Flashback Reviews WCW Superbrawl II

It's early 90's WCW. And that just got word there world champion is leaving. No it's not the summer of 1991 and the champion is not Ric Flair. Instead its Lex Lugar the man the won the title Flair had vacated. Now a lot of has been written about Flair's departure but not much about Lugar's The truth was the company badly botched Lugar's title run. As was often reported they didn't have the actual title belt to give to him. And they also turned him heel with most agreeing it was the logic of “Well Flair always drew as a heel. And fans pay to see heels get beat so the champion should be heel.” Of course Lugar has turned face or heel so often its a long standing joke among fans. Also it didn't help Lugar didn't have many great feuds as champion. His two PPV title matches were against Ron Simmons who even with a world title run down the line he was never really a main eventer. The other being Massihro Chono. One of the greatest stars in the history of Japan but again not a big name in the US.

There was one foe WCW knew they could put Lugar against with great success The Man Called Sting. Much like Lugar he had been a champion in the making for a few years only to see his first run with the title damaged by very poor booking. How ever after dropping the world title back to Flair the company had rebuilt Sting with a good run as US champion and a win at Battle Bowl. And they had a good storyline Lugar played a hand in costing Sting the US title and had been the last man eliminated in Battle Bowl. But another twist came up. Lugar was looking to leave WCW. At the time the WWF had started the WBF which gave Lugar a great option he could work and appear in the WBF while riding out the remains of his WCW wrestling contract. Once that was up he was than free to join the WWF. So in other word Lugar wasn't around much in the build up. So does this show have any chance of being good?

We open with a very fast run down of the various title matches on the card. We don't even get action footage of the guys. Just “Its Lex Lugar defending against Sting.” We than head to head to the stage where Tony Schiavone and Eric Bischoff welcome us. Tony says its the night we have been waiting for and hype the world title. Bischoff says it's a conpasity crowd with people still trying to get in. Bischoff says Sting has been spreading himself to thin taking on all comers. And Lugar's has been in seclusion. That was there cover for Lugar not being around. I mean if he's not appearing you might as well try to spin it for a match. Bischoff pick Lugar. Tony picks Sting to win. Hype for the Tag Title match. Bischoff calls the Steniers the best team in WCW history. Schivone calls Anderson and Eaton the best tag wrestlers of all time and point out how successful they have been together. Schivone reminds us Paul E has been banned from ringside for the US title match. Tony throws to Missy Hyatt who is backstage doing the interview. Missy pretty much says her interviews will be the highlight of the show. She does promise interview both Lugar and Steamboat no I didn’t' screw up she said Lugar and Steamboat. I think she just was throwing names out. Back on the stage Tony hypes the rest of the show.

Jim Ross in the ring and introduces Jessie “The Body” Ventura as the newest WCW announcer. Jessie rides out on a motorcycle and has pyro with Music. This was a big score for WCW. Ventura had a falling out with the WWF after learning they had stiffed him on royalty payments from Home Video. But really a big intro for a announcer. How about just bring Jessie on Camera at the table. It's not like Jessie is also making his in ring return. Jessie gets a cheap pop point out his bike is a Milwaukee made Harley Davidson. Ventura says WCW is happening and he can't think of a better place to return than Crusher Country. Big pop mentiong the local legend. Jessie calls the title match a pick'em. Next Jessie either gives Vince an idea or predicts the future as he talks about Ross in a cowboy hat looking like JR. Ok he was talking about the show Dallas but still. Talk about an open that went to long. I mean why do both Eric and Tony followed by Ross and Jessie? It just felt like the two teams did the same thing hype the card. Even worse Tony and Bischoff has to stall as JR and Ventura make there way to the table.

WCW World Light Heavyweight Championship Jushin “Thunder” Liger (c) vs. “Flyin” Brian Pillman- The light heavyweight title predates the Crusier Weight title by about five years. Pillman had won the title at Halloween Havoc but than lost it to Liger on Christmas. I should note most people consider the Liger and Pillman matches to be among the best WCW ever did. Ventura hypes up how excited he is to see Liger in the flesh and says he's excited to see a light heavyweight division. Arm wringer by Pillman and Liger flips free and get the wrist lock. Ross says in an interview Pillman said he was looking to mat wrestle. Jessie calls that a good move given Liger's skills flying. Shoulder take by Pillman. Each man goes for a drop kick and they stand off. Drop toe hold by Pillman into a hammer lock. Liger gets the ropes. Head scissors by Pillman followed up with the drop kick sends Liger to the floor. Pillman with a drop kick through the ropes. Referee holds Pillman back. Back in ring Liger with a single leg and ties up the leg into a toe hold. Pillman is able to bend him back and kick him the face to get free. Chop by Pillman and a Irish whip. UP and over in the corner by Liger followed by the moonsault for two. Dropkick sends Pillman to the floor. Thunder Liger with the fake out on the dive. Take over by Pillman into a seated abdominal stretch than into the head scissors. Liger escapes and goes for the surfboard but Pillman to the ropes. Drop toe hold by Liger and this time he goes for the surfboard again. Pillman to the ropes again. Shoulders in the guy by Liger and than a running dropkick.

