WCW '94: War of the Thrones

RKOwnage · May 24, 2015

The Warlord!! I don't really know why, but I'm a huge Warlord fan. Love pairing him with that weasel (lowercase w, not Weasel Heenan) Jericho.

I also like putting Hall and Syxx together for the PPV, that's a nice move. As for who wins BattleBowl.....I'm not sure. Someone Hogan wouldn't want to lose to. I'm just gonna take a random wild guess and say The Giant.

The Final Countdown · May 24, 2015

I'll go with Luger to win BattleBowl, mainly because he'd be a natural opponent for Macho the following month.

The_CoC · May 24, 2015

I a going with Macho Man, a good opponent for Hogan and/or Sting when they return.

TeflonBilly · May 24, 2015

I'm going to go with Steve Austin. I think Austin vs Savage would have so much anger in the ring you would need Lou Ferrigno as a special guest referee.

packerman120 · May 24, 2015

I'm also going with Austin. No doubt that he could be an unexpected man to take the strap.

Dawn · May 24, 2015

I'm going to make an extremely bold pick and say Brian Pillman. No more words.

Satyr24 · May 26, 2015

Dustin Rhodes after the Ric Flair feud he looks ready

crackerjack · May 26, 2015

I'd be hyped to see Vader win, but I'm gonna make a wild guess - Ric Flair. A consistent performer who could headed towards a face turn after this war with Rhodes.

TheBigBad1013 · May 28, 2015

So after thinking about this for a while I think I'm going to go with Dustin Rhodes. I really like what you've done with him so far and after beating Flair at Starrcade, picking up the title here might be exactly the thing to firmly establish Dustin as a top guy.

Beejus · June 3, 2015

WCW Hotline: January 1996, Week 2 Writer's note: I've decided that with my new format for the Hotline, namely the posting of taping results, that means I need to post this before any Sunday PPVs. So here is the Hotline, and within the next few days I will have Battlebowl done. I only have the battle royal itself to write yet! Thanks for all the thoughts about who might take the win, and if anybody else wants to venture a guess, feel free. As for what RKOwnage said, Hall and Syxx teaming was a prediction prize chosen by BigB. One of his Starrcade prizes was choosing any two people to be paired up for the Lethal Lotto, and he chose them; but I think in the future they may become a regular team. <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/hotline.jpg WCW Hotline 2nd Week of January 1996 Option 1: Battlebowl Control Center! Option 2: Announced for WCW Monday Nitro! Option 3: What the world ISN’T watching! Option 4: WCW Disney/MGM taping results! Option 5: Mean Gene’s backstage pass! Option 6: The Monday Night War Neilson ratings! Option 7: Tony Schiavone’s WCW moment of the week! Option 8: Mike Tenay’s International Report! Option 9: A gift from the WCW Catalog!</div> Option 1: Battlebowl Control Center! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Call your cable company to order Battlebowl, where you will see the ever-deadly Lethal Lottery and see who the next Heavyweight champion of the World will be! </div></blockquote> Option 2: Announced for this week’s WCW Monday Nitro! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The night after Battlebowl, we have a new World Heavyweight champion! You aren’t going to want to miss the official coronation of our new champ, but what other surprises did we see on the show? Whether you ordered Battlebowl or not, you won’t want to miss WCW Monday Nitro! </div></blockquote> Option 3: What the world ISN’T watching! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Do we even begin to be surprised that Monday Night Raw was a disappointment? Headlined by the Dingbat Warrior pinning the corpse of Mean Mark Callous, then Bam Bam Bigelow and Tonto defeating the Burger King and Vinnie Vegas, you know you would much rather just see who the new WCW World Heavyweight champion is! </div></blockquote> Option 4: Last weekend’s WCW Disney/MGM taping results! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>WCW Pro: Eddy Guerrero d. Erin O’Grady (Eddy promo after the match, promising victory for the Horsemen at Battlebowl); match highlights from Nitro’s main event; The Flying Spyder and Surge discuss The Annihilator and The Willow, who they say are a skilled martial arts assassin and a childhood friend of Surge’s, respectively; The Red, White, and Bruise (The Patriot and The Falcon) d. Alex Porteau and Lance Diamond; Nuevo Gringos Locos d. Sgt. Buddy Parker and Biff Wellington; Marty Jannetty d. Shane Helms; Rey Mysterio Jr. d. BG Armstrong (Rey then gives an interview with Gene saying that Juventud has gone too far, and he will pay for his betrayal) WCW Saturday Night: The Twilight Express d. Arkane and The Boulder (after distraction from Surge, but the Twilights were attacked by the Heavenly Bodies afterwards); Sting? d. Sgt. Buddy Parker; The Giant d. Biff Wellington; Brian Pillman promised his return soon; California Kip d. Rey Mysterio Jr. (after distraction from Juventud Guerrera); Video about Meng; Owen Hart d. Marty Jannetty. WCW Worldwide: The panel of Tony Schiavone, Gene Okerlund, Sonny Onoo, and guest Ted DiBiase discussed Battlebowl, Rick Rude’s threats toward JPL, the confrontations that Piper and Savage had with Dusty and Luger on Nitro, and then ended the show with their predictions for Battlebowl. Tony said Luger, Gene said Arn Anderson, Onoo said Vader, and DiBiase backed Ricky Steamboat. Lance Storm d. Biff Wellington; Ultimo Dragon d. Hysteria; The Heavenly Bodies d. Bobby Walker and Erin O’Grady; Dean Malenko d. Earl William Clayton to retain the Cruiserweight title; Gene Okerlund showed an interview he had with Paul Orndorff about being stripped of his US title shot; Meng d. 2 Cold Scorpio to retain the US title.</div></blockquote> Option 5: Mean Gene’s backstage pass! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Hello everyone, “Mean” Gene Okerlund here with your backstage pass! Last Monday at Nitro, everyone got a pleasant surprise when in his first official night in the company, The Warlord offered to sponsor everyone for a video game tournament using new Playstation release Twisted Metal! Before you ask, I don’t know what a “play station” is either! Last week on WCW Pro, “The Falcon” made his debut to team alongside The Patriot. The Falcon made it clear that despite wearing a mask, it is Scott Armstrong, who seems to have found his patriotic roots. The Falcon is a character he used in Japan, and has brought it to American shores. Nick Patrick was in fine form backstage at Pro, sharing road stories with some of the guys backstage. Booker T and Jimmy Hart have signed new contract extensions.</div></blockquote> Option 6: The Monday Night War Neilson ratings! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Monday Nitro drew a 7.85 rating this past week on TNT, while Raw drew a 4.50. </div></blockquote> Option 7: Tony Schiavone’s match of the week! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I’ve called a lot of great technical masterpieces over the years, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen any two men put on such a classic match as the first Nitro main event of the new year, “Ice Man” Dean Malenko versus “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair! Both men are world-renowned, and this match proved just why they are so known for their mat skills! </div></blockquote> Option 8: Mike Tenay’s International Report! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Hello everyone, “Professor” Mike Tenay here with your international report! Our friends in New Japan Pro Wrestling are taking off from their tours this month, and within this week have signed some major names to their next tour: Big Titan, Scott Norton, Dan Severn, Shane Douglas, Sid Vicious, youngster John Layfield, and John Nord! </div></blockquote> Option 9: A special gift from the WCW Catalog! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>San Francisco Toymakers have done it again, creating a brand new line of WCW action figures! Make sure to grab the WCW Monday Nitro line for your little fans, coming soon to stores near you, or order them this month only from the WCW Catalog for 10% off retail price! </div></blockquote>

KnowYourEnemy · June 3, 2015

Stone Cold Steve Austin will win Battlebowl, and that is the bottom line

Ritchardo · June 4, 2015

I have a looooooot of reading to do to catch this bad boy up... but this seems a great jumping on point again!

