Category: TV Series (Specific Episodes)

SUMMARY:                                       RUNNING TIME: 17 Min. +

A full year had lapsed since the demise of World Championship Wrestling (WCW).  The triumphant WWE gradually incorporated the WCW on-screen personnel it wanted, including the original New World Order (NWO): “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, and Scott Hall.  For WrestleMania 18 at Toronto’s SkyDome, on March 17, 2002, the WWE’s ‘Icon vs. Icon’ match pitted The Rock vs. the legendary Hogan.  Amidst all the back-and-forth trash talking with The Rock, Hogan and his cronies were depicted as ultra-nefarious baddies out to put the WWE’s most charismatic star down permanently.  

Yet, as for the climatic showdown itself, even Hogan was humbled that SkyDome fans were loudly cheering his first WrestleMania in nine years.  The Rock’s own reaction proves stunning, particularly after Hogan is greeted with a post-match beatdown by superior numbers – a dubious WCW tradition. 

The commentators are Jim Ross and Jerry “The King” Lawler, with Carlos Cabrera and Hugo Savinovich as the WWE’s Spanish language announcers.    

REVIEW:

Suffice to say, this clash is much better than expected.  Evidently inspired by SkyDome (after 1990’s WrestleMania VI), the 48-year old Hogan cranks up his performance quality enough to share the same ring as The Rock.  While both adversaries are wildly cheered, what’s perplexing is whose side is the majority of SkyDome fans on.  Then again, does it really matter?  Packing this ego-driven showcase with flexing, finisher stealing, and egging on the crowd’s reaction, it’s an instance where the not-quite-wrestling is far more about sparking pure nostalgic emotion than any technical know-how.  Even so, Rock vs. Hogan is remarkably generous with its People’s Elbows and Running Leg Drops bringing the audience to their feet.  Above all, The Rock’s professionalism hiding an aging Hogan’s limited mobility is admirable.  The fact that their match doesn’t resort to cheap interference ploys, just for drama’s sake, says plenty.  

In the best possible way, however, the aftermath (improvised or not) surpasses their crowd-popping in-ring work.  Despite an eternity spent on the traditional ‘Hulk-A-Mania’ pose-down, fans ultimately score the finale they didn’t realize they wanted.  Not to mention, this showdown’s genuine magic easily overshadows the all-too-predictable Chris Jericho/Triple H Unified World Championship title match.  Courtesy of the mutual admiration society established between these two wrestling legends, the turbulent pro wrestling universe for the moment, finally rights itself. 

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:                    8½ Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

SUMMARY:                       RUNNING TIME: 25:04 MIN.

In a Pay-Per-View (PPV) rematch from 1994’s WrestleMania X, Shawn Michaels and Razor Ramon again face off in a ladder match for the WWE’s second most prestigious title.  Held at Pittsburgh’s Civic Arena, on August 27, 1995, more than 18,000 fans would witness live this high-profile I-C Championship clash on SummerSlam 1995’s undercard.

REVIEW:

Despite recycling almost every trick from their last encounter, this match still entertains and has its fair share of surprises – even for a match that is 25+ years old.  Re: the I-C Champ, “The Heartbreak Kid” gives a good performance.  However, inconsistency with his ‘injured’ leg, blatantly scripted spots, and two botched finishes makes this one a bit of a dud for Michaels.  As for Razor Ramon (aka Scott Hall), he puts on a clinic with good selling and a brutal beatdown of Michaels early on.  Ramon probably has the best performance out of any wrestler at this PPV, which helps this match feel fresh.

Plus, watch for the new ladder moves!  Moonsaults and mooning from atop the ladder by Michaels exhibits originality, as well as considerable risk, to ensure the big rematch equals their original WrestleMania X showdown. The only real issue with this bout, for better or worse, is that both Michaels and Ramon appear out of breath early.  It’s most likely due to their choreography being more brutally structured as a match involving a ladder rather than an actual ladder match.

For fans of either HBK, Scott Hall, or ladder matches, this one is definitely worth checking out, even if the stunts feel outdated by today’s standards.  Easily, this was one of Scott Hall’s best matches.  Michaels, too, gets great pops from the crowd, even when Ramon carries most of the match.

ROSCOE’S ODD MOON RATING:                 8 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

SUMMARY:                                RUNNING TIME: 22 Min.

Filmed at a Tokyo Dome house show in April 1990 (or possibly March 31, 1990), Bret “Hitman” Hart faces Tiger Mask II (Mitsuharu Misawa).  The bout doesn’t have a commentary track. The match is included on the WWE’s 2013 Bret Hart: The Dungeon Collection DVD and Blu-ray sets. 

Note: Tragically, both Hart and Misawa suffered abrupt ends to their in-ring careers. While Hart suffered a career-ending concussion vs. Goldberg at Starrcade 2000, the 46-year old Misawa died in mid-2009 from fluke in-ring injuries suffered during a match earlier that night in Hiroshima, Japan.

