin:

The great news is that I’m still young, Trish. I’ve got a lot of time left ahead of me, I’m just way ahead of the game with how fast I’m getting things done around here.

Austin:

So the way I see it, the World title comes back to the Dangerous Alliance real soon – probably tonight, when Brian takes out Sting, and if not then, well...

Austin slapped the United States title draped across his shoulder.

Austin:

...who’s about to say I’m not the number one contender after retaining

my

title against three other men tonight?

WCW World Title

Sting © vs. Brian Pillman

The Dangerous Alliance have been a thorn in Sting’s side since their formation, but so to has he been a perennial obstacle in their bid to dominate WCW. With Rick Rude defeated, it remains to be seen if any other member of the Alliance can take down the Stinger – and Pillman seemed to feel he was the one to do it. Opening at top speed, Pillman showed himself to be one of the few members of the WCW roster who may be even more athletic than the World champion. A dropkick sent Sting through the ropes, and Pillman was quick to scale the turnbuckles, diving from the second rope onto Sting on the arena floor, thousands of flashbulbs erupting as the fans in attendance captured the stunning moment.

Sting had to give everything to keep up with his challenger. He tried to work on Pillman’s legs and back, but such is Pillman’s agility and technique level that the champion found it hard to keep hold of him for long. Where he did find success, though, was in using his incredible strength to hit Pillman hard with strikes and moves.

Schiavone:

He can hurt Pillman – if he can catch him!

Used to being the faster man in most matches, Sting took time to adjust to his opponent’s pace, and on several occasions Pillman came close to victory. A Shining Wizard might have done it, had Sting not landed within arm’s reach of the ropes, and while Pillman dragged him into the centre of the ring, the slight delay was enough that Sting got his shoulder up a fraction of a second before the referee counted to three. Pillman fought to remain calm, but when an attempt at a System Crash was foiled by Sting rushing the ropes and forcing Pillman to jump awkwardly clear, the challenger was slow to improvise – and Sting was able to hoist him high overhead with a military press. As Madusa covered her eyes at ringside Sting crossed the mat and launched Pillman high into the air, sending him flying over the top rope to a hard landing on the ramp, the thunderous crash echoing through the arena as fans groaned in sympathy.

Ross:

Pillman looks like he’s been in a car wreck!

Dangerously:

I feel like I have...

Pillman struggled to his feet, the wind clearly taken from his sails – and before he had the chance to recover Sting was airborne under his own power, hurling himself over the top rope with a flying tackle that sent Pillman sprawling once again. The impact left both men down, and somehow Pillman was the first to get back to his feet, but whatever adrenaline rush got him upright seemed to make him careless; Charging at Sting, he left himself open to a back body drop that launched him high into the air and over the top rope to another hard landing back in the ring.

Ross:

That’s only a thin ring mat, folks. Believe me when I say that Brian Pillman felt all of that, and will be feeling it for days to come!

Sting climbed wearily back into the ring, grabbing Pillman’s legs and grapevining them with his own. Pillman fought hard, bucking and thrashing to prevent Sting locking on the hold, but with his legs taken out from under him and his body aching, perhaps for the first time in the match Pillman found his strengths neutralised by the champion. Unable to reach the ropes or fully counter Sting’s strength, Pillman held out as long as he could as Sting turned him over, sitting back into the Scorpion Deathlock and locking Pillman down in the centre of the ring. Pillman scratched and clawed at the mat, as he pulled at his own hair and bellowed in frustration, and Sting held on, grimly, wearily... and successfully, as Pillman accepted defeat rather than allow his body to be bent completely in two! (A*)

Sting released the hold, sinking to his haunches as Pillman rolled wearily from the ring, slamming his hands on the ringside mat in frustration at the missed opportunity. As Sting rose slowly upright and raised his hands to salute the crowd, the thousands upon thousands of Stingers roared their support for their idol...

Ross:

What a match! A tremendous effort from both competitors, and all credit to Brian Pillman – on another night we’d be saluting a new champion!

Dangerously:

We would Ross, but them’s the breaks – and there’s always next time.

...and Owen Hart walked down the aisle.

Hart:

I have to hand it to you, Stinger. I really didn’t think you’d make it past Brian. I know him better than anyone, and I thought he had your number for sure... but I guess you’re even better than I gave you credit for. And that’s great news, Sting, because the next person you’ll be defending your World title against...

Hart:

...is me!

Hart:

And as great as you are, Stinger, you’ll be facing the Hart Dungeon’s greatest graduate, a Triple Crown champion here in WCW, a wrestler with all of the Dangerous Alliance’s resources behind him.

Hart:

And that means your days as champion are numbered!

Sting, barely able to stand after a near half-hour war with Pillman, stared up the ramp at Hart, who was joined by Steve Austin, Madusa, and even by a limping Pillman.

Ross:

Sting barely even gets to draw breath before a new challenger emerges!

Dangerously:

And not just any challenger, Ross. The next World champion!

Schiavone:

Well, that remains to be seen, but folks, thanks for joining us here at SuperBrawl, and we’ll see you on Saturday night!

Show rating: A*

Sting capitalised on his position as WCW figurehead to bring in an early copy of SuperBrawl Wrestling to play with the boys before the show … Given the game’s not due out until late ’94, I hope they manage to get Rick Steiner and Johnny B. Badd off the roster before then … El Tigre Blanco and Lance Storm have struck up a strong friendship ... Sting/Pillman getting an A* wasn’t exactly a massive shock. Sting now has 2 to his name in this diary, quite apart from dominating the top 100 against various members of the Dangerous Alliance and Diamond Exchange

December 22, 2019

World Championship Wrestling presents: Main Event

Sunday, Week 3, February 1993

Your commentators: Tony Schiavone, Eric Bischoff and Dusty Rhodes

It was defence number four for Owen Hart on Sunday night as he tore into Todd Champion, showing the Special Forces member no mercy at all as he broke him down with speed and technique, prior to delivering a Missile Dropkick for the win. (B)

With the NWA World tag titles on the line this Thursday, Marcus Bagwell and Robert Gibson clashed in a preview that showed how much Bagwell has improved in his rookie year in the business. Still, Gibson has experience on a par with almost anyone, and even in a singles match he has plenty of tricks up his sleeves. Bagwell was in trouble – momentarily, as in a move very reminiscent of his mentor Ricky Steamboat, Bagwell rebounded from the corner after an Irish whip and dived around Gibson, rolling him up and scoring the three before Gibson seemed to realise his shoulders were down! ©

Schiavone:

As great a team as the Express is, I can’t imagine they’ve ever faced a team as unusual as Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell!