I'm going with Flexy Lexy Luger to win Battlebowl.

Beejus · June 4, 2015

WCW Battlebowl 1996 <div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="320" height="240" src="<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/74VREGhC9Kc" rel="external nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/embed/74VREGhC9Kc"</a> frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/battlebowl.jpg Friends become enemies and enemies have to become friends! Twenty men enter and only one man will be victorious! Who will survive the Lethal Lottery and become the new Heavyweight champion of the World? Find out only at Battlebowl, 1996! WCW Battlebowl 1996 LIVE on pay-per-view on January 14th, 1996 Held at: Molson Center in Montreal, Quebec (Quebec) Commentary: Tony Schiavone, Jesse “The Body” Ventura, and “Macho Man” Randy Savage Attendance: 21,500 (sold out!) PPV Buyrate: 3.95 Show Runtime: Three Hours Rating: B+ This show increased our popularity in 24 regions.</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Welcome to Montreal! As a pyrotechnics display goes off around the stage, Tony Schiavone welcomes everyone to the jam-packed, brand new Molson Center in Montreal, Quebec for Battlebowl! He is, as always, alongside Jesse “The Body” Ventura, who is excited for the crowning of a new WCW World Heavyweight champion in “the only battle royal this month that matters”! Tony says that the Lethal Lottery is a lot of fun for fans to watch, as friends become enemies and enemies are forced to be friends; all leading up to the match to decide it all, the Battlebowl. Jesse says that they will be drawing twenty names from the Official WCW Tumbler© and those lucky few will get the chance to go home with the gold. Tony says that for some it’s a dream, for people like Ric Flair it’s a desire, and they will all see who’s dream or desire will win out tonight in Battlebowl! Tony throws it over to “Mean” Gene Okerlund, who is standing by at the Official WCW Tumbler© with our special guest of the evening, Wheel of Fortune’s own Vanna White! Gene wastes no time in casually trying to hit on Vanna as the two discuss their very vital role this evening. Gene points out one important note, that one of the pages in there have two names on it, those being Scott Hall and Syxx; the lucky duo who had their names drawn on Nitro this past Monday. <iframe width="120" height="68" src="<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BD7oKPLtgAA" rel="external nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/embed/BD7oKPLtgAA"</a> frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> “Mean” Gene and Vanna are interrupted by the appearance of our third commentator for one night only, as “Macho Man” Randy Savage emerges from the back alongside the massive frame of his evening’s bodyguard, The Giant. Jesse meets Savage on his way into the booth for a few words, asking the World title number one contender what he thinks about the look of the competition here tonight. Randy tells Ventura “Don’t you know, Body; when you’re ‘The Macho Man’ THERE IS NO OTHER COMPETITION, YEAH!” Savage says that the Kings of Wrestling are now the greatest thing WCW has ever seen, “too hot to top so it’s straight to the top yeah!” especially now that they’ve kicked that egotist Hogan to the curb. Savage says that Hollywood’s ego was as big as all of Hollywood, and that’s why he let his “woman troubles” get into his head and why he left this man (slapping Giant on the pec) hanging out to dry – hanging for Roddy Piper and Randy Savage to pick up, yeah. Savage says that it doesn’t matter who wins the title tonight, because at SuperBrawl they defend against “The Macho Man” and with that in their future they better all just leave that belt vacant, yeah! Savage grabs his headset, and it’s time for the first drawing! <div style="text-align:right;">Notes: Tony did some masterful crowd interactions, and both Jesse and Gene improvised well during the hype segment. When Savage came out, he performed well off-script, and Jesse improvised well again. Ratings: B- / A</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">The Lethal Lottery: Match 1 “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Vanna White are at the Official WCW Tumbler© to draw the first set of teams this evening! Gene and Vanna spin it a few times before stopping it, and Ms. White pulls out the first ball. We take a look into the dressing rooms via a split screen, seeing Rick and Scott Steiner, “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, and Johnny B. Badd and Alex Wright waiting to see if their name gets called. Gene says that the first man out will be Cactus Jack! And with another ball drawn, his partner will be… Road Warrior Animal! With both of those men making their way down to the ring, Gene turns back to the Official WCW Tumbler© to draw the next name; we again take a peek into a split screen view of the locker rooms to see the Heavenly Bodies, Rick Martel, Ron Simmons, and California Kip, before finding out that it’s Rio the Renegade who gets the nod! He and Dr. Karnage start charging down the aisle, and the final name of this match is a surprise – Lord Steven Regal! Regal and Baron Leonard Tomas arrogantly march down to ringside, and Regal’s facial expressions says it all: the only thing worse than his opponents in this match is his own partner! <div style="text-align:center;">Cactus Jack and Road Warrior Animal vs. Rio the Renegade and Lord Steven Regal w/Dr. Karnage and Baron Tomas </div> Regal is happy to stay on the ring apron at the start of the match, and he only rarely bothers tagging in, even getting into an argument with the evil doctor on the outside about “that common ruffian” but that ruffian does a good job holding his own against two of WCW’s more top tier players. Lord Regal finally tags in while Cactus is left on the mat in pain after a vicious clothesline. Steven does some solid damage in his own right, after he steels himself to sullying his clean hands with the “dirty” Jack. Regal tries to direct traffic, telling Rio to pull the top rope down when he sends Cactus toward him, so he will fly over the top to the floor. But Jack reverses, and it’s his Lordship who goes sailing down to the concrete! He is barely back into the ring before he tags back out, in obvious pain; but Cactus makes the tag as well, and Animal comes in with a slew of his own clotheslines! Regal calls in the troops when the match breaks down, but it backfires as the cane Finlay swings ends up striking Regal instead! As the Roundtable argue amongst themselves on the outside, Animal drills Rio with a ring-shaking powerslam to score the victory and move he and Cactus on to the Battlebowl in a very good opening contest! <div style="text-align:right;">Match Time: 9:41 Rating: C+ / D- / B-</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">The Lethal Lottery: Match 2 As everyone leaves the ringside area, we immediately are back up at “Mean” Gene and Vanna. Okerlund confirms for us that Cactus Jack and Animal now join the ten men who will compete in the Battlebowl battle royal later tonight. We take a look into the split screen locker rooms again, and we can see people like Harlem Heat, the Twilight Express, and Marty Jannetty watching on; but the man who first gets his name called is none other than World TV champion Chris Candido! As he and Tammy start heading out of the room, the second name called is Steve Austin! What a potential team! As a banged-up Diamond Dallas Page, the Rock ‘n Roll Express, Owen Hart, and Eddy Guerrero watch the monitor, the next man called into action is “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes! Dustin pumps his fists in the air at being called, but he does so again when he finds out his partner: one of his mentors, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat! What a shocker, and what a huge second match! <div style="text-align:center;">Chris Candido and Steve Austin w/Tammy Lynn vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat </div> These four men take their time getting into the matchup, letting the audience soak in the ramifications around the drawing of four such fan favorites. Steamboat and Austin, certainly no strangers to one another, start the match with a lock up, but it doesn’t take long before old bad blood spills out and the match gets more and more fast paced. The crowd cheer loudly for all four men when they are in the ring. None of them are a weak link, and Austin is the only one who seems more than willing to bend the rules to his own gains. Candido actually gets yelled at by Austin when he gives Rhodes a clean break in the ropes. No major chicanery goes on between the four, and the end of the match sees everyone in the