Flashback Reviews WCW Starcade 1993

So much has been written over the year about the ups and downs of World Championship Wrestling. 1993 was a year of major change for the company. Bill Watts who had been running the company was ousted after raciest comments he made found there way to Hank Aaron (yes that Hank Aaron) who worked for Turner. While Watts did a lot wrong when running WCW he should get credit for two things. One was bringing in Vader full time. Leon White had started wrestling in the late 80's but after moving to Japan he was given the name and gimmick of Vader. Although a huge man he was able to pull off moves such a moonsault. He had worked for WCW a bit but Watt brought him in full time and made him world champion. Another thing Watts did right was bring back Ric Flair. Flair had left WCW during the Jim Herd days but Watts got him to return. Still though Watt made more mistakes and with the comments coming a time where Aaron was already pissed about racial issues he was gone.

As a result Eric Bischoff was named Executive Producer. Yeah that's important to keep in mind. Bischoff was later promoted to Vice President and laser just President. Bischoff was put in charge of the TV product but not the whole company. Now an often reported fact about WCW was “Turner had a soft spot for wrestling so he didn't care if it made money.” While Ted Turner did care for wrestling the company did care if WCW lost money. Bischoff was even told he had to cut his budget. One of his moves to was hold all TV tapings in a studio at Disney World. Bischoff took a lot heat for daring to change how the business worked. But it worked. By doing massive pre tapings he saved money. And well TNA, ROH, Lucha Underground, and various other companies all do the same thing to this day. Taping months worth of TV at a time. But it has some problems spoilers leak out (even in 93.) Injures can suddenly force a change with no TV to explain said change.

Starcade was WCW biggest annual show. Starting in 1983 during the NWA days it predates WrestleMania. Like Mania it was the spot where the biggest feuds would be settled where the legends of the company were made. The plan for 1993 was to have Vader defend his WCW title against former partner Sid Viscous. Sid was another monster and just like Vader used the power bomb as a finish. Tons of stuff was tapped showing Sid would win at Starcade. Than the infamous Arn Anderson and Sid Viscous scissor fight happened. Sid was gone and WCW scrambled to find a new challenger. Normally I'm the give the young guy a chance person but given the TV situation they didn't have any way to build a younger guy up in time. They needed someone with instant credibility. Also Vader had been champion for a long time and had already worked with Sting and Davey Boy Smith. Someone like Rick Rude was a heel and rushing his face turn could have back fired. So as a result WCW turned to Ric Flair. And it makes sense Flair was beloved by WCW fans his history with the title gave him credibility and he had never faced Vader before. So with all this going on behind the scenes is this event any good?

We open with pictures of Ric Flair as a child as old Flair audio plays over them. We move to Flair as teen and than a newspaper clipping of the plan crash that nearly ended his career in the seventies. Than we get footage of Flair winning the title from Race at the first Starcade and beating Garvin at Starcade 87. Along with footage of Flair wrestling various names such as Steamboat and Terry Funk. Than it turns to footage of Vader destroying guys and roaring like a monster. Its a nice quick open. It sends the message Flair is the man of the past. His done this all before but Vader is the monster and the monster is in control of the present.

Tony Schiavone welcomes us to to Charlotte NC. Tony tells us it's the tenth anniversary but the eleventh annual event. Score one for WCW at least they didn't pull that anniversary a year early crap WWE and the NFL like to do. Tony tells us its a celebration of Ric Flair's career. Tony welcomes Jessie Ventura. Jessie tells Flair puts his career on the line against Vader. And tonight in his home town if Flair can't do it here he can't do it anywhere. Nice line from Ventura. We get footage of Vader arriving with his manger Harley Race. Tony notes Vader arrived very early usual for him and got a work out in. We see Race telling Vader to focus as Vader claims he's going to party. We than get footage of Vader's workout. Jessie says Vader needs to get lose and ready. I really like this opening it sends the message Vader is all business tonight. He and Race are ready. Plus watch MMA or Boxing you see guys arrive early do just this work out and get lose.

Tony than tells us Ric Flair hasn't arrived yet. Jessie sounds shocked. We than cut to Flair's house with Mean Gene Oakerland. Flair talks to his wife and than tells his kids, David, Ashley (Charlotte) and Reid he has to go. Reid and Ashley hug there father. Ric kisses them and tells them he loves them. David shakes his dad's hand. Flair tells his kids not to cry before leaving. Ric's wife Beth follow him out and hugs him. The talk quietly before Ric kisses her goodbye. Flair and Oakerland walk to the limo. Gene asks about the emotion. Ric says they are worried. Flair admits he's worried as well but its for a different reason but he knew what he was doing when he signed the contract. Oakerland talks to Flair about what Vader does to people. Flair says he's got to prove it to himself tonight. I freaking love this opening. It again shows the difference between Flair and Vader. Vader is a monster or machine just about one thing the title. Flair is a man and he's got a wife and kids to worry about. A wife and kids that worry about him. It reminds me of Rocky IV when Rocky left to go to Russia. And Flair's comments about proving he's the man remind me of Apollo before the fight with Drago.

