Meanwhile, following Beach Blast '92....
- Clash of the Champions XIX occurred on 6/22, with the first round of the NWA World Tag Team Championship tournament. This was highlighted by Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeating The Steiner Brothers in the opening match of the quarter-finals.
- During the 6/27/92 episode of WCW WorldWide, Nikita Koloff and Rick Rude had a brawl that began when Rude called out Koloff but then shielded himself with Madusa, forcing Koloff to push her aside and attack Rude.
- During the 6/28/92 episode of WCW Main Event, Super Invader and his manager, Harley Race, cut a promo on Ron Simmons leading to Race and Invader attacking Simmons in the ring.
- On the 7/4/92 episode of WCW Saturday Night, Bill Watts announced that WCW would dissolve the United States Tag Team Championship. This lead to Dick Slater and The Barbarian challenging The Fabulous Freebirds for the titles, as they wanted to go down as the final ever US tag champs.
- Also on the 7/4/92 episode of WCW Saturday Night, WCW Television champions Steve Austin boasted that he could beat Barry Windham in 5 minutes, leading to a brawl between the two.
- On 7/5/92, at The Omni in Atlanta, Brad Armstrong defeated Scotty Flamingo to win the WCW Light Heavyweight Chmpionship.
- On that same card, Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeated The Steiner Brothers to win the WCW World Tag Team Championship.
- On the 7/12/92 episode of WCW Main Event, Dick Slater & The Barbarian defeated The Fabulous Freebirds to win the WCW United States Tag Team Championship.
That brings us to now. This show features the continuation and the conclusion of the NWA World Tag Team Championship Tournament, and the WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sting defending the title against Big Van Vader.
In the opening, Tony Schiavone names the remaining teams by name except for "the team representing Japan". Funny moment for me, anyway.
LIVE! from Albany, Ga. Schiavone and Magnum T.A. welcome us to the show. They recap Gordy & Williams beating the Steiners at the Clash, then Tony lets us know that Akira Nogami has an eye injury and has been replaced with Shinya Hashimoto. I admit I don't know if that's an upgrade or a downgrade. They throw to our commentary team for the evening, Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura. They give their thoughts on the World title match, then throw it to Eric Bischoff with Bill Watts. Watts lets us know that you can come off the top in the NWA tag title tournament, but in the WCW title match you cannot. Dumbest. Idea. Ever.
Match #1: NWA World Tag Team Tournament Quarter Finals: Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff vs. Jushin Liger & Brian Pillman.
This should be a good match, no? Handshakes all around as everybody is a babyface here. Pillman and Koloff start us off. Koloff tosses Pillman off a side headlock attempt. Another side headlock for Pillman, leads to Koloff shoving him off the ropes and hitting a shoulder block. Pillman takes him down into a front facelock, but Koloff picks him and sets him on the top rope. They slap each other, leading to Koloff hitting an inverted atomic drop. Liger is tagged in and he works Koloff's arm. Pillman tagged back in and he gets in more arm work, then Liger is back for more of the same. Quick tags for Pillman/Liger here. Liger takes Koloff's shoulder to the corner. Liger staggers Koloff with a dropkick then hits a shoulderblock to put him down. Pillman back in but Koloff catches him with a back elbow. Steamboat tagged in and he dropkicks Pillman and snapmares Liger. Steamboat takes Pillman down to the mat and gets an armbar. To their feet, Pillman shoves Steamboat off the ropes, leapfrogs him a couple of times, but Steamboat catches him and hits an inverted atomic drop an then a clothesline to put him down. Liger is in as Steamboat tries to sneak a couple of quick pin attempts. Koloff in and he puts Liger down with a back elbow. Pillman is back in, but Koloff tags in Steamboat he gets a side headlock on the mat. To their feet, Pillman gets a back bodydrop and then drops an elbow for a 2 count. Liger is brought in and hits a beautiful moonsault..1...2...kick out! Liger gets a tombstone piledriver. Cover...1...2...kick out! Koloff is tagged in and he gets several elbow drops that get a 2 count. Koloff gets a knee to Liger's gut