ring hitting major finishers on one another before the fall gets broken up. Candido falls victim to a bulldog, Dustin gets hit with a Stunner, Austin gets hit with a flying bodypress, but when Chris is setting Steamboat up for a slam that would put him into a position, “The Dragon” turns it around into a sunset flip that scores a victory out of nowhere! After the match, our cameras are going back toward Tony and Jesse but stop when we notice one person in the crowd, watching the ring intently… Dusty Rhodes appears to be in attendance! Is he here to watch Dustin, or is he looking out for the KoW tonight? <div style="text-align:right;">Match Time: 17:25 Rating: C- / C+ / B- / B-</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">The Lethal Lottery: Match 3 Right back to action as we draw more names with “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Vanna White. Gene blatantly hits on Vanna, saying that the only thing more beautiful than that past match is her. Gene also says that he will try to get some words from Dusty Rhodes later in the evening if he can, but right now we get into the Official WCW Tumbler© for our next competitors! The next ball that Mrs. White draws is the only one with two names listed on it, as our next match will feature the men drawn last Monday, Scott Hall and Syxx! We see “The Outsider” and his buddy move past people like Hawk, Meng, DDP, Alex Wright, and JPL as they make their way out of the dressing room. We see Hawk, Terry Gordy, and Rick Martel during the next name drawing, as Gene announces the next person drawn: Brad Armstrong! BG pumps his brother and fellow WCW US Tag Team champion up for this opportunity, as the next name is pulled and announced as “Gigolo” Jimmy Del Ray! Tom Prichard slaps his partner on the back as he sprints out to the ring! <div style="text-align:center;">Scott Hall & Syxx w/Woman vs. Brad Armstrong and Jimmy Del Ray with Col. Robert Parker and Theodore R. Long </div> To say that the crowd aren’t exactly thrilled with this four heel matchup is a bit of an understatement. Brad and Jimmy, being so used to teaming with their usual partners, just never can get on the same page in comparison to the KoW’s contingent. Even Parker and Long find themselves at odds at ringside, while Woman stays cool and collected on the opposite side of the ring. Hall and Syxx just pick Brad and Jimmy apart for much of the match, and despite a few brief glimpses of a potential comeback, Syxx hits a dropkick style low blow on Del Ray behind Nick Patrick’s back and finishes this one off with a leaping sidekick to qualify into the Battlebowl. <div style="text-align:right;">Match Time: 8:42 Rating: C- / E+ / C+</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">An Interested Onlooker “Mean” Gene is in the crowd, and he is making his way down the path with a handheld cameraman. He finds his way to the seat of Dusty Rhodes, and Gene asks him just what he’s doing here in the audience tonight. Rhodes says that he’s here as a fan of wrestling, ready to see who is going to be the new World Heavyweight champion. Okerlund inquires if he has anyone he would like to see win it after we have the field most of the way filled, and Dusty says that it may be “a daddy’s dream” but he hopes that since he qualified, he would like to see Dustin walk out of here with the gold! Gene asks him about Scott Hall, or Syxx, members of the Kings of Wrestling… and that’s when Dusty says that we aren’t here to talk to him, we’re here for the Battlebowl – so Gene should get “back up to that lil’ girl at the tumblah” and move the night on. Gene says that it appears he cannot get any more from Dusty, we are still unsure of where his allegiances lie, but we will get on with the Lethal Lottery! <div style="text-align:right;">Notes: Dusty had the crowd hanging off his every word here, a true legend every time. Rating: B</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Glad You Were Here We head briefly back to Tony, Jesse, and Randy at the booth, but Tony quickly apologizes and says that there is apparently a commotion going on backstage right now that we have to cut away to! We head backstage to a hallway where Rick Martel must have been getting a drink when he was again attacked by “Lionheart” Chris Jericho and The Warlord! Warlord holds Martel in the full nelson while Jericho slaps him across the face, taunting him! This could have easily continued for the rest of the night, but help comes in the form of Rick Steiner! “The Dog-Faced Gremlin” happened upon the assault and shoves Jericho away, then punching Warlord to break this up. Jericho pulls his bodyguard away now that the numbers are even, as a wounded Martel thanks Steiner, who is calling for trainers to come check on Martel. <div style="text-align:right;">Rating: B-</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">The Lethal Lottery: Match 4 Gene is so concerned about what just happened that he can’t even hit on Vanna, saying that he hopes they don’t draw Rick Martel’s name right now because he is the type of guy who would come out here to compete and risk serious injury. In the split screen locker room shot, Rick Steiner rejoins his brother next to Meng as the next name is drawn: Ricky Morton! Robert Gibson high fives his longtime partner, wishing him luck as Ricky heads for the ring. Gene hopes that Robert will be the next name drawn, but it is not – instead, he pulls the name of “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair! Owen Hart gives Flair a nod and pat on the back, and he throws his robe on to head down to the ring. The audience comes alive in shock the next man gets called down to the ring – Arn Anderson! In the back, everyone from Paul Orndorff to Ron Simmons to Terry Gordy to Rey Mysterio Jr. to JPL spin their heads toward Anderson, and even he is in shock! But the World title doesn’t come to all men, so as Flair kicks the ropes in the ring, “The Enforcer” jogs down toward it. The next name draws another gasp, and down to the ring marches “The Total Package” Lex Luger! Anderson is surprised at his partner, but none of us could have envisioned this! <div style="text-align:center;">Ricky Morton and “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson and “Total Package” Lex Luger </div> Flair hits the apron immediately, leaving Morton to start the match with Anderson. The two former rivals know all there is to know about one another, and they put on a nice little match of their own until Ricky tags in Flair. Anderson doesn’t feel like facing off with his best friend just yet, so he tags out as well, which the crowd boos mercilessly. Tony points out that the last time these two did square off, Anderson came out with the victory; Savage points out that he could beat both of them if they end up winning the World title tonight. Luger and Flair have wrestled somewhere close to a thousand times, so they don’t bother feeling one another out, instead drilling one another with big rights and lefts, which Lex wins. He takes over the match, but when he goes for assistance from his partner, Arn walks away from the turnbuckle. The match turns back around later, and Flair does the same when Morton looks for a double team move to Anderson. Finally Lex and Ricky get tired of this, and they draw the Horsemen both into the ring. This is a bad thing for them, though – as when tempers flare, old habits die hard, as Flair and Anderson start working together to dominate their own partners! Clearer heads prevail though, when “The Nature Boy” goes to pin Luger… and Arn breaks it up! The two friends nearly come to blows, as Ricky and Lex quietly leave the ring – and referee Randy Anderson informs them that they are the legal men! Ric and Arn shake hands, and the crowd goes ballistic when they actually tie up! From here we have a full tag team match, no more punches pulled between the two senior members of the Four Horsemen. They even start cooperating with their partners. Luger sends Flair into the ropes, and Arn knees him in the back, classic Anderson move; meanwhile Flair sends Arn’s head directly into Morton’s raised knees! Flair chops Arn in the corner, and then “The Enforcer” drills Ric to the mat with a spinebuster! Ricky has to break up that pin, and then Lex comes into the ring; a huge donnybrook brawl erupts between the four men, and not a single one of them cares who they hit. The end is a mass of bodies flying everywhere, as Arn smashes Morton’s head into Flair’s while Ric was on the apron, sending him to the floor. He then shoves Ricky to Luger, who heaves him straight into the Torture Rack! Ricky is dazed already, and the pain shooting through his body causes him to limply tell Randy Anderson to ring the bell in the best match of the Lethal