2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Bagwell come out with Teddy Long for the next match. Before it starts Gary Juster awards Long the manager of the year award. Teddy thanks Marcus, 2 Cold and the fans. The award is a giant plaques which I assume is going to hit someone in the head.

2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Bagwell with Teddy Long vs. Pretty Wonderful Paul Orndorff and Paul Roma with the The Assassin- The Assassin is Jody Hamilton father of Nick Patrick who is the referee for this match. Pretty Wonderful had jumped Scorpio and Bagwell on a recent Saturday night. All four men brawl to start. Pretty Wonderful whipped into each other. Double dropkicks sends Roma to the floor. Bagwell helps Scorpion do flip back kick that knocks Orndorff down. Scorpio covers and we get a funny moment as Nick Patrick can clearly be heard saying “he's in the ropes.” So he doesn't count. Tony though claims Patrick wont' count this early since the match isn't under control. Pretty Wonderful conference with The Assassin. Bagwell starts for his team as Roma starts for his. Roma stalls out from locking up. Knee lift by Roma and he lands some punches. Flying cross body by Bagwell gets two. Arm drag by Bagwell and he works the arm. Tag to Scorpio and he kicks the arm of Roma. Scorpio holds the arm and jumps over the top rope. Tag to Bagwell and more arm work on Roma. Body slam out of no where by Roma. Quick tag to Orndorff. Arm drag by Bagwell and tag to Scorpio back to working the arm. Really all that arm only for Roma to just use his arm for the slam and than right back to arm work. Orndorff to the eyes and than a forearm and boots to Scorpio. Too Cold to the ramp. Back in the ring Scorpio escapes a suplex. Hip toss by Scorpio into a head scissors with a cover. But the referee wont' count since the shoulder isn’t down. Actually good refereeing by Patrick there since the Shoulder wasn't down. Tag to Bagwell who comes in with a running splash.

More work on the arm. Drop toe hold by Orndorff. Tag to Roma. Drop toe hold by Bagwell and he now works on Roma's arm. Roma goes for a kick. Bagwell caches it and hits an atomic drop. Roma over sells. Tag to Scorpio. Hip toss by Bagwell and a splash by Scorpio gets two. Roma yelling “He's hurting my arm.” More arm work as Scorpio falls back on the arm. Tag to Bagwell. Arm wringers by Bagwell. Roma revers and tags in Orndorff. Double team by Pretty Wonderful. Knee to the face and awful looking slam by Mr. Wonderful. Bagwell ducks a clothesline and gets a sleeper. Roma into the ring drawing in Scorpio. Referee busy with Too Cold Roma breaks up the sleeper. Referee lets Roma stay in the ring. Back breakers by Roma. Running elbow by Roma with a cocky cover for two. Tag to Orndorff. Double teams by the heels. Belly to back suplex by Orndorff. Scorpio breaks it up. Tag to Roma. Butterfly suplex by Roma gets two. Snap power slam by Roma. Paul Roma to the top and the big splash misses. Roma jumps up dose a little dance which I assumes is supposed to be selling. Tag to Orndorff. Tag to Scorpio so its house of fire time. Snap suplex by Scorpio on Orndorff. Too Cold to the top. Roma tries to interfere. Bagwell with the save allowing Scorpio to hits a fist drop. Referee with Bagwell and Roma. Spin kick by Scorpio. The Assassin on the apron and gets nailed. Assassin back p and head buts Scorpio after putting something in his mask. Orndorff gets the pin. Lack luster opening match. At best these two teams were ok neither was great. Way to much arm work made pointless as the heels often just escaped made the tag and than back to the arm. Also I should mention Manger of the Year Teddy Long was the one that wound up distracting the referee on the finish thus making him look foolish

Back in Ric Flair's limo he and Mean Gene talk. Gene says this could the last time Flair makes a limo ride like this. Flair tells Gene he can't second guess himself now but he doesn't want to be on the outside looking in and that he loves this sport. Gene says a win would be Flair's eleventh WCW title reign. Which really isn't true. Most of Flair's title reigns had been NWA world title reigns including a run earlier in the year with that title. Gene reminds us this could be his final match as well. Flair says he doesn't want to think about that. Flair talks about what good friends he and Gene are and wants to talk about something positive. Gene talks about how much Flair has done in the sport. Flair talks about a recent encounter with a fan. Pointless segment. I get what they are trying to do. But it just repeats what has already been said. Flair doesn't want to leave wrestling but had to this to get his title shot. Plus Gene talking about his friendship with Flair seemed strange. Maybe the two are really good friends but Gene was mostly known for WWF and AWA while Flair was an NWA/WCW guy with a heel run in WWF. If anything Gene was more known as a friend to Hulk Hogan.