Crucifix by Pillman gets two. Liger escapes power slam and has a sunset flip for two. Jessie Ventura puts over how talented Liger is. Bad direction we are getting a crowd shot and we miss Pillman hitting a belly to belly suplex for two. Flynn knee by Pillman misses and he hits the turnbuckle. Liger works the leg with a snap and shin breaker. Figure for by Liger. Exchange of slaps while still in the hold. Ross brings up the various operations Pillman had as a kid. Pillman finally revers the hold and rolls into the ropes to get the break. Pillman struggles to stand up. Leg kick by Liger. Stomps to the leg by Liger and he pulls Pillman to the floor for a modified Boston crab with the knee in the back. Enzigur by Pillman. Liger still up first and attacks the leg. Head scissors by Pillman and he charges. Back body drop by Liger sends Flyin to the floor. Summer sault dive by Liger off the top to the floor. Ross fucks up and calls it a moonsault. Pillman blocks an attempt by Liger to suplex him back into the ring and rams the champion's head into the turnbuckle. Air Pillman hits. Pillman suplexs Liger off the apron to the floor. Brian with a Flyin crossbody off the top to the floor. Pillman tires another dive off the apron. Liger moves and Brian hits the guard rail. Back in the ring Liger off the top but Pillman hits a dropkick. Nice move given its like catching a boxer when he is charging his momentum hurts him along with your strike.

Pillman off the top for a missile dropkick as Liger throws his own normal dropkick. Strange spot as you would just think the guy off the top would just still do more damage. Both men are down. Ventura says Pillman should have gone for a cover earlier. Both men going for jumping back heel kicks and again both men are down. Liger up first and he chops. Snap power slam by Pillman gets two. German suplex by Liger gets two. Liger sets Pillman on the top ropes. Superplex is blocked with a goard buster. Crossbody off the top gets a two count for Pillman. Liger blocks a back body drop and hits a power bomb for two. Liger bomb counted into a roll up for two. DDT by Pillman and Liger gets the ropes. Cris cross and they both go for a crossbody both men down again. Pillman to the top and Liger shakes the ropes. Superplex only gets two count. Liger to the top and misses the diving headbutt. Bridging pin by Pillman for the win. Pillman celebrates with the title and holds Liger's hand up. This was a very good match and you can clearly see this was where wrestling was going. But I do have some issues. Mainly I feel they over did the go for same move and be down spot. Still though a hell of a match. Sadly the light heavyweight division became a victim of Bill Watts. He like high flying moves so he banned any move off the top he was to cheap to bring in guys like Liger to keep pumping up the division and he disliked Pillman. The title was deactivated later that year.

Back on the stage Schiavone hypes what an amazing match it was. Bischoff talks about Pillman using more mat skills to win the match. We got to Miss who is with Taylor Made Man. Missy talks about how good looking he is. Taylor Made Man talks about Bagwell passing on his offer to be his protegee. He says he could have taught him to be a winner now he is going to teach him to be a loser. Ok promo by Missy was useless. She added nothing. Hell why was Missy doing interviews. She was a valet use her as a valet. Hell Taylor's gimmick was perfect to pair her up with.

Marcus Bagwell vs. The Taylor Made Man- Taylor Made is Terry Taylor in yet another gimmick. Its not Red Rooster bad but the gimmick is he's good looking and wears a tux not like he has much to go on. He and Greg Valentine were the US tag champions at this time. Lock up and Taylor forces Bagwell into the corner. Lock up and Taylor gets Bagwell down with a waste lock. Another lock up into a head lock. Should block by Taylor. Finally Bagwell with some offense as he hits a hip toss. Taylor is upset. Lock up again and Taylor with a punch. Return pus by Bagwell. Knee to the gut by Taylor and he throws Bagwell to the ramp. Taylor out after him. Bagwell with an inverted atomic drop than a regular on before clothesline him over the top back into the ring. Crossbody by Bagwell gets two. Side headlock into a pin by Bagwell gets two. Taylor tosses Bagwell to the floor. The Made Man yells at the referee allowing Bagwell to get up head the headlocks again. Shoulder by Bagwell gets two. Taylor to the ramp. Knee again by Taylor. Bagwell escapes a suplex and gets the sleeper. Taylor gets the ropes. Taylor tosses Bagwell to the floor. Not Buff sent into the guard rail. Back into the ring a jaw breaker by Taylor than he slaps the head and goes to the eyes. Bagwell sets to early on a back body drop allowing Taylor to hit a gut wrench sitdown powerbomb. Only gets two. Running corner clothesline. Jessie again either gives someone an idea or predict the future as he mentions Bagwell's mother. Cockdy cover by Taylor gets two. Awful looking sunset flip by Bagwell gets two. Verticle suplex by Taylor and he goes to the top rope and he hits a big splash. Bagwell kicks at one. Piledriver is blocked with a back body drop. Neck snap by Taylor. Oklahoma roll by Bagwell out of no where for the win. Popcorn get your popcorn. That's what this match was real basic to let the crowd recover from the opening.