Lottery, with only one match left to even attempt to top it. <div style="text-align:right;">Match Time: 18:18 Rating: C- / B- / B</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">The Lethal Lottery: Match 5 The final match of the Lethal Lottery tournament is up next, and “Mean” Gene and Vanna survey the men still standing in the locker rooms; names like Barry Windham, the Steiner Brothers, Disco Inferno Dean Malenko, California Kip, and Road Warrior Hawk. All big names, but lady luck only smiles upon a certain few, and right now that certain man is former WCW Cruiserweight champion, Ultimo Dragon! Dragon walks out past Chavo Jr. and Art Barr, ready to head to the ring, as his partner is called as “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright! Only two names remain to be called out to qualify for Battlebowl, and the next name is a huge surprise as “Mean” Gene reads off…… Richard Stevenson! Richard is in shock at least as he walks past a dancing Disco Inferno on his way out. Only one name left, and we can see Smash and all the rest looking on as it is revealed to be… Big Bubba Rogers! Colonel Parker shouts in joy as he leads his newest charge out of the locker room, as a lot of jealous wrestlers look on, shaking their heads, as lady luck just did not smile upon them this evening and grant them a chance at the World title. <div style="text-align:center;">Ultimo Dragon and “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright vs. Richard Stevenson and Bubba Rogers w/Ted DiBiase and Col. Robert Parker </div> But wait, Rogers and Parker don’t come out as the other men have. A camera heads backstage, and we see that Harley Race has pulled The Colonel aside! We don’t get to see a lot of what’s happening, but a short conversation goes on between them, and then Harley slides an envelope into the white jacket of Robert. Parker looks ecstatic, and he calls Rogers back to him – and the massive frame of Vader enters the scene, walking to the ring with Woman! <div style="text-align:center;">Ultimo Dragon and “Das Wunderkind” Alex Wright vs. Richard Stevenson and “The Monster” Vader w/Ted DiBiase and Woman</div> Tony is disgusted, saying “Who needs luck when you have money?” Savage shrugs him off, saying “If ya can’t be lucky, Tony, be smart, and no man back in that locker room is smarter than Harley!” With “The Monster” out in the ring now, this becomes a massacre. Vader scares Stevenson out of the ring, sending him scurrying to DiBiase, and he just walks right through both Ultimo and Alex. When a two-on-one attack only serves to make Vader angry, Wright abandons his chances, sliding out of the ring and leaving Ultimo on his own, where Vader picks him apart and drills him with a powerbomb for the easy one-two-three – dragging Richard into the Battlebowl as well. <div style="text-align:right;">Match Time: 7:14 Rating: D / D / B / D</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Time to Kill Some Time It’s now backstage to Mike Tenay, who is standing by with Kings of Wrestling founder Nick Bockwinkel. Nick defends Vader’s inclusion as well, saying that all Race did was buy the spot that Parker had drawn fair and square – nobody was hurt by the trade. Tenay says that Ultimo Dragon could have something to say about that, but the segment gets interrupted by Ted DiBiase, who says that as much as he hates to agree with Bockwinkel, he can’t complain about somebody using their brains and money to get ahead. Mike says that Ted obviously cannot be upset that his attorney, Richard Stevenson, has advanced as well. DiBiase says that he wouldn’t have planned it that way, but that there is no trial like a trial by fire, and we could see him add World champion to his credentials. WCW Commissioner Magnum TA comes into the segment now, saying that he just got off the phone with the WCW Championship Committee, and they are allowing Vader’s entry into the Battlebowl. He also says that there will be a bonus match this evening, as “Mean” Gene and Mrs. White will draw two of the undrawn names from the Official WCW Tumbler© and those two will square off in one-on-one action. <div style="text-align:right;">Rating: C</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Who’s Side Is He On? The crowd buzzes as the Executive Vice President of WCW makes his way down to the ring, Eric Bischoff! Tony and Jesse try and ask Savage if he knows what Eric will have to say, but Randy is tight-lipped, only telling them that “He better know the right thing to say.” He enters the ring and says that a lot of his friends and family have been asking him what he was going to do in World Championship Wrestling now, if he knew what was going to happen with the Kings of Wrestling or not. Tony points out that Eric was carried away from ringside after he got punched by Sting, before Roddy Piper and Randy Savage hit the ring to attack Hollywood Hogan. Bischoff says that a lot of things changed very quickly in WCW while he was away for a few weeks, saying that we appointed a new commissioner and vacated the World title, and now here we are at Battlebowl! Eric says that WCW is his baby, and nobody should forget that – and that’s why he is staying with the Kings of Wrestling, because these men are the ones who will wash away the stain that WCW put on the map by promoting people like Sting and Ric Flair! Roddy Piper comes down to the ring, and he joins Eric in saying that Sting hasn’t been seen since Starrcade, and he may never be seen again after what the KoW did to him. And as for Hogan? Eric says that he wishes he could have been there to slap the taste out of Hogan’s big mouth himself! Bischoff says that he is one of the Kings of Wrestling, and when men like Randy Savage and Roddy Piper are running WCW, you’ll all thank him for bringing them to you! Roddy gets out of the ring and heads back up the ramp, but Bischoff isn’t done yet. Eric has a message for Magnum TA, saying that just because he’s the commissioner doesn’t mean he is all powerful; only one man in all powerful in World Championship Wrestling, and you’re looking at him! So “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff will be granted his United States title match against Meng, to be scheduled at the earliest available date. <div style="text-align:right;">Notes: Both men improvised well, but while Roddy was there Eric was just of his league. Rating: B / C</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Explosive Antics from Backstage The Road Warriors are seen backstage, Animal talking about how Tenay wanted to interview he and Hawk about tonight. They walk over toward an interview area, but get cut off by Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. Flair says that nobody cares to hear from the “two Neanderthals” and that what’s most important is making sure everybody knows that “Double A” has his full support going into the Battlebowl tonight, that there is no hard feelings between the Four Horsemen. Security quickly have to engulf the scene as the four men have to be held back from one another! Tempers are hot as the World championship is hanging in the balance! <div style="text-align:right;">Rating: B-</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">An Extra Drawing for One More Match For one final time we meet up with “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Vanna White, who has shrugged off and spurned his advances at every turn tonight. He tries one more time, and she just starts pulling the final two balls out of the Official WCW Tumbler© instead. “Tough crowd,” remarks Gene, before looking at the first name drawn: representing the Kings of Wrestling, Jeff Jarrett! And his opponent will be… none other than one half of the World Tag Team champions, Scott Steiner! Rick tells his brother to “go get some” as he rushes past a disappointed lot of Smash, Lance Storm, Rey Mysterio Jr., and 2 Cold Scorpio. <div style="text-align:center;">Jeff Jarrett w/Woman vs. Scott Steiner </div> These two go out there with the intent of giving both the crowd and the Battlebowl participants a break before the main event, and while they’re at it, they put on a mat classic of their own. Jarrett delivers some jarring offense in the form of some great standing dropkicks and charging onto Scott’s neck while he was draped over the ropes – and Woman even made her presence felt at ringside, slapping Scott across the face in what Tony says “must bring back some memories for the Steiners.” Jarrett struts around the ring, feeling very confident, that is until Scott puts his leg up and kicks him out of a flying splash attempt! Scott quickly takes over, hitting Jeff with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex that takes him nearly out of his boots, and following up