Awesome Kong with King Kong vs. The Shockmaster. - No not that Awesome Kong. This one was a member of a tag team known as Colossal Kongs. Basically just two huge fat guys in masks. How many of you are stunned to find the Shockmaster stuck around after that infamous debut? Of course after that debut they had redone his look and gimmick now he's wearing a hard hat instead of the helmet. The Kongs jump Shockmaster at the start. Double team clotheslines and a pound and hold. Big splash in the corner followed by a running splash by one of the Kongs. Well this confusing. One of the Kong is attack Shockmaster while another is on the floor. The bell has NOT rung and the Kong in the ring has King on his tights. Tony and Jessie sound like they have no idea. Kong runs into a big boot. Clothesline by Shockmaster. Holy crap a jumping cross body by Shockmaster and a slam for the win by Shockmaster. Other Kong into the ring goes to attack Shockmaster but he hits his partner. That was totally pointless. Short match the guy that was supposed to be in it wasn't. Hell I don't even think Jessie and Tony have any idea.

Tony and Jessie mention that Terry Taylor beat the Equalizer on the pre show. They than hype up the rest of the card. They mention Davey Boy Smith is not there and instead the Boss will challenge for Rick Rude's World Title. Tony says The Boss beat Rude in a non title match. Jessie points out that was a last second substitution. They don't name Rude's title. It had been the NWA title until the NWA pulled the name upset Bischoff was booking title changes without there permission. I get it to a point but the NWA was in such dire straight at this point did they really have a leg to stand on with WCW? Davey Boy had left WCW after Battlebowl to return to the UK before a WWF return in 1994. The Boss was the Former Big Boss Man.

Flair's limo has arrived at the arena. We see Flair got a police escort. Jessie and Tony joke its like Bill Clinton arriving. But in Charlotte Flair is bigger than Clinton. Flair gets out causing a huge woo chant. Gene says goodbye as Flair heads to the arena. Ok little segment but nothing knew or that we had to see.

World Television Championship Lord Steven Regal (c) with Sir William vs. Ricky The Dragon Steamboat- Strange Steamboat is introduced as Ricky Steamboat “The Dragon.” Sir William is best known as Bill Dundee. The two had feud over the TV title for months. Regal beat Steamboat for the title using the umbrella of Sir William. They had also teamed at Battle Bowl. Prior to the match Steamboat picks up the Belt and holds it up. Tony talks about this being Steamboat's hometown most of his career and his history in the old JCP. Regal refused a lock up and back into the corner. The referee tires to back Steamboat. Jessie points out with the TV time limit Regal will try to stall. Lockup and Regal gets Steamboat down to a knee. Steamboat back up and gets Regal into the ropes. The referee breaks it up. Steamboat tries a single leg. Regal stays in the ropes and the referee breaks it up Leg trip and Regal gets a wrist lock. Good job of selling by Steamboat. Steamboat reverses the wrist lock. Regal with his own reversal. Steamboat out again and whips Regal over. Headlock by Regal.. Steamboat tires a hiptoss it's blocked double leg by Steamboat and than the hip toss for a pin that gets two. Regal back to stalling. Side headlock takedown by Steamboat gets two. Criss cross and Steamboat over and uses his legs to get a quick near fall. Regal up and grabs the leg. Tony and Jessie point out it has two uses. One it slows down Steamboat the faster man and runs the clock. Of course with running the clock talk they might as well just say “Time Limit Draw coming up.” Knee bar by Regal. Steamboat back to one foot and hits a nice looking enziquri. Body slam by Steamboat. The Dragon to the top off with a karate chop. Arm bar by Steamboat. Tony talks about how this kills clock Steamboat needs. Jessie disagrees since Steamboat needs to wear Regal down.

I get they telling a story put they are clearing tipping off this goes the full 15 minutes. It would be best to just mention the time limit early on assume you fans that watch every week know the rules and that knew fans will catch on. Shoulder tackle by Steamboat and back to the arm bar. Wrist lock by Steamboat. Nip up by Regal and he picks Steamboat up. Steamboat escapes and trips Regal. Gary Michael Cappetta announces five minutes left. Another reason Tony and Jessie don't need to talk about the clock so much. Elbow drop to the arm by Steamboat. We keep cutting to Sir William yelling at the fans. Knees to the arm and shoulder by Steamboat. Hammer lock and into a flip over by Steamboat into a pin that gets two. Head scissors still holding the arm by Steamboat. Regal flips back over to decrease the pressure and escape. Lord Steven hammers free with a big uppercut. Three minutes left. Big chops by Steamboat. To the floor. Sir William goes to hit Steamboat. The Dragon seems him coming and gives chase. Dropkick on the floor by Regal as Steamboat rounds a corner. Back to the ring. Steamboat tries to go up and over but Steamboat throws him down. Back elbow by Regal. Arm drags by Steamboat. Head scissors by Regal but Steamboat escapes into a jack knife. Regal counters and butterfly’s the arms. Steamboat escapes and hits a his own butterfly suplex. Two count as the final minutes tarts. Regal to the floor. Sir Williams holds Steamboat. The Dragon fights them off and holds meeting of the mind for the Brits. Sir William trips Steamboat. Regal gets his neck snapped on the ropes. Steamboat to the top. Flying cross body misses. German suplex as the last second but its to late. Time expires.