Luchamerica put their Six Man titles on the line in a fiery clash, taking on a trio of wily veterans in Dennis Knight, Jimmy Del Rey and Randy Rose. The high energy of the champions gave them the edge on the night as they brought down the challengers at pace, with Konnan eventually forcing Rose to submit to a Tequila Sunrise. (B-)

The Thrillseekers must be wondering if they’re going to be inducted into the Horsemen this Thursday – and it could be a whole new chapter in their careers if so! But even the few months mentoring that the young Canadians had from Ric Flair have reaped dividends, and continued to here as they took out the Lightning Express in some style! (B)

Rhodes:

You’ve got to love seeing young talent rush their way up the rankings!

In the night’s main event, Steve Austin took on Todd Champion, and the up-and-coming military man pushed the United States champion to the limit – something Austin didn’t seem to appreciate just a few days away from defending against three other men! Catching a break when he evaded a charge from Champion into the corner, Austin locked Champion down with a Hollywood And Vine, contorting his opponent viciously until Champion had no choice but to give up! (B+)

Bischoff:

The champion is on fire; But can he hold off three men at SuperBrawl III?

Schiavone:

Folks, join us this Thursday for that match, Sting against Brian Pillman and so many other great contests, only on pay-per-view!

Show rating: B+

OOC: Ric Flair shared some psychology tips with El Tigre Blanco, who moves up to a B … 5 more points and the kid can main event … Maybe lose the mask first, esé? … To celebrate, Blanco made friends with Chris Jericho, possibly after cursing him out for being a mark first

*

WCW SuperBrawl III

Sting © vs. Brian Pillman – WCW World Title

Randy Savage vs. Dustin Rhodes vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Steve Austin © – WCW United States Title

The Young Pistols vs. The Diamond Mine © – WCW United States Tag Team Titles

Bret Hart vs. Rick Rude

Ricky Steamboat vs. Terence Taylor © – NWA World Title

Sid VIcious and Marcus Bagwell vs. The Stocks And Shares Express © – NWA World Tag Team Titles

Barry Windham vs. Scott Steiner

Beat The Champ: ??? vs. Owen Hart © – WCW Television Title

And: Arn Anderson and Ric Flair reveal the new members of the Horsemen!

December 12, 2019

<p>OOC: I have the 'flu. I did hope that having a week off work would at least give me writing time to get SuperBrawl written, but that's not happened. I <em>have</em> got some quality World of Warcraft time in, having recently got back into the game after nearly a decade away. I also got Main Event written, and want to have that up soon, and SuperBrawl before Christmas. It seems like that'd be a good time to pause the shows to let that sink in for a while. Not that Ric's going to be getting the time off; Last time I did this we had Ric and Vince interacting. This time, I'm in the mood for something a little different...</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

*</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="plggoJ2.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/plggoJ2.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>World Championship Wrestling presents: Saturday Night</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Saturday, Week 3, February 1993</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>Your commentators: Jim Ross, Paul E. Dangerously and Tony Schiavone</p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">With all four members of the Dangerous Alliance in action, it was a big night for Paul E’s crew – and didn’t he let everyone know it when Owen Hart opened the night with a win over Brian Armstrong to retain the Television title! (C+)</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

That’s the Dangerous Alliance in a nutshell! Winning the big matches, keeping the gold where it’s meant to be, and cashing fat checks!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

From one supergroup to another – and Ric Flair and Arn Anderson confirmed that the Horsemen audition process was over: The new members would be announced at SuperBrawl III!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Maybe it was because the United States title wasn’t on the line, but Steve Austin didn’t live up to Paul E’s braggadocio when he clashed with Bret Hart. Oh, the Superstar looked tremendous in the match, no question, but win? No – but then again, you could equally blame Rick Rude, as it was his blindside assault of Hart that brought the DQ, not that Austin seemed to mind as he joined his ally in a two-on-one beating of the Hitman… (A)</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

…before first Dustin Rhodes and then Randy Savage raced down the aisle, turning the Dangerous Alliance’s numerical advantage into a </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>dis</em></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">advantage as Rude and Austin fought hard for a few moments before making a tactical retreat, Madusa imposing herself between the two sides to keep her clients free from reprisals. As the Alliance trio backed away, they passed Shawn Michaels – the Rough Diamond had sauntered down the aisle to watch the fight, but had stopped well short of getting involved, rather watching his rivals brawl with a broad grin on his face!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

But then, Michaels had his own business to take care of, clashing with fellow Texan Barry Windham in a match that also had an inconclusive finish. No slight to Michaels, even if the Diamond Exchange man is happy enough to cheat when the mood takes him. No, here it was Scott Steiner charging the ring to try and ambush Barry Windham… (B+)</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

…a move that failed as Windham showed himself more than ready for a sneak attack from the Steiner Animal, catching him with a big boot to the face before delivering a lariat that sent him flying back over the top rope to the outside!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Ross: </strong></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">He’s walked the walk many times, and Scott Steiner will have to get up very early indeed to put one over on Barry Windham!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Rhodes and Savage returned to tackle the Stocks And Shares Express in a non-title match – both fan favourites have their mind on singles gold right now! The St Louis crowd loved seeing hard-fought tag action unfold before them, but it wasn’t without outside distractions on all sides as Austin, Michaels, Marcus Bagwell and Sid Vicious all got involved to some degree. Amidst the chaos Savage lowered the boom on Gibson for the pin – which went almost totally unnoticed with the mayhem continuing in and around the ring until WCW security and officials managed to get the eight men separated! (B)</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Eric Bischoff managed to catch up with Michaels as he headed back to his team’s locker room. Michaels said that he felt right at home out in the heat of battle.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Michaels: </strong></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">You can bring eight men, ten men, twenty, thirty – the more the better! I thrive on that kind of chaos, Bisch, and the more the merrier! Me and three others? A piece of cake! I’ll be walking out of SuperBrawl with my hand held high, and gold around my waist – just like my buddies ‘Big Sexy’ Vinnie Vegas and the ‘Bad Guy’ Diamond Studd!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