with a ring-shaking gorilla press slam! Woman gets on the apron, distracting Mark Curtis while Jarrett jabs Scott in the eyes. He pulls a chain out of his boots and gets ready to level Steiner with a knockout punch – but Diamond Dallas Page comes out and swipes the chain from him! Jarrett tries to get at Page, but turns around right into the Frankensteiner, and Scott stays on top to get the one, two, and three in this hotly contested matchup! <div style="text-align:right;">Match Time: 12:04 Rating: C / B</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Final Thoughts before Battlebowl Mike Tenay comes out to join the commentary booth for a moment as everyone gives their opnion about who they feel will win the big gold belt tonight. Tony says that of those in the final, he has to back Lex Luger, saying that “The Total Package” is a former champion and will carry that belt to great heights. Jesse Ventura says that only a devious man could go into a battle royal like this and come out on top, and that means he is backing Arn Anderson to wear the one title that has always eluded him; also pointing out that Anderson won World War 3 just last year, so if he can come out on top of a sixty man battle royal, triumphing over only nine other men should be a cakewalk. Tenay echoes that type of statement, saying that he believes last year’s Battlebowl winner, Ricky Steamboat, will come out the victor this evening, once again holding the championship he wore back in 1989. Randy Savage tells all of them to shut up, because nobody cares what any of them have to say – the only correct men to back in this match are Vader, Scott Hall, or Syxx, because that title is coming back home to the Kings of Wrestling, and then it will come to “The Macho Man” next month at SuperBrawl, yeah! Tony says that he can hear Gary Cappetta in the ring, and it is time to get to Battlebowl! <div style="text-align:right;">Rating: C</div></div></div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/world.jpg Battlebowl for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship and Battlebowl Ring Cactus Jack vs. Road Warrior Animal vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. “The Outsider” Scott Hall vs. Syxx vs. “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson vs. “Total Package” Lex Luger vs. Richard Stevenson vs. “The Monster” Vader The bell sounds and these ten men begin squaring off! Cactus charges Vader, Steamboat and Animal go at it, Luger and earlier partner Anderson start trading blows, and “The Natural” chases Richard around the ring. Hall and Syxx hang back, watching all of their opponents brawl, which Savage says is a wise move in a match like this. Rhodes and Steamboat turn their attention to the duo, and that becomes almost a tag team brawl in one corner of the ring, while Cactus rakes at the face of Lex Luger. Vader and Animal get into a brawl between big men, jockeying for position among the ten men in the ring – or should I say nine, because “Double A” decides that this is a match that should be taken seriously, so he hits Stevenson with a clothesline that sends him out of the ring. Ventura says that he figured, as a lawyer, Richard would have been able to slither around the match better than that. This match becomes very one-sided, though, shortly after that. With three Kings of Wrestling members in the ring, the KoW start becoming the dominant force of the ring. Arn Anderson and Animal have found one another and are trying to eliminate one another, but as Dustin, Ricky, Cactus, and Lex are concerned, they run into the brick wall of offense that is Scott Hall, Syxx, and Vader. Jack is the man who charges them the most, working hard to try and take “The Monster” off of his feet, but never getting far before Hall or Syxx would attack him from behind. The KoW mostly hang in the same corner, meaning that anyone else must come to them to try and eliminate any of them. Steamboat tries to divide and conquer, pulling supposed weak link Syxx aside, but Hall pulls his buddy right back into the corner, before driving an elbow into Ricky’s head and neck. Lex does the most damage to them, clotheslining Hall to the mat and sending Syxx to the other side of the ring with a gorilla press slam, but Vader levels “The Total Package” with a body block that puts him on the mat. Cactus charges the trio again, and nearly dumps Hall out before Syxx makes the save for him. As Anderson and Animal teeter on the top rope, Luger is the one who catches on and ends up dumping both to the floor, ending both of their evenings in disappointment. Animal bumps fists with Lex, telling him to “go get them” pointing toward the KoW. Randy Savage says that the Kings of Wrestling are on their way to the title, but refuses to answer who he thinks would be picking up the belt when Tony inquires his thoughts. “The Dragon” gets taken out by a vicious powerbomb by Vader, as does Luger and then Dustin. With everyone else down on the mat, Cactus is the only man left to make a play for the KoW – and he’s just crazy enough to take it! Cactus punches Hall and blocks a punch from Syxx, drilling them both to the mat with a double facebuster! Vader and Cactus go nose to nose again, and they trade punches near the ropes. Cactus gets the upper hand, knocking Vader back into the turnbuckle and hitting him with forearm shots. Cactus has Vader reeling, and he starts waving his arm around before charging in and hitting a charging clothesline in the corner! Ventura says that was a bad move, because now Vader is sitting down in the corner when he needs to be thrown over the top rope. Jack turns his attention back to Hall, punching him and then whipping him into Vader – and then whipping Syxx into the pile so hard that the smaller athlete does a flip in the air before hitting his own friends! Hall and Syxx fall away, and then Cactus charges a knee into Vader’s masked face! The crowd are chanting loudly for Cactus, as Dustin comes back into the fray. He hits punches on Vader, keeping him at bay while Cactus tries to throw Hall out. “The Outsider” has a long reach though, and he hangs onto the ropes with all he can, until Syxx comes along and hits a low blow on Cactus! Syxx pulls Hall back in, and the duo start trying to throw Jack over. Cactus keeps fighting, punching and scratching his way out of the predicament, just as Steamboat pulls Hall away and slams his head into the nearest turnbuckle! Syxx is left on his own, and so he backs off – right into the chiseled chest of Lex Luger! Luger hauls Syxx onto his shoulders and starts cranking on his back with the Torture Rack! Unfortunately for the side of good, however, Vader rises from the depths of Hell like all monsters do, and he wastes no time in seeing where everyone is and smashes Jack with a clothesline from his blind side that sends Cactus over the top rope and to the mat! Luger dumps Syxx off his shoulders straight to the floor, but Vader comes up from behind and tosses “The Total Package” out to the floor right beside him! It is final four time, as last year’s Battlebowl winner Ricky Steamboat, last year’s Battlebowl runner-up Dustin Rhodes, last year Battlebowl finalist Vader, and “The Outsider” Scott Hall are the only men left in the ring. Yet again we find ourselves in basically a tag team match situation, where Vader and Hall team up against Rhodes and Steamboat, as Tony says that this is what WCW is all about, men representing World Championship Wrestling fighting for their company against the Kings of Wrestling with the World Heavyweight title hanging in the balance. Steamboat pairs off with Vader while Hall tries to tip Rhodes up and out, with “The Dragon” hitting chops while dodging bombs being thrown at him by Vader. With less people in the ring, movability starts to be more and more prevalent, and that is what Ricky uses to his advantage. Steamboat ducks a punch and runs the ropes on the other side, coming back and hitting a leaping chop to Vader’s head, before chopping him time and time again across the chest, until Vader is backed against the ropes. “The Dragon” tries lifting one of Vader’s massive legs, trying to work him over the top rope; while on the other side of the ring, Dustin is holding Scott in a weakening headlock. Hall reaches up and rakes Rhodes’s eyes, breaking it up, before sending Dustin to the ropes. Rhodes ducks a clothesline, but Hall catches Dustin’s attempted crossbody, before throwing him with a fallaway slam! Savage says he was trying to throw him over the top, but video evidence shows that Hall was nowhere near the ropes. Hall hefts Dustin up and back down with the Outsider’s Edge, and cockily brushes off his hands. Vader has kicked Steamboat aside, but “The Dragon” keeps on him. Vader drops to