Saving Pro Wrestling in a (Reverse) Flash--WCW1991

http://i.imgur.com/03Ivhqa.jpg

Sting won at Great American Bash 1990 from Ric Flair

United States Heavyweight

http://i.imgur.com/nY2DHgi.jpg

Barry Winham won at Clash of Champions XIV from Lex Luger

World Television

http://i.imgur.com/OZWFilC.jpg

Owen Hart won at World Championship Wrestling from Vacated

World Tag Team

http://i.imgur.com/VjgI7LP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4ri90Do.jpg

The Fabulous Freebirds won at Clash of Champions from Doom in 3-way with Strike Force

United States Tag Team

http://i.imgur.com/jAWxDo8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cJ9YoV0.jpg

The York Foundation won at World Championship Wrestling from Steiner Brothers</div>

smartman · July 16, 2017

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

There was only one person I knew was going to be a problem. I really wanted to keep him around, but it was going to be a long shot. He came in on Tuesday and gave me his All Japan dates, and I sighed. "Look Stan, I have some big plans for you if you want to commit to us, but you're no good to us when I can't even book you once in the entire month of Jan. before the PPV." "Are you going to give me the World Title? Are you prepared to double this offer? I'm a king in Japan, and all the titles can belong to me. I'm not Flair, a Horseman-type, or Sting, so either give me some guarantees, or we can part ways." "Okay, Japan is a sweet deal for you, and you're right that you're not getting the World title. If they ever get tired of you or you get tired of working 5 nights a week, you can give me a call. You're a hell of a talent, and there will always be room for talent while I'm running things." "Heh, given the track record of the people in that chair, I doubt you'll be there in 6 months."

The first Saturday Night show had been sufficiently hyped during the week, and I just had to hope that the old "mystery tag partner" gimmick would bring in the viewers. Either things had leaked or Sting vs Flair still filled buildings because we had a packed house. It was a pretty vanilla show since we couldn't get most of the new hires in for the show. I'd payed off legal to let me keep the Piper's Pit segment, and that was the highlight of the show besides the 6-man tag main event between the 3 Horsemen & Sting, Luger, and myself. The crowd popped pretty big for me which was nice as I needed them to accept several WWF stars if this experiment was going to work. All told, a 15k sellout and an 88 gave the doubters in the back pause.

The only things I changed from week 1 to week 2 was moving WCW Sat. Night from taping on Thursday night with both B shows to airing live. That did a couple of things. One, it gave us the freedom to use Power Hour to hit areas outside of our two main strongholds in the South as we kept Main Event taping before WCW SN, and two, it gave us something to differentiate ourselves from WWF. Big house shows had already been booked for Saturday nights for Jan. so we just flipped the house shows and TV with minimal fuss from fans.

As Jim Ross is fond of saying, business picked up for the rest of the month as the roster filled out. We kept it safe by having yet another tag team main event, this time an 8-man tag as the reformed Horsemen aka w/Tully fought Steamboat and us in a massive double DQ brawl as is Southern tradition. It was even better than last week's show as Owen picked up the TV title as well. The show got a 91 in front of another sell-out crowd.

The go-home week, is what the booking committee called it, was the first with a full roster as some of the stragglers had finally gotten cleared. The main one being Rick Rude who was set to go into a program with me. Sting got to close the show by himself by defending the World Title against Kevin Sullivan. The 4 Horsemen let the crazy Bostonian do his work before striking to wear him down for the Iron Man match the next night. They even got to beat me and Ricky down too as the heels stood high to close the show. Another sell-out and an 88.

As we met Sunday morning, the booking committee was a little on edge. Oh how we wished we had another week to build things, but it was all we could do to allow it to be shown on PPV instead of on TBS as they had all been before. Honestly, we needed the Canadian exposure and the money that PPV would bring. It wasn't entirely fair to put almost all the pressure for the show on the main event, but Ric and Steve had been working on the match for a week now and assured us that it would be a suitable end to their year-long rivalry. Hopefully, the other feuds would start to gain some momentum for the next few months to come. The biggest risk was not having myself or Steamboat wrestling, but that was to focus on setting up the feuds for Feb. We all thought that we had done everything we could do when Eric came running into the room saying "It's a sell-out!" On that note, we ended the meeting.

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/K6H0y9R.png?1

http://i.imgur.com/scOoFaG.png?1</div>

That's still our #1 match btw. I praised Sting, Flair, and Luger who had finally agreed to go to the Power Plant after a slightly disappointing match against Barry. Everyone had stuck around to the end, and it had looked like most of the doubters had finally accepted that just maybe I had righted the ship. That was cemented the next Sunday when Vince put on one of the worst PPV's I've ever seen. Having Ted win the Royal Rumble was a good call, but taking the World Title off of Warrior to give it to Warlord? And having Curt lose his undefeated streak to Bulldog? That explained the call from a certain superstar the end of Feb. I'm not even the real Roddy Piper, and I'm glad I got him out of that nuthouse. It was a 67 show. Ooof...

Financially, the PPV saved us. It made us $725k giving us a net profit for the month of $953k. Hopefully, the economy will recover from this horrid recession as it is at 11 now while the industry is in the mid-60s and falling.

smartman · July 18, 2017

<div style="text-align:center;">February Recap</div> Finally, I had a chance to relax just a little bit. Everyone was under contract and wrestling for us, development was chugging along nicely, and we could take the time to build the Wrestlewar PPV with the 4 full weeks. Now, if we could make it a month without someone needing a trip to rehab, that would be great. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>"Hey, Ole, what's up?" I'd just gotten his reports on how he thought everyone was improving so this was worrisome. "I have no idea what in the hell you told Lex when you sent him down here, but I just caught the guy with enough steroids to kill an elephant! When I told him he didn't need that garbage, he just shot back that he needed something extra to get back to the main roster since they lost faith in me for over a year and now the new guy did in a month." "Ole, I haven't lost faith in the guy, but this is really starting to make me do so. I'd been brought up to speed on what happened at the lead up to GAB'90, and it wasn't Flair's best work. Still he'd told me he had squared it with Lex. Just try to keep him from doing it outside of his apartment down there. None of the other boys down there need that crap."</div></blockquote> This is a pre-set narrative with Lex starting a steroids habit. Sting got a buff to his skills though in a separate narrative so I'll call that a win. It was crucial that we started diversifying our storylines away from "Flair vs Sting" have to carry the show. So, we dove head-first into the 3 main storylines that were going to be treated equally. First, Rude and I were going to face off as the vain egomaniac vs the guy who was sick of vain egomaniacs. It was a lot of talking by me and flexing and talking by Rude though we still made sure to tie it into the other two feuds as two WWF superstars feuding was a little risky to stand on its own. We did do a Street Fight match stipulation to add to the stakes as I was going to beat him ugly. The Steamboat vs Flair feud just wrote itself, basically, since they'd wrestled each other 1 million times by this point. Sting announced that he'd found someone else who was just as sick of Flair and the Horsemen as he was, and he was putting together a group to run them all out of WCW for good. He was in Sting's corner for Clash and stopped Ric from using a chain to try and even the score in the Iron Man Match, keeping the belt with Sting. Flair spent all of Feb. livid at both Steamboat and Dusty who wouldn't give him yet another shot at the World title, and if that was the case, he'd just lock on the figure four and permanently retire Ricky. Sting came out on Sat. Night saying that he'd finally gotten done with Ric Flair and the Horsemen since he'd beaten them all. That brought out Tully Blanchard to correctly state that he'd never beaten him, and that that belt he was wearing would look a whole lot better around his waist than some face-painted freak. The contact between the two was very minimal as we all thought that would heighten the anticipation, but mainly, I pushed for it because we needed to quickly build up Tully's popularity. He'd been away from WCW for over 2 years, and with that massive boost to Sting's pop from the narrative, he wasn't even in the same zip code pop-wise. That was actually where the only fight came from in the booking committee. Half of them wanted to put Flair vs Steamboat in the main event. We argued back and forth for a week on it before I could craft a compromise that satisfied everyone but Flair. It was time to see what Sting could do on his own, and we had to protect the newly-re-christened WCW World Heavyweight title. It wouldn't look good to not have it main event the first PPV after its birth. So, the compromise was to put the Sting vs Tully match in a steel cage, which was why it had to go on last so they didn't have to waste 10 minutes tearing it down in the middle of the show. We sold it as Dusty using his power to screw the Horsemen/keep the match 1v1 depending on which side you were on. We did move Brian Pillman into a feud with Windham for the US title. He'd spent Jan. helping out Strike Force against the Diamond Exchange/Freebirds and was progressing nicely. We used a US title match against Tito where it took both Arn and the Exchange to keep the belt with Barry as the launching point for the feud. Brian came out the next week and cut an amazing promo challenging him for the title. The night before the PPV we had the usual Horsemen mugging to setup the excuse for the rematch in March because this one needed to keep going for awhile before Brian was quite there to take it. The tag feuds were basically unchanged. Lots of brawling and DQ's in the World tag feud and the numbers game was the focus. The announcers continually mentioned that 4-on-2 (DDP and Studd/Hall + Freebirds) was too big of an obstacle for Martel and Tito, even if Pillman helped make it 4-on-3. The US tag feud was similar until Rich got himself sent to rehab finally (first hit had gotten Blair to replace him as I awaited the 2nd hit). We brought up Trisa Hayes from developmental to even the odds. Her mic skills hadn't rounded out as much as I'd wanted them to, but boy could she and Terri (York) have some fights! Hey, we wanted to have something for the high school and college boys to look at besides Missy. <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/J6hRSoZ.png?1 http://i.imgur.com/1HjRI8T.png?1</div> This was always going to be a filler PPV as Vince had already kind of set the baseline of 4 huge PPV's being the way to view wrestling. So, there was a lot of setting things up for the next month. Pillman showed a little of his crazy by resorting to swing a chair around like a loon causing Barry to get counted out. Hey keeping the title without getting hit by a chair is a good thing! The Freebirds DQ'd themselves to retain the World tag titles. The big one was having the ref stop my match against Rude. The premise was I rammed him into the ring posts to where he was too loopy to continue while I tried to bust him open. Of course, everyone focused on the two main event matches. Flair vs Steamboat did everything it needed to do. Arn came out and helped Ric get the win to setup Arn vs Ricky for March and then Flair again in April as we wanted to kind of spread that out so the 3rd one was at GAB'91. Unsurprisingly, it was the best match of the night quite easily. Tully did an amazing job, which is why I congratulated him to the boys after the show. He just wasn't quite as over as we needed him to be. Still, for a filler PPV, this was a perfectly acceptable main event. We even covered it a little bit more by breaking out the old Horsemen vs Face in a cage beatdown to close out the show. The gate was amazing as we stuffed that building that was kind of generic looking to 41,000 people. The PPV buys were actually lower, but we made more money with $802k. That was a troubling trend as that was still the majority of our profits for the month as we made $1.18 million. That extra $2 million we'd made for the first two months was going to get put to good use in March as the TV schedule was going to see a radical change.

smartman · July 19, 2017

<div style="text-align:center;">Partial March Update</div> This is the final "boring" post before I start posting show wrap-ups. I think I'm going to copy TFC's summary + one or two detailed write-ups, but instead of each post covering 2 weeks, it will be just 1 week at a time. You'll see why. Evidently Vince was scared of Clash and just how badly putting the title on The Barbarian went because he had rushed out the first Feb. PPV ever as In Your House 1, and he promptly put the title on The Undertaker. Notably, Hogan and Savage didn't wrestle a match again (I presume they were in the Rumble but not in another match on the card like others were) as they just did a backstage interview with the two. No wonder legal tipped me off, though maybe Randy knew of the link and pushed her to send a message to me that way. Yes, I was greeted by a bouncing Eric as he said in his weaselly-voice "You got a call from Stamford this morning with an urgent reply requested." Once I shooed the toady off, I dialed up Sophie who gave me the news that Randy's contract was coming up, and he was looking for leverage against Vince. "Heh, yeah, leverage. I have all the leverage I could ever need to get him away from Vince. Thanks for the call, Sophie." Yeah, I could tell him he'd never get the World title again, the banishment to the announce desk wasting his last prime years, the permanent banishment from WWF due to a certain daughter and one-night stand. Oddly enough, I didn't have to use any of that dirt. Turns out he was pretty fed up there, and he'd already figured out the no-World title run part. I just had to spend a fortune to get him as it turned out he was using Vince for leverage on me. $50k/month and 10% bonus per PPV later, and I had the superstar that won me the Star Power battle in perpetuity. First came hitting National and now I had won the battle. Now, I just had to win the war. With that settled, I took my first gamble. 2 B shows and 1 A show was fine for a Cult company, but once I hit National, that needed to change. Power Hour was the perfect choice to go as it was all by itself on Thursday nights, but there was a problem. It had nearly 3 (5?) more years on its contract, and they were going to make me pay through the nose to cancel it. Bye bye budget surplus. It cost me over $3 million to cancel it. Yes, it was crazy, but I needed the boost to my main eventers without short-changing my midcarders their B show slots. Not to mention that I needed those extra A shows to keep boosting my pop in the Great Lakes and North West as they're sitting on 66 Importance, and I wasn't keen on dropping back down to Cult with victory in sight. So, we now had a schedule of Thurs.-(Live)Thursday Thunder (I love alliteration) Sat.-(Taped for Sunday) Main Event (B) and (Live) World Championship Wrestling aka Sat. Night all on TBS and A shows in Primetime Sunday-Week 3 PPV on Turner Premier and TV3 (Scandinavia) in Primetime (don't ask me how that works, guessing it's their Monday nights?) As stated in Feb., we kept the feuds going pretty much the same with the exception of Ricky facing Arn. Not having Ric wrestle was more of the "Can we survive without Flair carrying us" that we needed to answer as his contract expires in 3 months after the PPV. He'd said all the right things, and he was so much happier now than he had been in Dec. However, Vince now had a giant hole in his roster, and sticking it to me and WCW would thrill him almost as much as that big, sweaty man main event Taker vs Barbarian did. Speaking of possible malcontents, Paul Heyman had been a model citizen so far, but he'd already sued TBS once to force himself back into the company. I needed a back-up plan, and there was literally only one option on the entire market (80+ CC skills are just Paul and Jesse in the mod; that's it while Heenan is on a written with WWF), Jesse Ventura. I signed him to be the CC on Thunder first just to test chemistry (I'd found none up to this point) with the thought of pushing Paul towards managing full-time. A Dangerous Alliance stable would work even with the Horsemen still there, I think. <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The big question that I haven't totally convinced myself on is should Savage be a face or a heel? I am bringing in Elizabeth (and Lex is being given a restraining order by me to keep away from her or be fired once he's called up). </div></blockquote> Here's my rationale and I'd love to hear your arguments. Just don't tie it to historical thinking. You saw me wash 4 years away by having Tito and Martel re-team as Strike Force (my #7 favorite tag team of all time fwiw). So yeah, he's a heel in WWF. Face-He'd be the 4th member of the Death to the Horsemen face group (Sting, myself, and Steamboat). I could cycle things around with the 3 top Horsemen and Rude for over a year, and if I ever wanted to put the title on him, I could bounce it back to Flair first and do a 6 month build-up with the "You've always been 2nd best everywhere you've been" too close to real life storyline. The biggest factor in it is that he's more over than every heel I have except Flair, and I want to keep the Horsemen as the top heels. Heel-I'd be forced to shove Arn & Tully into the World Tag title feud with Strike Force, which would require them winning the belts first. Savage would then be thrust into a World Title program with Sting and merry-go-round with myself and Rude which would be 3 WWF guys (Rude's 50/50 really), which yeah, the game doesn't simulate as pop is pop, but that's a little weird to key up right off the bat. He's always been viewed as a better heel than face, though Elizabeth isn't. She does have a 50 heel rating which isn't atrocious. I could run a storyline of "The Future vs The Past" which would be odd when you remember that they're only 7 years apart but Sting was the fresh, hot thing while Savage wrestled in WM1. So any input on that would be greatly appreciated. If you want to go into great detail (and as Mr. Wall-o-Text guy on here, that's fine), just PM that to me instead of posting here. The go-home shows should be up by this weekend.