Post match they still wrestle as Bagwell goes for a move. Taylor Made forearm by Taylor. The referee is saying Bagwell has already won. DDT by Taylor. Strange finish to the match I mean we see out of no where wins but never so out of no where the guy that won thinks the match is still going on and keep attacking. Part of me wonder if the agent or someone in power hated Bagwell but was told “He must win.” So they did this.

Missy Hyatt is outside Lex Luger's dressing room. Missy says no one seen Luger train in a month. Harley Race enters the shot. Hyatt asks if Luger is ready. Race says he is and is in the best shape of his life. Harley promises Luger will be champion at the end of the night. Missy says it will be an exciting match. Real missed chance here. Why not have Missy asks if she can have a word with Lugar and have Race deny her. Than have her ask about ring rust or concern with not being in the ring in so long. Why not play up the idea that Luger's break could cost him or help him.

Cactus Jack vs. Ron Simmons- These two had been feuding for a while. Lock up on the start and Simmons drives Jack up. Cheap shot on the break by Cactus. Exchange of punches. Simmons with a hard whip and he runs into the boot. Cacuts goes for a clothesline. Simmons ducks and we get the hangman's spot that eventually cost Foley an ear. Simmons hammers on the helpless man. Ventura scolds Simmons for attacking a helpless man. Finally Cactus is free and tires to run. Simmons pulls him back and rams him into the guard rail. Back into the ring and Jack hits a headbutt. Cactus sets to soon on the back body drop and gets a face buster. Body slam and leg drop by Simmons gets two count. Another hard whip into the corner and again Simmons runs into something this time an elbow. Clothesline puts Simmons. We get a shot of Junkyard Dog wearing a tux and sitting in what appears to be the cheap seats. Double arm DDT by Cactus Jack and than his own leg drop for two. Simmons tossed to the floor and sent head first into the guard rail. Slam on the floor and its the one and only Cactus Elbow.

Cactus uses the rope to snap the neck. Simmons fight back with punches and goes for a dropkick but it misses. Cover by Jack and only two. Chinlock by Cactus. Jack goes for a gut wrench but Simmons blocks and hits a modified northern lights suplex. Dropkick hits this time for Simmons. Into the three point stance but Jack moves and Simmons hard to the rope. Spinbuster on the ramp by Simmons to retake control. Back in the ring Cactus goes for the eyes and than a bulldog. Cactus off the second rope but Simmons hits the power slam for the win. Bland match felt more like a TV match that got stretched out to fill PPV time.

Post match Cactus Jack attacks. Abullah The Butcher comes out and hits Simmons from behind with a pole. JYD trots to the ring very slowly through the crowd. Security tires to hold him back but they get headbutt. JYD into the ring and makes the save using awful looking punches. The try to make it seem like JYD ran Jack and Abdullah off I think they just left feeling sorry for that awful offense. Cactus and Abdullah had engaged in a few matches briefly splitting there team but they returned here. JYD had been off TV to lose some weight. He did look pretty good here. The two teams would work some matches against each other. But really the live crowd didn't care hear. It didn't help Abdullah and JYD were both clearly past there primes.

Schiavone and Bischoff quickly talk about what they had just seen and hype the three big title matches still to come.

Vinnie Vegas and Richard Morton vs. Van Hammer and Z-Man- I think outside of Z-Man all these gimmickes are featured in WrestleCrap the Book. Vinnie Vegas is Kevin Nash its a step up from his days as Nitron and OZ and it did let him do some comedy showing off his personalty. Richard Morton is Ricky Morton who had turned heel and joined the short lived York Foundation. While Van Hammer is a guy doing a rock and roller gimmick who would carry a guitar but never played it. Odds are it didn't help Hammer he was dressed like your 80's Style Hair rocker in a era that Metal had become popular and acts like Metallica and Megadeth along with the rise of grunge rock. There is no feud here as Ross admits Vegas and Morton have never wrestled together before. Morton and Hammer start us off. Lock up and Morton right to the eyes. Hammer revers a whip and than hits a press slam. Tag to Vegas. Sloppy arm drag by Hammer. Awful looking bulling on a lock up and Vegas gets Hammer in the corner. Ref breaks it and right back into a lock up and Hammer gets the advantage but Vegas to the eyes on the break. Chop to the neck and a punch by Vegas. Leap frog attempt by Vegas and he rams Hammer's head. I think it was supposed to be Hammer landed a head butt. Just the spot looked so bad there is a good chance it was a fuck up. Crappy looking Hammer lock by Hammer as he rams Vegas' shoulder into the corner. Exchange of punches and Hammer with the mounted corner punches only for Vegas to run him across the ring. Hammer no sells it and just hits a weak looking clothesline. Tag to Z-Man and hits a missile dropkick. Morton breaks up the cover.