There wasn’t much less chaos in the next match, even with just four men in the ring – ‘just’ in this case being quite misleading, given those four men were Ultimate Warrior, Cactus Jack, Brian Pillman and Rick Rude! With so much talent on display, and the egos to match, the referee had a thankless task keeping things under control. We suspect that Commissioner Ventura has a standing order in place for matches like this, as the official let the action flow freely – but that proved costly to Cactus and Warrior as Madusa was able to catch Cactus in the back of the head with a cellphone, knocking him goofy and leaving him open to a Shining Wizard from Pillman that secured his team the win! (B)</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Dangerously: </strong></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">It’s a good night to be me, gentlemen!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Our crack team of cameramen were able to track down both the York Foundation and their SuperBrawl opponents backstage; Both sides were deep in discussion with the big event just a few days away, and serious implications for the NWA titles as Ricky Steamboat clashes with Terence Taylor, and the Stocks And Shares Express face Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Jesse Ventura invited both Sting and Brian Pillman to the ring to sign the contract for their World title match at SuperBrawl, and offered both the chance to say a few words.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Sting:</strong></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> I’ve seen a lot of good men get too hungry – for success, for titles, for money… I’ve stopped being surprised, but I never stop hoping that their good nature will win out. Brian, two years ago you were as good a friend to me as any man could ask for. Since then you and I have butted heads again and again – we’ve even fought in War Games against each other, which I never would have expected. You know I won’t go easy on you next Thursday night, not with the WCW World title on the line… but some day, I hope, we’ll be able to look back on this as just a short pause in our friendship.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Pillman: </strong></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">That’s touching, truly. I think I might cry… or not. Sting, your way is really nice, but it worked </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>for you</em></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">, because you were the superhero, you had the face paint and the neon tights and all the kids lining up for your photo. I never begrudged you that, buddy – I hate kids, so I never wanted that… but the amount of money you bring in means that the top brass want to keep you sweet, and that means you kept getting opportunities. Maybe you deserved them, maybe not, but from where I was at the bottom of the pile looking up, it sure seemed like every time I tried to make a move I had to line up behind you – a long way back. So when Paul E came to me and said he could use someone of my talent, well, I wasn’t too surprised, given how talented I am! And I was definitely ready to listen, because I knew I deserved better. And on Thursday night I’ll have it – the very best, and I’ll do it not for the kids, not for my </div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><em>friends</em></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">, not even for the Alliance. I’ll do it for the best in the world; Me!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The two signed the contract and, as Jesse Ventura ran through the formalities, stared one another down without blinking.</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Schiavone: </strong></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">We’re just five nights away… but first Sting has to get past the double-tough Diamond Studd!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

After Studd’s recent attack on Sting the World champion couldn’t wait to get his hands on the ‘Bad Guy’ – not even wanting to wait until after SuperBrawl and what will no doubt be a hugely difficult fight against Brian Pillman. That’s the kind of fighter that WCW has as World champion, and with the fans cheering him on Sting delivered – as did Studd, with the two men putting on an astounding display of brawling and hard-hitting offence. Sting at one point dived off the middle rope to the outside, flattening Studd. But before they returned to the ring Studd hurled Sting up the aisle with a fallaway slam. Sting struggled to his feet, but was distracted by the return of Pillman to the entrance way. Pillman waved to Sting, who was almost counted out, and only just made it on 9.9 after racing back down the aisle. He ducked under a big clothesline from Studd before landing a Stinger Splash in the corner on the rebound, keeping his eyes on Pillman as the referee counted Studd down to end a tremendous match. (A*)</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Ross: </strong></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">What an incredible match between these two – and Sting gains a huge momentum boost as he heads into SuperBrawl!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Dangerously: </strong></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">Maybe, Ross, but look where Sting’s looking – right to the man he’ll be facing in five nights’ time. Brian Pillman is in Sting’s head!</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Show rating: A*</strong></div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="3DcoZDk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/3DcoZDk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

*</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

I must be in a good mood, as I shared some tips on microphone work with El Tigre Blanco before the show ... Ricky Steamboat shared babyface tips with Steve Armstrong and Marcus Bagwell, and tips on selling with Brian Armstrong ... Shawn Michaels requested a payrise before the show, and got one – he’s now earning more than Sting ... That didn’t put him in a good enough mood to become friends with Bret Hart, despite my efforts. I wonder if that’s even possible? … A* match #2 of the diary, which I wasn’t expecting, but then, Studd was an underrated worker for most of his career. Hopefully we’ve not gone off too soon with SuperBrawl still a week away – I was rather expecting Sting/Pillman to get an A* too…</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

*</div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div> <div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="kWQWHhq.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/kWQWHhq.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>WCW Main Event</strong></p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>Beat The Champ: Todd Champion vs. Owen Hart © – WCW Television Title</p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>The Patriot vs. Steve Austin – Non-title</p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>Luchamerica vs. Dennis Knight, Jimmy Del Rey and Randy Rose</p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>The Thrillseekers vs. The Lightning Express</p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>Marcus Bagwell vs. Robert Gibson</p></div><p></p><p></p><p>

</p></div><p></p><p>

</p>

December 8, 2019

World Championship Wrestling presents: Main Event

Sunday, Week 2, February 1993

Your commentators: Tony Schiavone, Eric Bischoff and Dusty Rhodes

The Patriot had the size and strength advantage over Owen Hart in the opening match on Sunday night, and did everything in his power to keep Hart grounded. But Hart’s agility and technique are world-class, and taking advantage of a slight misstep on the part of the Patriot he landed a spinning heel kick to put the masked man down, before going to the top rope and landing a Missile Dropkick for the win! (B)

Rick Rude made it clear that he only had one thing in mind for Bret Hart at SuperBrawl – suffering, both to prove that Hart had chosen poorly in not joining the Dangerous Alliance, and to prove that the Ravishing One is still at the top of the tree in WCW!

After their faceoff last week, Blanco & Konnan clashed with the Lightning Express here. Veterans Tim Horner and Brad Armstong may have thought they had the edge with their sneaky tactics, but the sheer energy of the Latino pairing kept them in the fight until El Tigre Blanco came off the top rope with a Frog Splash on Brad Armstrong for the win. (B)

Backstage, Barry Windham wished Dustin Rhodes luck ahead of the four corners match at Starrcade; Steve Austin stuck his nose in to mock Windham for falling out of title contention – and Rhodes for thinking that he had a shot against the Superstar! As Austin strutted off, oblivious to the glares on his back, Shawn Michaels was visible lurking in the background, watching intently.

Barry Windham took out his frustrations on Mr Hughes, unloading on the Kingdom’s enforcer at a speed it’s easy to forget the big Texan can fight at. While Hughes is powerful, and managed to land a few big shots, Windham simply was not to be denied and eventually picked up the win with a Superplex that seemed to shake the whole arena! (B)

In a warm-up match for SuperBrawl, the #1 contenders to the NWA World tag titles, Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell, clashed with the One Percenters. While no-one is likely to mistake the biker twins for the Stocks And Shares Express, they have even more experience working together than the tag champs, and perhaps that what drove Vicious and Bagwell to seek out the match. Certainly the Harris brothers had chances to win the match as Vicious and Bagwell tried to find common ground, but the size and power of Vicious proved decisive as he KO’d Ron Harris with a massive Powerbomb for the pin. (B-)

With back-to-back defeats for the Kingdom on the night, Harley Race walked away from the ring shaking his head...