smw88 · July 19, 2017

I'd say start with savage as a face, your plan makes sense and can always switch it up in 6-12 mths if you lose flair for example

smartman · July 23, 2017

<div style="text-align:center;">WCW Thursday Thunder http://i.imgur.com/SFd4tYu.jpg Week 3 UIC Pavilion Chicago, IL 10,000 Sell-Out Rating: 90 A Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone</div> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/nY2DHgi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wwIbP4q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/NdVYejF.jpg</div> We open the show with Windham and Flair banging on Pillman's locker room door. They get no response so they start insulting him, calling him crazy and a loose cannon unworthy of the US title. Then, they drop the bombshell announcement that their match on Sunday was going to be a Texas Death match. This gets Pillman to open the door with a big grin on his face. "That's one of those No DQ matches, right? And you can't run like a chicken like you did at War, right? Sounds lovely, and I have that $100 gift certificate at that hardware store that's about to expire." He slams the door as the 2 Horsemen look like they've just figured out this wasn't a great idea. Rating: 98</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/VjgI7LP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4ri90Do.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DgTGYAu.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/Q32tF25.jpg & http://i.imgur.com/834ggo1.jpg Fabulous Freebirds I w/DDP vs Holly & Octagon</div> Fairly straightforward squash match for the World Tag champs. The announcers hyped their match against Strike Force on Sunday. Rating: 72 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/v3yw5uJ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jkTdbkf.jpg</div> Ricky Steamboat and Dusty Rhodes are backstage discussing Spring Stampede and his match with Arn Anderson and seeing if Flair could be banned from ringside. The Diamond Studd struts in and says "Yeah, you two old folks go have your match while the best wrestler in the world takes the TV title. You couldn't hang with me in the ring because I'm the Studd of professional wrestling, and you're just a dud." Dusty and Ricky look at each other, and Dusty says, "You two have a match tonight, and (looking at Studd) good luck because I think you'll need it." Rating: 93</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/HjvAcbt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jxryyda.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iRNHTea.jpg & http://i.imgur.com/W6YrB4H.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wC59vsE.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/nw3q1Rt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Pje47mA.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/fnDr7KE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MRtiUPi.jpg The Fantastics w/Missy & Lightning Express vs State Patrol, El Cubano, & Jason Anderson</div> This was a build up 2 face tag teams match as both teams got to show what they can do while the heels put up a decent fight at times, but the end was never in doubt. Rating: 66 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/jwsqx7k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ngHnKNg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/z07V507.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jAWxDo8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cJ9YoV0.jpg</div> As we return from commercial break, The Rockin' Bees w/Trisa are standing in the ring. They start to hype their last chance at the US tag titles and how talent wins matches, not computers. The York Foundation charge out from the back, and a good, old fashioned brawl breaks out in the ring. A key trip by York on Morton turns the tide, and soon things look dire for the faces. There's a roar from the crowd though as someone comes running down the aisle. <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/tz0Ph9N.jpg</div> Robert Gibson is back! York starts screaming for them to retreat, and Gibson helps them by dropkicking Taylor over the top rope. Ventura takes that moment to add "That's all well and good, Jim, but there's only two titles and 3 of them." Rating: 64</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/1jWOnVa.jpg Rick Rude vs Ultimo Dragon</div> This was a quick squash match to let the crowd decompress and hype up the upcoming interview with his Stampede opponent, Roddy Piper. Rating: 81 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">Spotlight Segment http://i.imgur.com/W9ZCsSw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tSixjxJ.jpg</div> We're sent to what looks like Piper's house, but is actually just a set at TBS studios. We get the introductions and niceties out of the way before delving into the interview. "Mr. Piper, you've made quite a name for yourself since you've been here in WCW, and you've been well known in wrestling for over a decade. The question I've gotten most from fans is why you joined WCW?" "Well, Lance, wherever I've been has become the top wrestling company within 6 months of my coming there, and judging by how things have gone these past couple of months, it's clear that WCW has become #1. I'm ever so humble, Lance, (wink to the camera) but there are a lot of world class wrestlers here. I'm just happy to be in a place that values wrestling. "Speaking of someone who isn't humble, it seems that Rick Rude has become a thorn in your side, lately. Why do you think he singled you out?" "I'll tell you Lance that I've met some people with egos the size of Texas, but that self-proclaimed Sexiest Man Alive, might have the 2nd biggest one I've ever met. Honestly, I thought I'd scrambled his brains so bad at WrestleWar that I might have been rid of him, but the ego won't let him stay down. It's my job Sunday night on PPV at Spring Stampede to put him down for good." "Well Mr. Piper, it's been set to an in-ring only match where you can't chase the opponent outside the ring and only a 5 second count-out. Rude wants to settle it in the ring going so far to claim that what you did to him last month was cowardly, and he's going to prove you can't out-wrestle him." Stands up and gets in the camera's face "I am no coward, Rude! And I just ran out of bubblegum. See you Sunday, pretty boy!" Rating: 89 (I'm blaming it on Lance's low pop)</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/v3yw5uJ.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/DgTGYAu.jpg Ricky Steamboat vs The Diamond Studd w/DDP</div> There were 3 goals for this match. The first was to see just how good Hall could be. The second was to continue the feud with Flair. The third was to get Studd out of the TV title match. The first question had a slightly disappointing answer, not terrible but not as good as some other young studs had shown already. I'll monitor whether it was because it was outside of Ricky's top two areas or due to Studd. The 2nd and 3rd goals were intertwined as Flair charged down to the ring and while DDP had the ref distracted, tried to execute his patented chop block on Steamboat. Alas, Ricky moved leaving Studd's right leg to bear the brunt of the attack. Ricky made a quick cover after that as medical came running out from the back to check on Studd. Rating: 87 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/rvXQFVf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3z63nfK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/w7jfTYf.jpg</div> To kind of placate Paul E., I went ahead and gave him a talk show spot tonight, and given how well this went, he may get to keep it as long as he wants. His first guests were Martel and Tito, Strike Force. Paul laid it on thick bringing up every loss they've had, ignoring the blatant cheating the Diamond Exchange had used to win. He also hinted at their past troubles, but mainly at their lack of experience against a team that had been wrestling together for over a decade. Rick and Tito held their own though pointing out that they'd both won top titles throughout their career, and they were on the same page. Come Sunday, those tag titles were going to be theirs. Rating: 99</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/MjIjv3g.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/hJFqGrV.jpg Bobby Eaton vs La Parka</div> Another quick squash match to build up Eaton and let the crowd breathe before the main event. Rating: 72 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/OZWFilC.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iRNHTea.jpg & http://i.imgur.com/jkTdbkf.jpg</div> The TV champ and his manager Missy Hyatt were backstage discussing the situation with Studd looking like he's not going to be able to go on Sunday. They both agreed that they were going to be defending the belt against someone, and Dusty said he'd make the announcement Saturday night. Missy said that 24 hours would be plenty of time for the best Hart to prepare to keep his title. Rating: 81</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/7OriU0O.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/SmxvCPe.jpg Arn Anderson vs Eddie Guerrero</div> The main event featured one of those young studs in Eddie Guerrero who was looking for a little revenge after Hector had taken Flair to the limit on last Sat. Night's show before tapping out to the figure four. Considering Arn's lesser pop to Ricky's, this was the better match, and Eddie gave it all he had. He just didn't have the experience that Arn did, and slowly but surely, Arn had grounded the high-flier picking up the win. Rating: 87 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/jkTdbkf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/03Ivhqa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ueXxX8i.jpg</div> We ended the show by going back to our pre-recorded news conference publicizing the Spring Stampede PPV. This was the part hyping the main event World Heavyweight title match between Sting and Tully Blanchard. There was the typical banter back and forth, but the biggest news was Dusty announcing that to prevent a repeat of last month's mugging by the 4 Horsemen, the match would be a Lumberjack match with 10 guys he handpicked to keep anyone from interfering. Tully ended the segment getting into Dusty and Flair's faces saying, just loud enough to get picked up on the mics, that you could only screw over the Horsemen for so long before a reckoning will come. I'll take that title because I can beat your face-painted freak. Rating: 100</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">WCW Saturday Night http://i.imgur.com/FJoZtsa.jpg Week 3 Mid-Atlantic, 16,000 Sell-Out Rating: 93 A Announcers: Jim Ross, Paul E. Dangerously, Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/nY2DHgi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wwIbP4q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7OriU0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ueXxX8i.jpg We open not in the arena but in what looks to be a very posh nightclub. The Four Horsemen are seated around a corner booth. They say that they were more than happy to take the night off because Dusty didn't want anything to happen to his friends. Enough is going to happen to his friends tomorrow night as Arn was going to clip the dragon's wings, Barry is going to beat the living hell out of that loon, and Tully is bringing the World Heavyweight title back where it belongs. So we're going to party all night like only the Horsemen do while you can just stare at that clock counting down to your beatdowns. Rating: 100</div></blockquote></div> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/HjvAcbt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jxryyda.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iRNHTea.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/AnTflY6.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Ss9p466.jpg The Fantastics w/Missy Hyatt vs Scott Armstrong & El Dandy</div> A quick squash match so the announcers can hype the PPV and the opening segment. Rating: 66 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/xfTipJ8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jAWxDo8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cJ9YoV0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jkTdbkf.jpg</div> The York Foundation are in Dusty's office demanding that something be done about Robert Gibson and he better not be allowed to be at ringside tomorrow night. Dusty quips that he isn't tech support so if you precious computer isn't giving you satisfactory results go see them. As for Gibson, he promised Dusty that he would stay in the back unless you pulled some shenanigans like you have before. That was fine with him so that's how it was going to be. They storm out of the office stating that they're holding onto the tag titles by any means necessary. Rating: 84</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/jAWxDo8.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/xfTipJ8.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/hJFqGrV.jpg Michael Wallstreet w/Alexandra York vs La Parka</div> Ross commented that maybe Taylor was looking for tech support. There weren't any laughs in the ring as an unhappy Wallstreet took his frustrations out on La Parka in a squash. Rating: 70 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/jkTdbkf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/W9ZCsSw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpg</div> We return to another part of the press conference. This time featuring the Piper vs Rude match. We rehash the match stipulation of 5 seconds for countout, and you can't follow the other person outside the ring. Rude said that this would prevent the skirt-wearing, cheap-shot artist from avoiding wrestling me in the ring like a man. I retorted that I didn't see a man over there as you use more product in your hair than the entire managers do, and if you think you can out-wrestle me, maybe that junk had wrecked your brain more than I thought. Rating: 100</div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/PJWGpKF.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/yaMP3oY.jpg</div> Teddy Long took a moment to hype up his client Butch Reed ahead of the 4-way #1 contenders match for the TV title. He promised that Reed was going to bring doom and destruction to the 3 fools in the match and take that TV title so that the powers that be couldn't keep his client off of TV anymore. Rating: 89</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/MjIjv3g.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/bLxz60S.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PJWGpKF.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/yaMP3oY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/W6YrB4H.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nFkudGd.jpg 4-way TV Title #1 Contenders Elimination Match: Bobby Eaton w/Cornette vs Butch Reed w/Long vs Brad Armstrong vs Hector Guerrero</div> What's a great booker's trick for the go-home show? Don't book almost all of your main stars so they can't get hurt. This was an excellent match given who was involved, 2 mids and 2 upper mids. Given the fact that the two heels had managers and the faces didn't put them at a huge disadvantage and one that the heels took full advantage of by cheating non-stop. Hector went first followed by Brad. The end came when Butch ran into Long who was distracting the ref and got rolled up by Bobby for a cheap win. Rating: 83 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>When we get back from commercial, Owen and Missy are at the interview area waiting to go on to hype the TV title match tomorrow night when Cornette and Eaton come strolling by talking about how it is going to be so easy beating that dumb Hart and his even dumber manager. He doesn't even seem all that concerned when he realizes Owen and Missy heard everything. Cornette even adds "Beautiful Bobby is one of the best wrestlers in the world, and you aren't even the best in your family. That title is too much for you." Owen just laughs. "When you're the youngest in a big family, you're used to old people trying to bully you around. It won't work with me. Just be ready for tomorrow night." And Missy adds, "And in what world are you considered Beautiful Bobby?" Both heels are left stammering as Tony is trying not to laugh at the announce desk. Rating: 82</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/NdVYejF.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/vOyc2Yk.jpg Brian Pillman vs Dean Malenko</div> A quick squash match for momentum for Pillman as the announcers hype the Texas Death Match tomorrow night. Rating: 79 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/2uj26JR.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/VjgI7LP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4ri90Do.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DgTGYAu.jpg</div> Another first time talk show segment as Jesse Ventura brought his Body Shop to WCW. His first guest were The Fabulous Freebirds w/DDP. It devolved into a group hype as they spent most of the time talking about themselves and taking turns ripping on Strike Force. The Danger Zone this wasn't. I should have known better than to let Jesse get to take shots at Tito again. Rating: 83</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/03Ivhqa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/3z63nfK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/w7jfTYf.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/72FGMK8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9HsgEqv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4RGADoE.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/bLxz60S.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/diVbQCX.jpg Sting, Steamboat & Strike Force vs Vader, Landel, Del Ray w/Cornette, and Furnas</div> This was called "Please God, don't let Vader hurt anyone!" and also, it was playing keep Vader from getting into the match. Vader got into the match enough to clear house a few times, but the 3 middleweights did most of the work. Cornette kept the crowd engaged by continually trying to use the tennis racquet on the top faces. Everyone looked good in the match, but the match was never in real doubt when Vader wasn't in the ring. Big thing is no one got hurt. Rating: 90 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>We ended the show with a hype video for the Spring Stampede PPV featuring the big matches and superstars, and dear lord was it way better than the 1994 one in real life. Seriously, go YouTube it. It is so utterly hokey. No wonder they were never a real threat to Vince except for that 2 year run with all of Vince's top guys (Taker and HBK excepted). Rating: 100</div></blockquote> <div style="text-align:center;">WCW Main Event http://i.imgur.com/hX17CvH.jpg Recorded before Sat. Night airing before the PPV Rating: 77 Announcers: Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone/Magnum T.A./Lance Russell Robert Gibson & Trisa Hayes hype main event vs Larry Z Kevin Sullivan & Rip Rogers def Keith Hart & Bob Holly Missy Hyatt hypes her stable (Owen & The Fantastics) Dan Kroffat w/Paul E. cheat to defeat JYD Paul E. Hypes Kroffat & Furnas as future tag team champs Robert Gibson def Larry Z by DQ as the ref caught him cheating The Rockin' Bees w/Trisa taunt The York Foundation</div>

smartman · July 25, 2017

<div style="text-align:center;">WCW Spring Stampede 1991

http://i.imgur.com/6TOVAwO.jpg

World Heavyweight Title

Lumberjack Match

Lumberjacks: Vader, Butch Reed, The Fantastics, Los Guerreros, Junkyard Dog, Shinobi, Robert Gibson, & Rip Rodgers