Knee lift by Vegas and he tags in Morton. Exchange of rolls up by the two smaller men. Z-Man with a clothesline sends Morton to the floor. Dive over the top rope by Z-Man. Hip toss on the floor. Ross calls it a hip block. Back to the ring. And Morton to the the eyes. Tag to Vegas. Vinnie wants Van Hammer back in the ring and Z-Man tag his partner in. Head lock by Hammer and Vegas with a back drop suplex. Short arm clothesline by Nash looks like crap and only gets two. Hammer rammed into Morton's knee. Tag to Richard Morton. Atomic drop by Morton. Tag back to Vegas and he rams Hammer's face into the mat. Z-Man makes the save. Gut wrench suplex by Vegas and this time Hammer kicks out. Big boot by Vegas. Tag back to Morton who comes in with a punch off the top. Belly to back suplex by Morton gets two. Tag back to Vegas and he hits an elbow drop. Exchange of punches and tag back to Morton who hits the stomach. Snap power slam by Hammer but Morton is out at two.

Cheap shot on Z-Man by Morton drawing him into the ring. This lets Morton hold Hammer while Vegas comes in and attacks. Flying shoulder block by Vegas. More punching between the big men. Vegas back to the eyes and a vertical suplex. Hammer may not have known how to take that as he almost tries to sit up during it. Vegas covers and gets two. Tag back to Morton and he cranks the neck. Tag back to Vegas. Hammer locks a clothesline and hits an awful looking shoulder block and both men are down. Vegas is able to tag Morton. Hot tag to Z-Man. Back body drop by Z-Man and he drop kicks Vinnie off the apron. Power slam by Z-Man. Morton back to the eyes. Morton charges but its Z-Man with a sunset flip for the win. Well that wasn't as bad as I feared it could have been but it wasn't that good. You do see some of the potential Vegas/Nash had. Where there is a reason for him having a rep as lazy for a reason the guy also was pretty athletic for a bigger man. Z-Man was a solid talent and even Morton looked good at times. Hammer had issues but more of that was just needing work. The real problem is way to man exchange of punches and way to many thumbs to the eyes when the heels regained control.

Tony Schiove says we are at the halfway point and hypes the grudge tag match that us up next. Tony asks Eric about being right there when the attack went down at Halloween Havoc. We get footage of Arn Anderson and Larry Zybyszko slamming Windham's hand in a car door breaking it at that event. Eric talks about the sick sound of the bones crunching. Tony points out Zbyszko has taken the nick name the cruncher because of that. Nice effective segment. Just show us the attack and talk about it you don't need much more.

Larry Zbyszko and Steve Austin with Madusa vs. Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes- Larry, Austin and Madusa are all member of the Dangerous Alliance. Windham and Rhodes had been feuding with Zbyszko and Anderson when they were tag team champions. At Halloween Havoc an attack on Windham saw his hand broken when they slammed it in a car door. In kind of a strange twist Rhodes won the tag belts with Ricky Steamboat who was subbing for Barry at which point The Enforcers as Zbyszko and Anderson were called were split and instead Anderson began teaming with Eaton who than beat Windham and Steamboat for the tag titles. With Windham back and he Rhodes now want payback on Larry so they have the Stenier's feud over the tag titles. Windham has his hand tapped up the idea being his hand hasn't fully healed up.

Four way brawl to start with Windham hitting a back body drop on Zbyszko and he sends him to the ramp. Rhodes with punches on Austin in the corner. On the outside Windham tosses Zbyszko off the ramp and into the guard rail. In the ring Rhodes with a back slide on Austin. Rhodes tries a monkey flip but Austin shoves him away. Austin off the top and gets caught with a lariat. Austin to the ramp to recover. Tag to Windham who comes off the ropes with a chop. Dropkick by Windham and he tosses Austin at Zbyszko wanting a tag. Nice touch there. Sending the message of “he's the one I still want my payback on.” Tag to the Cruncher who stalls. Lock up and Zybyszko to the eyes. Spinning back kick sends Windham to the ramp. Larry out after him and wants a piledriver. Back body drop by Windham than a lariat. Back into the ring and Windham with a flying lariat and he cover but pulls him up and punches Zybyszko in the face. Jumping DDT by Windham. Ventura criticizes Windham for not taking a win. Tag to Rhodes and double team back body drop gets two. Rhodes works over the arm trying to break it. Zbyszko fights back and tries to Ram Rhodes into the corner. Dustin blocks and does it to Zbyszko and than tosses him at Barry. Legal tag to Windham. Gut wrench suplex by Windham get two. Windham tires for a pile driver but Austin with the save.

Larry Zbyszko sends Windham over the top behind the referee's back. Austin off the apron and than he sends Windham into the guard rail. Zybyszko crotches on the steel. Windham back int o the ring and Austin with a clothesline. Snap suplex by Austin. He covers and gets two. Windham firing back. Austin ducks the lariat and Windham back over the top to the floor. Rhodes tries to help but he ties up the referee. So again Zybyszko puts Windham into the steel. Back in the ring Larry tags in legally and racks the eyes with the boot before getting a swinging neck breaker. Rhodes breaks up the pin. Body slam by Zybyszko gets two. Tag back to Austin and he this a belly to back suplex for two. Chin lock by Austin. Into a headlock now. Windham with a suplex to get free but Zybyszko tags in and gets a sleeper. Great sell job by Windham in his face as he fads. Stunner by Windham to get free. Windham with a right hand and a head lock. Both men hit a shoulder block and go down. Nice touch from Jessie pointing out Windham isn’t' being smart and making good tag. Which fits the idea he's wanting revenge not a win.