Tracy Smothers and Steve Armstrong were interviewed backstage, and warned the Diamond Mine that they were coming – and intended to leave the United States tag champions once again!

Sting was backstage too, and made it clear that after almost eighteen months fighting the Dangerous Alliance, he knew all their tricks.

Sting:

Brian, you can jump me from behind, you can distract me, you can send thugs after me – I’ve been there, I’ve done that. It doesn’t work, it won’t work, and at SuperBrawl I’ll send another of Paul E’s hounds running with their tail between their legs!

Sting had his own warm-up match in the main event, defending his World title against Robert Eaton – a blonde high-flyer with a big group at his back. Sting fought cautiously at first, but with the crowd behind him he grew bolder, matching Eaton’s speed at times and showing off his greater strength, including holding Eaton overhead for nearly twenty seconds at one point, turning in a full circle to salute the crowd. Eaton did manage to rally and go to the air for an Alabama Jam, but Sting rolled clear and Eaton landed hard – with Sting snaring him in a Scorpion Deathlock for the submission before he had any chance to recover! (B)

Schiavone:

And that could be Brian Pillman’s fate if he misses just one big move at SuperBrawl III!

Show rating: B+

Chris Jericho organised a poker tournament backstage before the show ... Apparently he was hoping to raise enough money to bring his favourite band back from their Japanese exile ... Robert Eaton hurt his shoulder and will be on light duty for a spell ... Arn Anderson showed up backstage again to share babyface tips (Arn Anderson!) with Mike Droese and psychology tips (Arn Anderson!) with Mike Rapada ... Not to be outdone, Ricky Steamboat shared psychology tips with both Steve and Brian Armstrong and selling tips to Marcus Bagwell ... Having Steamboat as a mentor can only be a good thing for a wrestler; Bagwell still needs work on his top row skills, but at the age of 23 he has a B for Basics, A for Psychology, B+ for Safety, B for Consistency and A* for Selling. And his camera stats are excellent too – good looking, good star quality and superb mic skills. All this while Shane Douglas, well, I have no idea what Shane Douglas is doing, but he’s not in the spot he was supposed to be in; Marcus Bagwell is instead

*

WCW Saturday Night

Sting vs. The Diamond Studd – non-title

Warrior & Cactus vs. Brian Pillman and Rick Rude

Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin – non-title

Dustin Rhodes and Randy Savage vs. The Stocks And Shares Express – non-title

Barry Windham vs. Shawn Michaels

Plus: Commissioner Ventura hosts the contract signing between Sting and Brian Pillman!

November 29, 2019

Blended tuna and orange juice... Yuck.

I have a new laptop! Completely irrelevant to TEW which will probably run on any laptop with a big enough screen, but I'm excited. I've also switched from the orange Iceisle screen to pink, which is also irrelevant, but looks nice.

*

World Championship Wrestling presents: Saturday Night

Saturday, Week 2, February 1993

Your commentators: Jim Ross, Paul E. Dangerously and Tony Schiavone

Owen Hart is now a Triple Crown champion in WCW – US and World tag champion, and now the Television champion – but had his work cut out with the masked aerial sensation Rey Mysterio in the night’s opening match. The young luchador was quicker even than the champion, who’s no slouch, and for once Hart found himself on the back foot as he tried to make his first defence of the title. But Mysterio went to the well just once too often, and after crashing and burning off a dive from the turnbuckles, he was struck with a Spinning Heel Kick to let Hart retain! (B+)

Dangerously:

You see? This is just more proof of the calibre of the Alliance – two champions on the books, and another to come at SuperBrawl!

Both Rick Rude and Bret Hart had sent in videos showing them training ahead of their clash at SuperBrawl – Rude was training in the best camp that money could buy, sparring with heavyweight boxers Oliver McCall and Tommy Morrison, while grappling with Olympic judoka Jason Morris.

Hart, for his part, had returned to the Dungeon – an unheated, Spartan facility, where he worked with a series of wrestlers identified as his brothers and the family’s trainees... and eventually his father, an older man, but one still well capable of surprising an unwary opponent and making them scream in pain!

Dangerously:

Well, I think that’s all you need to know about this match...

The Ultimate Warrior and Cactus Jack were training backstage, with Warrior guiding Cactus as he flipped a tractor tyre.

Warrior:

There is no tyre! There is no weight! This is nothing! There is only your strength and your focus!

Cactus:

Bang bang!

With Cactus occupied, Mr Hughes and the One Percenters charged the duo to try and take some revenge for their recent troubles. Cactus met their charge readily, throwing fists and elbows, feet and knees, headbutts and bites – anything to keep the attacking trio at bay... as Warrior hefted the huge tyre almost effortlessly over his head, before hurling it at the Kingdom trio and knocking them to the floor.

Cactus:

Does this count as part of the workout?

Warrior:

It is a bonus. Fetch the tyre, we’ll continue outside.

The Thrillseekers clashed with the Malenkos in tag team action next. Chris Jericho and Lance Storm are obviously close, but not as close as their brother opponents, and they struggled to break down the Malenkos’ defence early on. Stepping up the pace, they managed to gain ground on their stoic opponents, but rather than allow the match to continue Dean dragged Storm to the mat and applied a legbar, refusing to break as Storm made the ropes, eventually taking the disqualification as he kept the hold locked in tight, showing rare emotion as he snarled at Storm and his brother Joe met the onrushing Jericho with a stiff clothesline, before attacking Storm as Dean held him trapped and helpless. (B)

Ross:

What’s got into the Malenkos?

Schiavone:

I don’t know – maybe they feel they need a meaner edge to get ahead in the tag team division, especially with one team holding both titles!

In the Commissioner’s office, Jesse Ventura and a whole hoard of security guards watched closely as Shawn Michaels, Dustin Rhodes, Randy Savage and Steve Austin sat separated and glared at one another.

Ventura

:

Now God knows I love to see guys beating each other senseless in the pursuit of gold, power or even-

He glanced at Savage.

Ventura

:

-moral superiority. But WCW has a lot of money invested in the four of you, and that means we need to have at least

some

of you fit and healthy enough to fight. Now, I could let you keep beating each other up until only one of you is left standing... in fact, that’s exactly what’s going to happen. At SuperBrawl, the United States title will be on the line with all four of you in that match – one fall to the finish, gentlemen, so you’ll need to have your eyes in the back of your heads... because you’ve got no real allies in a match like this, not even for a second. And

that’s

the way things ought to be!