This was a really well wrestled match which given the two men in it should shock no one. Lots of great wrestling exchanges and holds. Of course given the story there was stalling but since it was 15 mins instead of trying to get to a half or full hour it wasn't as bad as I have seen. The problem is you it pretty much being flashed on screen they are going the time limit. Tony and Jessie keep bringing up the time. And after ten minutes you have GMC counting down. I know they did that for the live crowd. But still less is more. Mention the time limit early Than have GMC announce five mins left than two min warning and than finally one minute.

Regal leaves quickly. Tony and Jessie talk. Tony admits he's worried about Flair even pointing out Flair isn't acting like himself. He's not strutting or going woo. Instead he looks worried. Jessie says retirement isn't that bad. Really Jessie? I get your a heel but you can't say anything but that? You can't go “Maybe Flair is off balance tonight... or maybe he's super focused Tony.” Something anything. Tony claims Flair is still in his prime. Jessie points out so was Michael Jordan. Remember this as 1993 when Jordan had just retired for the first time.

Tex Slazenger and Shanghi Pierce vs. Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne- Piecre and Slazenger would be better known as Henry O and Phineas I Godwin in the WWF. With Slazenger also working under the name Mideon. Pierrece is in a mask the rumor being the bookers thought he was to good looking to be a heel. Tony mention Slazenger and Pierce have mostly been a 500 tag team but have gotten hot lately. Jessie praises them for fearing no team and facing everyone. Pierce and Payne start off and lock up. Headlock by Pierce. Shoulder tackle and neither man goes down. Kick by Pierce and kick by Payne into a head lock. Shoulder block by Payne gets Pierce down and than a body slam. Tag to Tex and tag to Cactus Jack. Lock up and Slazneger forces Jack to the corner and hits him a few times. Exchange of punches with Cactus getting the better of it. Jack rams Slazneger's head into the corner. Tex to the eyes. Running boot back Cactus Jack. Tag to Payne who hits an elbow. Quick tag to Jack and he divorce courts the arm. Pierce breaks up the pin. Payne in while Jack attack Pierce Double team clothesline by Jack and Payne drops Slaznger. Legal tag to Payne.

Payne misses a corner splash and Slazneger hits a bulldog. Tag to Pierce. Back body drop into a sunset flip by Payne. Belly to back suplex by Payne both men are down. Tag to Cactus Jack. All four men in to brawl. Cactus clothesline by Jack on Pierce and than he sends Slazenger to the floor. Payne back body drops Jack onto Slaznger on the floor. Pierce chops the leg of Payne. Slaznger with a double ax handle off the top. Payne killer by Max Payne. Tex Slanger into the ring to break up the submission. Double team misses and Payne takes out the Texans with a double clothesline. Tag to Cactus Jack but the Texans cut him off. Jack ducks an attack and Pierce hits Tex. Double Arm DDT by Jack for the 1 2 3. Ok match but nothing to great. It was a nice brawl but felt more like a TV match than a PPV match. Than again its possible Standers and Practice wouldn’t let them do more.

On the ramp Mean Gene plugs the WCW hotline If you called the hotline you could vote on if all WCW Title matches should 2 of 3 falls. In storyline this was due to the US title match being 2 our of 3 at Starcade. Gene introduces NASCAR star Kyle Petty. Kyle must be a pretty big wrestling fans as he appeared on Starcade in the past and was even sponsored by WCW at one point driving the nWo car in a Bush Grand National race. Gene talks about Kyle being Flair fan and brings up Kyle's father Richard Petty retiring recently. Kyle admits his dad isn't the same since leaving and would have for Flair at the top of his game to leave. Kyle admits he would hate to have win at Daytona next or have to retire. Ok little celeb moment. Might have made more sense if they could have gotten someone like Richard Petty or Darrell Waltrip or Dale Earnhardt. IE the great NASCAR champion talking about the great champion of pro wrestling.

2 out of 3 Falls For the WCW United States Championship Dustin Rhodes (c) vs. Steve Austin with Col. Robert Parker- Ah yes back when Austin still Stunning now Stone Cold. And back when Dustin was the Natural. I say that both trying to joke and pointing out how different these two would go. Early trading off of position with Dustin often winding up in control as Austin gets upset. Head scissors by Dustin Rhodes. Austin rolls into the ropes for a break. Tony puts over how evenly matched these two are. Jessie agrees but say Parker gives Austin the advantage. Shoulder tackle by Austin but he

runt into a back elbow. Rhodes covers and gets two. Austin to the floor. Kick to the stomach by Austin and a take over. Austin goes for a chin lock but Rhodes escapes and drives knees to the back. Austin to the floor again. Lock up into a head lock by Rhodes back in the ring and than a take over. Austin goes to the hair. Shoulder block by Rhodes. Austin with a boot and goes for a power bomb. Rhodes over the top and goes for a backslide 1 and 2 Austin escapes and heads to the floor. Back in the ring Austin with a double leg and than he stomps the stomach. Austin drags Rhodes to the floor and the brawl. Rhodes reverses the whip and send him over the guard rail. Stunning Steve wants a time out. Back in the ring Austin offers a hand and Dustin shocks him. Headlock take over again by Dustin. Cheap shot by Austin when the referee breaks in the ropes. Knee drops by Austin and he works over Rhodes. Pin attempt by Austin is good for two.