Sting© vs Tully Blanchard

Ricky Steamboat vs Arn Anderson

World Television Title

Owen Hart© w/Missy Hyatt vs Bobby Eaton w/Jim Cornette

5 Second Count-Out & No Fighting Outside the Ring Allowed

Roddy Piper vs Rick Rude

World Tag Team Titles

The Fabulous Freebirds© vs Strike Force

Filler Match

The Young Pistols vs Landel & Del Ray w/Jim Cornette

United States Heavyweight Title

Texas Death Match

Barry Windham© vs Brian Pillman

United States Tag Team Titles

Robert Gibson banned from ringside unless York Foundation cheats

The York Foundation© w/Alexandra York vs The Rockin' Bees w/Trisa Hayes

There is no prediction contest, but feel free to post your guesses and/or any diary feedback so far. The card will hopefully be up by this Thursday or Saturday (Friday has too much TV).</div>

Destiny · July 25, 2017

World Heavyweight Title

Lumberjack Match

Lumberjacks: Vader, Butch Reed, The Fantastics, Los Guerreros, Junkyard Dog, Shinobi, Robert Gibson, & Rip Rodgers

Sting© vs Tully Blanchard

Ricky Steamboat vs Arn Anderson

World Television Title

Owen Hart© w/Missy Hyatt vs Bobby Eaton w/Jim Cornette

5 Second Count-Out & No Fighting Outside the Ring Allowed

Roddy Piper vs Rick Rude

World Tag Team Titles

The Fabulous Freebirds© vs Strike Force

Filler Match

The Young Pistols vs Landel & Del Ray w/Jim Cornette

United States Heavyweight Title

Texas Death Match

Barry Windham© vs Brian Pillman

United States Tag Team Titles

Robert Gibson banned from ringside unless York Foundation cheats

The York Foundation© w/Alexandra York vs The Rockin' Bees w/Trisa Hayes

to4sty · July 25, 2017

Sting© vs Tully Blanchard

The Stinger retains here

Ricky Steamboat vs Arn Anderson

World Television Title

Owen Hart© w/Missy Hyatt vs Bobby Eaton w/Jim Cornette

5 Second Count-Out & No Fighting Outside the Ring Allowed

Roddy Piper vs Rick Rude

A win here could set Rude on his way to a World Title programme with Sting

World Tag Team Titles

The Fabulous Freebirds© vs Strike Force

Filler Match

The Young Pistols vs Landel & Del Ray w/Jim Cornette

I like the Young Pistols, always have...victory here sends them off to compete for the U.S. tag titles

United States Heavyweight Title

Texas Death Match

Barry Windham© vs Brian Pillman

Not today Brian, sorry

United States Tag Team Titles

Robert Gibson banned from ringside unless York Foundation cheats

The York Foundation© w/Alexandra York vs The Rockin' Bees w/Trisa Hayes

The York Foundation are good Champs....the U.S. tag belts are often under-utilised, the Yorks could have a good little series with the Pistols...and I've always loved the look of the U.S. Belts

smartman · July 29, 2017

Pre-Event News Harley Race took Bill DeMott as a protege Jody Hamilton pulled an hilarious rib on Octagon Paul E. Dangerously and I had a nice chat about his attitude and being pulled off the announce desk for the PPV. (Stern Warning issued and he was happy at the result). Dropped from an extremely negative locker room guy to very negative aka same as Tony. Evidently having a replacement in hand now has made him appreciate his job here. Well, that and spoilers below <div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/6TOVAwO.jpg WCW Spring Stampede 1991 41,000 Sell-Out South East Region Rating: 100 A* PPV Buyrate: 0.37/ 188,348 Buys Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony Schiavone <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The Four Horsemen Hype Themselves & Ridicule Sting http://i.imgur.com/nY2DHgi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wwIbP4q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7OriU0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ueXxX8i.jpg No glitzy promo video to open this show. We just handed a microphone to 3 of the best promos in the business and Windham. They all took turns hyping up their respective matches and how after tonight they would own the top two singles titles and be done with Steamboat for good. That left Flair to end the angle, and he railed against all 3 opponents and the fact that he wasn't wrestling this show. Everyone nailed their parts, and the show was off to a great start Rating: 100 A*</div></blockquote> United States Tag Team Title Match Stipulation: Robert Gibson was banned from ringside until York Foundation cheats http://i.imgur.com/iWwQ8Nf.jpg http://i.imgur.com/jwsqx7k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ngHnKNg.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/z07V507.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/jAWxDo8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cJ9YoV0.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/xfTipJ8.jpg The Rockin' Bees w/Trisa Hayes vs The York Foundation © w/Alexandra York The storyline of this match was clear. How long could the York Foundation go without cheating so Gibson couldn't become a nuisance at ringside as they were legitimately concerned about being outnumbered. We copied WWF by having pre-recorded promos during their entrances. They weren't special, but they conveyed each team's feelings pretty well. We periodically had a box with Gibson watching the monitor by the ramp entrance which led Ventura to make some bull in a pen jokes which Tony added "and he's ready to Stampede to the ring." (Always sell the PPV name!) As for the match, it was a little odd to see Morton not be "the face in-peril role" that would basically become named for him, but the faces came out on fire trying to push the heels and keep pushing them until they broke. York saw them about to twice and managed to pull them out for a conference to calm things down, but the third time is a charm for a reason. Taylor had just taken a 2 minute beating from both Blair & Morton as they showed their excellent chemistry, but it put referee Nick Patrick out of position. Before anyone could react, Taylor had kicked Blair square in his blairs, and literally everyone in the arena gasped. Jim Ross shouted "Good gawd, here comes Robert Gibson" just ahead of the roars from the crowd. York met him at the end of the ramp and argued with him before slapping him in the face. He just held her in place while Trisa rounded the corner for a pseudo-spear. While all hell was breaking loose outside and distracting the ref, Taylor and Wallstreet, now free to cheat like hell, were beating the bejesus out of Morton while Blair was still recovering. Gibson saw that and hopped up on the apron yelling at both of them (and getting the ref's attention). Morton grabbed Wallstreet and took him out of the ring leaving an arguing Gibson and Taylor. Oh, and Blair who had recovered enough to slide in behind Terry for a school-boy roll-up. 1..2..3 and we have NEW US Tag Team Champions! Winners: The Rockin' Bees Rating: 82 B+ United States Heavyweight Title Match Stipulation: Texas Death Match (No DQ & 10 count after a pinfall) http://i.imgur.com/Hv2SPEt.jpg http://i.imgur.com/nY2DHgi.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/NdVYejF.jpg Barry Windham © vs Brian Pillman <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>We cut from the celebration in the ring to backstage where Lance Russell was at the interview area awaiting Pillman when a racket is heard from around the corner. Brian was punching Barry and gradually moving towards the entrance ramp. He looked even more demented than usual while Barry looked like a guy badly losing a fight. Pillman took a couple minutes to mock the Horsemen, make a couple of jokes about what you do to dead horses, and that he was going to enjoy this type of match. He then went back to beating up Windham before rolling him down the ramp. Rating: 100 A*</div></blockquote> The announcers spent the first few minutes of the match explaining the rules and discussing how this idea might have been a rare mis-fire for the Four Horsemen. Ventura stepped up and said that he had wrestled Windham's father and pointed out that only the elite get into the Horsemen so don't count him out yet. And one dodged top-rope move proved the opening Barry needed. He used his massive frame 6 inches and roughly 50 lbs bigger than Brian to start laying into Pillman, and he spent the next 5 minutes in control of the match and busted Brian open. Neither man had spent much effort in going for a pin due in large part to the acrimony between them but also the 10 second count to follow. Brian rolled outside and reached under the ring, pulling out a chair, which got sold as the same chair from last month's match. Windham started bicycling around the ring desperate to get away from the loose cannon as Tony called him, but as Bugs Bunny taught us, you just hide behind a post and let the mark keep running in a circle back to you. Barry took a straight shot to the gut and a chair shot across the back to crumple him in a heap. http://i.imgur.com/wwIbP4q.jpg He was about to hit him several more times, but a familiar voice rang out "You're not a tough guy, punk!" It was Ric Flair who had made his way to the top of the ramp! To his credit, or crazy, he swung down hitting Windham with a 2nd shot across his back seemingly ignoring Ric. One thing that annoys Flair more than anything else is being ignored, and he didn't take that well. Thankfully, he kept it PG-13 as he started descending the ramp. The insults managed to get through to Pillman much to Barry's back's thanks. It started as an argument but quickly moved to fists flying, which the announcers pointed out was perfectly legal in this no-DQ match. To everyone's surprise, Pillman actually came out on top on the exchange, but this led to Brian going to the top rope again. It ended even worse for him than the first time as Windham shoved him off into what I hoped was a stunt bump into the guardrail and the edge of the ramp. Flair and Windham rolled Pillman back into the ring, and it was academic by then as he wasn't moving. Ross sold the outrage well as he pointed out that it took two men to defeat Pillman. Windham retains the US Title Rating: 93 A Pillman isn't suited to brawl-based matches; sure could have fooled me <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jkTdbkf.jpg We went into Dusty's office as people cleaned up the carnage in the ring. Rick Rude entered and demanded that the stipulation be clearly adhered to by the referee so that skirt doesn't get to "cheat" like he did last month by launching him into ringpost after ringpost. Dusty countered that he didn't view that as cheating and stop being a sore loser. The ref was going to follow the rules, and all you have to do is out-wrestle Piper. Do you think you can do that? Rude went into a rage saying that he's 10x the wrestler that that nancy-boy ever was, and out-wrestle him he would. He also muttered "and I've got a plan just in case" as he left the office. Rating: 100 A*</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/9HsgEqv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4RGADoE.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/bLxz60S.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/AKsqk5a.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OjC89tO.jpg Buddy Landel & Jimmy Del Ray w/Jim Cornette vs The Young Pistols This match was slotted here because I knew those first two matches were going to be epic so the fans were going to need a break because we had a long night ahead and no one wanted a burnt out crowd. So we just let these four young guys get some PPV experience. It was an even, basic match that showcased their skills. The ending showcased the tennis racquet as Cornette smashed it across Armstrong's back allowing Del Ray to pin him. Rating: 66 C+ World Tag Team Title Match http://i.imgur.com/kihY4rM.jpg http://i.imgur.com/3z63nfK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/w7jfTYf.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/VjgI7LP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4ri90Do.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DgTGYAu.jpg Strike Force vs The Fabulous Freebirds © w/Diamond Dallas Page <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> We continued the dueling promo videos during the entrances. Strike Force's promo focused on how the insults only motivated them, and the time for talking was over. This was their last chance to gain those titles from you preening fools, and they weren't going to waste it. The Freebirds and DDP cut a standard Freebird promo. They were the diamonds of the tag division, unlike these newcomers who haven't really shown they deserve this shot, and they were happy to end this here and now. Diamonds gleam, the ladies scream, these belts shine, and you two losers will whine. Rating: 82 B</div></blockquote> We'd had three tainted finishes in a row, for those of you counting at home, and after the intentional DQ the Freebirds pulled last month along with DDP outside the ring, the fans were kind of thinking it was going to be four. Given the over decade of experience Hayes and Gordy had breaking every rule in the book, referee Randy Anderson had his hands full. And boy did the Freebirds cheat, false tags, double-teaming, DDP tripping and distracting Strike Force along with the ref. They basically threw the kitchen sink at Martel and Tito, and they controlled most of the match. The hot tag to Tito turned the tide and got the fans out of their seats as he went to town on both Freebirds. He hit a couple of flying burritos, thanks Jesse, which rolled Gordy out of the ring to the floor and Hayes flat on his back. DDP tried to grab the ref, but he was cut off by Martel who came over to brawl with him. Tito covered Hayes for the 1..2..3, and we have NEW champions! Rating: 92 A Stipulation: 5 second count-out and absolutely no wrestling outside the ring http://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/W9ZCsSw.jpg Rick Rude vs Roddy Piper <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Roddy Piper stood in the interview area with Lance Russell. Well, stood wasn't quite accurate as he spent much of it pacing causing Tony to ask if Lance had any lion-taming training. "You want to call me a nancy-boy, Rude? You're the one that demanded this stipulation after what I did to you last month scrambling your brains. I've been underestimated by everyone for my entire career, and you thinking that you can out-wrestle me shows you don't respect me at all. That's fine though. I'll just beat respect out of you. I've beaten the best, and I'll beat you too, you egomaniac. Rating: 93 A Can you tell the ones with Lance interviewing vs Dusty? That's what a +20 pop difference means</div></blockquote> The match started off innocently enough with an actual wrestling match instead of the expected brawl given how mad Piper was in the interview. In fact, Rude's own stipulation threatened to bite him as he looked for any chance to escape after losing the wrestling exchange only to constantly be thwarted by having to rush right back in at 4. After failing to show himself as the better wrestler, Rude decided to switch tactics and started repeatedly throwing Piper outside hoping for the count-out win, and he almost succeeded twice as the ref's arms went up for the 5 only to see him slide in safely. Rude almost disqualified himself by arguing the count the 2nd time only to be "saved" by a sleeper hold by Piper. After breaking that, they had another 3 minute wrestling exhibition which was won by Rude but without a pinfall attempt. "What is he doing out here!?!" demanded Ventura. http://i.imgur.com/rvXQFVf.jpg Paul started walking down to ringside confusing everyone in the building. Piper used this opportunity to get back into the match. You could catch Paul telling the ref that he was there for the post-match interview which caused a ruckus in the announce booth as they all checked their sheets saying that Paul wasn't going to be giving any interviews tonight. Back in the ring, Rude reached into his very colorful tights for a chain as the crowd went nuts. Piper ducked the punch and hit him twice to knock the chain to the floor, and Rude crumpled in a heap. Now, Paul hopped up on the apron yelling that Piper had used a chain and demanded he be disqualified. The ref told him to sit back down and leave the officiating to him, and then, he made a mistake. He turned his back and went over to check Piper for the chain. http://i.imgur.com/diVbQCX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/On5HrY2.jpg Dan and Doug came charging out from the back as the ref and Piper went blind and deaf as the crowd went ballistic. They crouched down by the chain and the apron. Amazingly, Rude woke up like he hadn't even been knocked out and with Paul corned the ref berating him for not finding the chain and DQ'ing that cheater, Roddy Piper. Piper was about to walk over there to break things up when Dan hopped up on the apron to grab his attention. Doug slid in behind him with the chain wrapped around his fist and dropped Piper like a sack of bricks with a shot to the back of the head. Paul finally threw up his hands ending the committee meeting while Rude slunk away to cover Roddy. 1...2...3 Winner: Rick Rude Rating: 86 B+ lack of psychology note??? <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Oh, they weren't done. Dan and Doug (Kroffat and Furnas) hit some tag team moves while Rude slid out of the ring to grab a chair. With that in hand, he nailed Piper 4 times in the back. Paul grabbed a mic. "Things are getting very dangerous around here for certain people. These three men in the ring are a danger to everyone in the back who think they are secure, who think they are owed something, who think they can rest on their names and accomplishments from outside of WCW. We aren't going to be in the club at 2 am partying it up. We're going to be in the gym working on ways to hurt you. Yes, it is a dangerous time in WCW, and this is The Dangerous Alliance. Somebody pass that along to this interloper from up north when he wakes up." Rating: 89 A Amazing as Dan & Doug are lacking in pop</div></blockquote> WCW Television Title Match http://i.imgur.com/sOy6TEI.jpg http://i.imgur.com/OZWFilC.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/iRNHTea.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/MjIjv3g.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/bLxz60S.jpg Owen Hart © w/Missy Hyatt vs Bobby Eaton w/Jim Cornette These two could put on a show-stealing match, and on another PPV, I might let them do that. This night and following that match & angle required something else. They were there to just calm the crowd, and it was going to be cut short by this man anyways. http://i.imgur.com/v3yw5uJ.jpg The Diamond Studd hobbled down to the ring with two crutches and clearly had a huge wrap around his right thigh. He slid into the ring and proceeded to use one crutch on each wrestler as the ref called for the bell and some help from the back. Sports Entertainment Draw Rating: 73 B- <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7OriU0O.jpg We cut away from the carnage in the ring to pre-recorded interviews between Ricky Steamboat & Arn Anderson. Ricky focuses on revenge for Arn's attack last month and trying to rid the scourge of the 4 Horsemen. Arn says that Ricky should have stayed far away from WCW after Flair ran him out the last time, and as the Enforcer of the Horsemen, he was going to take this opportunity to run him out for good. Rating: 89 A</div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/UNEWeLq.jpg The camera was panning around the arena while the announcers discussed the show so far and mention the next PPV in a month, Slamboree. Jim Ross breaks in with "She's back again!" (I left that out of the Sat. Night show as it was a minor angle so didn't show up on the show list) The camera has stopped in one of the few luxury boxes in the arena where a woman is sitting there enjoying the show. When she sees the camera on her, she kind of panics and a big, burly arena security guard appears and shoves the camera man out the door. Jesse adds, "I know one thing, Jim and Tony, where she goes someone else is sure to follow." Jim says, "Well, business is about to pick up then." Tony turns it back to the current PPV just as Ricky's entrance music begins to play with "We've got two grudge matches to close another amazing PPV so let's go down to the ring." (Always the corporate shill, that Tony) <img alt=":p" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/tongue.png.ceb643b2956793497cef30b0e944be28.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />Rating: 74 B-</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/7OriU0O.jpg Ricky Steamboat vs Arn Anderson We start the match with JR stating, "We're getting word from the back that due to Flair's interference in the US Title match that the Horsemen are banned from ringside!" Jesse goes on a minute-long diatribe about how that wasn't fair and was just another example of Dusty playing favorites. Tony piped up with "Enforcers shouldn't need back-up, and Arn is one of the top wrestlers in the world." And boy did these two have a great wrestling match. It wasn't a Flair/Steamboat match as they don't have the 2 billion matches between them like Ricky has with Flair, but it was very good. It was 15 minutes of the most evenly-matched wrestling you'll ever see. Neither man was able to seize control for more than a minute. Arn had been working over Steamboat's leg in true Anderson fashion to slow any high-flying down, but Ricky still had enough to climb to the top rope and nail Arn with a cross-body that finally gave someone momentum in the match. Arn tried some cheating, but again, Ricky has wrestled the master so he dodged them all. Your winner: Ricky Steamboat Rating: 95 A <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/03Ivhqa.jpg We had an over-the-top pyro entrance for Sting who took his time getting to the ring by greeting all the kids we had while the announcers talked about the previous match and discussed the main event. Rating: 100 A*</div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The Lumberjacks Make Their Way to the Ring: http://i.imgur.com/72FGMK8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HjvAcbt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jxryyda.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PJWGpKF.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/SmxvCPe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nFkudGd.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/aJeK8Pj.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/WvBdDtm.jpg We give the lumberjacks their own entrances as I want to push these guys in the future. The announcers do point out the rules of the match, and the fact that Vader and Butch Reed are the ones guarding the side by the entrance ramp. "A small army isn't getting through there, Jim." said Tony. Rating: 67 C+</div></blockquote> WCW World Heavyweight Title Match Stipulation: Lumberjack Match http://i.imgur.com/XZpVtCk.jpg http://i.imgur.com/03Ivhqa.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/ueXxX8i.jpg Sting © VS Tully Blanchard The last match was a mat-wrestling masterpiece, but that wasn't going to be the case in this one. Not that they couldn't do it as they both had in the past, but this was going to be more a brawl. They went after each other hard for the first 5 minutes with strikes trying to get lucky and score a quick victory. When that didn't work, they decided to test the lumberjacks by tossing each other outside the ring. Sting had paid attention to where everyone was though and made sure he wasn't ever at risk of being thrown to Vader and Reed, and the faces stayed neutral just returning both men right back to the ring. With that idea exhausted, they went back to beating the hell out of each other with neither man backing down. They both started getting a little risky as they knew they had to do something in order to gain the advantage. With that some openings started to form for both men, and Tully seized the first one with a well-timed eye poke. He picked up momentum and was all set to unleash the lamest finisher in wrestling history when Sting countered with a suplex to the floor, narrowly missing Los Guerreros. The lumberjacks gave Tully a minute to recover before Vader came around and threw him back into the ring. Sting took control from there and locked him in the Scorpion Deathlock for the submission victory. Still champion Sting! Rating: 98 A I praised Pillman, Tully, and Martel after the show. Sorry for the non-centering of the pics, but somehow the quote boxes plus just centering everything messes it up. Weird.</div>