The four fighters showed varying degrees of displeasure at the announcement, with only Savage looking happy at the prospect of finally getting his hands on Austin – and Michaels. Austin, perhaps unsurprisingly, wanted to have the last word.

Austin

:

So you think three guys will be enough to take this title from me? It’s an idea, Ventura, and I know you love to think up tough matches to see just how good the WCW roster is. But all you’re doing is giving me more accolades, more glory, more success each time I defend the United States title – and move one step closer to the

World

title!

With that, the champion left the office, actually managing to get the last word in spite of the competition.

It was eight man action next as the York Foundation took on their ongoing rivals Sid Vicious, Ricky Steamboat, Marcus Bagwell and Barry Windham, who’s found himself dragged in to this increasingly heated rivalry of late. With so many factors in play, Alexandra York appeared to have a new, more powerful laptop in play to keep track of all the variables. And that seemed to help the Foundation, who worked hard and smart to keep Steamboat or, for preference, Bagwell in the ring, leaving their larger teammates on the ring apron. But in that chaotic an environment, the referee couldn’t keep track of everyone. Sid – a former Horseman – snuck around the ring and yanked Richard Morton off the apron, before hurling him into the guardrail. As the match broke down, the official seemed to give up hope of keeping track, but he was right in place to see Steamboat soaring from the top rope, flattening Terence Taylor in the middle of the ring with a Diving Crossbody that put the NWA World champion down for three! (B+) The result almost went unnoticed in the chaos as the Foundation and their opponents continued to fight, but the frantic ringing of the bell managed to restore some semblance of order as officials separated the two sides, and Steamboat grabbed the microphone.

Steamboat:

Terry, I knew you’d come after me and try cost me the Television title. But thanks to what I

did

win and Sid’s deep pockets I have all the money I need – and you know I’ll keep coming until you face me one on one! I’m going to restore honour to the NWA World title, defend it with pride and integrity the way I did when I held it before! And big Sid here, well, you tell them, Sid!

Vicious smirked as he took the microphone.

Vicious:

Morton! Gibson! You stole those tag titles from me and you hurt my friend. I don’t forget! So at SuperBrawl, not only is your buddy Taylor fighting the Dragon... but I’ll bring some money with me, you two can bring the NWA tag titles to the ring... and me and Bagwell here will leave with them!

Schiavone:

Oh my! Two huge matches for SuperBrawl! The York Foundation never turn down a chance to make a profit... but these are high stakes they’ll be gambling on!

The Horsemen clashed with young contenders Paul Levesque and John Bradshaw, a mismatched pairing in some ways, but the sculpted Levesque and cowboy Bradshaw showed a lot of toughness as they brawled with the Horsemen. Arn Anderson and Ric Flair, however, have been brawling for decades, and the youngsters will need to become a little more multi-faceted before they can hope to hold off competitors of the calibre of the Horsemen, with Flair forcing Levesque to submit to the Figure Four Leglock. (B-)

Ross:

Audition over. I wonder when we’ll get to hear the Horsemen’s decision?

Barry Windham was leaving the building when he stopped at the sound of someone laughing, turning to find himself face-to-face with Scott Steiner.

Steiner:

Four men on your team tonight. Three of them have title shots at SuperBrawl... Not you, though. Running short on cash since you lost the tag titles? Or have you lost that killer instinct, Barry? Ah, whatever. I need to make a point to the boss, and you’ll do. You can get in the ring at SuperBrawl and try and pick up a win yourself... but you’ll have do it against me!

Windham

:

Scott, you talk too much and do too little. I’ll fight you at SuperBrawl, and shut you up – it might only last a night, but it’ll be a start!

Elsewhere, the Diamond Mine had cornered El Tigre Blanco and Konnan, mocking the Latino duo for their lack of height – at least compared to the dual champions! But Vinnie Vegas and the Diamond Studd found themselves facing four potential opponents as the Young Pistols joined the group, demanding a title shot against the Diamond Mine. The two giants shared a look, before laughing.

Studd:

You know what, carrying around two sets of titles... I can see that getting boring. So sure, why not?

Vegas:

Yeah, at SuperBrawl you can have a shot – at the United States tag titles. We took them from you, maybe you can take them back. More likely we’ll keep them, though.

Studd:

Lifting twenty pounds of gold each day is a good workout, but lifting you guys and throwing you around the ring? Even better!

The night’s main event pitted the World and United States champions against one another, with title contenders as their partners. With Paul E. Dangerously in rare form on commentary, Steve Austin and Brian Pillman faced off with Sting and Dustin Rhodes, and the fans were on their feet almost from the first minute as the four men tore the house down. The X factor, as is so often the case, was Madusa at ringside, with the Dangerous Alliance’s Director of Covert Operations making her presence felt just enough to keep Sting and Rhodes off balance.

Schiavone:

And if that’s the case at SuperBrawl, the Dangerous Alliance will walk out with the gold!

Dangerously:

It will be, and they will be!

But in the end Pillman took a slightly more direct route to success, going low on Rhodes when the referee was distracted with Sting and Austin, and when the official turned back, Pillman delivered a Shining Wizard to put Rhodes down for three.

Dangerously:

I’ll say it for you, gentlemen – the Dangerous Alliance wins! I love to say it, I love to hear it, and above all, I love it when a plan comes together!

Show rating: A

OOC: Dusty Rhodes shared tips on working as a babyface to protégé Cactus Jack ... Presumably Cactus will now be getting funky like a monkey on a regular basis ... Lance Storm and Mark Curtis have struck up a strong friendship ... Add Konnan to the list of talkers who want to work unscripted

*

WCW Main Event

Sting vs. Robert Eaton

Blanco & Konnan vs. The Lightning Express

Barry Windham vs. Mr Hughes

Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell vs. The One Percenters

November 26, 2019

I don't think Warrior drank. Too many calories for a guy who would crush freshly baked brownies and cold ice cream into his hands so he could at least smell it if not eat it.

That's an incredible visual

The Thrillseekers vs. The Malenkos
With the auditions for the Horsemen continuing, the Thrillseekers could impress.....I still like the idea of the Malenko’s as Horsemen though.....or A Malenko at least.....where’s Chris Benoit? He pops up in 93

Benoit's not in the game. I didn't feel comfortable having him in the game world, and as he didn't really make any waves in America until 1994/5 it seemed okay to just take him out.

My intention is to run a 2001 diary when 2020 comes out... How I handle Benoit in that game is something I'm having trouble with. The simple thing to do would be to sub in a Radical for him, but Eddie was in rehab/fired, Malenko was semi-retired and Saturn... Well, I can't see Saturn in that Raw main event match, somehow. Maybe I'd just have Benoit go off on a long-term injury as he did in real life post KOTR?