Tag to Austin and Windham falls back for a tag finally. House of fire time for Rhodes. Big elbow drop by Rhodes gets two. Zybyszko in and that draw in Windham. Larry and Barry out to the ramp with the referee watching them. In the ring Austin levels Rhodes with a clothesline. Rhodes rammed into the turnbuckle by Austin. Tag to Zybyszko and he hits a swinging neck breaker for two. Rhodes with chops an punches fights back. Rhodes sets to soon on a back body drop and takes a DDT because of it. Zybyszko sets to soon and gets kicked. Madusa behind the referee's back slaps Rhodes and he goes after her. This lets Larry tag in Steve Austin. Onto the ramp and Austin lays out Rhodes with a clothesline. In the ring Windham is fighting with Larry but the referee forces him back. Rhodes back tin the ring with Austin choking him on the ropes. Running splash with the leg by Austin gets two. Chin lock by Austin. Jessie question why Dangerously isn't at the ring. Cross body by Rhodes gets two and again he's layed out by the clothesline. Tag to Zybyszko. Back breaker by the Cruncher. Larry yells at the referee for how slow the count is. Rhodes counters a suplex into one of his own. Tag to Austin on a drop toe hold. Roll up by Rhodes but The referee is tied up with Windham. Austin free and back to the chin lock. Austin uses the ropes for more leverage.

In another nice touch when the ref asks about the ropes Madusa acts like she's been shaking them. I really do have to credit her for a great managing job her. When ever you see her on camera she is clearly watching reacting feeling the pain her guys are going through and even at times appearing to give them instructions. Rhodes fights free with elbows. Rhodes uses Austin's finisher the stun gun and hands him on the ropes. Tag to Zybyszko but he runs into a right hand. Tag to Windham who goes house of fire. Flying lariat by Windham. Austin breaks it up. Rhodes fights with Austin on the outside. Zybk blocks the super plex. Rhodes shoves Zybyszko off the top ropes. Windham with a flying lariat off the top for the win. Very good tag team match. Great intensity with the grudematch aspect. I would say only real knock is the amount of times Austin would just clothesline Rhodes out of no where to regain control. But all four guys gelled well together. Ventura did a good job of adding color and as I said Madusa managed well.

Back with Schiavone and Bischoff we see Eric is now wearing a University of Michigan jacket and has a hat with him. Tony says its obvious who he thinks will win. Eric claims he's impartial but talks about how great the Steniers have been winning titles in high school the NCAA, WCW and Japan. Tony points out they have never faced Eaton and Anderson. Decent little segment having some fun since Bischoff was actually from Michigan.

Backstage Missy tries to interview Ricky Steamboat. But is stopped by The Ninja. The Ninja opens the door. We quickly see Steamboat at an alter of some kind lighting something that flashes. The Ninja drives her back as Missy says she's never seen something like that. Madusa walks up and starts to hit on the Ninja. She asks to see Steamboat. He just tells her she go. Madusa slaps the Ninja and he chases her. Dumb segment but it was meant to set something up later on.

The tag team title match participants make there entrance. Before the match starts its announced that Paul E. has now been banned from ringside for this match as well. So of course he gets upset about it. Seems strange they didn't just have it be Paul E was banned all night since it would also explain why he wasn't around for the earlier tag match. Madusa comes out to protest as Paul E. is removed but he sends her to ringside to be with the champions.

WCW World Tag Team Championship Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard (c) with Madusa vs. The Steiner Brothers Rick and Scott- The Steiner Brothers had been the tag team champions until an injury to Scott forced them to vacate the titles. Anderson with Zybyszko had won the title beating Rick and fill in partner Bill Kazmier in the finals of a tournament. Than he lost them only to team up with Eaton and win them back. The idea with Anderson and Eaton is they are a dream tag team based on there past success with other partners. Eaton and Scott will start. Lockup and and Scott shoves him into the ropes and breaks clean. Another lock up and Scott with a fireman’s carry takeover. Double leg into a spin buster by Scott. Chin lock than working the leg. Eaton gets the ropes for a break. Scott sets to soon for the back body drop and Eaton with a neck breaker. Beautiful Bobby off the top and is caught. Over head belly to belly suplex by Scott Steiner. Eaton to the floor. Back to the ring and Anderson tags in. Anderson taunts Rick so Scott tags his brother in. Lock up and headlock by Rick. Anderson shoves him off and goes for a drop down. Rick sees it coming and kicks Anderson in the head a few times. Anderson backs up and crotch himself in the corner. Headlock again by Rick and than a shoulder block. Anderson goes for a leapfrog but he is caught and takes a power slam. Big over hands for Anderson and one for Eaton. The champions conference on the floor with Madusa. Scott tags back in and nails Anderson in the back. Standing arm bar and they exchange the hold. Anderson gets the over head wrist lock and gets Scott to bridge back. As Scott starts to come up Eaton comes in for a double team. Scott flips and revers the hold and arm drags both men. Rick in and double clotheslines the champions over the top to the floor.

Anderson with a kick to the gut and he tosses Scott to the floor. Rick drawn in. On the floor Eaton and Anderson try a double team but Scott revers a whip and hits Anderson with an atomic drop and than a clothesline. Scott works a chin lock and than what appears to be a dragon sleeper. Anderson gets free and tags in Eaton. Bobby takes Scott to the ramp. Tilta a whirl slam by Scott on the ramp. Scott tosses Eaton into the ring like he's throwing a sack of potato. Steiner recliner by Scott but this is year before he used it as a finish it was just just another move than. Tag to Rick and he works the arm. Eaton to the eyes. Body slam by Eaton and he head to the top. Rick up and gets Eaton in the electric chair. Steiner line off the second rope by Scott. Anderson in and he eats some right hands. Meeting of the minds for the champions. Rick off the second rope. Low blow by Eaton and the referee misses. Tag to Anderson. Quick tags by the champions each working over Rick a bit and tagging out. Hammer lock by Eaton on the ground. Rick back up with Elbows. Anderson blind tags and hits Rick with a clothesline for two. Veritlce suplex is blocked in comes Eaton but Scott is in as well. Over head belly to belly by Rick on Anderson and a vertical suplex by Scott on Eaton. The referee forces the partners out.

Anderson off the second rope into a stenier line. Tag to Scott. Big back body drop by Scott and he hits a ventricle suplex for two. Front face lock by Scott. Anderson with a knee and punches but Scott fires back. Anderson slams Scott's head into Bobby. It hurt Bobby but does allow Anderson to stop Scott. Knee drop by Anderson for two. Tag to Eaton. Body slam by Eaton. Bobby to the top rope and hit knee drop. Scott kicks out at two. Double A back in and gets a DDT for two. Boston crab by Anderson. Eaton uses is foot to help. Rick comes in but distracts the referee. Tag to Eaton. Anderson keeps the hold allowing Eaton to hit an elbow. Camel clutch by Eaton but Scott powers towards his corner. Eaton seeing what is going on drops the hold to cheap shot Rick. Scott tossed over the rope. Anderson with cheap shots. Back break er by Anderson on the ramp.

Rockert launcher by the champions on the ramp. The idea is cool but actually the moves doesn't look good. I think because Eaton coudln't extend like normal since he didn’t want to fly off the ramp. Scott rolls to the floor and gets rammed into the guard rail. Scott blocks another one and rams Eaton around. Cheap shot by Eaton and back into the ring. Tag to Anderson. They want to send Scott into Eaton's knee but Steiner blocks it and sends Anderson in instead. Tag to Rick and its house of fire time. Flying Steiner line on Anderson and on fore Eaton. Rick sets for a super over head but on Eaton. Anderson with the save. Dooms day cross body attempt by Rick catches Eaton and slams him for two. Steiner bulldog off the top. Eaton with the save. Scott in after Eaton. Madusa passes powder to Anderson and Rick is blinded. Rick with a suplex on the referee thinking it's Anderson. All four men brawl and Anderson sent to the floor. Scott with a Power bomb on Eaton. New referee out. Franken Steiner 1 2 3. The Steiner Brother get the titles and start to celebrate. Out comes a third referee. Nick Patrick the senior the referee and rules Rick and Scott have been disqualified for the suplex on the referee. Its a very good match with all four men working hard. The logic is solid here through the match. Some may hate the finish but I get it. You set up for a big rematch down the line.

We get our preview for Wrestle War 92 advertising there will be a War Games. Back from that Ross and Ventura talk about he finish of the last match. Ventrua says the Steiner should have been disqualifed for hitting the referee. Ross also points out Scott and Eaton weren't legal. I do like the fact the announcers are defending the call of the referee instead of just bitching about it.

Backstage Missy is back out front of Steamboat's locker room. She say there was a lot commotion earlier but the Ninja is back in front of Steamboat's door. The Ninja looking a little fatter knocks and a very focused Steamboat exits. Tony and Eric talk about the US title match. Bischoff picks Steamboat to win. Tony calls Rude the Impact Player and picks him. Now as I said earlier the stuff with Madusa and the Ninja was meant to set stuff up for the US title match. Problem is well we already saw Madusa return to the show be just fine.

WCW United States Championship Rick Rude (c) vs. Ricky Steamboat with The Ninja- Rude has manged to win the title from Sting and kept it thanks to Heyman and Madusa. Steamboat had returned and started a feud with Rude. Dangerously and apparently Madusa is banned from ringside even though it was just Paul E. that was mentioned. Rude tries to do his usual per-match stuff but the fans boo to loud. In a smart move Rude keeps stooping only getting the fans to boo more. The Ninja is supposed to be some mystery man Steamboat has brought in to watch his back. Lock up and they break after netehr man gets the advantage. They try and again and they go back and for the spinning on the ropes. Rude tires a cheap shot on a break but gets caught. Leap frog and arm drags by Steamboat that are picture perfect. Steamboat picks Rude up by the throat and holds him in the air. Rude driven face fist into the mat and than an arm bar. Back heel kick by Steamboat than back to the arm. Steamboat drags Rude over the corner and wraps his arm against the ring pole. Arm drag back to the arm bar by Steamboat. In a nice touch Ross explains that attack the arm can take away the Rude Awakening. Ventura complains about Steamboat cheating. Ross reminds Ventura about Rude attack him with an award and whipping with a belt. Punches by Rude to finally get free. Kicks and forearms by Rude. Roundhouse kicks by Steamboat he ducks a wild punch and get back to the arm bar. .

Hammer lock lam by Steamboat and than a fist drop before returning to the arm bar. Rude is free and swings wild and take a cross body that gets one. Steamboat arm drag and get the arm bar. Chops by The dragon. Rude goes for a crossbody both men hit the ropes awkwardly. Stomps send Steamboat to the floor. Rude follows him out and drops him on the guard rail. On the apron Rude hammers Steamboat in the chest. Suplex back into the ring by Rude. Exchange of blows by both men. Clothesline by Rude but he used the bad arm and he is hurting. Neck snap into a chinlock by Rude. Jessie gives tips on how to cheat using the hold. Headlock now by Rude but Steamboat back to his feet. Kick to the face by Rude and again he uses the bad arm on a clothesline. Ross calls that a mistake. Ventura points out it was a natural reaction given the fact Steamboat was on the left side. Rude drops Steamboat throat first on the ropes. Swinging neck breaker by Rude than the piledriver covers arrogant and Steamboat kicks at two. Belly to back suplex by Rude and he covers again. I assume Steamboat rolls the shoulder problem is the camera just makes it look like the referee stopped counting. Neck snap back to the headlock by Rick Rude. Steamboat power Rude into the air and works the knee. Figure four by Steamboat. Rude gets the ropes. Steamboat drags Rude to center and for it again. Rude kicks Steamboat into a the corner and this a clothesline to the back of the head.

Rude off the top with a right hand. Snapmare and Rude back to the top and hits the back than a short clothesline. Cover by Rude only gets two. Back to the chin lock by Rude and it looks really bad it's clear Rude isn't putting pressure. Ventura says Rude is making a mistake not going for the Rude Awakening. Knee to the gut by Rude into a the camel clutch. Steamboat powers up and hits the electric chair. Ross stars acting like Steamboat invented that counter. Exchange of punches. And they both goes for a leap frog and they hit in the air. Rude into the sleeper and he has the hooks in. Steamboat starts to fade. Arm down once but not a second time. Steamboat powers up and free. Rude into a head lock but Steamboat gets free and gets his own sleeper. Rude drops out and breaks the hold. Rude back to the top rope and Steamboat kicks the leg out. Superplex by Steamboat. The Dragon covers 1 and 2, Rude kicks out at two. Clotheslines by Steamboat. Enzigurit to the back by Steamboat and he mocks Rude's hip swivel. Back body drop by The Dragon and than a diving clothesline for two. Steamboat just tosses Rude into the air. Rude just flops face first. The Dragon will fly with a Karate Chop off the top. Steamboat over the corner. The Ninja on the apron and hits Steamboat the a massive cellphone wrestling fans have seen before. Rude covers for the 1 2 3.

Very good match. It did have some minor issues such as way to much arm work just using the arm bar early and Rude using the bad arm way to often. Ross and Ventura helped to cover certain issues at times. Although Ross started to piss me off by saying “You don't see this hard hitting style anywhere else.” Which I found funny given both these guys had long runs in the WWF. I like the result given Sting was about to win the world title having Rude keep the US title and the spot as number one contender makes sense. Hell Dusty Rhodes who was booking had plans for Rude to challenge Sting. The finish though is mixed. It doesn't help the spot where the Ninja chased after Madusa came before we saw Dangerously and Madusa come out for the tag title match. Plus the Ninja using the phone just gives it away it's Dangerously. Why not have him just trip Steamboat or something?

Post match Rude celebrates. Ross yells it was Dangerously. Ventrua says maybe the Ninja wasn't getting paid enough and if it was Paul E than he's brilliant. Tony and Eric discuss. Eric says it reminds him of an old saying a snake is most dangerously when you think it's dead. Tony says we don’t' know since we never saw the Ninja unmasked. Backstage Missy goes into the Rude dressing room and a we see Paul E unmasked in the ninja outfit. You know it hits me WCW gave away some good story right there. Instead of it being Paul E. you could have started a new feud for Steamboat. Or you could at the very least do some weeks of Steamboat trying to prove it was Dangerously so he can get a rematch. Ross is upset why Ventura just calls it brilliant. Time to start hyping the world title match. Ross asks about Lugar not appearing. Ventura says you got to wrestle to keep your endurance. Both agree the longer the match the better it is for Sting.