REVIEW:

One can appreciate that, as flashy as the outfits of Bret Hart and Tiger Mask II (Mitsuharu Misawa) seemingly are, they stick to all substance in the ring.  To their professional credit, neither of them – Misawa, in particular, relies on steroid-laden maneuvers to give fans a realistic, old school-style treat. 

Including a few mildly heel tactics, Hart is in vintage form, though the match’s leisurely pace is unnecessarily slow considering the caliber of these two guys.  The bottom line is that this rarely-seen bout is solid instead of spectacular entertainment. Had Jim Ross or even “Gorilla” Monsoon done a voice-over commentary track, it might have enhanced the fun factor. Either way, it’s doubtful that non-fans will find this match remotely interesting. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    7 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

SUMMARY:                             RUNNING TIME: 19:00 Min.

Recorded live on September 17, 1995, for WCWs Fall Brawl ’95 PPV in Asheville, NC, this showdown pits these four-man squads against one another:

• The Hulk-A-Maniacs: The Mega-Powers (WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan & “Macho Man” Randy Savage); Sting; & “The Total Package” Lex Luger, with Jimmy Hart.

vs.

• The Dungeon of Doom: Zodiac (aka WWE’s Brutus Beefcake); Kamala; Meng (aka WWE’s Haku); & Shark (aka WWE’s Earthquake), with manager “Taskmaster” Kevin Sullivan.   

Back in 1987, Dusty Rhodes is generally credited with devising the War Games gimmick: a two-ring, roofed double-steel cage street fight.  The teams pit their initial two combatants in a five-minute one-on-one brawl.  Occurring off-screen, a coin toss then determines a handicap advantage, as the other participants enter at two-minute intervals.  Hence, one side maintains a repetitive handicap advantage until all eight combatants are in. 

In the “Match Beyond” (featuring all eight wrestlers), there’s no escape, as the losing squad is forced to either submit or surrender.  Supposedly, Hogan will get a solo skirmish with Sullivan, should the Hulk-A-Maniacs prevail –even if they do, that footage is excluded.  The commentators are Tony Schiavone & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.      

In 2013, the WWE released this match as part of a collection of War Games matches (in DVD and Blu-ray formats) entitled WWE War Games: WCW’s Most Notorious Matches.    

Note: For more fun-and-games, there’s the 1996 WCW Uncensored’s Tower of Doom stacked triple-cage camp classic.  The legendary Mega-Powers go two-on-eight vs. the so-called ‘Alliance to End Hulk-A-Mania:’ Meng/Haku, The Barbarian, “Taskmaster” Kevin Sullivan, “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson, Z-Gangsta (aka WWE’s Zeus), “The Total Package” Lex Luger, WCW World Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair; & The Ultimate Solution (aka “Jeep” Swenson).   A newly corrupted Miss Elizabeth, Woman (aka Nancy Benoit), and Jimmy Hart accompany the villains.  Long derided as a mid-90’s WCW low, its comic strip choreography is still worth some laughs. 

REVIEW:

This underwhelming sluggish-fest falls short of fan expectations. In Saturday morning cartoon fashion, WCW devises its low-grade mayhem as a live-action rip-off of G.I. Joe-Meets-Challenge of the Super-Friends. Had this match occurred in 1988 against worthy opposition (i.e. The Four Horsemen), WCW would have scored the mega-coup of the industry’s Top Four ‘super-heroes’ in their prime teaming up.

Come September 1995, the rare Hogan-Savage-Luger-Sting quartet still exuded considerable star power, presuming all the players involved were on their game. The only detriment would then be the eye-rolling ‘forces of evil’ scraped together to face them. Sadly, only Savage & Luger’s brewing mistrust is what keeps this War Games from utterly stinking up the cliché factory.  Sting, undeservedly demoted to semi-main events due to the Hulkster’s presence, gets stuck taking the most lumps. 

Yet, what inevitably sinks Team Hulk-A-Mania is the it’s-all-about-me WCW World Champ himself.  The Hulkster, per his WCW norm, lazily contributes the least amount of work in exchange for the most self-entitled glory.  Considering the non-existent audience pop, wary fans are clearly resisting WCW’s ham-fisted efforts programming them to worship Hogan, as if it were still the mid-80’s. 

Rescued from unemployment, the buffoonish ex-WWE villains-for-hire (no surprise) phone this one in.  Even efforts from Heenan and Schiavone trying to bolster the one-dimensional script doesn’t help much.  For instance, pushing another of his all-too-stupid WCW personas, the ex-Brutus Beefcake contributes a putrid performance.  Other than showing up surprisingly svelte (at least, for them), Kamala and The Shark merely play sinister C-list henchmen.  It’s left to Meng/Haku to be a formidable threat – to his credit, consider it mission accomplished.   

As for the dubious in-ring work, the sole highlight is Sting and Shark amusingly trading ‘can you top this?’ between-ring leaps. Otherwise, this reviewer has witnessed far better choreography from his six-year-old playing with action figures. It’s no wonder why the 1995 War Games presents a prime example of Hogan’s WCW consistently pitching crummy main events for a fast buck.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        2 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

SUMMARY:                    RUNNING TIME: 25:25 Min.