The Horsemen vs. John Bradshaw and Paul Levesque
What an interesting combination.....as young Paul’s childhood dream comes true, sharing the ring with the Nature Boy

I like doing the odd thing like this in the game. Levesque and Layfield are both in development, and neither are close to main roster ready yet, but for a one-off, and just for the visual of JBL/HHH teaming, I had to do it!

November 25, 2019

<p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="kWQWHhq.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/kWQWHhq.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>World Championship Wrestling presents: Main Event</strong></p></div><p></p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>Sunday, Week 1, February 1993</strong></p></div><p></p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>Your commentators: Tony Schiavone, Eric Bischoff and Dusty Rhodes</p></div><p></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">Ultimate Warrior and Cactus Jack clashed with the One Percenters in the night’s opener. Warrior’s power was too much for the biker twins, even with Warrior’s depth perception being a little off due to his eyepatch – although maybe that just made his clotheslines hurt more! The Harrises tried instead to focus on Cactus, but the wildman was scarcely any easier to handle, being perhaps even less predictable than the Warrior! Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea, Harley Race’s charges eventually fell to defeat when Cactus caught Ron with a Double Arm DDT. (C+)</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The Diamond Exchange dropped in on Patricia Martin, ostensibly to blow off any suggestion of having a vendetta against Sting – and any suggestion that they might be considering the Young Pistols for a future title shot! But really, Shawn Michaels seemed to want to flirt with Patricia, despite her best efforts to get him to talk about Steve Austin...</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Robert Eaton put down Mike Rapada with an Alabama Jam to pick up the winner’s share of the purse for the York Foundation – and a return on their investment will always put a smile on the Foundation’s faces. (B-)</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Blanco & Konnan clashed with Al Snow and Pat Rose, coming out on top with a Tequila Sunrise on Rose. (B-) Afterwards, the duo came face to face with the Lightning Express, prompting a little nose-to-nose between the two teams, before Rey Mysterio arrived to play peacemaker – perhaps we’ll see the two duos face off soon?</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

The Horsemen auditions continue, and this week Steven Regal and Sean Morley were invited back to give Anderson and Flair a chance to give them a second look. Morley tagged up with the Gambler to take on the Lightning Express, but may have wanted a more focused partner, as the Riverboat Roughhouse seemed more interested in teaching his young teammate how to play poker. Whether that gave the Express the edge or not remains to be seen, but Tim Horner was able to catch Morley in a Rolling Cradle to hand the veteran duo the win. (C+)</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

Owen Hart, for once flying solo, promised victory against Ricky Steamboat in the main event. Before we got there, his Dangerous Alliance stablemate Steve Austin put his United States title on the line against Steven Regal – although it was clear that he wasn’t taking the young Englishman too seriously as the bell rang. Regal showed him the folly of his assumptions, taking Austin to the mat and locking in a series of limb wrenching holds that had Austin backpedalling. But the Superstar is the United States champion for a reason, and he put his strength and size advantage to good use, powering out of the holds by hook, by crook and on occasion by using Madusa’s presence to his advantage, before locking in his own Hollywood and Vine submission to claim the successful defence. (B) Anderson and Flair were seen conferring afterwards – did either of the young contenders impress?</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

And in the final match of the night, Ricky Steamboat and Owen Hart put on a wrestling clinic as they clashed over the Television title. The fans were enthralled with the action, and even cheered Owen a little as he ordered Madusa not to get involved in the match, wanting to make it clear that he had the skill to take down the Dragon by himself. Certainly he was keeping neck-and-neck with Steamboat as the clock began to tick down to the last few minutes of the broadcast, and it was anyone’s guess how the match would go. We hope we get a rematch soon, as the arrival of Terence Taylor at ringside eventually tipped the match in Hart’s favour. After lurking by one ringpost for a spell, Taylor darted around the ring and took advantage as the referee was momentarily distracted by a loosened turnbuckle, planting the NWA World title belt in the back of Steamboat’s skull. Looking a little frustrated, Hart locked in the Sharpshooter as Taylor slid out of the ring, and when the referee turned back to see Steamboat insensible in the hold, he called for the bell, giving the young Canadian the Television title – and sending Taylor up the aisle with a broad smile on his face, and the NWA title held aloft. (B+)</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Schiavone:</strong></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> Sickening for the Dragon – but while the York Foundation may make some high risk moves when the market’s running in their favour, they know how to protect their investments as well!</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Rhodes</strong></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>: </strong></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">Call it cheating, Tony, that’s what it is! And let me tell you, the Dragon will not stand for it!</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><strong>Show rating: B+</strong></div></div></div></div></div><p></p></div><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="3DcoZDk.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/3DcoZDk.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p></div><p></p><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

OOC: Ultimate Warrior was up in front of Wrestler’s Court for not picking up his share of the bar. I’m not sure Warrior was ever one for drinking with the boys, so maybe that’s a euphemism for not sharing his vials of testosterone</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"> </div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

*</div></div></div></div><p></p><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;"><div style="margin-left:25px;">

</div></div></div></div> <p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><img alt="plggoJ2.jpg" data-src="https://i.imgur.com/plggoJ2.jpg" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></div><p></p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p><strong>WCW Saturday Night</strong></p></div><p></p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>Sting and Dustin Rhodes vs. Brian Pillman and Steve Austin</p></div><p></p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>Beat The Champ: Rey Mysterio Jr vs. Owen Hart © – WCW Television Title</p></div><p></p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>Ricky Steamboat, Barry Windham, Sid Vicious and Marcus Bagwell vs. The York Foundation</p></div><p></p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>The Thrillseekers vs. The Malenkos</p></div><p></p></div><p></p><p>

</p><div style="text-align:center;"><p></p><div style="text-align:center;"><p>The Horsemen vs. John Bradshaw and Paul Levesque</p></div><p></p></div><p></p><p> </p><p>

</p>

November 24, 2019

If they're on your roster, you can add pictures in their Character tab.

Otherwise, you have to go through the in-game editor.

November 19, 2019

Deathmatch Adult - No skill required, just a willingness to bleed in skimpy clothes.

Hardcore Adult - No skill required, maybe not even any matches, just barely escapes being classed a strip club because... there are ropes?

Strict MMA/Amateur - No flourishes, all real, at least that's the way it's presented. Whether in a cage or on a mat, this is as real as pro wrestling gets.

Hoss Fight - All brawling, all the time. Big fighters, big hits, not much in the way of finesse or complicated storylines. Blood possible, but not a focal point of the product.

Also, I can't wait to play a Performance Art product...