a knee after another chop on the head, and the look on his face says that Ricky’s hot temper may be getting the better of him. Steamboat turns to get a run going, but he turns right into a Hall chokeslam! From there, Scott throws him to Vader, who goes onto the second rope and hits a big splash, and Scott lifts the dead weight off the mat and dumps him to the floor. There will be no two-time winner of Battlebowl. It is two on one now, with Scott Hall and Vader just toying with Dustin Rhodes. Hall slaps him around, as Vader smashes a right hand into Rhodes’s face. A series of forearms sends Dustin into the corner, where Vader does more damage. Hall pulls him out and sits Dustin on the top turnbuckle. Hall then goes up and drills Dustin back down with a belly to back superplex! Vader goes to the second rope, and he delivers a brutal pump splash to Dustin! It appears that the Kings of Wrestling, former New World Order members, are just having fun out there. Hall points at Vader, who again drills Dustin’s limp body with a big splash. It’s Tony who first notices that there’s something he can hear, and the crowd buzzes as the hum gets louder… <div style="text-align:center;">“HE’S AME-E-E-ERICAN! MAAAAAAAAAADE!!” <iframe width="320" height="180" src="<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7i77vUE6uBc" rel="external nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/embed/7i77vUE6uBc"</a> frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> Oh my god, is Hulk Hogan coming back?! Is the black and white being thrown aside for the yellow and red again? “American Made” plays over the arena, and the crowd are getting more and more excited, watching the entrance way – as are Vader and Scott Hall! Hall is motioning to come on already, and Vader is ready to go in general. Out of the crowd he comes! From behind Hall and Vader, wearing the yellow and the red!! http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/pillmania.jpg<div style="text-align:center;"></div> Don’t adjust your sets – that’s not Hulk Hogan, it’s Brian Pillman!! Pillman charges the ring with a chair in hand, and he smashes Vader with it! He nails Hall with it, and throws it down before ripping off his shirt! Brian throws the shirt at Vader, before hammering Hall with punches! He goes out of the ring, and leaps up to the top rope – Air Pillman to Hall! Brian slips out of the ring, and Vader is hot on his trail, running Pillman back out into the crowd where he came from! Brian cups his hand to his ear, and the audience give him a rousing cheer! Hall points out over the top rope, telling Brian to get back here! And Dustin dumps him out of the ring! Scott Hall is eliminated! We are down to our final two, and as Vader turns around and realizes that he and Dustin Rhodes are the last men in the match, he growls! Dustin gets up to his knees again, and you can see him visibly wincing as he tries to pull himself fully to his feet – but he urges Vader to bring it on! “The Monster” slowly stomps up the ring steps and stands on the apron. He yells “Who’s the man?!” as Dustin climbs to his feet. Just for Scott Hall to knock him back down using a foreign object! He nailed Rhodes right in the back of the head! Tommy Young starts yelling at Hall to get out of here, and he does so… but not without shoving the weapon into the ring to Vader. Vader doesn’t even bother picking it up right away, instead hammering Dustin with his own fists. He puts “The Natural” upside down, and delivers a ring-shaking vertical suplex after letting the blood rush to his head and thus making his blond hair start to dye red. Vader looks down at the now bleeding Rhodes, and an evil smile crosses his evil lips as he zooms in on the open wound, hammering the back of Dustin’s head with punches. “The Monster” heaves Dustin off the mat and drills him back down with a big bodyslam, before hitting the ropes and landing with a brutal splash to the ribs! Vader pulls Rhodes up by his bloody hair and shoves him into the turnbuckle, and he starts trying to lift his dead weight off the mat. Dustin instinctively hangs on, and Vader lets him down before slamming him in the face with two hard right hands. He tries to send “The Natural” to the ropes, but Dustin is so worn out that he collapses to the mat before he even makes it. Vader screams that “It’s Vader time!” and Randy cheers him on from commentary. Vader picks Rhodes up and sets him up for another power bomb – but Dustin is able to backdrop out of it! Vader gets up and comes after him, and Dustin hits a few desperate right hands. He leans down and picks up Hall’s foreign object, and he punches Vader with it! Rhodes throws it to Tommy Young, and he tries to lift the dazed Vader off the mat. Rhodes doesn’t have the strength, so he instead just pounds on Vader, getting the crowd behind him and warming up his adrenaline, and this time he lifts Vader’s massive leg! Savage calls foul, saying that Dustin used that foreign object, and as the blood pours out of Dustin’s head… Vader… is…… able to jab an elbow into Rhodes’s face, breaking it up. Vader charges, but Dustin hits him in the stomach with a kick. Dustin sends Vader into the ropes, but when he tries for a back body drop, Vader catches him and drops him with the powerbomb he was looking for earlier! “The Natural” is basically dead at this point, lying prone on the mat. Vader has trouble even trying to lift him, as Dustin simply drops back down. Savage says that he’s finished, the only way anybody is ever any more finished than this is if he dropped an elbow on them. Tony sounds grave, saying that Tommy Young may have to make an official call here, because Dustin doesn’t seem able to even defend himself. This is taken into further account as Vader starts slapping Rhodes around while he lays on the mat, and Rhodes is unable to even move to roll away. The crowd starts clapping and stomping to try and bring life to the young superstar, as Vader pulls “The Son of the Son of the Plumber” toward the turnbuckle. He looks ready for another of those pump splashes, and he drives himself – down to empty canvas! Dustin found some measure of strength to roll away, and he finds himself on the other side of the ring. Dustin starts pulling the ropes, trying to get to his feet. Vader comes at the dazed Rhodes, who ducks AND GRABS THE TOP ROPE AS VADER SAILS RIGHT OVER AND TO THE FLOOR! <div style="text-align:right;">Match Time: 26:35 Notes: Brian Pillman’s face turn was a complete success. Rating: B</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/banner.jpg</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">The New World Heavyweight Champion! With a huge sigh of relief, the new champion collapses in the center of the ring, as the crowd are going crazy! Things are so crazy, that it almost gets overlooked that Dusty Rhodes has made his way down to the barricade, and he jumps over it and slides into the ring. Dustin is just getting to his feet, and he sees his father – and Dusty raises his son’s hand! Randy Savage screams that Dusty may have a lot of explaining to do later! The World Heavyweight championship is handed to “The Natural” who appears to be getting emotional in the center of the ring. He falls to his knees, just staring at the title belt in his arms. A commotion can be heard from commentary, as Randy Savage has thrown down his headset and starts heading down the aisle. Dustin looks up to see him coming, and a staredown ensues. Jesse says that Dustin had better open his eyes, because just winning that gold is one thing, but now he has to find a way to keep it, and that man staring at him, one of the most dangerous men in wrestling, is his first challenge. The show cuts to black on that image. <div style="text-align:center;"><iframe width="420" height="315" src="<a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d6OsSIL0eRU?rel=0&controls=0&start=54&showinfo=0" rel="external nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/embed/d6OsSIL0eRU?rel=0&controls=0&start=54&showinfo=0"</a> frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> Wait… that song doesn’t have anything to do with Battlebowl… we can hear Tony ask what’s going on, as the entire arena is bathed in darkness. Suddenly, a light shines onto the ring, where we see that a crow has emerged, and is perching on the top rope. The crow flies up into the rafters, and the spotlight follows it up, up, up, where it lands… http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/sting2.jpg<div style="text-align:center;"> … on the waiting arm of Sting.</div> <div style="text-align:right;">Rating: B / B+ / B+</div></div></div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i1325.photobucket.com/albums/u628/beejus1/wcw-95/logo2.jpg</div>