Austin uses the ropes to chokes Rhodes as Parker puts the bad mouth on him. Rhodes starts to fight back with big punches. Shut down by Austin with a boot and a running back elbow. Austin covers and gets two. Rhodes swings wildly and Austin ducks. Austin tosses Rhodes the floor. On the apron Dustin with a shoulder to Austin's stomach. Rhodes sunset flip gets two. Forearms by Rhodes and a drop kick. Austin was to close so the kick is stuffed and looks bad. Rhodes covers and Parker reaches in to pull him off. Rhodes distracted and Austin nails him. Belly to back suplex by Stuning Steve but he gets a lackadaisical cover for two. They collide on a shoulder block and both men are down as the referee counts. Exchanges of punches and elbows and Austin knock Rhodes down. Rhodes goes for slam but Austin hooks the ropes and lands on two for two. Austin to the top but Rhodes moves on the knee drop. Flip flop fly by Rhodes and a flying clothesline. Snap power slam by Rhodes only gets two. Parker to the apron. Rhodes tosses Austin at his manger. Austin goes over the top rope. Rhodes losses the first fall via DQ. There is supposed to be a break but Rhodes goes after Austin until the referee pulls him off. Security out to help Col. Parker to the back. Rhodes sends Austin into the post and Austin is busted open. Wait did signals get crossed here. Because Rhodes is coming off as heel here. Rhodes out as soon as the bell rings and drags Austin in the ring. The lights star to flicker and go off. Vertical suplex by Rhodes two. Clothesline in the corner by Rhodes than mounted punches in the corner. Austin hooks the tights and gets a rolls up for the win. Very good match until the end. I guess the idea is supposed to be Rhodes got out of control. But again he came off very heelish.

Tony and Jessie discuss the first two title matches. The again talk about the other world title match with Smith being gone and the Boss having a win over Rude. Jessie says now Rude has a chance to prepare for this match. Tony talks about how Rude beat Ric Flair for that world title not that long ago. Jessie plugs the Tag Title Match.

WCW International World Title Match Rick Rude (c) vs. The Boss- Rude has beat Flair for the big gold belt when it was still the NWA title. As I mentioned the NWA was unhappy since Rude's title win was unapproved. As a result they pulled out and WCW started billing WCW International. The Boss is The Former Big Bossman still pretty much in that gimmick. So close in fact WCW got a letter from the WWF's lawyers telling them stop or we sue. Prior to the match Rude demands respect for the Undisputed World Champion. Yelling at each other at the start. Jessie calls it a psych out job at the start. Lock up and Boss powers Rude back. Hard fighting over position. Rude breaks and covers up. The Referee forces The Boss back. Lock up and again and Rude again gets forced to the back. The referee breaks it up again as Rude cowers in the corner. Tony and Jessie compare Rude's tactics to the Ali rope dope pointing out Rude is frustrating The Boss early on. Tony talks about there prior match that was more fast paced. Rude with a lock up and gets The Boss in the corner. Cheap shot on the break by Rude. Punches and elbows by Rude. Boss gets his eyes dragged on the ropes. Reverse of the whip and Rude takes a high back body drop. Big boot by The Boss than a back breaker. Rude kicks at one. Boss whips Rude into the corner and than hits some right hands. Hard whip by the Boss and Rude hits hard and drops to his knees. Body slam by Boss gets one. Nice job of selling the back by Rude. If you have had your back lock up there is way you have to move and Rude mirrors that very well.

Rude to the floor and Boss follows him out. Body slam on the floor by The Boss and he breaks the count. Boss suplexes Rude and hangs him from the ropes so he can punch. Boss goes for something but hits the camera by mistake causing the shot to get missed. Back in the ring Rude still hung in the rope tries to sit up. Boss punches him in the face and again. Rude drops to the floor. In the ring a bear hug by the Boss. Rude bites the noise to free himself. Big right hands by the Boss. Rude gets the legs up as The Boss Charges. Rude off the top but gets caught with a right hand. Boss goes to drop the legs on Rude who is on the ropes. Rude moves and than Sunsets flips for the pinfall win. Ok match but not great. It felt like the kind of match that had stuff set up but taken out last second. Seemed like they finish should have been something with Rude pissing off The Boss instead of just hitting a clean move. Than gain a clean heel win is a good idea from time to time. Given WCW was clearly setting up for unification bout at some point they most and likely wanted to make The International Champion look strong.