November 17, 2019

World Championship Wrestling presents: Saturday Night

Saturday, Week 1, February 1993

Your commentators: Jim Ross, Paul E. Dangerously and Tony Schiavone

In his third defence of the Television title, Ricky Steamboat defeated Richard Morton with a Divind Crossbody, despite Morton’s best efforts to hold off the York Foundation’s rival. (B+) Afterwards, Steamboat told ‘Terry’ Taylor that he was coming for him and the NWA title.

Steamboat:

One more defence, and I’ll have the money I need to challenge you!

Terence Taylor tried to keep his cool as he faced Barry Windham in a non-title match. Without needing to worry about his title, Taylor was free to focus on the big Texan, but it was clear that something was throwing him off his game. Even with Alexandra York’s computer-fed input from ringside, Taylor was clearly struggling as Windham used his strength and reach advantage to force Taylor on the backfoot, but a timely trip by York allowed Taylor to score the win with a quick rollup, leaving Windham looking furious at the sudden turnaround in fortunes. (B-)

Ross:

I don’t think Windham will take that lying down...

Ultimate Warrior – still eyepatched, and this week sporting one with his facepaint on – and Cactus Jack said that they wanted a challenge, and the Calgary Connection impressed last week, so they’d demanded a match with them tonight!

Warrior:

And I wish to gauge the true strength of Brian Pillman, to better understand him before he faces my friend and fellow warrior, Sting!

What followed was a short, but spirited, brawl as Warrior and Cactus took part in a wild brawl with the Calgary Connection, Brian Pillman and Owen Hart showing real spirit as they clashed with their heavyweight foes, with the fight spilling out of the ring and escalating in intensity before the referee eventually had no choice but to call for the bell. As officials separated the warring foursome, Warrior and Cactus could be seen discussing their match, with Warrior seemingly impressed with the former tag champions. (B)

Bret Hart was next to come to the ring, once more issuing a challenge to Rick Rude for SuperBrawl III. This time Rude responded to the challenge.

Rude:

You want me? I can arrange that – maybe I should let you fight your way through the rest of the Alliance to see if you really do deserve that shot... But no, let’s be honest, we wanted you in the Alliance because of how good you are, Hitman. You’re good enough to jump the line, and at SuperBrawl I’ll make you suffer for

all

of us, and show everyone what a bad idea it is to cross the Dangerous Alliance!

If you see a match more technically sound than the Horsemen against the Malenkos this week, we’ll be shocked – Arn, Ric, Dean and Joe have to be among the very best technicians in the business today! If we have a complaint, though, it’s that we’d have liked to see more action before the match ended, as the crowd was really beginning to heat up when Dean went low on Flair, and the referee had no choice but to call for the bell! (B) Afterwards, the Malenkos immediately left the ring, leaving Flair and Anderson looking bemused in the ring.

Vinnie Vegas and his buddies have finally stopped partying, just in time for the titan among giants to tear into the World champion as Sting sought to maintain his competitive edge going into SuperBrawl III. You’d probably be hard-pressed to find two opponents more diverse than Vegas and Brian Pillman, but Sting went after the big man like

he

was the one who’d played for the Bengals. Of course, Vegas is never going to be an easy foe, given his size, strength and support system, and the presence of Diamond Dallas Page at ringside proved to be a distraction for the World champion at times.

Schiavone:

And maybe this is why Sting wanted

this

match – DDP is as much of a nuisance as Madusa can be!

But it was another of Vegas’ allies, his tag partner the Diamond Studd, who proved to be the difference maker. Rushing the ring, he dragged Sting away from his partner and planted him with a fallaway slam. (B) As the referee tried to restore order, Studd stood over Sting as Vegas grabbed a microphone.

Vegas:

This isn’t personal, Stinger – and it’s not business, either. We’re not being paid for this, we just wanted to prove a point that

no-one

is safe from the Diamond Exchange, not even the World champion!

Before they could do any more damage, Vegas and Studd broke off as the Young Pistols sprinted down the aisle, diving into the ring and barraging them with a flurry of quick kicks and blows that drove them back from the World champion. DDP called them out of the ring, seeing the virtue in avoiding a fight that the Diamond Mine weren’t prepared for, and Vegas and Studd instead settled for taunting the Pistols as Armstrong and Smothers checked on Sting.

Backstage, Scott Steiner was watching on a monitor with great amusement. Walking off, he passed Harley Race, the head of the Kingdom watching the Steiner Animal with clear interest.

The night’s main event saw the Diamond Mine’s other ally in action, as Shawn Michaels clashed with Dustin Rhodes. With the fans ready baying for blood, Rhodes seemed more than ready to exact some revenge on his friend’s behalf, but the Rough Diamond showed no intention of making it easy for him to do so. The fans in attendance grew louder and louder as the two young stars tore into one another, the intensity of the match escalating as the issues between the two played out. With both men chasing the United States title, with both men being proud and tough Texans, with both men standing pretty much opposite one another in terms of personal morality, they pushed above and beyond in their efforts to defeat one another. Once more, though, it was outside intervention that settled the match as the United States champion Steve Austin charged down to the ring and... flattened Shawn Michaels with a Thesz Press, raining down punches as Michaels tried to cover up, and Rhodes was once more left looking infuriated as one of his matches was ended without his having any say in the matter. (A)

Not that the night ended there. As Austin backed away from the groggy Michaels he laughed at the expression on Rhodes’ face... but his own face fell as he turned to the ring entrance and saw Randy Savage marching down the aisle, grim determination on his face.

Ross:

The Macho Man has unfinished business with Steve Austin!

Before he could get to the ring, however, Rhodes spun Austin around and decked him with a big right hand. Austin was quick to pop back up and start throwing hands of his own, but he found himself trying to fall back as Savage joined the fray – and soon enough Michaels threw himself into the mix as well, getting up off the mat and launching himself at the brawling trio, with all four men going at one another, seemingly regardless of where their strikes landed!

Dangerously:

This is chaos! That is the United States champion in there, the victim in a three-on-one mugging! What’s Jesse Ventura going to do about this!

Ross:

Knowing the Commissioner, probably something Steve Austin won’t like, Paul! Folks, we’re out of time, be sure to join us for Main Event, tomorrow night!

Show rating: A

Ron West set up a poker tournament backstage before the show; Sadly the Gambler wasn’t around to enjoy it ... Ric remembered that he has a protégé, and shared some mic tips with El Tigre Blanco ... Ricky Steamboat did what he does and shared babyface tips with Steve Armstrong and Marcus Bagwell, while giving Brian Armstrong psychology advice

*

WCW Main Event

Warrior & Cactus vs. The One Percenters

Mike Rapada vs. Robert Eaton

Blanco & Konnan vs. Al Snow and Pat Rose

Sean Morley and The Gambler vs. The Lightning Express

November 16, 2019

Weekly shows, assuming you have a fairly sponsor-friendly product, will soon see attendance leap and you making money. As a general rule you only need to feature your main eventers on every second show, every third show for upper midcarders, and so on. Also, I believe you get a small show rating bonus for a sold out show, so you might want to consider running at a smaller named venue as you don't get that at a generic one.

http://greydogsoftware.com/forum/showthread.php?t=539119 is a good thread with useful advice on this sort of thing.