Dawn · June 4, 2015

Show's posted, bumping because it isn't appearing as a new post for whatever reason.

Beejus · June 4, 2015

For some reason the board isn't acting like I just posted THE MOST AMAZING BATTLE ROYAL IN JANUARY 1996, so here's a post to let everyone know that Battlebowl is upon you! I hope you all enjoyed, I did keep a lot of the tag match write-ups short but I wanted to make sure that the battle royal itself was the main headline.

Jaysin · June 4, 2015

The BattleBowl was one of the best things I have ever read.

I noticed in the past, when you're typing up a post for an extended period of time, for some reason or another it doesn't bump the thread.

Hashasheen · June 5, 2015

Sting has just entered his third-form. Will it be his final?!?!?!

Also, damn awesome work on Dustin Rhodes. You've turned him from Not! Goldust into top-flight talent in my eyes.

TeflonBilly · June 5, 2015

Great show!

The Final Countdown · June 5, 2015

Going to try something new and make comments on this show as I read it, and they're fresh in my mind. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Gene wastes no time in casually trying to hit on Vanna</div></blockquote> Calm yourself Gene, you horny old man! <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> I also chuckled the second time I saw 'Official WCW Tumbler©', all formal-like. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Regal’s facial expressions says it all: the only thing worse than his opponents in this match is his own partner!</div></blockquote> No kidding; I feel so sorry for His Lordship, getting saddled with such a dreadful partner! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Chris Candido and Steve Austin w/Tammy Lynn vs. “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat</div></blockquote> What a matchup that is! Either way at least one big contender is going out here. I think Dustin and Steamboat win it, with Candido taking the fall. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Gene blatantly hits on Vanna, saying that the only thing more beautiful than that past match is her.</div></blockquote> Gene is such a horndog! Did he do this at WMIV? It's been so long since I've seen it that I don't remember. Ooh, Flair vs. Arn! That was a really good match; I loved the setup with Flair and Arn refusing to fight and even attacking their partners before finally getting down to business. Plus my pick, Luger, is still alive! Hah, I love how even with the stakes, Alex Wright just said 'screw it' and left rather than have to deal with Vader. Luger's still my pick, but Vader may be my backup selection now that he's in. On the other hand, Dustin is white hot after Starrcade...so many options! Bischoff staying with the KoW was a minor surprise to me, I guess because I associate his heel character so closely with Hogan. Then again, I think Hulk's going to be a lone wolf when he comes back, so there's no place for Easy E by his side anyway. Setup for Flair and Arn vs. the Road Warriors in the future? Yes please. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>For one final time we meet up with “Mean” Gene Okerlund and Vanna White, who has shrugged off and spurned his advances at every turn tonight. He tries one more time, and she just starts pulling the final two balls out of the Official WCW Tumbler© instead. “Tough crowd,” remarks Gene</div></blockquote> Haha, I have to respect Gene for his tenacity; he went down swinging! And one final 'Official WCW Tumbler©' too! <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Onto the battle royal... Luger dumping Animal and Double A seems like a mistake--everybody else should band together to get rid of the KoW before fighting amongst themselves. There goes Lex! <img alt=":eek:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/eek.png.0e09df00fa222c85760b9bc1700b5405.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Now I think either Dustin follows up Starrcade with an even bigger win, or we see Vader win to set up an intriguing showdown with fellow KoW member Savage. PILLMAN SIGHTING! I loved the Hogan fakeout too. Too soon for him to be coming back, and I don't think he can go right back to the red and yellow anyway--not without more buildup. DUSTIN! What a big win. I totally buy it too--that classic feud with Flair made him a star. Part of me thinks that he's going to drop it to Savage next month, but even if he does, I'm glad he got this moment. ...and there's Sting, now fully transformed into 'crow' mode. Business has just picked up, folks. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>For some reason the board isn't acting like I just posted THE MOST AMAZING BATTLE ROYAL IN JANUARY 1996</div></blockquote> The most amazing battle royal in GDS history? Quite possibly.