smartman · August 2, 2017

<div style="text-align:center;">It's Chemistry Week!!! WCW Thursday Thunder http://i.imgur.com/SFd4tYu.jpg Week 4 Riverside Centroplex Baton Rouge, LA (Mid-South) 12,000 Sell-Out Rating: 96 A* Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> Spotlight Segment http://i.imgur.com/kngeFc3.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/W9ZCsSw.jpg "Good Lord! That's Lex Luger's music! We haven't seen him since the attack after losing the US Title to Windham at Clash of Champions 14." Lex quickly makes his way to the ring with a serious look on his face, though he does wave to the crowd a little. "Thank you. I'm glad to be back here in WCW. But I'm here because just like all of you I was watching Spring Stampede at my house, and I was appalled at what I saw in the ring. So Roddy Piper, I'd like you come down here because I'm here to help you with your problem." Roddy pokes his head out from behind the curtain looking around and then steps out to begin hobbling to the ring. I've taped my ribs up and have a bandage around my head to sell the beating. I make it just to the end of the entrance ramp... http://i.imgur.com/diVbQCX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/On5HrY2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpg Rick Rude and Dan & Doug pop up seemingly out of nowhere and start beating the holy hell out of Piper again. Lex is in the ring with the best evil grin he can muster. "Yes, Piper, I'm here to help. I'm here to help rid WCW of you! No one wants you and your loud mouth here, you skirt-wearing freak! The Dangerous Alliance is going to bring order to WCW, and our first order of business is you. I'm rolled into the ring so Lex can put me in the Torture Rack while the announcers are losing their collective minds. Rating: 85 Scripted Lex and found out that he's got horrible chemistry with Paul so of course Lex stubs his push right from the start.</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/diVbQCX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/On5HrY2.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/rvXQFVf.jpg vs http://i.imgur.com/1jWOnVa.jpg & http://i.imgur.com/834ggo1.jpg Dan Kroffat & Doug Furnas w/Paul E. vs Ultimo Dragon & Octagon We kept the tag team duo out there and brought in two sacrificial lambs to help build their pop and give the announcers time to catch their breaths Rating: 76 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/3z63nfK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/w7jfTYf.jpg Strike Force come out and cut a very face promo celebrating their World Title win. Thanking the fans, saying that no one thought they could do it but them, etc. The Hispanic contingent of fans ate it up. Rating: 100</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/kngeFc3.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/dfkIFWw.jpg Lex Luger vs Bill DeMott Luger faced a very big man in DeMott, but he's a jobber. Just recap the start of the show guys. Rating: 76 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/jkTdbkf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wwIbP4q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpg We come back from commercial to Dusty's office. The camera pans over to see Ric Flair sitting in a chair. "It's time for me to get another shot at Sting for the World title! Woooooo!" Just then, Rick Rude comes in. "I've finished Roddy Piper, and I have to be next in line for a World title match!" He then notices Flair. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't want to interrupt this has-been's retirement announcement." Dusty chuckled a little which turned Flair's face from a little red to barn red, and he kicked over the chair then gets right into Rude's face. Before the argument gets going (and the censor breaks out into a panic), Steamboat comes in with the benign, "You wanted to see me Dusty?" "Sit down, all of you! Now, two of you had impressive wins at Spring Stampede, and the other one has held the World title more than anyone else in history. I'm going to review things with the Board of Directors, and we're going to decide on a #1 Contender in the next few weeks." Rating: 100</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/gjmNEJD.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/Q32tF25.jpg Kevin Sullivan vs Bob Holly A needed TV appearance for Kevin, and he looked good squashing Bob. Rating: 75 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/nY2DHgi.jpg Remember when I mocked Barry's mic ability? Yeah, I think that leaked to him. I'd been told to make sure to watch this, and I found out why. Honestly, there were several of us thankful there weren't any flies as our jaws hit the floor. Barry delved into his history and how everywhere he'd gone people always viewed him as an underachiever. You disgusting fans deserted me long ago, and the few friends I've had turned their backs on me for fame and glory. Then, the Four Horsemen called, and I'm now the 4th best Horsemen they've ever had, which is fine because you have to be a legend to be in this group. I'm still holding the 2nd biggest title in professional wrestling, and I'm never letting it go. So you losers can boo me all you like. You can chant for that chump's name too, but you'll be lucky to see him again. We're the best in the world, and you better get used to that fact. Rating: 100</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/AKsqk5a.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/OjC89tO.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/Ss9p466.jpg & http://i.imgur.com/AnTflY6.jpg The Young Pistols vs El Dandy & Scott Armstrong The Steve vs Scott Armstrong match-up was touched on, but most of this match was to hype up the #1 Contenders 4-way tag team main event. Unfortunately for Scott, he ended up picking up a Grade 3 Hernia and will be out for 3 weeks. Rating: 68 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/03Ivhqa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jwsqx7k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ngHnKNg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tz0Ph9N.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/z07V507.jpg We have a taped promo from after Stampede where Sting and The Rockin' Bees w/Gibson & Trisa are celebrating their title victories. Two main reasons for this promo. 1)Establish that Sting isn't there to hype the ensuing confrontation with Luger at a later date. 2)Get some pop for The Rockin' Bees by being in the same room as Sting. Rating: 82</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/wwIbP4q.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/ngHnKNg.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/z07V507.jpg Ric Flair vs B. Brian Blair w/Trisa I was shocked again as Blair had excellent chemistry with Flair. I'd thought it would be a really good match, because Flair, but I put it in the semi-main for a reason. Ric let me know about that after the show, btw. It is now the #1 match in company history beating out Sting vs Flair at Clash 14. I sent word down to the announcers to point out that if Flair had wanted to prove to the Board that he's still got it and should get that World title shot, he sure did it tonight. Other than a momentary distraction by Taylor on Blair, it was a clean match with Flair picking up the victory. Rating: 99 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/7OriU0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ueXxX8i.jpg Arn and Tully stop by the interview area for a quick promo before the main event. They point out that with the tag team titles up for grabs, they would be adding them to the Horsemen's collection very soon. Strike Force, you two should keep those belts safe because the two best tag team wrestlers in the world would be coming for them soon. Rating: 100</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/7OriU0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ueXxX8i.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/SmxvCPe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nFkudGd.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/HjvAcbt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jxryyda.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/iRNHTea.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/VjgI7LP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4ri90Do.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/DgTGYAu.jpg #1 Contenders 4-way Elimination Match for World Tag Team Titles Arn & Tully vs Los Guerreros vs The Fantastics w/Missy vs The Fabulous Freebirds w/DDP We had two pretty-boy tag teams going up against two very grizzled tag teams. The Freebirds were clearly in desperation mode having just lost the titles. The heel teams methodically worked down both face teams through cheating, and Los Guerreros were the first to go when DDP grabbed Hector's leg setting up Gordy to pin him. The Horsemen then took out The Fantastics leaving the two heel teams, which meant most of the fans started pulling for the Horsemen. It became an all-out cheat-fest at that point as both teams excel at it, and it would turn out that it would be the difference in the match as DDP went to nail Tully who ducked out of the way leaving him to nail Hayes. NEW #1 Contenders Arn & Tully Rating: 95 WCW Saturday Night http://i.imgur.com/FJoZtsa.jpg Week 4 South East, 16,000 Sell-Out Rating: 96 A* Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Spotlight Segment http://i.imgur.com/03Ivhqa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kngeFc3.jpg We start the show with Sting in the ring. "Everywhere I've gone since Thursday night, all my little Stingers out there keep coming up to me asking what are you going to do about Lex? So Lex, why don't you come out here so we can chat. I've tried to find you to do this in private, but you've avoided me." Lex comes out to the ring. "Yeah, I've given you the same treatment you gave me after I was injured by the Horsemen. That title is all you care about now, evidently. I was home for 2 months without hearing from you, but you know who did call me? Paul called me. Rick Rude called me. They're true friends. We're going to make WCW our playground, and we don't allow people who turn their backs on their friends on that playground, do we Rick?" http://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpg Unbeknown to Sting, Rude had slithered down to the ring during Luger's rant and on that cue, started to beat down the champ. Luger joined in as the announcers pointed out that someone needed to do something to prevent another Piper situation. http://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpg Ricky Steamboat came rushing out from the back and ducked the clothesline attempt by Lex and got dropkicked out of the ring. Rude turned around to see Ricky there as the crowd popped as two of the three #1 contenders were all alone in the ring. Unfortunately, all they got was a terse exchange that the mics didn't pick up before Rude bailed out of the ring and got he and Lex out of there. Rating: 100</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kngeFc3.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/hJFqGrV.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/1jWOnVa.jpg Rick Rude & Lex Luger vs La Parka & Ultimo Guerrero Another great chemistry as La Parka & Guerrero found that out. Rude & Luger still made quick work of them. Rating: 77 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/NdVYejF.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/tSixjxJ.jpg Another home interview for Lance Russell this week. This time we were actually in Pillman's home. The focus is obviously on the (kayfabe) injuries he suffered at Stampede. Brian states that he is down right now, but that the doctors said he'd be back in a couple of weeks. He then turned it up to 11 saying that he was done playing nice, and everyone should be on high alert when he comes back. Rating: 100</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/jwsqx7k.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/z07V507.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/jAWxDo8.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/xfTipJ8.jpg Ricky Morton w/Trisa vs Michael Wallstreet w/Alexandra York This was the beginning of wrapping up this feud. They went all out for 10 minutes before York took a swing missing Morton and hitting Wallstreet leading to a roll-up victory Rating: 80 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/W9ZCsSw.jpg This is a pre-recorded video from an undisclosed location. I cut a vicious promo on Rude and Luger promising that he would be back soon, and I wouldn't be coming alone. Dangerous is one thing, but Madness was a much more deadly trait. You're going to regret ever being born when WE'RE done with you! Rating: 100</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/OZWFilC.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HjvAcbt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jxryyda.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/iRNHTea.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/MRtiUPi.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Ss9p466.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/pd8J8Rv.jpg Missy Hyatt's Crew vs Jason Anderson, El Dandy, & Dave Finlay A simple 6-man tag match to discuss what happened during the TV title match at Stampede and Missy's burgeoning feud with Camp Cornette. Rating: 75 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div> http://i.imgur.com/bLxz60S.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/MjIjv3g.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9HsgEqv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4RGADoE.jpg Speaking of Camp Cornette (more alliteration!), we go to the interview area where all of them except Vader are there. Jim does most of the talking blaming Owen and Missy for Studd's interference because they knew they were no match for Bobby Eaton. They all got their digs in at Owen while Eaton said that they would face off again, and that TV title would be his soon enough. Rating: 76</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/cJ9YoV0.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/xfTipJ8.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/834ggo1.jpg Terry Taylor w/York vs Octagon Not much to say here as Taylor controlled the match. Rating: 78 http://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/gjmNEJD.jpg Ricky Steamboat vs Kevin Sullivan Now this is why I put these matches in the semi-main event. It was a really great match, but they didn't have the chemistry that Blair and Flair had Thurs. Speaking of Flair, he came down to ringside to try and distract Steamboat, but Ricky powered through it to pick up the victory. Rating: 92 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wwIbP4q.jpg Ric grabs a mic and gets in the ring. He blasts him as being coddled by Dusty as the only reason he could defeat Arn, and he correctly points out that he won their match at WrestleWar so why in the world does Ricky think he deserves to be #1 Contender? Ricky correctly counters that Flair had to have help in that match, and that at least he had a match Sunday whereas Flair ducked a rematch because it would have been in a cage. Flair did his whole going ballistic schtick, and they brawled until security broke it up. Rating: 100</div></blockquote> World Tag Team Title Match http://i.imgur.com/kihY4rM.jpg http://i.imgur.com/3z63nfK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/w7jfTYf.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/PJWGpKF.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/yaMP3oY.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/RmQe92X.jpg Strike Force© vs Butch Reed w/Long & Larry Z Yep, the great chemistry was in the main event where it belongs. That does give me some options as Ron isn't doing incredibly well in development. We let the match go for quite a long time before sending out Arn & Tully to interfere for the DQ finish. Really pleased with it. Rating: 98 Barry joined them in a 3-on-2 beatdown of Strike Force to end the show Rating: 100</div>

smartman · August 3, 2017

<div style="text-align:center;">End of the Month Wrap-Up</div>

WrestleMania VII was held in the Tacoma Dome in Washington state to 22,502 people, and boy if you thought the original version was mediocre, this one made it look like WM3. First, Hulk Hogan, Bret Hart, Ultimate Warrior, Million Dollar Man, and Mr. Perfect didn't wrestle. So, other than the presumed appearance in the Rumble, Hogan is 0-for-2 in wrestling on PPV. They didn't even job Randy Savage on his last day there. I could make a hell of a PPV with those 6 wrestlers, and Vince didn't use any of them in their biggest PPV of the year. Hint: Starrcade will not be run without Sting, Flair, Savage, Rude, Steamboat, Piper, or Arn & Tully.

They did flip two of their 3 titles as The Rockers def. Demolition for the tag titles and the continued hot-shotting of the once-prestigious Intercontinental title from British Bulldog to Dino Bravo. The deadman's reign continued as he defeated Sgt. Slaughter to retain the World Title. This time in an actually solid match with an 88. The event was rated an 83 B+.

You would wonder why they held the show in the North West region, but they had to shore up that region as they were close to losing National status. And boy did they boost the region as it is all the way up to 90 importance to keep their importance there at 67. It's going to be interesting to see if their World Tour is going to be in Mid Atlantic as it is now their only 66 area.

That's going to be critical for them as we beat them in the National Battle by almost 100 points, which has now jumped to 470 with the addition of Savage. For anyone curious

WCW--Sting-872, Savage-799, Piper-797, Flair-789, Rude-775 for a total of 4,032

WWF--Hogan-860, Warrior-753, Slaughter-690, Jake the Snake-637, Taker-623 for a total of 3,563

They didn't lose any pop this month, which is usual for that first month, but I fear they're not long for National. They were going to drop when the steroid trial narrative hit, but it is nice to see them collapse. Or they could actually use Hogan and Warrior. Crazy thought there Vince!

Speaking of regions needing shoring up, I may have to run some shows in the Great Lakes region as that is my one iffy region, mainly because the importance there has plummeted. I've got 80 pop there but only 67 importance so it isn't great. The great news is that the economy has finally recovered from the hideous recession (narrative) and now, instead of being in the toilet at 10 is now up to 73 and rising. So if you see my attendances skyrocket, that's why. The industry is still a middling 62 and falling, which it's still going to thanks to the impending steroid trial.

Financially, we came out really well. That $4 million hit I took to cancel the B show and replace it with Thunder meant we were going to be in the red, but we only lost $1.4 million, which is about double what gets yanked in that tax line when you turn a profit. Still sitting there with almost $11 million, which is 1 more than I started with during a recession. We're still under $700k in contracts per month, but I have a feeling that's not lasting much longer as the first pay raise request came along plus Flair's contract is up in 83 days, so 55 days until I get to negotiate.

Unfortunately, there had to be some bad news. Rude tested positive for steroids at Stampede. I gave him a slap on the wrist and told him that he's getting the push he's always deserved and to not screw it up (in different words). I hope he took it to heart because that would blow. That was the reason we added Lex so quickly. I'd wanted to wait another month on him, but I couldn't get Nikita up as a heel (signed him as a face at the start of the game so oops). In other bad news, Michael Hayes is now in time decline (it's pre-set fwiw), and he jumped Larry Z on the list to be #2 which isn't great. Likely, that's going to lead to him becoming the manager of the Miracle Violence Connection with Dr. Death Steve Williams coming up to team with Gordy though we'll see what Garvin does as he's coming off of rehab in 20 days.

As you can guess, I talked myself into the Strike Force vs Arn & Tully feud. I just couldn't keep feeding them to Sting with the stipulations keeping him from getting screwed out of the title becoming sillier and sillier. Plus, that would keep Tito & Martel as the overlooked babyfaces since facing off with the most fan-favorite heels in history would lead to interesting crowd reactions.

Obviously, Savage is going to debut as my partner against Dangerously's group. I'm still trying to keep from rushing the WWF star into a top slot. We're not TNA after all. He's definitely going to end up there soon enough as I can't hold off on that forever lest he go into time decline before then.

The main event is going to be interesting. I'm going to do a very late-WCW thing to hold things in place. Most of the biggest WCW PPV's are late in the year, and I don't want to blow everything before then leaving nothing for them. Great American Bash is my short-term focus while building up to Halloween Havoc and Starrcade is the long-term. As you might have guessed, I am going to have several War Games matches instead of just one. That's why I'm assembling groups.

Any questions or comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks to To4sty and Destiny for doing predictions. Looks like I confused you both a little. And thanks to all you readers for taking the time to read this.

smartman · August 6, 2017

<div style="text-align:center;">WCW Thursday Thunder http://i.imgur.com/SFd4tYu.jpg April Week 1 Greensboro Coliseum 20,145 Not even close to a sell-out <img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Rating: 96 A* Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/jkTdbkf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wwIbP4q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpg We start the show with Dusty in the ring. He calls for Flair, Rude, and Steamboat to come down to the ring. "I've been thinkin' long and hard, gentlemen. Long and hard. Each of you has a reason to be #1 contender, but only one of you can get the opportunity to face Sting for the World Championship. So this simple, son of a plumber has come up with a fabulous idea. At Slamboree, the main event is going to be a tag team match between Rude & Flair and Steamboat & Sting. The person who gets the victory, through pinfall or submission, will become #1 Contender, and there will be a definitive victor because it will be held in a steel cage!" The crowd pops while the two heels start calling Dusty every name in the book. Ricky leans in off-camera and asks what the announcers are asking, "What happens if Sting gets the pin?" Dusty adds, "And if Sting gets the pinfall or submission victory, he gets to choose his opponent for Superbrawl." The heels lose it even more and start arguing with each other while Ricky actually shows a little bit of a smile as he and Dusty leave the heels to themselves. Rating: 100</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/WvBdDtm.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Q32tF25.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/nw3q1Rt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Pje47mA.jpg Shinobi & Bob Holly vs State Patrol Time to get the storytelling match out of the way as the announcers talk about what we just saw while Jesse also mentions his interview with the beautiful woman in the stands this last week. Rating: 56 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/jkTdbkf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/xfTipJ8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/cJ9YoV0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jAWxDo8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/voViYrT.jpg We come back to Dusty in his office. The York Foundation come into the office, including new member Lord Steven Regal. Alexandra demands a shot at regaining the US Tag Titles, which Dusty quickly declines. Dusty says that they have a match in a minute so you better hustle, or you won't get any title shots ever again. They argue as they get up and leave shouting about lawyers, etc. Rating: 73</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/cJ9YoV0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jAWxDo8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/voViYrT.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/xfTipJ8.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/dfkIFWw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/hIJm41d.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/834ggo1.jpg The York Foundation w/York vs Bill DeMott, Keith Hart, and Octagon The three angry heels got to take out their frustrations on the helpless jobbers. Regal looked pretty good out there which is all I cared about. Rating: 75 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/3z63nfK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/w7jfTYf.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/7OriU0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ueXxX8i.jpg Strike Force are in the ring as we come back from commercial break. They start off almost exactly like they did the week before celebrating their title win and thanking the fans when the Horsemen's music hits, and the crowd goes bonkers as this is headquarters for the 4 Horsemen. Arn and Tully strut their way to the ring and rips the mic out of Tito's hand. Arn starts, "It's great to be back here in the heart of Horsemen Country! We let you and those long-haired, pretty boys play with those titles for a little while, but it is time for those titles to come back to where they belong, with the best in the world!" Tully picks up, "Some legendary teams held those titles, but none of them were in our league. You think you're tough? You haven't faced us yet. So why don't you just give us those titles and save yourself the embarrassment of us whipping you in the ring?" Tito rips the mic out of Tully's hand. "You know Rick and I are plenty tired of everyone thinking we're not worthy of these titles or holding them until the Horsemen want them. If you don't want to respect us, how about this!" And Rick jumps Tully, while Tito nails Arn. They execute a couple of beautiful tag team moves that cause the Horsemen to roll out of the ring and retreat. Rating: 100 What better way to push Strike Force than by having them run Arn & Tully out of the ring in Greensboro?</div></blockquote> World Television Title http://i.imgur.com/sOy6TEI.jpg http://i.imgur.com/OZWFilC.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/iRNHTea.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/9HsgEqv.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/bLxz60S.jpg Owen Hart © w/Missy Hyatt vs Buddy Landel w/Jim Cornette The first of two title matches on a loaded show took place between two factions that have started to war with each other. Anyone got a good name for Missy's group? I could use it. This was the all out battle that Owen didn't get to show at Stampede. Slowly but surely, he started wearing Buddy down, and when the ref caught Cornette trying to get involved, Jim waved frantically to the back. Out came Eaton and Vader who promptly entered the ring and started beating down on Owen for the DQ. Rating: 83 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/OZWFilC.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HjvAcbt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jxryyda.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/iRNHTea.jpg & http://i.imgur.com/MjIjv3g.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/72FGMK8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9HsgEqv.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/bLxz60S.jpg Missy yells for help, and out come The Fantastics armed with chairs (Vader does that to regular humans). They clear the ring before too much damage could be done, and Owen hops up beet red. He spots Eaton and goes chasing after him which causes all of Camp Cornette to start running after they spot The Fantastics following right behind him. They roll a popcorn cart at them causing Tommy to pull a parkour, running the railing, narrowly missing it, while the crowd got some free popcorn. They finally caught up to them in the concession stand where thankfully everything was plastic (Vader throwing a huge glass container of mustard would be funny until it killed or maimed someone). The funniest part was when Cornette got caught watching the mess and Missy snuck up behind him dumping a huge jar of pickles on his head. We had to go to break at that point as the announcers lost it, even Jesse. Rating: 79</div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>http://i.imgur.com/tz0Ph9N.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jwsqx7k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ngHnKNg.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/z07V507.jpg We go to the other side of the arena by the entrance ramp and interview area where Lance is with Trisa Hayes, Rockin' Bees, and Robert Gibson. They all take a moment to hype the upcoming US Title match between Gibson & Windham and said that it would be great that all of them would have the US Titles after the match. Rating: 78</div></blockquote> United States Heavyweight Title http://i.imgur.com/Hv2SPEt.jpg http://i.imgur.com/nY2DHgi.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/tz0Ph9N.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/z07V507.jpg Barry Windham © vs Robert Gibson w/Trisa Hayes This was a phenomenal match on free TV showing just how good of a wrestler both men are. Gibson spent the match trying to do hit-and-run tactics to stay out of the much bigger man's reach. The crowd spent the match trying to decide to root for either a Horseman or one of the biggest babyfaces in the tag team universe. They settled on just cheering for a hell of a match. Neither man could hold the advantage for long, and there were several close calls both ways as it legitimately looked like both men could win the title. That's when Barry got fed up with it and started putting his Horseman tutelage to work. Eye pokes, dirty breaks, and more had Gibson in a bad way. http://i.imgur.com/NdVYejF.jpg "That's Brian Pillman! He's supposed to be out another week!" crowed Jim Ross. He promptly hit the ring and started beating the hell out of a tired Windham as we cut to break with our 2nd consecutive DQ title finish. Rating: 93 <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Spotlight Segment http://i.imgur.com/UNEWeLq.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/2uj26JR.jpg We finally give the audience the segment they wanted. Jesse Ventura was in the ring for The Body Shop segment. He introduced Miss Elizabeth as a former work collegue and as the "First Lady of Professional Wrestling." After asking her a couple of banal questions about where she's been the last year, he dove straight to the heart of why everyone was watching. "Are you looking to start managing someone here in WCW, and is your former client coming to WCW?" Before she answers... http://i.imgur.com/kngeFc3.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/diVbQCX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/On5HrY2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rvXQFVf.jpg Paul E. comes strolling over to the set with Luger and Dan & Doug who start to flank the set. "Yes, we'd like to know that too, you hack journalist. So, Ms. Overrated, exactly where is your client? Or are you just here because you wanted to join the premier group in professional wrestling, The Dangerous Alliance? We might want to take you, though all the much more attractive women that beat down (really Paul?) the door for Rude and Luger don't like to associate with 6's like you." By this point, all 3 of them have clearly blocked her escape, but we're not closing that distance too much, because 1991. http://i.imgur.com/bKLGsnD.jpg Randy Savage comes through the set (got ya Jesse!) and takes down Dan & Doug before anyone really knows what happened. Lex stopped flexing his muscles at the crowd and Miss Elizabeth long enough to trade punches with an irate Savage. Paul got stopped from cheap shotting Randy by Elizabeth who got in between them, and that gave Randy the edge he needed to send Luger into the railing. Paul called them off as they beat a hasty retreat as we go to break. Rating: 91</div></blockquote> http://i.imgur.com/03Ivhqa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bKLGsnD.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/wwIbP4q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kngeFc3.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/rvXQFVf.jpg Sting, Steamboat, & Savage w/http://i.imgur.com/UNEWeLq.jpg vs Flair, Rude, and Luger w/Paul E. We came back from break at the announce desk with the old "I'm getting something in my ear. Our main event is going to be a 6-man tag." We then hit the entrance music and get everyone in the ring. Simply, this was to make sure no one had bad tag chemistry before the PPV and get Savage in a match with 3 of the biggest WCW stars. The story of course was over on the heel side to see how Flair and Rude would work together as a team. Luger there actually helped as the announcers pointed out that as a former Horseman, he'd teamed with Flair before. Sadly, no chemistry was discovered amongst anyone. Other than Savage selling the irate guy who would get goaded into helping the heels cheat, everyone got to do their basic offense and look good. We did keep Luger and Sting apart for most of the match as we're saving that for the future, maybe. We let it run the full 20 minutes as the show goes off the air with the announcers saying that this fight might last until we see you Saturday night! Time limit draw Rating: 99 WCW Saturday Night http://i.imgur.com/FJoZtsa.jpg April Week 1 South East, 20 ,000 Sell-Out Rating: 91 A 4.09 TV Rating First Over 4! Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>We open in Dusty's office where Paul E. and Rude are in a very angry conversation with Dusty. "We're not facing that crazy loon. He almost killed Windham Thursday night. My client has a main event at Slamboree to prepare for so pick someone else." Dusty simply says, "The match is booked, Flair and Steamboat have faced similar competition, and if you want to be in that main event, you better go out there and defeat Brian Pillman." Rude and Paul E. say a few more choice words before leaving. We have a main event for tonight! Rating: 100</div></blockquote> Sting easily handled El Dandy in a non-title match Rating: 77 Randy Savage w/Elizabeth rips into Luger saying he's dealt with someone else who had big muscles, a bigger ego, and couldn't out-wrestle me. "I'll enjoy beating the hell out of you. Ooooooooh yeaaaaaahhhh!" Rating: 89 The Rockin' Bees w/Trisa & The Young Pistols make easy work of The State Patrol, El Cubano, & Dean Malenko Rating: 62 Los Guerreros stop by Dusty's office informing him that they're very interested in getting a shot at the US Tag Team titles. Dusty tells them keep on working hard, and it may be there pretty soon. Rating: 85 The Four Horsemen cut another one of their exceptional promos highlighting how it was just a matter of time before everyone had gold because they're the gold standard of professional wrestling. Rating: 100 Strike Force easily defeat Jason Anderson & Dave Finlay in a non-title match, though the heels showed great chemistry teaming together. Jesse still pointed out that "That other Anderson is 100x the wrestler that one is." Rating: 79 Camp Cornette take turns taunting The Fantastics. Rating: 82 Randy Savage w/Elizabeth defeated Rip Rogers via DQ Rating: 84 Ooof...that was with great chemistry too <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Spotlight Segment http://i.imgur.com/bKLGsnD.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/kngeFc3.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/diVbQCX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/On5HrY2.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/rvXQFVf.jpg The DQ was the result of Luger, Dan & Doug charging into the ring and attacking him. Luger ends up putting him in the Torture Rack while Paul is talking trash to Elizabeth. The crowd explodes, and everyone turns to look at the entrance ramp as the bagpipes play. http://i.imgur.com/W9ZCsSw.jpg It's a good thing I came through the crowd, then isn't it? I'm swinging a chair too which is why the ring emptied pretty quickly, though I got a good shot in on Doug. They stand out there stewing while Elizabeth enters the ring to check on Randy. I shout at them just close enough to the mic so it is picked up. "You didn't kill me! Ha ha! And now we're going to pick you guys off one by one. You don't leave crazy around because crazy don't stop." Rating: 86 Dan & Doug really kill the ratings</div></blockquote> The Main Event Rick Rude did the old stay outside the ring as long as you can as often as you can. That only ticked Pillman off though leading to a couple of near wins. After that, it was Rude and Paul cheating constantly. That led to Steamboat coming down to ringside which distracted Rude a little bit, but then he used the ref being distracted to low-blow Brian. Ricky yelled at the ref about it, but he counted the pinfall anyway. Rating: 89 Lack of psych again<img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.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="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Steamboat grabs a mic and rips into Rude saying that if you have to cheat to win you don't belong as a potential #1 contender because only the best deserve that title. Rude argues that he can look at himself in the mirror every night just fine, and that it just shows how scared he is that Sting is going to screw him if you get lucky and have Flair pinned. I'm the Wrestling Adonis, and that World Championship belongs around my waist. Rating: 100</div></blockquote> <blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>WCW Main Event http://i.imgur.com/hX17CvH.jpg Recorded before Sat. Night airing on Sunday Rating: 79 Announcers: Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone/Magnum T.A./Lance Russell Larry Z, Reed, and Long cut a promo hyping their new tag team. Lord Steven Regal w/York squashed Keith Hart Jim Ross interviews The York Foundation The Diamond Studd def the returning Juicer The Diamond Exchange hype themselves to JR Terry Gordy def JYD in another Wild Brawl Larry Z & Reed w/Long def The Lightning Express via cheating</div></blockquote></div> Sorry for accidentally not posting Main Event from last week. Didn't realize it until I'd already deleted it. I didn't have as much time, thus why Saturday Night didn't get as full of a write-up as Thunder did. If you prefer that approach (basically me copying TFC's layout as he's the best on here right now), let me know because I can crank those out way, way, way faster though I'd probably add a little more to the promos. I could use some ideas for several tag team and one group names as I mentioned during the shows. Any questions, thoughts, or feedback will always be greatly appreciated. I'll post another roster and title update after the PPV which will likely be the regular thing, at least the title part. I will add that if you see weird things with the bottom of my card, that's because of Adam's addition in 1.48 or 49 that jumped the base pop of my roster to where most of my midcard was at that time so I get some volatility in my lower midcard through enhancement. That's been quite problematic at times. I doubt there will be too many more call-ups in April. Dr. Death and Dustin Rhodes will likely be coming up in May.

smartman · August 11, 2017

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">WCW Thursday Thunder http://i.imgur.com/SFd4tYu.jpg April Week 2 Frank Erwin Center Austin, TX 16,734 Sell-Out Rating: 91 A 4.00 TV Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone We start the show with the 3 non-Flair Horsemen in the ring. They all take turns taunting the loon, Brian Pillman. Tito comes out to argue, then Martel both pointing out that Windham's been the only one in Horsemen with gold so the other two should shut the hell up. That kicks off a 3-on-2 brawl until Sting comes rushing out to save the day as the Horsemen retreat. Rating: 100 Randy Savage vs Dave Finlay A quick squash match to keep rounding Randy into form. Rating: 77 Spotlight Segment--The Body Shop http://i.imgur.com/2uj26JR.jpg http://i.imgur.com/wwIbP4q.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4wp4Qup.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/03Ivhqa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpg Jesse is sitting in his Body Shop set. "For the first time in pro wrestling history, we will have a tag team match to determine the #1 contender for the only World Heavyweight Title that matters, the WCW World Heavyweight Title. We're going to talk to the 4 men that will be in that match at Slamboree in less than 2 weeks on PPV. First, on my right are two of the greatest wrestlers in the history of pro wrestling, Ric Flair and Rick Rude, and on my left are the other two guys in the match, Steamboat and soon-to-be ex-champ Sting. So, I know all the fans out there are saying that you two can't possibly get along, and that's how these two losers are going to keep you from getting your shot at the World Title." Sting and Steamboat might have injured themselves eye rolling that hard. Flair "I am the 7-time World Champion. The limousine-riding, show-stylin', rolex-wearing, king of space mountain, son of a gun, and when I lock on the figure four at Slamboree, I'll get my shot to become the 8-time World Champion. WOOOOO!" Oh, the eye-rolling is catching as Rude just strained himself. Sting and Steamboat are smiling. Sting "And that right there Jesse is why they aren't going to win. Flair, you're a legend, but you've always been about yourself. You've found 3 other guys that will do all your dirty work and never get in your way. That man sitting right there though? He's got a bigger ego than you do, which until he showed up here I thought was impossible. Rude probably won't even let you get into the match because he knows you'll hog the spotlight." Rude interjects, "What does it matter to you, chump? The only reason you'll do anything in the match is so your friend Steamboat wins because you don't want any part of either of us. He'll be an easy win because he's a has-been, and we all know it." At that, Steamboat gets in Rude's face. "You two are doomed to fail. I have a partner I trust implicitly, and your partner is the self-proclaimed from the highest mountain tops to be the Dirtiest Player in the Game. He'll turn on you. These fans know he's going to turn on you, and if he doesn't, I'll just whip your ugly tights all over the ring myself." As all 4 men look like they're ready to brawl, Jesse wraps it up quite quickly to sell it as unpredictable and chaotic. Rating: 100 Eaton, Landel, & Del Ray w/Cornette vs The Juicer, Shinobi, and Bob Holly Camp Cornette get to build a little momentum heading into the PPV. The faces get some offense in so it wasn't a squash, but the victory was pretty much never in doubt. Rating: 74 As the match wraps up, we cut back to the interview area where Missy and her clients (still need a name guys; please help me come up with one), Owen and The Fantastics take turns taunting Camp Cornette. Rating: 68 JYD & Los Guerreros vs Dean Malenko, Jason Anderson, & El Cubano Another non-squash match that was never really in doubt. More momentum for Eddie and Hector and a rare win for JYD. I did keep Dean strong. Rating: 76 Lord Steven Regal w/Alexandra York vs La Parka We squeeze in another squash match just to keep building up Regal. Rating: 79 Teddy Long calls out The Rockin' Bees. "You guys don't have anyone challenging for those United States Tag Team titles at Slamboree, and I want to help you guys fix that. Why don't you give my client Butch Reed and his partner Larry Z the shot?" Blair and Morton huddle up and saying "Sure thing." Teddy says "Thanks, suckers." as Butch and Larry attack them from behind beating them down. Rating: 69 Arn & Tully vs The Young Pistols We decided to use the semi-main event as a two birds with one stone opportunity. Arn and Tully didn't really need to knock off any tag team rust, so it was mainly just to show any newer fans just why they're one of the best tag teams of all time. We also wanted to give Steve and Tracy a chance to shine in a big match. They're likely permanent midcards, but that's what the US Tag Titles are for. The youngsters held their own pretty well, but they couldn't withstand the legendary team forever. Rating: 89 The Diamond Exchange are in the interview area. Hayes and Gordy talk up how they love Texas and beating up loud-mouths the fans love, and tonight was going to be more of the same as Gordy was going to face Piper in a cage match. Maybe I can slam the door again? DDP and Studd get a few shots in as well as the staff is busy building the cage. Rating: 86 The Main Event Roddy Piper vs Terry Gordy w/DDP in Cage Classic Match This was more of a brawl, Piper is one of our better brawlers fwiw, than a wrestling match, and the constant lack of selling issue reared its ugly head again as it does in too many of his matches which drug the rating down. Still a pretty good match. Lex and Paul E. came down to distract Piper at times and cheer on Gordy beating me up. I managed to wear the big guy down to get the victory. Rating: 89 WCW Saturday Night http://i.imgur.com/FJoZtsa.jpg April Week 2 Rosemont Horizon Chicago, IL 14,817 Sell-Out Rating: 94 A 4.03 TV Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone The show starts in the interview area with Flair, Windham, Reed, and Larry Z. All 4 men take turns hyping up the huge 8-man tag team semi-main event against Sting, Pillman, and the Rockin' Bees. Rating: 100 Arn & Tully vs Ultimo Dragon and La Parka A much quicker match for Arn & Tully tonight Rating: 77 Luger is standing in the interview area. He rips into both Savage and Piper saying they're in the way of The Dangerous Alliance, and that's not a good place to be. Then he poses a little bit saying that was so Elizabeth could see what a real man looks like. Rating: 99 Robert Gibson w/Trisa, The Juicer, and Shinobi vs Jason Anderson, El Cubano, & Dean Malenko Another squash-like match just so Juicer and Shinobi can regain some momentum. Robert looked good. Rating: 67 Dusty conducts a sit-down interview with Steamboat. They discuss his career with clips of him winning the US title, various World Tag Team title victories, and ending with him becoming World Heavyweight Champion pinning Flair during their epic trilogy in 1989. While he says he's not the has-been Rude accused him of being, he knows there may not be many more chances to climb that mountain to get that world title, and he's going to make the most of this one, in 8 days at Slamboree. This dragon is going to roar again! Rating: 100 The York Foundation w/Alexandra York vs Lightning Express & Bob Holly The 3 faces gave it all they had and constantly frustrated the heels. Finally, they got fed up, and Alexandra smashed the laptop across Holly's back leading Regal to roll him up quickly for the tainted victory. Rating: 78 Before the epic 8-man tag match, the 4 faces get their chance to hype it up in the interview area. Really, it is just to try and build Pillman and The Rockin' Bees' pop by being next to Sting. Rating: 84 Didn't work very well. <img alt=":(" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /> Sting, Brian Pillman, and The Rockin' Bees w/Trisa Hayes vs Ric Flair, Barry Windham, Butch Reed w/Teddy Long, & Larry Z This was to showcase 3 of the matches at Slamboree as we announced that Pillman was getting another shot at Windham's US Title. Most of the match was between the two tag teams with sporadic crowd-popping moments where the other 4 men would come in. As per usual, the poor ref struggled to maintain control through most of the match, and it broke down with everyone getting into the ring then spilling out to the floor. Randy Anderson finally started counting, and neither side really cared when he hit 10 for a Double Count-Out Draw Rating: 94 We finally make an appearance in Dusty's office. It's crowded as 6 people are in there with Owen w/Missy, Eaton w/Cornette, and Diamond Studd w/DDP. Dusty says that it is clear that the only way we're going to get a clean Television Title Match is if I don't leave either of you two out of the match. So, we're going to make history again. It's going to be a triple-threat match between the 3 of you, and to make sure there's no funny business, everyone is banned from ringside! Anyone who interferes in the match will be fired on the spot! Good ol' Dusty making everyone unhappy. Rating: 85 The Main Event Rick Rude & Lex Luger vs Los Guerreros Just another chance to get Rude in a tag team match. Hector and Eddie keep on making main events incredibly enjoyable, much to their opponents' dismay. Rude spent a lot of the match being the odd heel-in-peril as we wanted to sell him tagging in Luger to do the dirty work of breaking the Guerreros down leading the announcers to discuss how that likely won't work at Slamboree. Finally, Rude came in and went to work after Luger had done most of the damage. This gave Luger the chance to grab a cameraman and demand he shoot him as he flexed and posed "for that special lady out there". That precipitated the end of the match as Savage looked like he was shot out of a cannon and started beating the holy hell out of Luger. The ref called for the bell for a DQ win Rating: 91 Much to Luger's dismay, his muscles weren't much of a match for a pissed off Randy Savage. Rude found an opening though and nailed him from behind to stop the rampage, and they started working him over taunting him while they did it. That didn't last long as I came running out from the back with the ever-present chair in hand. It doesn't connect, but after a few fists do, the heels decide enough is enough and leave. Rating: 100 WCW Main Event http://i.imgur.com/hX17CvH.jpg Recorded before Sat. Night airing on Sunday Rating: 82 Announcers: Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone/Magnum T.A./Lance Russell Strike Force cut a promo hyping their tag title match vs Arn & Tully JYD squashes El Dandy The Young Pistols hype themselves and then defeat The State Patrol Paul E. Dangerously hypes Dan and Doug Dan Kroffat squashes Keith Hart Cornette hypes up the entire Camp Cornette Big Van Vader & Jimmy Del Ray use Cornette's racquet to defeat The Lightning Express</div></div></blockquote> Well, that's something new. This site doesn't work with Grammerly as it doesn't show up as posted so I get the "your post has fewer than 3 characters in it" error. So be careful if you decide to use it. I had to turn the thing off and reload a fresh browser to get it to work. Also, if you notice the attendance, there's a weird bug in 1.52 that re-introduced the 1,000 or so less attendance than the AI tells you that you'll get bug. The Mid-South show was supposed to be run in Reunion Arena, but I was getting only 17k instead of the near 20k I should have gotten due to it being a hotbed and nearly 19k according to the AI. Hope it gets fixed soon as I need all the money I can get as I'm only $300,000 up heading into the Week 3 shows. That's not helped by the continued pay raise requests. I'm over the $700k threshold on payroll, and Dusty and Flair are up for renewal soon. Ugh...at least Rude's clocked in just under Sting's deal.

smartman · August 16, 2017

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="43932" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div><div style="text-align:center;">WCW Thursday Thunder http://i.imgur.com/SFd4tYu.jpg April Week 3 The Pyramid, TN 20,142 Sell-Out Rating: 94 A 4.07 TV (+0.07) Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone Sting and Ricky Steamboat are in the generic interview area. They cut a standard face promo taunting Flair and Rude saying they can't possibly trust each other like they can, and that was why they were going to win the match. They both agree that Ricky would be well-deserving of a World Title shot so they have all their ducks in a row for Slamboree. Rude and Flair, you don't have a chance! Rating: 100 Ric Flair vs Octagon Flair gets to take some of his aggression from that promo on Octagon. Rating: 77 As we return from break, we go back to a corporate office. Dusty is there with a stack of papers, thanking the vendor for dropping off the pastries and coffee. Barry Windham strolls in in what the announcers dub "Horsemen chic". He immediately starts ripping into Dusty for even having this match, and if he wants to end that loon's career that badly, he'll oblige. Speaking of the loon, why am I not surprised he's late? Right on cue, Brian Pillman comes in wearing grunge-ease as we're trying to use wardrobe to separate them a little. Dusty knocks a crumb off his shirt and licks his fingers. "These contracts have been reviewed by your lawyers, but look them over anyway." Brian flips through quickly then stops and puts on his very evil grin. "Oh, this is fantastic!" Barry has been going more deliberately starts rechecking things as he gets more an more concerned. He finally reaches the last page. "A cage match! What are you pulling here Dusty! I'm not agreeing to that! That man is crazy! No way am I willingly going into a cage with him." Dusty has finished off another pastry and calmly informs Barry that either the match happens, or he can just hand the title over so we can hold a tournament for a new champ. Barry kicks up a fuss as Brian laughs at him, but he signs the contract before rushing out of the room. Rating: 100 The Fantastics w/Hyatt vs Rip Rogers & Jason Anderson The other side of the feud get a chance to shine this match in a non-squash match. Rating: 75 We go back to the interview area where Larry Z, Butch, and Teddy Long are with Lance Russell. They hype up their main event tag match against Savage and Piper saying it will be great momentum as they get the US Tag Team Titles this Sunday at Slamboree. Rating: 90 The Diamond Studd w/DDP vs Keith Hart Just a chance to build momentum in a squash match for Studd heading into the TV title 3-way. Rating: 60 Terry Gordy w/DDP vs The Juicer More Diamond Exchange squash matches with Gordy getting the win. Rating: 74 Missy Hyatt is in the ring when we come back from commercial. She says that she'd been a little bit of a bad girl recently, and she is ready to apologize. So if Jim Cornette and Bobby Eaton would come down to the ring, please. They both peek their heads out clearly not buying this. Jim even has trusty tennis racquet with him. They do safely make it to the ring. Missy says that she has the money Jim's has been ranting and raving about for his suit that was ruined when this happened as we show the fans at home the pickle jar gets dumped on him. The fans in the arena know what the clip is from the suit comment. They start chanting "Stinky Jimmy" which drives both heels nuts, and Missy cracking a huge smile just amps that up. You can hear Jim say "That was a $5,000 suit you ruined so give me what's coming to me!" Missy says with pleasure and smacks him hard across the face. Before Bobby can react, Owen has made his way to the ring and jumps him. Both of the heels roll out of the ring pissed off while Owen, Missy, and the fans all laugh at them. Rating: 86 Arn Anderson vs Rick Martel This was the first of the two World Tag Team singles matches. I put this in the semi-main event thinking that the tag match would do better. Boy was that wrong! They put on the 3rd highest rated match in our short history. It was so good that Harley Race and Tully almost missed their cue to have Tully do the run-in to help Arn get the tainted victory. Rating: 99 They continue beating down on Martel until a roar erupts from the crowd as Tito comes rushing down to the ring. Both teams brawl for several minutes with neither team really getting an advantage before security comes rushing down as we go to commercial. Rating: 100 The Main Event Randy Savage w/Elizabeth & Roddy Piper vs Larry Z & Butch Reed w/Teddy Long As stated, I think I wore the crowd out a little bit, and even the excellent tag chemistry between Larry & Butch couldn't make this quite as good as the previous match. It was still an amazing match as those two gave everything they had as main events had been few and far between for them. Thankfully, Randy and Roddy had neutral tag chemistry so I can keep teaming them up for the PPV. Rude, Luger, and Paul E. came down to ringside to distract them, and when that didn't work, they decided to jump in the ring and start brawling with them causing the DQ. Rating: 92 Larry and Butch are a little unhappy, but they decide to join in the 4-on-2 beat down. That causes The Rockin' Bees to come out from the back with chairs in hand to clear the ring as we close the show. Rating: 92 WCW Saturday Night http://i.imgur.com/FJoZtsa.jpg April Week 3 Generic Mid-Atlantic 20,000 Sell-Out Rating: 95 A* 4.18 TV (+0.15) Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone We start in the interview area as Flair and Rude are there and looking unhappy, which they explain right away. "Everywhere we go all over this great country, fans are mocking us saying that we have no chance to win the match. The greatest wrestler of all time and the modern-day adonis have no chance against a has-been and a face-painted freak. We are winning that match and I (said in unison which causes a look between them)...After a few moments glaring at each other, we'll just see who gets the victory then, but it is clearly going to be one of us. Your days as champ are numbered, Sting!" As the announcers introduce the show, they all agree "That could have gone a lot better for those two." Rating: 100 Los Guerreros vs Scott Armstrong & El Dandy A filler match to make Eddie and Hector look good. Rating: 68 We go back to the interview area where Dangerous Inc minus Rude are getting ready for an interview when Savage and Piper crash the party and start beating the living daylights out of them while Paul is yelling for security to get these two losers out of here. Security takes long enough to have Dangerous Inc left lying on the ground in a heap. Rating: 89 Bobby Eaton w/Cornette vs Octagon The first of a trilogy of TV title participant matches Rating: 78 Missy Hyatt is flanked by The Fantastics in the slightly damaged interview area. They start to hype their match tomorrow at Slamboree when Big Van Vader and Buddy Landel w/Cornette crash the set and start beating down Fulton and Rogers. Missy starts waving to the presumed locker room area. That's Nikita Koloff!!! exclaims Tony. He and Vader start clobbering each other like the two monsters they are. Landel tries to help out but keeps getting shoved aside. Cornette is apoplectic as now Vader isn't the only monster in the fight as Missy can't help but crack a smile as she checks on The Fantastics. Security eventually breaks up the fight as we go to break. Rating: 76 The Diamond Studd w/DDP vs La Parka Match #2 of the trilogy. Another squash match for Studd. Rating: 74 DDP joins the Freebirds as they cut a promo stating that they're going to be back to full strength very soon and ready to head out on Badstreet USA one more time so whomever wins the World Tag Title match tomorrow better be prepared for us. Rating: 87 Kevin Sullivan & Rip Rogers vs Bill DeMott & Ultimo Dragon More squash matches as we're trying to keep everyone healthy for tomorrow. Rating: 77 Lance Russell holds a sit-down interview with The Rockin' Bees w/Trisa and Larry Z & Butch Reed w/Long as both teams hype up their US Tag Team match tomorrow. Pretty standard interview. Rating: 84 World Television http://i.imgur.com/sOy6TEI.jpg Owen Hart w/Missy Hyatt vs Dean Malenko The final match in the trilogy for the TV title participants tomorrow. This one wasn't a squash match as we gave Dean a chance to shine a little. He did a pretty good job for someone lacking in pop. The end came suddenly as Eaton and Studd ran into the ring and started beating down the champ causing the DQ. Rating: 77 Tito Santana and Rick Martel are in the now-destroyed interview area. They are spitting fire at Arn & Tully for having to cheat to win Thursday night and trying to injure Martel. Clearly you know you can't beat us in a fair fight. You aren't stealing these World Tag Team titles from us, now, tomorrow, or forever. We do thank you for clearly stating that you think we're better than you since you can't beat us fair and square. Either out-wrestle us or don't bother showing up tomorrow night. Rating: 100 The Main Event Tito Santana vs Tully Blanchard See, I learned my lesson quickly. Put this match in the main event. It was a fantastic match, though not quite as amazing as Thursday's. Tully took that promo to heart, and brought Tito back to his exceptional days as Intercontinental Champ in that other company. They fought tooth and nail for 15 minutes. Even Jesse was impressed as Ross and Tony sold that after what these 4 men have done individually this week, you get all 4 of them tomorrow night, and that match might go forever, which wouldn't be bad. Tito started to get on a roll, and that brought the end of the match as Arn and Barry Windham came into the ring attacking Tito. The ref called for the bell for a DQ win Rating: 96 This time Martel didn't wait any time at all charging out from the back. It's still 3-on-2 though, and Strike Force start losing the fight. Out rushes Brian Pillman with his trusty chair, still dented from Stampede. Thankfully, he struck out in his 3 swings as the Horsemen go fleeing from the ring as the faces stand tall. Rating: 100 We close the show with another PPV Promo video with quick speeches from several of the top stars. Buy the PPV already! Rating: 100 WCW Main Event http://i.imgur.com/hX17CvH.jpg Recorded before Sat. Night airing on Sunday Rating: 78 Announcers: Tony "No Mustache" Schiavone/Magnum T.A./Lance Russell The York Foundation hype themselves Lord Steven Regal squashes Bill DeMott The Rockin' Bees, Gibson, and Trisa taunt Larry Z and Reed Bob Holly & The Juicer defeat The State Patrol Big Van Vader squashes Keith Heart Larry Z & Butch Reed w/Teddy Long hype their US Tag Title Match vs Rockin' Bees Terry Taylor & Michael Wallstreet w/York use York's laptop to defeat JYD & Shinobi </div></div></blockquote> The pay raises keep right on coming. Even Dusty couldn't wait until he signed his new contract to demand a pay raise. Thankfully, I'm sitting at $1.1 million for the month so far in the black so I'll be at about $2 million after running the PPV with that sweet, sweet PPV money. Now, if I can just keep it. Sadly, I made one tactical error. I didn't plan my growth very well and signed a 1 year deal with TBS when I launched Thunder. I could now get on Fox for coverage Big coverage across the entire US and Very Small across all of Canada which are improvements on what I get with TBS and the tiny BCBC western Canada coverage. I'll live though.

smartman · August 17, 2017

<div style="text-align:center;">WCW Slamboree 1991

http://i.imgur.com/59XYZchl.jpg

World Heavyweight Title

#1 Contenders Tag Match--Person Who Gets the Victory Becomes #1 Contender

World Tag Team Titles

World Television Title

Triple Threat Match & Anyone Who Interferes is FIRED!!!

Filler 8-Man Tag Team Match

Lightning Express & Los Guerreros vs The Fabulous Freebirds w/DDP & Taylor & Wallstreet w/York

2-on-3 Handicap Match

Roddy Piper & Randy Savage w/Elizabeth vs Lex Luger, Dan Kroffat, and Doug Furnas w/Paul E. Dangerously

United States Tag Team Titles

6-Man Tag Team Grudge Match

Missy Hyatt's Gang (Nikita Koloff & The Fantastics) vs Camp Cornette (Vader, Buddy Landel, and Jimmy Del Ray)

United States Heavyweight Title

Cage Classic Match (No Escaping)

Also a Legends Ceremony featuring former NWA Champions: Dusty Rhodes, Terry Funk, Harley Race, Ole Anderson, Bob Armstrong, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, and for the first time in over 25 years, Buddy Rogers. I screwed up the Legends a little forgetting that the only 1-night contracts you can insta-sign are for that region only and unemployed so I didn't get a few guys I wanted like Dory Funk Jr. Thankfully, Bullet Bob and Buddy are unemployed, and I borrowed Terry from USWA.</div>

Quick Pick

#1 Contender's: Sting & Steamboat vs Flair & Rude Pick only the winner of the match not the tag team

Everyone is barred from ringside & interferers are fired

Lightning Express & Los Guerreros vs The Freebirds & York Foundation

Roddy Piper & Randy Savage vs Dangerous Alliance (Luger, Dan, and Doug)

Missy's Hyatt's Gang (Nikita Koloff & The Fantastics) vs Camp Cornette (Vader, Buddy Landel, and Jimmy Del Ray)

Bonus #1: How Many Titles Change Hands?

Bonus #2: What's the 3rd highest rated match? (The top two are pretty obvious)

Still need good names for Larry & Butch's team and Missy's group. I'm not coming up with anything good. Hyatt Regency would get WCW sued so that's out. This is still just for fun. I may run a contest starting at Great American Bash that runs through Starrcade, but we'll see if the diary lasts that long.

to4sty · August 17, 2017

#1 Contender's: Sting & Steamboat vs Flair & Rude Pick only the winner of the match not the tag team

Everyone is barred from ringside & interferers are fired

Lightning Express & Los Guerreros vs The Freebirds & York Foundation

Roddy Piper & Randy Savage vs Dangerous Alliance (Luger, Dan, and Doug)

Missy's Hyatt's Gang (Nikita Koloff & The Fantastics) vs Camp Cornette (Vader, Buddy Landel, and Jimmy Del Ray)

Bonus #1: How Many Titles Change Hands? 2

Bonus #2: What's the 3rd highest rated match? (The top two are pretty obvious) World Tag Titles

Still need good names for Larry & Butch's team and Missy's group. I'm not coming up with anything good. Hyatt Regency would get WCW sued so that's out. This is still just for fun. I may run a contest starting at Great American Bash that runs through Starrcade, but we'll see if the diary lasts that long.

The Natural Legends? Although I guess Larry was still the cruncher around this time, not the living legend....and I believe that Butch was the Natural in the WWF NOT WCW....so maybe not lol

The First Family? Since Missy thought she was the First Lady of professional wrestling?

smartman · August 20, 2017

<div style="text-align:center;">http://i.imgur.com/59XYZchh.jpg

WCW Slamboree 1991

52,000 Sell-Out South East Region

Rating: 100 A*

PPV Buyrate: 0.41/ 207,522 Buys +0.04/19,174

Announcers: Jim Ross, Jesse Ventura, Tony Schiavone

United States Heavyweight Title Match

Stipulation: Cage Classic (Only Pinfall or Submission)

http://i.imgur.com/8t7lCN5.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/HjvAcbt.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/Jxryyda.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/iRNHTea.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/72FGMK8.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9HsgEqv.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/lSr8srw.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/bLxz60S.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/nY2DHgi.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/NdVYejF.jpg

After the quick Slamboree info graphic, we focus directly on the cage which is set up in the ring. The announcers talk about how this has been one of the nastier feuds in WCW in 1991, and now it is going to come to an end in a steel cage. No Horsemen to help Windham, and neither man would have anywhere to hide. We figured this needed to be the opening match so we didn't have to have a long break during the show to disassemble the cage, and given the prior two exceptional matches these two have had, it was going to be a great way to open the show.

Brian had come out like gangbusters in the first two matches and had eventually been worn down by the larger Windham, granted with outside help, and this time he tried to do something different. He tried to do some Ali Rope-a-Dope. He counter-attacked in spots and had a couple of minutes where he unleashed his fury fully busting Barry open, but the majority of the match was Barry trying to beat him down, usually unsuccessfully as Pillman would dodge and weave making the blows not hit 100% effectively. The announcers caught on about 10 minutes into the match, and some of the smarter fans followed a few minutes later.

Barry's frustration started kicking in, and he started taking bigger and bigger chances. It looked like he might even pull out the win when he chased Pillman up the top rope and hit the family-famous superplex, but Pillman kicked out at 2.5 as the crowd popped. At that point Windham snapped and went after the official allowing Brian to rest as Jesse kept screaming at Barry to pin him. Brian popped back up and nailed a picture-perfect dropkick. He followed that up with another dropkick from the top rope, and that was the end of the match. Pillman grabbed the US title out of the ref's hands and found the camera saying "You think I'm nuts? I just outsmarted the Horsemen!" then unleashes his crazy cackle as he leaves the ring before Barry really comes to. NEW United States Heavyweight Champion! Brian Pillman Rating: 89 A Windham was kept strong which is why the match rating slipped a little

Nikita Koloff & The Fantastics w/Missy Hyatt vs Camp Cornette (Vader, Landel, and Jimmy Del Ray) w/Cornette

Missy and her stable spend a few minutes at the interview area on the way to the ring. They hype up the fact that they have their own monster now in Nikita to balance things out. There are a few Missy jabs at Cornette and pickles. Clearly, they're feeling great about their chances in the match. Rating: 70 C+

This match was a Wild Brawl from the start, and basically, the ref gave up trying to keep order as there was fighting everywhere in and around the outside of the ring. That led to the end of the match as Missy and The Fantastics were over on the other side of the ring beating down Landel and Del Ray under the watchful eyes of the ref. Cornette grabbed Vader's attention, and the two of them focused on Koloff. Vader sent Nikita directly at Cornette who nailed him right in the head with his tennis racquet. It just staggered him though, but Vader followed up with a vicious clothesline. He rolled Nikita into the ring and sent him to the corner where Jim was for another racquet shot to the back of his head. Vader got the refs attention and covered the knocked-out Koloff while Missy was yelling at the smug Cornette that she knows he did something illegal. Vader rolls up Koloff after the 2 tennis racquet shots by Cornette for a Camp Cornette victory. Rating: 83 B+ Nikita Koloff was off his game guess he was nervous coming back to PPV

Legends Celebration

Dusty comes down to the ring. "We here in WCW honor our wrestling history, and every Slamboree is billed as a Night with the Legends. Now, as you can see, we're blessed to have a lot of legends and future legends here in WCW right now, but we've brought in several other legends to honor tonight. All of these men have won multiple championships and have earned the right to be labeled legends. First up, 8-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Harley Race!" He comes out to the ramp as we're not going to have old people walk all the way down to the ring and back. "Second, an NWA World Heavyweight Champion and a member of one of the most legendary wrestling families, Terry Funk! Third, 7-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion and Triple Crown Winner (World, US Heavyweight, and World Tag), Ric Flair!" It's hard to tell if they're acting or not but Funk and Flair have a few words with each other. "Fourth, an NWA World Heavyweight Champion and Triple Crown Winner, Ricky Steamboat! Fifth, a multiple-time World Tag Team Champion, a member of a legendary wrestling family, and one of the original Four Horsemen, Ole Anderson! Sixth, another member of a legendary wrestling family and winner of numerous titles all over the South, Bob Armstrong! Seventh, it is a special honor to have this gentleman here tonight. The man that wrestled legend Pat O'Connor in the Match of the Century and former NWA World Champion, Buddy Rogers!!!" They get to pass around the mic for a few minutes and thank the fans as they get a standing ovation. We play a few clips of them for the folks at home to see how great they all were, well except Buddy since there wasn't film of his NWA stuff, and we weren't going to play any WWWF stuff. Rating: 88 B+ Not shocking given Bob and Buddy's lower pop.

United States Tag Team Title Match

http://i.imgur.com/3z63nfK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/w7jfTYf.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/jwsqx7k.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ngHnKNg.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/z07V507.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/RmQe92X.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/PJWGpKF.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/yaMP3oY.jpg

Ah now we're back to the normal "Ricky Morton is getting the hell beaten out of him" tag team match that he's famous for with Blair doing his best Gibson saving him. It was pretty formulaic as this is the first match in the series. Blair hits the ring again after the 2nd hot tag in the match and has the heels reeling. That leads directly to the end of the match as Teddy Long hops up on the distracting the ref. Larry reaches into his trunks and pulls out some brass knuckles. The fans are screaming now. Larry nails Blair in the center of the ring, but before he can put the knuckles away, Trisa lets out a Horror Movie-level scream from across the ring. The ref wheels to see what is going on and sees the metal gleaming off the lights and Blair down in a heap. He immediately calls for the bell. Winners: The Rockin' Bees via DQ Rating: 93 A And that is with Blair being way off his game. Tag chemistry FTW!

http://i.imgur.com/W9ZCsSw.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/bKLGsnD.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/UNEWeLq.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/kngeFc3.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/diVbQCX.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/On5HrY2.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/rvXQFVf.jpg

Roddy Piper and Randy Savage w/Miss Elizabeth vs Dangerous Alliance w/Paul E. Dangerously

Before we got to the match, Roddy and Randy cut another vicious promo saying that even though it is 2-on-3 that they were going to cut out this Dangerous Alliance tonight before it can get going. And Luger, if you make a move on my wife, you'll need an ambulance out of here. Rating: 100 A*

There wasn't going to be a lot of wrestling in the match. The faces knew they needed to end this match as quickly as possible before the numbers advantage could take over. Luger kept stepping up for the heels every time they were in trouble though which kept the match going much longer than the faces needed it to go. They took a little time out to come up with a new strategy, which could be summed up as "Beat down Luger", and they went about doing that. This is when Paul shone though as he kept sending Dan and Doug in to break their momentum.

Savage eventually let the madness take over and started clearing house. Paul E. decided it was time for his trump card. He started walking over to Elizabeth in full view of Savage. Once he got close to her, he insulted Randy to her saying how anyone could love that and that the Alliance would keep her safe from crazy people like that. This had the desired effect of him tagging in Piper on his way out of the ring to focus on her. Doug and Dan jumped him beating him down turning the match into a 1-on-1 affair between Piper and Luger. Both men were pretty spent by this point, and the announcers pointed out that it would likely be the first to make a mistake.

They were a little right as I allowed myself to get distracted by Rude stepping out from the back. That allowed Paul E. to nail me with that huge freaking phone he carried with him while Lex faked an injury to distract Nick Patrick. Lex put me in the torture rack, and the ref called for the bell since I was out cold for a somewhat shocking result to some. Dangerous Alliance get the win via cheating by Paul E. Rating: 88 B+ Savage was Kept Strong and evidently there's a penalty for handicap matches but not bad considering Dan & Doug's pop coming in.

Martel and Tito cut a fiery promo about how everyone has come up to them in the month they've held these titles saying it was great for them to win them, but "you do know that Arn and Tully are going to beat you for those at Slamboree." Yeah, they're pretty good, but everyone keeps underestimating us for some reason. We won titles everywhere we've been both singles and tag team, and we're sick and tired of being underestimated! Arn & Tully, if you want to underestimate us, you can go right ahead, and we're going to show you and all the fans just how great we are. These titles are going to be ours for a long time. Rating: 88 B+ Tito was off a little.

http://i.imgur.com/SmxvCPe.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/nFkudGd.jpg & http://i.imgur.com/W6YrB4H.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/wC59vsE.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/VjgI7LP.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/4ri90Do.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/DgTGYAu.jpg & http://i.imgur.com/cJ9YoV0.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/jAWxDo8.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/xfTipJ8.jpg

Los Guerreros & The Lightning Express vs The Fabulous Freebirds I w/DDP & York Foundation w/Alexandra York

We spent this match selling several storylines to make it more than just a "get everyone on the PPV" 8-man tag match. The two heel teams had both lost their titles at Spring Stampede while the two face teams were on the rise, and the announcers all agreed that a win here would go a long way towards getting a title chance in the future. We also cut to Bob Armstrong in the Legends section we had for the 5 legends who weren't wrestling or Dusty. He cheered on his son and argued a little with DDP and York. The match was very open letting everyone hit their moves and look pretty good. It stayed that way until the end when York nailed Tim Horner with her laptop to let Wallstreet roll him up for a quick pin. Rating: 80 B Both Freebirds were seriously off their game. <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/frown.png.e6b571745a30fe6a6f2e918994141a47.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" />

WCW Television Title Match

Stipulation: Triple Threat Match & Everyone Is Banned From Ringside with any interference being immediately terminated from WCW

http://i.imgur.com/7OriU0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ueXxX8i.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/OZWFilC.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/iRNHTea.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/MjIjv3g.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/bLxz60S.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/v3yw5uJ.jpg w/http://i.imgur.com/DgTGYAu.jpg

As the participants are coming down to the ring, we go to pre-recorded interviews with all 3 managers. They all hype their clients and state that they're going to win. Missy adds that she hopes Cornette goes out there so he's out of WCW forever. Rating: 85 B+

I'd said last month that this could be a show stealing match, and I let the 3 of them do just that. The announcers briefed the audience on just how this match worked with heavy emphasis on Owen not having to be pinned to lose the match and title. The two heels start by teaming up to work over Owen. Then, Studd tries to use his size and weight advantage on Bobby, but he's way too experienced in the ring to allow that to happen. He starts wrestling rings around the bigger man frustrating him.

It is going great until he eats 2 hard rights rolling to the floor so Owen can re-enter the fray. Hart got to showcase his exceptional talent for a few minutes as he picked up where Eaton had left off. He even manages to hit a piledriver on the larger Studd. As he is getting ready to cover Studd, Eaton comes rushing into the ring and dropkicks Owen right out of the ring. Bobby covers Studd for the 1...2...3 as Jim Ross calls him a thief of the night. Jesse says he's a successful thief as he's got the gold now. NEW Television Champion Bobby Eaton! Rating: 85 B+

It's Arn and Tully's turn in the interview area. They respond to the earlier promo. You may have won titles everywhere else you've been, but this is the #1 wrestling promotion in the world and has been for over a decade. We've faced the best of the best in tag team wrestling and beaten them all. They hold up 4 fingers, and this means we're the best in the world because being a Horseman means that very thing. We're not underestimating you when we say we're going to take those titles in that ring. It's just the truth, and we'll beat it into you right now. Rating: 100 A*

World Tag Team Title Match

http://i.imgur.com/3z63nfK.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/w7jfTYf.jpg VS http://i.imgur.com/7OriU0O.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/ueXxX8i.jpg

The two combustible promos carried right over into the match as the ref had trouble even starting the match as they started brawling before the bell when Rick and Tito sprinted into the ring during introduction. Randy Anderson finally got order restored, well just two guys in the ring instead of 4 and called that good enough. We allowed it to settle down a little bit to showcase just how great both teams are, and boy did they excel in this match. Quick tags and tag team moves aplenty as both teams try to gain momentum in the match.

There's another way to do that, and the two Horsemen are exceptional at doing that too. Eye pokes, hair pulling, and chokes start to gain them momentum, and Tito fumes on the apron as Martel is bearing the brunt of it. Randy keeps him from getting involved twice when they're choking Rick in the corner. Finally, Santana decides to avoid the ring entirely and go around it. He rips an unsuspecting Arn off the apron and starts brawling with him. Tully joins in, but Tito is beyond pissed off now. He holds his own long enough for Martel to jump off the apron nailing both Arn & Tully. Tito checks on Rick and gets in a few more shots on Tully. No one bothers to pay any attention to Randy or his count. So all 4 men are shocked when it hits 10, and the bell rings. Draw due to double count out Strike Force retain the World Tag Team Titles Rating: 99 A*

http://i.imgur.com/03Ivhqa.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/9peaVpZ.jpg

We had an over-the-top pyro entrance for Sting and Ricky Steamboat while the announcers hype the main event as we're going to find out who Sting will face at SuperBrawl next month. Rating: 100 A*

WCW World Heavyweight Title #1 Contenders Match

Stipulation: Whomever Gets the Pinfall or Submission Victory Becomes #1 Contender or Sting Picks His #1 Contender if he is the winner