WCW World Tag Team Championship The Nasty Boys Brian Knobbs and Jerry Saggs (c) with Missy Hyatt vs. Sting and Road Warrior Hawk- As was documented on the Road Warrior DVD. When Hawk left the WWF Animal stuck around but suffered a back injury and was out of action. As a result the Road Warriors were effectively broken up. Hawk worked a number of dates in various companies. In New Japan he had formed the Hell Raisers with Kensuke Sasaki. WCW had brought Hawk in to help make up for the fact Davey Boy Smith was gone. Hawk and Sting had teamed in the past and often used terms like Brothers in Paint. The Road Warriors also turned heel betraying Sting... Than again pretty much every betrayed Sting at one time or another. Bell rings and both team stall neither one refusing to show who is starting. Finally it down to Knobbs and Sting. Than Saggs back into the ring. Than both Nasty Boys bail out. Finally Sting and Knobs lock up. Knobs goes for a cheap shot on the break and Sting moves. Lock up and an arm drag by Sting. Sting goes for the lock up but Knobbs lands a kick. Forearms by Knobs. Sting ducks a clothesline. Jumping clothesline by Sting an elbow. Saggs in gets nailed by Sting. Knobbs over to the wrong corner and gets punched by Hawk. Nasty Boys out to consult with Missy. Hawk gorilla presses Sting over the ropes onto Knobbs and Saggs. Tag to Jerry Saggs who calls out Hawk. Sting tags in the Road Warrior. Jessie says the last guy you want to challenge is Hawk. Saggs intimated by Hawk. Lock up and Hawk forces Saggs back. Saggs reveres and chops. Hawk returns the favor. Hawk charges into a boot. Double team by the Nasty Boys. Double clothesline by Hawk drop both Nasty Boys. Back in the ring Hawk with big over hands on Saggs. Dropkick by Hawk. Hawk ducks a clothesline and hits a flying shoulder before dropping a fist. After some antics on the floor Hawk hits an enziguri.

Sting tags back in. Double team back elbows by Sting and Hawk. Vertical suplex by Sting. Saggs goes to the eyes. Tags in Knobs who runs into a hip toss. Series of quick tags and working the arm. Finally Hawks goes for a shoulder in the corner and misses. Hawk to the floor and Saggs off the apron. Chair shot by Saggs all behind the referee's back. Saggs hold Hawk so Missy can slap him. Hawk goes after Missy but Knobbs gets him from behind. Back in the ring Saggs tags in legally and hits a knee drop to the arm. Double team divorce court by the Nasty Boys. Some moves don't need be double teamed ever and that is one of them. Crappy looking arm bar by Knobbs before tagging in Saggs who headbutts the arm. Shitty looking cross arm breaker by Saggs doesn't look like there is any pressure. Saggs goes to the eyes. Tag to Knobbs and more double teaming. Body slam by Knobbs that is so bad Jessie calls him out on it. Another crappy arm bar by Knobbs. I get wrestling you can't really crank the hold but come on at lest make it look like your trying. Hawk power back up and no sells. Than it all goes shit. Hawk uses the arm that's been worked arm for a clothesline. That is bad enough as logically it just look bad. But no it gets worse. Hawk clearly misses the clothesline so much so Tony even says he did. But Knobbs sells it anyway. Tag to Sting. But Saggs had the referee's back turned.

Nasty Boys go to double team Hawk but he stops kicks them and than uses the other arm. Sting tags in. Having watched plenty of Sting matches I know what the next sequence was supposed to be. Sting hits the ropes builds up momentum to hit a jumping clothesline except the Nasty Boys appear to be slow getting up. So Sting hits the ropes a few extra times making it worse he really doesn't clothesline than as it appears he face palmed them. Body slams and drop kicks Sting. Sting covers Knobbs. Saggs goes to break it up. Sting moves and Knobbs gets hit by the elbow. The Nasty Boys try to leave with Missy running off with the belts. Sting and Hawk cut them off. Back in the ring Sting goes for the big splash but Knobbs gets the knees up. Body slam by Knobbs who goes to the second ropes. Leg drop by Knobbs. Cover and Hawk makes the save. Knobs sends Sting over the top rope for the DQ.... Never mind I guess for this match that rule was waved. Patrick clearly saw it and even Jessie and Tony are sure how to cover. Saggs sends Sting into the guard rail. Missy uses a whip hit Sting. Sting pops up only for Saggs to clothesline him down. Hawk over to break up the attack. Back in the ring Knobbs hits a vertical suplex on Sting that gets two. Tag to Saggs. Abdominal stretch by Jerry Saggs on The Stinger. Knobbs of course reaches in to increase the pressure. Switch with no tag by Knobbs who gets Sting in his own abdominal stretch.