Beejus · June 5, 2015

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Satyr24" data-cite="Satyr24" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Dustin Rhodes after the Ric Flair feud he looks ready</div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="TheBigBad1013" data-cite="TheBigBad1013" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>So after thinking about this for a while I think I'm going to go with Dustin Rhodes. I really like what you've done with him so far and after beating Flair at Starrcade, picking up the title here might be exactly the thing to firmly establish Dustin as a top guy.</div></blockquote> Satyr and BigBad were right on point; following Starrcade and then Battlebowl, Dustin is one of my most over roster members, trailing only Hogan, Sting, Luger, and Vader. Austin and Flair were solid choices that people made as well. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The BattleBowl was one of the best things I have ever read.</div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="The Final Countdown" data-cite="The Final Countdown" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The most amazing battle royal in GDS history? Quite possibly.</div></blockquote> Thanks! Given Ritchardo just posted the Royal Rumble and TFC has done a two of them by now, I feel that is incredibly high praise. The same echoes to what TFC said as well. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Hashasheen" data-cite="Hashasheen" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Sting has just entered his third-form. Will it be his final?!?!?! Also, damn awesome work on Dustin Rhodes. You've turned him from Not! Goldust into top-flight talent in my eyes.</div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="TFC" data-cite="TFC" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>DUSTIN! What a big win. I totally buy it too--that classic feud with Flair made him a star. Part of me thinks that he's going to drop it to Savage next month, but even if he does, I'm glad he got this moment. </div></blockquote> I feel like I'm obligated to answer the Sting part with "Find out next time, on Dragonball Z!" Like I said, Dustin has done a great job at getting over. He's come a long way from feuding with Colonel Parker and Bunkhouse Buck at the start of this game! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="TeflonBilly" data-cite="TeflonBilly" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Great show!</div></blockquote> Thanks! <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="TFC" data-cite="TFC" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="35691" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Calm yourself Gene, you horny old man! I also chuckled the second time I saw 'Official WCW Tumbler©', all formal-like. Gene is such a horndog! Did he do this at WMIV? It's been so long since I've seen it that I don't remember. Hah, I love how even with the stakes, Alex Wright just said 'screw it' and left rather than have to deal with Vader. Luger's still my pick, but Vader may be my backup selection now that he's in. On the other hand, Dustin is white hot after Starrcade...so many options! Bischoff staying with the KoW was a minor surprise to me, I guess because I associate his heel character so closely with Hogan. Then again, I think Hulk's going to be a lone wolf when he comes back, so there's no place for Easy E by his side anyway. PILLMAN SIGHTING! I loved the Hogan fakeout too. Too soon for him to be coming back, and I don't think he can go right back to the red and yellow anyway--not without more buildup. ...and there's Sting, now fully transformed into 'crow' mode. Business has just picked up, folks.</div></blockquote> The "Official WCW Tumbler©" made me chuckle every time I wrote it. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> I don't know about Gene at WM4 (been too long on my marathon ago) but this is what I was thinking of the whole time: <div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/DufSUMuS9f4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Mean Gene Okerlund being a perve at WCW Battlebowl 1993"></iframe></div></div> Maybe Alex was the smart one, given what Vader did throughout the night >_> As Eric goes, I didn't think I had anywhere for him to go as a face. I already have Magnum as a face commissioner, so keeping Bischoff as a heel working for the KoW just seems like the best option. The way I looked at it was yes, Eric brought Hogan to WCW - but he also brought Piper and Savage as well, so he is backing the people who will keep making him money. Oh, we will find out more about what's going on with Brian now on Nitro... And Sting. I debated holding off on Sting until SuperBrawl, but I really think that the best place to have his return, especially as The Crow, right now. I tried not to overshadow Dustin's big moment with either Sting or Savage, but there is just so much going on that there's no way not to potentially have that happen. I'm glad everyone enjoyed Battlebowl! I do have one more pitstop before SuperBrawl - a Clash of the Champions, which was another of BigBad's Starrcade prizes. I plan to have a pretty short turnaround time until the next Nitro, so we are going to start on the path toward that very soon!

TheBigBad1013 · June 7, 2015

Another absolutely fantastic show, man! And Dustin winning? I loved it (and not just because I called it

). I'm really looking forward to seeing where things go from here! Oh and great job writing the battle royal--it's always tough to write matches with so many competitors but you pulled it off nicely.

Ritchardo · June 8, 2015

Great show with a great climax - seeing Dustin climb the top of the WCW ladder is a great achievement given how he started out in this diary (as you've pointed out) and it felt like a truly big show moment.

Well written battle royale, I have to agree and one of the finest I've read. Having written a Royal Rumble myself very recently, I know how hard they can be to hang together and have everyone active. Loved the way you did the Lethal Lottery too with regular cut backs to the dressing room for reactions from the wrestlers desperate for a shot.

Another in a long line of very good shows - excited to see where Dustin Rhodes is headed.

The Final Countdown · June 11, 2015

I don't know about anyone else, but Dustin's huge win feels even more special to me after today.

Dawn · June 11, 2015

I sadly agree with TFC...

Beejus · June 11, 2015

TFC made me, my woman, and a friend sad.

RIP Dusty. Always will be the best in my heart. I seriously considered rewriting the entire Nitro, but since I have the whole week booked it will continue as planned (when I finish writing it) but I have some serious thoughts going on about next week.

Sign In

WCW '94: War of the Thrones

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Join the conversation