Category: Sports (TV & Videos)

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

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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

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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

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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

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SUMMARY:     RUNNING TIME: Approximately 25:00 Min.

Recorded live on May 17, 1992, for WCW’s WrestleWar ’92 Pay-Per-View in Jacksonville, FL, this showdown features these five-man teams:

• Sting’s Squadron: WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sting; Barry Windham; “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff; “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes; & Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat,

vs.

• The Dangerous Alliance: WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude; WCW TV Champion “Stunning” Steve Austin; “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko; “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson: & “Beautiful” Boddy Eaton.  Wielding his ever-present cell phone, wily manager Paul E. Dangerously (Paul Heyman) and a glamorous “Madusa” Miceli are at ringside.    

Back in 1987, Dusty Rhodes is generally credited with devising the War Games gimmick: a two-ring, roofed double-steel cage ten-man grudge match.  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 enjoys a repetitive handicap advantage until all ten 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.  Jim Ross is the sole commentator, as colleague Jesse “The Body” Ventura’s voice has been omitted for contractual purposes.

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:

While this slugfest sticks to reliable formula, some fresh twists (i.e. neither Anderson nor a Rhodes start off) are welcome.  Significantly, new recruits, such as Austin, Dustin Rhodes, and Steamboat, push themselves hard to entertain fans.  Bolstering the mayhem are reliable veterans Windham, Eaton, and Koloff, who know exactly how to play up their roles. 

Anderson & Zbyszko don’t contribute much, but Anderson’s presence deliberately instills some Four Horsemen nostalgia.  Last, but certainly not least, Sting and Rude exude their considerable star power at the right moments.  A brief stand-off between Madusa and Sting atop the double-cage is an added attraction, along with Paul E.’s shady cell phone antics. 

Yet, the match’s shock value belongs to the three Texas boys (Austin, Windham, and Rhodes) and their bloodshed.  Stars like Sting, Koloff, and Rude get off easy doing their schtick in limited screen time, but this Texan trio, by comparison, comprises nothing short of a gore-fest.  Windham’s bleeding will seem mild, as compared to a crimson-stained Rhodes.  Far worse off is Austin, whose considerable blood loss is jaw-dropping. 

Why WCW condoned such carnage on live TV straight through to its scripted finish is hard to fathom – a referee ordering stoppage would have been plausibly sane.  It’s a matter of pushing macho theater too far; more specifically, the match borders on unrepentant sadism.    

Still, considering how gutsy Austin appears, his level of grisly pride is a precursor to the brutal WrestleMania XIII bout he had against Bret Hart in 1997.  If not for the ridiculous bloodletting, this match is, otherwise, a gritty masterpiece.  More so, it’s a sign that WCW could move past the shadows of Ric Flair, and (to a lesser degree) Lex Luger – after these ex-World Champions had departed for the WWF/WWE.

Note: Consider this irony: only a few years before, WCW (or maybe it was really Ted Turner’s TBS) fired Dusty Rhodes for pushing excessive gore on television.  Go figure. 

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                             8 Stars

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SUMMARY:                               RUNNING TIME: 24:00 Min.

Recorded live on February 24, 1991, for the WCW’s WrestleWar ’91 Pay-Per-View in Phoenix, AZ, this showdown features these four-man teams:

• The Four Horsemen: WCW World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair; Barry Windham; Sid Vicious; & “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko (as Arn Anderson’s injury substitute) — with Arn Anderson at ringside,

vs.

• Sting; Rick Steiner; Scott Steiner; & ‘Flyin’ Brian Pillman.  El Gigante appears briefly to second their team.  

Back in 1987, Dusty Rhodes is generally credited with devising the War Games gimmick: a two-ring, roofed double-steel cage ten-man grudge match – this time, it’s only eight men.  The squads 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 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.  Rhodes & Jim Ross are the commentators, with Tony Schiavone as the ever-present time-keeper.

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:

For the first time since 1988, Ric Flair’s Horsemen are back in War Games – no wonder why this brawl’s entertainment value should have been a given.  Yet, the choice of such squeaky clean opposition (including no Road Warriors or other gritty wrestling heroes associated with cage matches) makes this slugfest forgettable about 75% of the time.    

Among the few highlights are a showdown pitting Rick Steiner vs. a bloodied Flair, and a tenacious Brian Pillman, in spite of a hyped shoulder injury, firing back vs. a very-bloodied Barry Windham, Sid Vicious, and Flair.  Recycling his patriotic 1990 Great American Bash attire (when he won the WCW World Title from Flair), Sting is in excellent form, as are Windham and Rick Steiner. 

Given the least screen time, it’s not surprising that neither Larry Zbyszko nor Scott Steiner do anything remotely impressive. As for the one-dimensional Vicious, simply put — his limited arsenal as a monster heel is on full display, including his sadistic ‘dismantling’ of the far smaller Pillman.

While the choreographed mayhem appears average (there’s only a few memorable maneuvers), its claim to immortality stems from the most plausible finish (take that for what you will) in War Games history.  Post-match comments from Ross, Rhodes, and referee Nick Patrick smartly add depth in a sharp deviation from this gimmick’s established formula.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   4 Stars

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SUMMARY:                                RUNNING TIME: 34:00 Min.

Recorded live on July 23, 1989, for the NWA’s Great American Bash ’89: Glory Days PPV from Baltimore, MD, this showdown begins with pre-match promos from both sides.  The combatants are:

• The Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal, with manager “Precious” Paul Ellering; “Dr. Death” Steve Williams; and The Midnight Express: “Sweet” Stan Lane & “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, with manager Jim Cornette,

vs.

• The Samoan Swat Team: Samu & Fatu, with manager Paul E. Dangerously (aka Paul Heyman); & The Fabulous Freebirds: Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy and WCW World Tag Team Champions Jimmy “Jam” Garvin & Michael “P.S.” Hayes. 

A few notable changes are made re: this two-ring, roofed double-steel cage ten-man grudge match.  First, the supposed coin toss occurs off-screen beforehand, so it’s announced which side will have the handicap advantage going in.  There’s also now an inside-the-ring camera, which proves a big boost to viewers. 

The teams still pit their initial two combatants in a five-minute one-on-one brawl before more teammates enter at two-minute intervals.  Once all ten men have entered the double-cage, there’s no escape, as the losing squad is forced to either submit or surrender.  Tommy Young is the main referee while Jim Ross & Bob Caudle serve as the 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.    

REVIEW:

This battle is worth the wait after lengthy pre-match promos, particularly with a grouchy Hayes mouthing off seemingly forever.  To its credit, WCW gambles on a mid-card War Games, and, considering the players involved, this underrated slugfest proves near-flawless.  One doesn’t have to stomach any gory blood-letting this time, and even some villainous humor is thrown in for good measure.

Another welcome element, along with the cool in-ring camera work, the match’s chemistry/heat/choreography is so remarkably good that its actual plotting seems much less predictable.  Part of that quality is attributable to long-time enemies Road Warriors and Midnight Express teaming up, let alone shifting the defunct UWF’s Williams/Gordy rivalry to War Games.  Some obnoxious tidbits from perennial motormouths Heyman & Hayes (along with a little straight-faced help from Tommy Young) add a touch of comedy to the constant mayhem.

Lastly, don’t turn click off the remote prematurely – as there’s a post-match beatdown.  Yet, considering one can’t get past a blocked cage door or climb in over-the-top, viewers might wonder why, in order to quickly save their pal, the irate teammates don’t storm the cage through the door on the other side.  Even if that idea is left unexplained, this segment concludes a well-played gem meriting re-discovery by wrestling fans.       

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                     8½ Stars

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