coming off the ropes and Steamboat is in to deliver a series of backbreakers and then a powerslam. Cover...1...2...Pillman breaks it up! Steamboat and Koloff with a double back elbow coming off the ropes. Koloff gets a side headlock on the mat. Steamboat tagged in and comes off the top with a chop for a 2 count. Liger manages to tag in Pillman who hits a back bodydrop on Steamboat and dropkicks Koloff off the apron, and then goes to the side headlock on Steamboat for some reason. Liger tagged in and hits Steamboat with a flying dropkick from the top. Steamboat tags in Koloff and hits a shoulder block on Liger. Big body slam on Liger but Pillman dropkicks the back of his head. He takes over and tries a crossbosy but Koloff catches him only for Liger to dropkick Pillman into a cover..1...2..kick out! Pillman goes to the top and hits a flying clothesline, then goes up again for a flying dropkick. Cover...1....2....kick out! Damn, thought that was it. Pillman goes for the sleeper but Koloff hits a jawbreaker to end that. Liger and Steamboat gets the respective tags and Liger whiffs on a dropkick but comes back with a backslide...1...2...kick out! Pillman in with a slingshot crossbody for a 2 count. Steamboat gets a backslide for 2. Pillman gets a back suplex to cut off a tag attempt. Pillman goes up top but Steamboat crotches him. All fout guys are in the ring now, with Pillman hitting a crossbody from the top and Steamboat rolling through!.1....2.....3!! **** (19:26)
WINNERS: And advancing to the semi-finals, Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff. They will face Gordy & Williams in that round. Great action in this match with several near falls. Liger and Pillman looked really good here and had a legitimate shot at the win. If there was one complaint about the match, it was that there were too many rest spots that broke up the flow.
Eric Bischoff is backstage with The Steiner Brothers. It's going to be difficult for the brothers to just sit back and watch tonight. Scott cites a few examples of athletes who came back from losses. Rick says that kids should get their parents' permission before watching because it won't be pretty when they come after Gordy & Williams.
Match #2: NWA World Tag Team Tournament Quarter Finals: The Fabulous Freebirds vs. Shinya Hashimoto & Hiroshi Hase.
Hayes and Hase start us off. Hayes gets his stupid strut and moonwalk to start the stalling early. I fucking hate Michael Hayes. Hase gets a side headlock takeover reversed by Hayes into a legscissors but Hase flips out of it. Hayes gets a quick cover and a 2 count then tags out to Garvin. Hashimoto is in and gets a drop toehold. Hashimoto then gets a side headlock takedown for a 2 count. Tag to Hase, who comes off the top onto the arm. Wristlock by Hase is countered by a leg trip from Garvin. Hase tags in Hashimoto and holds Garvin open for a kick. Body slam by Hashimoto, but Garvin gets him to the Freebird corner for the tag. Hayes works the arm over then slaps on an armbar. Hashimoto gets him into the ropes and and chokes him with his foot. Hashimoto tags in Hase who gets a bodyslam and then a senton for a 2 count. Gutbuster from Hase and follows that up with some chops. Tag to Hashimoto who kicks Hayes down in the corner, then puts him on the mat with a spinning kick off the ropes. Hashimoto with a reverse chinlock on the mat. Tag to Hase who takes Hayes to the corner for some kicks. Hayes whips Hase into Hashimoto and then puts both guys down with lefts. Garvin tagged in and cleans house on both guys. All four men in the ring now as its ALTERCATIN' IN ALBANY! Hase gets a Northen Lights suplex and bridge on Garvin...1....2....3! (9:16) **
WINNERS: And advancing to the semi-finals, Shinya Hashimoto and Hirosi Hase. As with any Freebirds match, this was just there. We didn't get to see much from the Japanese team, but Hashimoto's stuff looked crisp, but clearly Hase is the better worker. The Freebirds were all but finished at this point, as the US tag titles were being dissolved.
Tony Schiavone is with Bill Watts and Hiro Matsuda as Watts announces that there will be an upcoming tournament to declare a new NWA World Heavyweight Champion. Watts drops Ric Flair's name as the last champion. Watts hopes to have the winner of the tournament face Sting to unify the titles. The whole NWA title situation really fogged up WCW for some time after this.
Match #3: NWA World Tag Team Tournament Quarter Finals: Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs. Rick Rude & Steve Austin (w/ Madusa).
Windham and Austin start it off. Austin shoves Windham into the corner off a lock up. He does it a second time. Windham gets it the third time and hits a hip toss to boot. Austin kicks Windham off a break and then gets a backslide for a 2 count. A roll up with the rights gets another two count. Austin runs the ropes but Windham hits him with a taped right hand, as Austin bails to the apron. Windham gets a side headlock takedown, reversed by Austin with a headscissors, but Windham gets out and hits Austin with another right. Austin bails to the floor, then comes in and tags out to Rude. Windham tags in Rhodes but Rude takes over with forearms in the corner. Whip to the opposite corner and Rude hits boot, then Rhodes takes him down with a back suplex. Rhodes takes Rude down with an armbar but Rude gets back to his feet and gets some shoulderblocks in the corner. Rear chinlock for Rude on the mat. Rude goes for a tombstone piledriver but Rhodes reverses it and gets his own! Cover...1...2...Austin breaks it up! Rude gets the knees up on a splash attempt then tags in Austin. he gets in some knees and kicks to the ribs. Rhodes reverses a whip to the corner, but Austin comes out with a clothesline for a 2 count. Rhodes kicks Austin to the floor, but goes out and brings him back in. Rhodes gets an abdominal stretch but Austin hiptosses out of it. Rhodes quickly goes back to it, but then tags in Windham who comes off the top with a clothesline. Austin whips Windham off the ropes for big back bodydrop then tags in Rude. Rude gets a back suplex for a 2 count. Austin back in and he sets Windham on the top. Windham headbutts Austin down to stop that then comes off the ropes with a crossbody for 2. Rude is tagged in behind the ref's back and comes off the top with a flying dropkick! Cover..1...2...kick out! Rude gets a piledriver! Cover...1...2...Rhodes breaks it up! Rude cuts off the tag for Windham, tags in Austin, who comes off the top to put Windham down. Austin keeps Windham away from the tag as he tags Rude back in. Rude takes Windham's head to the buckle but Windham reverses it. That is short-lived as Rude gets a bodyslam and then a front facelock. Windham back bodydrops out of it, but Austin is in too quickly for Windham to tag out. Austin puts Windham down with a boot to the face, covers while putting his feet on the ropes, but it only gets 2. Austin then goes to the side headlock on the mat with an assst from the ropes. Then the heels do the blind tag schtick with the referee's back turned, as Rude comes in. He quickly brings Austin back in, however, who mounts Windham for some right hands on the mat. Windham and Austin clothesline each other but Austin recovers to hit a back suplex. Rude tagged in again but Windham hits an inverted atomic drop off the ropes. Hot tag Rhodes! He cleans house on both heels. All four guys in the ring now as Austin tries for a piledriver on Windham, but Rhodes comes off the top with a lariat....cover...1....2...3! (19:15) ***1/2
WINNERS: And advancing to the semi-finals to face Hashimoto & Hase, Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes! Good match here as it followed your basic tag team formula, which is hard to screw up. Windham played the face-in-peril, with Rude and Austin getting in the heel tag tactics.
The semi-final round matches will be: Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff vs. Terry Gordy & Steve Williams and then Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs. Shinya Hashimoto & Hiroshi Hase.
Eric Bischoff is backstage with Big Van Vader and his manager, Harley Race. Vader says he fears no man, and feels no pain. Vader really came out of nowhere to become awesome, as the first half of 1992 had him toiling in the mid-card. Then suddenly one day he's attacking Sting and breaking his ribs, making him into a main event monster. It's really not that hard to understand how to build guys up, you know?
Match #4: NWA World Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals: Ricky Steamboat & Nikita Koloff vs. Terry Gordy & Steve Williams.
Gordy & Williams come out with the WCW World Tag Team Championship belts around their waists. These guys were handily winning that feud at this point. Steamboat and Gordy start us off. Gordy starts it off with a side headlock and takes Steamboat to the mat. Steamboat gets to his feet and gets some armdrags on Gordy, who then tags out to Williams. Steamboat gets an armdrag on him as well and then lays in the armbar. Williams gets a drop toehold into a side headlock but Steamboat gets out and grabs an armbar. Williams muscles Steamboat into his corner and tags in Gordy but Steamboat fights his way out, then tags in Koloff. Williams rushes in from the tag but Koloff gets a drop toehold and gets an armbar. They go at it amateur-style for a few seconds before Gordy tags in. Koloff puts Gordy down with a dropkick which wakes the crowd up a bit. Williams tags in and he takes Koloff down with a body scissors. Koloff forces his way out and grabs a front facelock. Williams powers Koloff back to his corner and tags in Gordy. They lock up but Koloff tags in Steamboat. Steamboat goes under Gordy, hits a chop then an armdrag. Williams in and hits Steamboat with a big clothesline. Off the ropes, Steamboat tries for a crucifix but Williams rams him back into the corner. Gordy tagged in and he slams Steamboat down a couple of times. Steamboat comes back with chops, but that's stopped with a clothesline from Gordy. Double-team Irish whip and they hit a double shoulderblock. Gordy brings Koloff in, and while the referee is distracted, the heels hit a double suplex on the Dragon. The ref will not make the count for the cover however because he didn't see the heels make a tag. Even Jesse says that is a good call. Williams in with a body scissors on Steamboat. Gordy in with a whip but he puts his head down and Steamboat hits a weak-looking DDT. Koloff is tagged in but the heels maintain control as Williams drops Koloff on the top turnbuckle. Williams slaps on a head scissors on the mat. Williams prevents the tag as Gordy is tagged in. Koloff charges the corner and misses, hitting his knee. Gordy takes advantage with an STF-type move. Williams is tagged in and he drops an elbow on Koloff. Williams gets a Boston crab but before Koloff can power out he tags in Gordy who goes back to the hold from earlier that apparently is called the Oriental Twist. Williams is tagged in and he hammers on Koloff and then gets a powerslam coming off the ropes. That gets a 2 count, as Williams tried for an Oklahoma Stampede but Koloff shoves him into the corner. Steamboat tagged in and he gets a back suplex on Williams. All four guys in as Steamboat comes off the top with a chop to Williams. He goes up top again, but Gordy shoves him off as Williams catches him and hits a modified Oklahoma Stampede. Cover...1...2....3!! (21:39) **1/2
WINNERS: Advancing to the finals, Terry Gordy & Steve Williams. I found this match to be dull and mostly heatless. The crowd was not in it at all and I felt Gordy and Williams really slowed this match down.
Match #5: NWA World Tag Team Tournament Semi-Finals: Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs. Shinya Hashimoto & Hiroshi Hase.
Rhodes and Hase start us off. They lock up and break clean in the corner. Rhodes grabs an armbar and tags in Windham. Windham and Hase trade armbars before Hase takes him to the corner and breaks. They opt for a test of strength which is won by Windham, as Hase bridges and then kicks his way out of it. Hashimoto tagged in and he also wants a test of strength. Windham manages to grab a suplex out of it. Rhodes gets the tag and Hashimoto puts him down with a shoulder block off the ropes. Rhodes tries a shoulder block to no effect, then Hashimoto takes him own with a wristlock. Tag to Hase who grabs a hammerlock and takes him down to the mat. Rhodes reverses it and tags in Windham, who gets a hammerlock and body slam combo. Hase briges out of a wristlock on the mat and lays in some chops. Hashimoto is tagged in and he hits a back elbow and applies a kimura. To their feet, Hashimoto works the arm over on the ropes. Rhodes tagged in and takes Hashimoto down with a bionic elbow and an armdrag, then knees the arm. To their feet, Rhodes takes it to the corner and breaks clean. Rhodes gets some right hands, putting Hashimoto down, but he comes back with kicks and slam. Spinning kick from Hashimoto puts Rhodes down. Tag to Hase and they get a SPIKE PILEDRIVER!! Holy shit! I miss piledrivers. Rhodes no-sells it and comes back with elbows before Hase cuts him off. Double shoulderblock for the Japanese team, then Hashimoto drops an elbow on Rhodes. Hase in and he and Rhoes trade blows before Hase gets a kick in. Hashimoto tagged in, but Windham comes in to make the save before going back to his corner. Hashimoto with a suplex for a 2 count. Double suplex for Team Pokemon as Hase gets a half-crab. Overhead belly-to-belly for Hase then he goes up top. Flying double knees misses and Rhodes gets the hot tag! Windham cleans house and gets a powerslam coming off the ropes for a 2 count. All four guys in the ring now, as Rhodes whips Hase off the ropes into a lariat from Windham. Cover...1...2...3!! (14:55) ***
WINNERS: Advancing to the finals against Gordy & Williams, Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes. As for this match, it was all over the place, The Japanese team were a little more impressive here than they were earlier with the Freebirds, which tells you more about the Freebirds than anything else. The crowd was again quiet for most of it as they seem to be burned out by the tag team action.
Tony Schiavone and Magnum T.A, bring out Ron Simmons. He says hello to Albany then says that he is very interested in the World title match tonight as he paves his way to the World title.
Match #6. Sting (c) vs. Big Van Vader (w/ Harley Race) - WCW World Heavyweight Championship.
Vader still has the helmet here as he gives us the pre-match steam bath. They go nose-to-nose to start. Vader backs him to the corner on a lock up and lays in some big forearm shots. Short-arm clothesline for Vader and Sting rolls to the floor. Back in the ring, Sting with a whip and a clothesline that has no effect. Sting dives at Vader but he catches him and drops him to the mat. Back to the corner again and more forearms for Vader. Whip to the opposite corner, but Vader misses a charge and Sting gets a back suplex and then clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor. Back in the ring, Vader wants a test of strength, but Sting is smartly hesitant to lock up. They finally hook up but Sting pokes the eye and then dropkicks Vader to the apron. Sting goes for a suplex back in and gets it! Cover...1...2...kick out! Sting charges but Vader puts him down. Vader with a whip but Sting holds on and gets in some kicks, then an inside cradle...1...2...kick out! Sting with a whip, reversed by Vader, Sting goes for a sunset flip but Vader sits on him to stop that. Elbow drops from Vader then a big splash. Everything Vader hits looks crisp and stiff. Vader lifts Sting up off his feet in a choke then drops him to the mat. Vader applies his own version of the Scorpion Deathlock as irony gets all ironic and stuff. Sting tries to power out but Vader sits back on it to cut him off. Sting finally does kick out of the hold but Vader clocks him with a right and Sting goes down. Another right sends Sting slumping in the corner. Whip off the ropes and Vader gets a clothesline. Vader picks him up into a powerslam. That gets a 2 count as Sting finds a way to stay alive. In the corner for headbutts and rights. Sting comes back with rights and chops, then comes off the ropes with a rolling kick. Sting gets a DDT to put Vader down. A Sting shoulder block sends Vader to the apron. Vader climbs to the top but Sting catches him with kicks. Sting picks him up from the top rope onto his shoulders for a Samoan drop. Cover...1....2....kick out! Sting tries for a German suplex but Vader blocks it. The ref gets accidentally knocked down as Sting gets the German after all. Cover...1...2...kick out! Stinger Splash in the corner! Stinger Splash to the back in the opposite corner, but Sting hit his head on the post on that one and now he's busted open. Vader covers...1...2....shoulder up! Sting whiffs on a right and goes down in a daze. Vader goes for the power bomb and nails it! Cover...1...2....3!!! (17:17) ****1/2
WINNER: And NEW WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Big Van Vader! What a great power match this was. Sting started off underestimating Vader slightly, and Vader kept overpowering Sting. When things finally went Sting's way, he got a little overconfident and made a mistake that the big man took advantage of. The Stinger's first title defense on PPV in 1992, after holding it for four and a half months, is his last title defense on PPV in 1992. Of course, Bill Watts would then shoehorn Ron Simmons into the title picture not long after this....