Recorded live on September 18, 1994, for the WCW’s Fall Brawl ’94 Pay-Per-View in Roanoke, VA, this showdown features these four-man teams:

• “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes; “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes; & The Nasty Boys: Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags,  

vs.

• Terry Funk; Bunkhouse Buck; “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson; & Col. Robert Parker, with bodyguard Meng (aka the WWF’s Haku) stationed at ringside.

Dusty Rhodes returns to the gimmick he devised back in 1987: a two-ring, roofed double-steel cage grudge match.  This time, it’s booked for eight wrestlers instead of ten.  Per “Mean” Gene Okerlund’s recorded voice-over explaining the rules, the teams pit their initial two combatants in a five-minute one-on-one brawl.  A coin toss then determines a handicap advantage, as the other participants enter in two-minute intervals. 

Hence, one side will have a repetitive handicap advantage until all eight wrestlers are in.  For the subsequent “Match Beyond,” there’s no escape, as the losing squad is forced to either submit or surrender.  Tony Schiavone and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan are the ringside co-commentators.    

In 2013, the WWE released this match as part of a collection of War Games matches (in DVD and Blu-ray formats) entitled WWE War Games: WCW’s Most Notorious Matches.   

Notes: The match’s in-ring camera operator is Jackie Crockett. Also, the Rhodes faction here is a family affair, as Sags is actually Dusty’s brother-in-law.

REVIEW:

Resuming old-school War Games formula (i.e. a Rhodes & Anderson square off first for the umpteenth time), this mid-card slugfest is quickly forgettable. Yet, some moments aren’t half-bad.  For one thing, an ode to good taste unexpectedly occurs, as there’s no bloodshed.  Only a supposedly loaded boot and a makeshift pair of straps are scrounged up as weapons.  There’s also an effort towards humor, such as: Funk (intentionally or not) falling between rings, Dustin Rhodes spinning around an upside-down Anderson like a post-hole digger between rings, and lamely exaggerating Parker’s cowardice. 

Still, these players can only do so much, even with a fun commentary boost from Heenan & Schiavone.  If there is a MVP, it’s Dustin Rhodes for putting in the most resilient effort.  As for an unofficial MVP, that’s the menacing Meng/Haku, who would likely wipe out Dustin, Dusty, & the Nastys by himself.

This War Games is decent viewing, but purchasing it outside the DVD or Blu-ray set doesn’t make much sense. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                          4 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

SUMMARY:                           RUNNING TIME: 21:30 Min.

Recorded live on September 19, 1993, for the WCW’s Fall Brawl ’93 Pay-Per-View in Houston, TX, this showdown features these four-man teams:

• WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vader (with Harley Race); Sid Vicious (with Col. Robert Parker); & Harlem Heat: Stevie Ray & Booker T (aka Kole),

vs.

• Sting; WCW U.S. Champion “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes; “British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith; & The Shockmaster (aka WWE’s ex-Typhoon/Tugboat).

Back in 1987, Dusty Rhodes is generally credited with inventing War Games: a two-ring, roofed double-steel cage ten-man grudge match concept.  Now reduced to teams of four, the initial two combatants in a five-minute one-on-one brawl.  A coin toss then determines a handicap advantage as the other participants enter in two-minute intervals.  Hence, one side enjoys a repetitive handicap advantage until all eight men are in.  In the so-called “Match Beyond” (featuring all the combatants), there’s no escape, as the losing squad is forced to either submit or surrender.  Tony Schiavone is the commentator.

In 2013, the WWE released this match as part of a collection of War Games matches (in DVD and Blu-ray formats) entitled WWE War Games: WCW’s Most Notorious Matches.    

REVIEW:

In theory, there’s sufficient star power – at least, until the untalented Shockmaster enters the fray.  The fact that this supposed slugfest was meant to redeem his jaw-dropping WCW debut — the most laughably botched promo in pro wrestling history – inevitably dooms this War Games to failure.  In fairness, playing up his ‘injured’ ribs, Dustin Rhodes (who wrestles nearly twenty minutes without a boot after it’s turned into a makeshift weapon) does his best. 

Rhodes, unfortunately, gets too little help, as the other players, on both sides, are merely phoning it in.  Much to his own chagrin, in minimal screen time, future WCW World Champion Booker T/Kole gets shafted having to sell the ‘mighty’ Shockmaster (in clunky construction worker garb, no less) to unimpressed fans.  Hence, watching this battle’s finish is the equivalent of being stuck with the punchline to a pathetic joke.

A dubious bonus is the inclusion of some post-match complaining by the losers.  Ironically, hapless viewers can relate – they’re the ones who paid to watch this dreck.

Note: Industry nepotism might explain Shockmaster’s unlikely WCW push: he is an an in-law of the Rhodes clan.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    2½ Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE