Category: TV Series

SUMMARY:                       RUNNING TIME: 12:19 Min.

Recorded for the WCW Main Event TV series, this WCW World Championship bout occurred on August 2, 1992, in Baltimore, MD.  With a previously-scheduled Sting now ‘injured,’ a random lottery of eight contenders’ names sets up Ron Simmons getting a historic World title showdown vs. champion Big Van Vader. Vader’s ringside advisor is the legendary multi-time NWA World Champion Harley Race. 

Included are post-match cameos by Barry Windham; Brian Pillman; Tom Zenk; Van Hammer; and Dustin Rhodes. The unseen commentator is Jim Ross. 

Note: Coincidentally, in the summers of 1990 and 1991, Sting and then Lex Luger scored their own first WCW World Title victories in this same city.

REVIEW:

Given it’s a pivotal first in pro wrestling’s mainstream history, this slugfest exudes 34-year old Ron Simmons at his best.  The brawny, hard-working Simmons looks superb in the ring with the monster-sized Vader, whose own strength and mobility are plausibly daunting. 

With all of the raw power involved, it’s no surprise that the bout itself is relatively short.  Still, with Simmons absorbing several of Vader’s best shots and vice-versa, the outcome is electrifying.  Suffice to say, fans won’t be left disappointed.    

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                           8 Stars

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SUMMARY:                                RUNNING TIME: 9:42 Min.

Recorded for a WCW Monday Nitro in Charlotte, NC, the bout occurs on December 15, 1997.  Representing the New World Order (NWO) is “Macho Man” Randy Savage and his manager/ex-wife, Elizabeth.  The opposition is Harlem Heat’s Booker T. The Nitro announcing team consists of: Tony Schiavone, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, & “Iron” Mike Tenay. 

Notes: The match’s length includes Savage & Elizabeth’s entrance.   

REVIEW:

To some degree, this bout serves up slightly above-average TV-caliber wrestling, with its most welcome element being a conclusive finish in lieu of the usual NWO interference garbage.  Yet, what’s even better is seeing Booker T (in his youthful prime) and a 45-year old “Macho Man” trade off several of their signature moves.  The wildcard, of course, is Elizabeth playing Savage’s deceptively meek valet in a corrupted take on her glamorous WWF persona. 

To Savage’s credit, much like in his lengthy feud against Diamond Dallas Page that same year, he doesn’t hesitate selling a solo Booker T as a future main event star.  Booker, for his part, lives up to this prime-time opportunity. For fans of Booker T and a still-spry Randy Savage, this match shouldn’t disappoint anyone.      

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         6½ Stars

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SUMMARY:                                  RUNNING TIME: 13:08 Min.

Taped in either December 1987 or January 1988, this non-title TV main event appeared on NWA World Wide Wrestling at an undisclosed arena.  On one side are NWA World Tag Team Champions Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson representing the nefarious Four Horsemen; notably, J.J. Dillon isn’t present for this bout.  Opposing them are the new NWA U.S. Champion: “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, and the NWA World TV champ: “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff, again appearing as ‘The Super Powers.’ 

Tony Schiavone & David Crockett are the match’s commentators.  NWA World Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and vengeful ex-U.S. Champion Lex Luger appear in late cameos. 

REVIEW:

Though there’s a predictable cop-out finish, the reliable fireworks pitting these teams against one another is still terrific NWA television.  The late plot twist re: Flair and Luger is an added bonus.  Nicely played!     

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       7 Stars

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SUMMARY:                           RUNNING TIME: 9:39 Min.

Taped in Memphis, TN, the approximate date of this CWA grudge match is sometime in 1984.  With his supportive father, Angelo Poffo, at ringside, “Macho Man” Randy Savage is the flamboyant babyface going up against his ultra-arrogant nemesis, “Ravishing” Rick Rude.  Rude is managed by Savage’s ex-crony, Jimmy “Mouth of the South” Hart. A potential wildcard is “King Kong” Bundy, as he is Rude & Hart’s over-sized enforcer.

Lance Russell & Randy Hales are the ringside commentators.

REVIEW:

Watching Savage briefly pursue a galloping Hart away from ringside is likely this brawl’s top highlight.  Still, Savage and Rude’s can’t-miss chemistry is such a treat that it’s disappointing this match doesn’t go fifteen minutes or more.  More so, the late-80’s WWF missed a golden opportunity not booking this match-up in a high-stakes feud for a fiery Savage’s WWF World Title, when both were both in their absolute primes. 

Fans will get a fun showdown (and a decent finish) here, but it certainly leaves one wanting more.       

Note: Newspaper documentation exists advertising Rick Rude challenging Savage at least once for his WWF Championship (in this instance, shortly after the 1988 Survivor Series).

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                    6½ Stars

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SUMMARY:                                 RUNNING TIME: 21:33 Min.

Taped in early July 1993, this WCW Saturday Night TV main event evidently occurs in an unidentified Central Louisiana arena.  On one side is NWA World Champion Barry Windham, who tags up with the obnoxious WCW World Tag Team Champions “Stunning” Steve Austin & Brian Pillman – ‘The Hollywood Blondes.’  Comprising ‘The Horsemen,’ their opposition is multi-time NWA/WCW/WWF World Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and their new recruit: Paul Roma. 