Referee checks the arm of Sting and well he keeps it up on three. Knobbs runs into a boot. Sunset flip by Sting gets two. Knobbs is closer to his corner to tag Saggs who cuts off the tag. Saggs with an abdominal stretch even back Sting into the air for a slam. Tag to Knobbs who hits an elbow. Chin lock by Knobbs. Sting sent into the corner head first. Snap suplex by Knobbs gets two. Back to the chin lock. Hawk finally has had it and just comes in to kick Knobbbs in the face. But with the referee dealing with Hawk lets Saggs come in with no tag. He kicks Sting covers, gets a two and than tags out. What? I mean come on do more than that. Knobbs back to the abdominal stretch. Sting power free and hip tosses Knobbs. Tag back to Saggs. Knobbs holds the leg cutting off the tag. Elbow by Saggs. Weak looking club by Saggs. Tag back to Knobbs. Body slam by Knobbs and he goes to the second rope and mess up a splash. Knobbs up to the ropes again. This time Sting gets the boot up. Saggs weakly runs across and even weaker nails Hawk cutting off the tag. Double team splash by the Nasty Boys. Body slam by Knobbs. Hawk in and sends Knobbs to the floor and than hangs Saggs on the ropes. Hot tag to Hawk. Big shoulder blocks and clothesline on Knobbs. Body slam on Knobbs. Saggs make the save. Sting takes out Saggs. Hawk goes to the floor with Saggs. Stinger Splash on Knobbs. Scorpion death lock. Missy gets up and distracts Sting who kisses her and than moves. Knobbs hits Missy. Roll up by Sting gets two. The ref counts even though Hawk is legal. Dooms day Device and Sting covers. Missy into the ring and rubs Sting's back it appears. Referee calls the match off. Wow did this match go bad in places. It seemed like everyone and I mean everyone even Missy and the ref kept screwing up. To bad it had potential. Nasty Boys retain on the DQ.

Mean Gene is on the ramp. Gene is stunned Jessie is in a suit. Another hotline plug with a chance to talk to Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne. Gene says he's excited for his first Starcade but talk about it being the eleventh Starcade. We than move the intro to the main event... Ah no pre match promos? I know they did the videos and I even understand not having Ric talk since he would no doubt have done his normal promo undoing the set up from earlier but why not have Vader or Race talk? Hell given where Gene was going I thought ok time to show a video of all the past Starcade's with emphases on Flair. Minor thing but it could have added.

WCW World Heavyweight Championship Vader (c) with Harley Race vs. Ric Flair if Flair loses he must retire- Vader enters first sadly we don't get the Awesome old Helmet Vader wore. Vader tells Jessie he is going to hurt Flair slow. Flair comes out alone as Jessie notes Fifi the maid isn't with him. I assume WCW didn't want to undermine the early stuff with Flair being a loving husband and father with a worried wife and kids at home. Crowd is super hot wooing during the intros. Flair looks legit touched hearing his home cheer for him again. Tony mention the plain crash that nearly ended Flair's career. Jessie says a plan crash maybe easy compared to Vader. Circling around each other start. Massive Flair chant. Lock up and Flair gets Vader back only to be shoved and tossed across the ring. Flair with a great face reacting to feeling the power for the first time. Flair tries the lock up again and gets tossed again. Race mocks “You wanted him Flair.” Another lock up and shove. Flair to the floor and Vader chases. Vader sees Flair is trying to tire him out and stops. Headbutt off a lock up and than punches to the back. Knuckle lock by Vader and Flair screaming pain. Slaps to the face by Vader and a short arm clothesline. Back to the knuckle lock. Head butt again by Vader and he yells “You ain't man enough” Vader gets Flair in the corner. Chops by Flair and Vader just shoves him down.

Flair drops to the floor again. Vader just stands in the ring and poses mocking Flair. Lock up again and Vader forces Flair back and hits punches and drops him. Stomps by Vader. Tony recaps Flair's history at Starcade but Jessie says that don't matter. Gorilla press by Vader. Flair to the floor hurt. Vader follows him out and picks Flair up to drop him on the guard rail. Vader goes to splash Flair. Flair moves and Vader hits the guard rail. Flair rams Vader into the ring post. Race attack Flair from behind. Vader suplxes Flair back into the ring hard. Flair back to the apron and Vader suplexs Flair back in hard again. Punches by Vader in the corner. Whip and a hard clothesline in the corner. Hard whip by Vader, Flair over the turn buckle but just collapses from the pain on the ramp. Nice little twist on a normal Flair spot. Normally Flair does that gets caught some how. This sends the message he doesn’t even have enough left to run. Flair is leveled by another clothesline. Tony talks about how Vader can hurt you so many ways and Flair can't stay from him. More punches in the corner. Flair chops but no effect. Scoop slam by Vader gets two. Vader to the second rope. Diving clothesline line and Flair grabs his jaw like it's been broken. Vader back to the ropes. Splash misses. Flair to the top rope. Chop off the top. Flair off the ropes again and misses another chop. Either Flair miss judged the distance for Vader was out of position either way it looks bad. Chops by Flair back to the ropes and than time hits Vader in the head. Vader is down. Knee drop by Flair. Big clothesline shuts Flair down. Flair bleeding form the mouth. Vader picks Flair up on one shoulder and puts him on the top rope. Superplex by Vader.

Jessie says Vader should cover but instead Vader drops an elbow. One thing I like about Jessie even thought he cheered for the heels he wasn't stupid about it. Vader goes for a running splash. Flair moves. Flair charges but Vader recovers and hits in the head. Vader tosses Flair to the floor so Race can stomp him. Flair down not moving. So far in this match it seems Flair has not sold like the usual Ric Flair way. He's been more low key about it. Like a man being hurt so bad he can't even get up to cover up. Flair avoids the corner splash and more chops from Flair. Ok I get with Vader you have to be smart about taking over spots. But come on three misses splashes in the same match? I know they are different styles but come on. Vader whips Flair into the corner and this time hits the splash. Knuckle lock by Vader.. Flair goes to the eyes and throat and starts top punch and chop. Vader goes down. Ok now that I like as change of momentum. Flair got desperate and turned the corner. You could say yeah it was a heel move but than again against Vader you gotta do stuff like this. Vader is down. Flair drags Vader to the post and wraps slams the lg into it. Flair gets a chair. Race is trying to get the ref to stop him but this actually distract Randy Anderson so Flair can use the chair. Vader has taken off his mask as Flair attack with hard punches and chops. The fans explode as Flair has finally got control.