WCW World Heavyweight Championship Lex Lugar (c) with Harley Race vs. Sting- At this time WCW always would do ranking and being US champion meant you the number one contender to the world champion. When Sting was US champion Cactus Jack and Abdullah the Butcher both appeared and attacked him coming out of “gift” boxes. At the Clash of Champions the final gift box had Madusa in it distracting Sting allowing Lugar to attack him and injury his leg before the match with Rude. This led to Sting losing his title and set the idea Lugar didn’t' want to face Sting. Sting than won battle bowl earning a title shot. Ventura and Ross say Lugar has bulked up since his last appearance. In a nice touch Ross points out Lugar beat Sting for a Rookie of the year award and that just a year before they were tag team partners. Ross also bring up the Crockett Cup win and there friendship over the years. Lugar paces refusing to face Sting even after the bell ring. Sting jaws at Lugar as they stare down. Lugar starts to reply. Would help if we could hear what they are saying as they goes on way to long. It helps the fans are really excited for this match but it just to men talking. Finally Lugar gets made and shoves Sting. Sting shoves him back. Lock up and the fight over it. The ref breaks it up when it's in the corner. Lugar yells at the referee. Lock up and Lugar hits a knee and than forearms. Lugar charges into the corner and misses. Irish whip by Sting and the Stinger splash. Lugar right out with a clothesline and knocks Sting down. Ventrua puts that over as begin big which it should be. Sting just hit one of his trademark moves and Lugar took like it was nothing. Power slam by Lugar and he calls for the rack.

Sting escapes and hits a German suplex. Sting gets the rack on Lugar. Lex escapes. Lugar goes for a back body drop but Sting sees it coming and hits a jump DDT. Lugar rolls to the floor. Race checks on his man. Race up and gets on the apron distracting Sting. Lugar trips Sting and pulls him out. Sting blocks Lugar and than sends into the guard rail. Back in the ring Sting uses his boot to choke Lugar. Back body drop by Sting and he covers for two. Scorpion Deathlock is in but Lugar gets the ropes. Lugar begs off and the referee wont' let Sting attack since Lugar in the corner. Thumb to the eye by Lugar and than he runs the eyes on the ropes. Kicks to the stomach by Lugar. Punches to the gut by Lugar. Sting with a choke and the referee fores the break. Low blow by Lugar on the break behind the refree's back. Interesting Ventura says that iss a bad sign that Lugar is already this desperate. Inverted atomic drop by Lugar. Gorilla press slam by Lugar. Race calls for the piledriver. Lugar hits it. Lugar covers and Sting kicks at two. Elbow drops by Lugar. Lugar covers and Sting kicks at two. Ross and Ventrua point out Lugar isn't hooking the leg. Sting with punches chops and kicks takes over. Lugar driven face first into the mat. Sting rubs Lugar's face into the mat and than onto the ropes. Sting drops Lugar onto the ropes hard.

Sting scratches the back of Lugar. Punches the face by Sting. Sting charges and Lugar ducks. Sting over the top to the floor. Lugar sends Sting rips fist into the guard rail. Lugar has the referee. Race tries to pile drive Sting. Back body drop by Sting. The Stinger to the top Lugar isn't looking thinking Race has it handled. Cross body off the top by Sting for the win out of no where. You know I want to like this match. I'm a big Sting fan and feel Lugar never gets his due. This match has strong points but its a let down. The jawing at the start does give way to a pretty intense open. I would compare to boxing fight where both guys are throwing hay makers early on pressing the action. But than it just slows down and never picks back up. Hell even the finish just seems like a let down. Sting pretty much controls the match so there is no “YES!” Moment when he does when it.

Ross calls Sting the better man and says he dominated Lugar. Maybe the match was set up this way because Lugar was leaving and WCW wanted to make him look weak. Lugar just gets up and walks out hell he's standing as Sting is being handed the title so he's not selling the finish. Sting celebrates and holds the belt aloft. Ventrua says Sting proved he was the best. We cut back to Sting still celebrating and bowing to the fans. Ventura says plenty of men are in line. Ross and Ventura predict anyone in the top ten are dangerous. For some reason we keep seeing Ross and Ventrua instead of staying on the champion. We close with Sting waling up the ramp as fireworks go off.

Overall Superbrawl II is a good show. But it doesn't feel great. I think a lot of that has to do with the world title match and change not feeling big enough. It also doesn't help we got some logic gaps with The Ninja stuff. Also you get a read lack luster period early on after the Liger and Pillman match. That said I do see some potential in this show. I should point out the Jim Heard era had ended with Kip Frye taking over. With Sting winning you have a perfect set up to give Rude a title shot. Booker Dusty Rhodes even filmed a segment with Rude confronting Sting. There is still plenty of potential in the tag and US title pictures as well. Sadly Frye's run wasn't in charge for long. Bill Watts was brought in and well plenty has been written about that time. Also that mean stuff Rhodes had set up got dropped in favor or Watts' plans.