Supposedly occurring two weeks prior to the next Pay-Per-View, this grudge bout is a warm-up for two pivotal Beach Blast ’93 title matches: a resentful Windham vs. his ex-mentor/partner Flair; and The Blondes vs. Anderson & Roma.  Tony Schiavone & Jesse “The Body” Ventura are the match’s commentators.

REVIEW:

Despite Roma and Pillman not contributing much, the other four combatants are absolutely on their game.  On-and-off rivals Flair & Windham and ex-Dangerous Alliance members Anderson & Austin salvage a clichéd finish with exceptional chemistry.  It’s hard to imagine The Horsemen as babyfaces, but viewing the bout as heels vs. heels makes this six-man tag match an unexpected treat.   

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     7½ Stars

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SUMMARY:                          RUNNING TIME: 5:32 Min.

Taped in January 1991, for the syndicated WWF Superstars TV series, this title match’s location isn’t identified.  Pitting former champion “Texas Tornado” Kerry Von Erich against two-time WWF Intercontinental Champion Curt “Mr. Perfect Hennig, it’s a rematch between second-generation stars.  The quick backstory is that Von Erich upset Hennig at SummerSlam 1990 for the Intercontinental Title before losing it back to him a few months later.      

With Bobby Heenan in Hennig’s corner, the unseen ringside commentators are “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Vince McMahon.  Piper & McMahon mention “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase’s interference in Von Erich’s title loss, as they imply the possibility that DiBiase might resurface during this rematch.  Also, Heenan’s desperation seeking reinforcements to help save Hennig’s title hints towards the Intercontinental Title match-up for March 1991’s WrestleMania VII.

REVIEW:

Given the minimal amount of time that Hennig & Von Erich are allotted, their star power at least ensures an okay TV bout.  Hints seen in this showdown suggest the Von Erich vs. Hennig feud still has potential, if given the chance.  For whatever reason, the WWF evidently didn’t trust them enough to conjure up a masterpiece worthy of their solo mid-to-Late 80’s primes. 

Ironically, a Heenan-related plot twist steals the match’s heat, but it’s a fun bit of business, nonetheless.  Too bad this title bout wasn’t given enough leeway to allow Hennig and Von Erich the spotlight their careers deserved.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                            5 Stars

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SUMMARY:                         RUNNING TIME: 11:58 Min.

Taped sometime in 1992, this WCW Worldwide TV match pits former NWA U.S. Champion “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff as the challenger to current champ “Ravishing” Rick Rude.  Rude is accompanied by Madusa.  The commentators are Tony Schiavone and Jesse “The Body” Ventura. 

The title bout segues into a mass locker room brawl before this video then switches to an apparently subsequent rematch already in progress.  Notably, this ‘rematch’ depicts Koloff with an apparently injured elbow and Rude’s valet, Madusa, now barred from the ringside.  The question is: does the deceptive Madusa show up, anyway?  

REVIEW:

Long before WCW inaugurated its Hulk Hogan era in mid-1994, the company could produce solidly entertaining, if not spectacular, wrestling that could compete with the rival WWF.  The in-ring chemistry of this Koloff-Rude/Madusa showdown is ideal proof, as both combatants live up to expectations.  Still, after the non-surprise of an inconclusive finish; ample compensation comes in the form of a briefly-seen, all-star locker room brawl. 

The added snippet of an apparent rematch-in-progress conveys the incensed Koloff-Rude brawl has returned to the ring.  A late plot twist is nefariously creative, as it surpasses the initial cop-out ending.  If anything, this bout is worthwhile nostalgia of what WCW once represented, in terms of a minimal-frills alternative to Vince McMahon’s glitzy WWF. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        7 Stars

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SUMMARY:                   RUNNING TIME: 3:39 Min.

Taped in January 1992 for the syndicated WWF Wrestling Challenge TV series, the arena itself isn’t identified.  In a warm-up bout supposedly ‘mere hours’ (or, more likely, days) before the 1992 Royal Rumble, a recently-reinstated Savage tangles with Hercules.  The match co-commentators are Gorilla Monsoon & Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.

Notes: Remarkably, this bout’s brevity even includes Savage & Elizabeth’s ring entrance.  The 1992 Royal Rumble occurred January 19, 1992, with both Savage and Hercules among the thirty participants vying for the vacant WWF World Championship.

REVIEW:

Back in late 1987, Savage (now a vibrant babyface) tangled with Hercules in a brief feud.  Come the 1988 Survivor Series, they were partners in the main event.  Then, it’s the reverse at the 1989 Survivor Series, as they face each other as bitter adversaries.  Any of these three past angles far, far surpass what fans get out of them in early 1992.

Star power only carries Savage & Hercules so far, as this ultra-brief showdown is a mere afterthought.  Though the ever-colorful Savage still looks terrific on-screen, his jobbing adversary is now a pale shadow of the ‘mighty’ Hercules fans saw in 1987-1989.  Suffice to say, their quick set-up for the big Savage elbow-drop is utterly unconvincing. 

Though Savage & Elizabeth fans will appreciate seeing the legendary duo prior to Elizabeth’s WWF departure a few months later, this half-hearted clash against Hercules effectively delivers next to nothing.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       2½ Stars

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