November 16, 2019

Steve Austin & Brian Pillman vs. The Hart Foundation (Bret & Owen Hart)

Comments: This should be an A* match.

Billy Gunn & Al Snow vs. Dustin Rhodes & Marc Mero

Comments: If Rhodes and Mero are ever going to win a match, it should be here.

Billy Kidman vs. Scorpio

Comments: Scorp needs a win sometime

Harlem Heat vs. Southern Justice

Comments: How healthy is Stevie Ray?

The British Bulldog vs. Jake Roberts

Comments:

Dean Malenko vs. Test

Comments: Deano Machino has no luck at all.

Preview for WCW Monday Nitro: Week 2, February 1998

The Rock & Sid Vicious vs. Shawn Michaels & JPL

Comments: I figure there's going to be shenanigans.

Chris Benoit vs. Lance Storm

Comments: Canadian Violence!

WCW Cruiserweight Championship: #1 Contenders Match

Juventud Guerrera vs. ????

Comments: Assuming it's Jinsei, but could be a setup for Mitchell and co to rob Juvi of a chance.

The Nasty Boys vs. Alex Wright & Disco Inferno

Comments: One side has a title match to build to. The other side was last seen in the vicinity of the Soul Train.

Jeff Hardy vs. VK Wallstreet

Comments: Schmozz.

Dallas Page, Lex Luger & The Patriot vs. The Blue Bloods (Regal, Eaton & Williams)

Comments: Does Doug Williams ever end up on the winning side?

November 16, 2019

World Championship Wrestling presents: Main Event

Sunday, Week 4 January 1993

Your commentators: Tony Schiavone, Eric Bischoff and Dusty Rhodes

We suspect Terence Taylor doesn’t want to face Ricky Steamboat any time soon, and sending Robert Gibson after the Television champion seems like a move designed to stop Steamboat from earning enough prize money to pay for a shot at his NWA World title. Gibson gave it his all, but in a singles match he never quite seems to hit top gear, and a determined and focused Steamboat came out on top with a Diving Crossbody for his second defence. (B-)

Bischoff:

And that’s ten grand in the bank for the Dragon – what’s the going rate for an NWA World title match, do you think?

Rhodes

:

Back when that belt belonged to the Dream, twenty thousand would go to the winner. The way I figure it, the York Foundation want to double their money, so somewhere around that should do the trick for Ricky.

Owen Hart took out some apparent frustrations on young Mike Rapada next (B-), before we found out that the Diamond Exchange are

still

partying after Thursday’s big win! Not only was Shawn Michaels in the midst of the action, seemingly without a care in the world, but the group had roped Jason Hervey into the middle of it all!

The York Foundation were out for more gold next, as Taylor, Richard Morton and Robert Eaton tried to take the Six Man titles from Luchamerica. The York Foundation have had the belts in the past, but it wasn’t their night here as a timely intervention by Sid Vicious saw Taylor taking the fall from El Tigre Blanco – who might well fancy his chances in an NWA World title shot of his own after pinning the champion! (B-) Afterwards, big Sid had something to say.

Vicious:

Don’t come after my family, punks. You beat Koko and me, it hurt, but I got my licks in and maybe I should have left it at that. I get that you want to come after me. I’ll still get mad at you, but it stays professional. You cross that line, it gets personal, and walking out of the arena at the end of the night doesn’t end things – and if you think a simple farmboy doesn’t know how to fight dirty, think again. I fought with the Horsemen for over a year, and I learned everything there is to know about war. And that’s what it’ll be! So think carefully!

The One Percenters have seemed a little lost without Big Van Vader around to back up, and that lack of focus didn’t help them against the Special Forces, who scored a big win when Ron and Don fell victim to miscommunication. (B-) As the Patriot celebrated with Todd Champion and Firebreaker Chip, Harley Race looked less than delighted with his charges...

Ric Flair faced the latest aspiring Horseman... we think. Tackling the massive Mike Awesome, Flair was on the ropes for much of the match, but Awesome didn’t seem to care too much about winning as he kept hitting Flair hard, even when he was backed into a corner and the referee was counting to five... drawing the DQ win for the Nature Boy. (B)

After the bell, Flair and Arn Anderson faced down the hulking Awesome, who seemed unbothered about his defeat as he smirked at the duo.

Anderson

:

We’re not looking for thugs, Awesome. Come back when you’ve learned about finesse!

“Macho Man” Randy Savage, never knowingly in a patient mood, clashed with Satoshi Kojima. Savage overpowered the Japanese youngster, prompting an attack from Kojima’s teammate Koji Kanemoto, drawing the disqualification. Winner though he may have been, Savage’s frustrations seemed to be mounting after another inconclusive finish to one of his matches. (B)

In the night’s main event, a pair of two-time Television champions clashed as Marcus Bagwell faced off with Mr Hughes. While neither man was able to run the gauntlet to defend the title five times, both are surely eager to hold gold in WCW again. Given Hughes’ size advantage, it may have seemed that he had the advantage in this match, but with Ricky Steamboat in his corner the youngster fought hard and escaped the attempted Running Powerslam, dropping behind Hughes to roll him up with a quick cradle and score the win! Harley Race, once more, appeared less than impressed with the Kingdom’s performance... (C+)

Show rating: B-

*

Brian Armstrong cheered up the locker room by hosting a poker tournament ... I guess he may be a little tough to read when he’s feeling chilled ... Arn Anderson shared psychology tips with Mike Droese and selling tips to Mike Rapada; That’s Arn Anderson, who won’t work B shows, but still shows up to be a mentor to jobbers ... Randy Savage, who

does

work B shows, shared psychology tips with Kevin Quinn, who’s not bad, especially for a 20 year old ... Rey Mysterio was used too much. Well, okay – I guess it’s good news for Satoshi Kojima, who got at least as much time, is lower on the card and didn’t get the complaint despite being in a singles match. Randy Savage must have carried that one, I suppose

WCW Saturday Night

Dustin Rhodes vs. Shawn Michaels

Sting vs. Vinnie Vegas – non-title

Barry Windham vs. Terence Taylor – non-title

Ultimate Warrior and Cactus Jack vs. The Calgary Connection

Arn Anderson and Ric Flair vs. The Malenkos

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