Backstage, Bischoff is with the new champ and Race, who says that Vader is the greatest athlete on Earth and the myth of Sting has been destroyed. Vader says the lesson has been learned and he stands on top as the champion of the world.
Match #7: NWA World Tag Team Tournament Finals: Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes vs. Terry Gordy & Steve Williams.
I can understand the structure of the tournament and all but closing PPVs with tag teams with this show and Beach Blast prior makes no sense from a booking standpoint, especially when your World champ was booked for both shows. These are not even main event players. The Steiner Brothers come down before the match starts but are cockblocked by senior referee Ole Anderson and security, who send them to the back. Thanks for coming guys! Windham and Williams start us off. They start out with the boring amateur-style shoot shit that always puts the crowd to sleep. Rhodes and Gordy come in and we get a German suplex from Gordy. Rhodes comes back with a flurry of elbows and then he works the leg. Windham comes in and he attempts to apply the figure four leglock but Gordy makes the ropes and tags in Williams. Belly-to-belly suplex for Williams and then they trade armbars on the mat. Jesse makes up for the crowd's boredom by saying they are still stunned by Vader's title win. Gordy in and he gets a clothesline in the corner. That gets a 2 count. Rhodes tagged in but Gordy takes him down to the mat. Rhodes knees the leg and works the ankle. Gordy manages to tag in Williams and he and Rhodes trade takedown reversals. They fight over a wristlock, which is won by Williams with a hair pull. Rhodes gets an armdrag but they're in the ropes for a break. In the heel corner, Gordy is tagged in and he goes for the Oriental Twist, which appears to be the STF. The hold is broken, but Williams gets a tag to break up a Rhodes sleeper on Gordy. Williams goes for the resthold headlock, broken up by a jawbreaker by Rhodes. Williams is rolled up for a 2 count. Rhodes is prevented from tagging out and Gordy is brought in where he gets a Boston crab, but Windham breaks it up. Williams back in and he gets a big powerslam for 2. Rhodes manages to tag Windham in and he gets a back bodydrop on Williams and a lariat on Gordy. A suplex with floatover for Windham gets a 2 count. A gutwrench suplex gets another 2. Windham applies the sleeper but Williams sends him to the corner hard to break it up. Gordy tagged in and he gets a suplex for 2. Gordy slaps on the rear chinlock but Windham gets to his feet and hits a back suplex. Williams tagged in, whips Windham off the ropes, but puts his head down early and Windham gets a kick. Gordy is in and he drops some elbows on Windham. Williams back in and he gets a modified abdominal stretch but Windham makes the ropes. Tag to Gordy, but he and Windham hit heads off a whip and both are down. Hot tag to Rhodes! He cleans house until Williams blindsides Rhodes and then goes for the front facelock on the mat. Why the fuck do you do that after a hot tag? No wonder the crowd is asleep for matches involving these guys. Gordy in and he whips Rhodes off the ropes into a clothesline for a 2 count. Rhodes tries to fight both guys but Williams scoops him up into an Oklahoma Stampede that is interrupted by a Windham dropkick. All four guys in the ring, and Rhodes tries for his bulldog but Williams shoves him into Gordy on the apron and then hits him with a big clothesline. Cover...1...2....3!! (21:10) **1/2
WINNERS: And NEW NWA World Tag Team Champions, Terry Gordy & Steve Williams! They are now dual World champs. This match was slow and plodding and filled with dull resthold spots. The crowd did not care for Gordy & Williams on offense because of this. There was nothing technically wrong with it, but it was not an exciting way to close a show.
After the match, Tony and Magnum LET DOC TALK!!! Don't ever do that,
Jim and Jesse close the show by recapping the proceedings, and we are out.
FINAL PARTING SHOT: There was not reason why they couldn't just do the tournament on television and have the semis or even just the finals on PPV and fill the show with some of the grudge matches they had lined up going in. This show could have used a Steamboat-Cactus match, or even a Koloff-Rude match. As it is, there was some fine wrestling on this show, highlighted by the Sting-Vader match, which should have closed the show, by the way.
UP NEXT: We FINALLY get to WWF SUMMERSLAM '92!
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