Vader throws punches on his knees but Flair has the advantage and keeps punching. Flair gets another chair as again Race has mistakenly distracted the referee. Chair shot to the head. Ok once I can buy but twice must makes Race look stupid. If you want do the Flair has to break the rules to just survive stuff why not do a ref bump or something? Like I said having Race tie up the referee makes Race look stupid. Back into the ring and Flair goes back to the eyes and more haymaker punches. Flair bites Vader. Tony and Jessie talk about how Flair is risking a DQ but this is what he has to do. Tony talks about Flair has gone sixty minutes but he thinks twenty minutes with Vader is rougher. Flair drags Vader to the ropes and canon balls onto the leg. Strut by Flair and more haymakers. Figure Four attempt by Vader powers Flair off. Vader has his second win and goes for the Vader bomb but Flair moves. Figure four is locked in. Race up on the apron. Vader gets the ropes. Flair runs into a big boot. Hard elbow drop by Vader and than he drives the elbow into the face. Vader to the top ropes. Moonsault misses.hay makers Missed or hit it still amazes me Vader could do that. Remember he was over 400 pounds. Flair covers. Race to the top rope and goes for a headbutt. Vader though has shoved Flair off so Vader takes the shot. Forearm and chops by Vader. Flair changes into an another strike to the head.

And than we get a really stupid finish. As Ric Flair grabs the leg trips Vader up and school boys him to win the title. The WWE network lists the move as a chop block but to me it looks more like a trip. Even worse it seems to come out of no where. It also goes again the story they were telling. I was for the most part enjoying the match. Sure the multi missed splashes to turn the tide and Race looking like a moron took some points off. But over all they were telling a good story. Vader the monster unlike anything Flair has ever faced forcing Flair to be dirtier and meaner and more animal like than normal. This wasn't slick Ric the direst player in the game stuff. This was if I don't do something this guy is going to kill me stuff. And Vader wasn't just a big brute early on he was smart about his attacks. He didn't chase Flair around once he saw Flair's plan was to tire him out. But even the monster has a weakness when you go to his eyes and such. Than we get this finish. I mean something. A chair shot, Flair off the top with a cross body like he did in 83, an actual chop block. Its a bad finish on what was a pretty good match. Hell I was enjoying that Flair even under sold from his usual Style he wasn't being super balled instead he was going down and staying down.

Post match the WCW world title belt is strapped onto a bloody Flair as fire works go off and the fans go crazy. Confetti falls from the sky. Tony says its a moment in the history of the sport we will never forget. Jessie calls it the biggest upset in the history of wrestling. Jessie and Tony discuss the match. Jessie says he didn't give Ric Flair a chance but give him credit. Backstage we see Vader trashing a locker room that was set up for a celebration. Vader screams I want it back. Good reaction from Vader to show he cares for the titles. Back on the ramp Flair has returned to give the fans a curtain call. The fans do go crazy for this. We than go backstage where Gene Oakland is with the Flair family which no includes his eldest daughter Megan. Ric walks in and says it's a happy holiday. Flair says Vader took it to him and call Vader a great champion. Flair says he's touched by the support and loves having his family with him. Gene asks for Beth's thoughts she simply says she delighted and happy it happened in Charlotte. Ric hugs Reid as Sting enters the shot. Sting congratulates Ric. Sting says Flair is the greatest champion of all time. Ricky Steamboat comes into the locker room. Gene talks the history of Flair and Steamboat. The Dragon says it's an honor and congratulates Flair on being an eleven time champion. Gene asks for Flairs final thoughts on his match and career. Flair says I'm a very fortunate man. Gene signs off for the night.

I really like the backstage stuff with Flair. Once again we get something different. There is no “WOOO! Mean by god Gene! Once again the Nature Boy is going be the limo....” Instead if keeps the story of the family man risking it all going. Ok time for me to play physiologist but I believe Richard Fliear is man that spent his whole life looking for love and acceptance. So a night like this as Ric Flair meant the world to him. Now normally I big on giving younger guys a chance and even by 93 Flair was in decline he could still have some great matches but he wasn't at his very best. But I'm ok with the title change. One Vader had been the top heel and mostly been the world champion for two years. Given the event is WCW's biggest show its a good time for the face to win the title. And with history in the area, the fact it was the tenth anniversary I like them putting it on Flair.

Overall this event is good with some issues. Seems like there are lot of little mistakes going on. Some guys had real off nights in the ring or booking had issues like something was lost between script and screen. If your a Flair fan you will love it. If you hate Flair skip it. For those in the middle worth a check out but not a must see.