SUMMARY: APPROX. RUNNING TIME (EDITED): 1 Hr., 38 Min.
On December 29, 1991, from the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia, World Championship Wrestling (having separated from the National Wrestling Alliance) produced this annual Starrcade Pay-Per-View.
For this particular Starrcade, there would not be any singles matches nor any title defenses. Instead, WCW’s gimmicky ‘Battlebowl’ concept would first pair twenty random tag-teams by an open draw. These makeshift teams must then prevail in one of ten qualifying elimination matches to enter the 20-man, two-ring battle royal main event.
Starting in the first ring, nineteen ‘Battlebowl’ competitors gradually shift over to the second ring. The first ring’s ‘winner’ remains behind awaiting the second ring’s last wrestler. In order to claim the Battlebowl victory, these two last combatants will then face other in an over-the-top-rope showdown.
This show’s on-screen presenters are Eric Bischoff, Missy Hyatt, and the inaugural ‘Battlebowl’ commissioner, Magnum T.A., as they draw and announce the tag team pairings. Initially appearing in front of the backstage curtain, WCW’s roster is then seen being summoned from two opposing locker rooms. At ringside are announcers Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone.
The show’s 40-man roster consists of:
- WCW World Champion “The Total Package” Lex Luger (with Harley Race)
- WCW U.S. Champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude (with Paul E. Dangerously aka Paul Heyman)
- WCW World Television Champion “Stunning” Steve Austin
- WCW World Tag Team Champions Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat & “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes
- Sting
- Ron Simmons
- The Fabulous Freebirds: Michael “P.S.” Hayes & Jimmy “Jam” Garvin
- The Wild-Eyed Southern Boys: Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong
- Marcus Alexander Bagwell (a rookie “Buff” Bagwell)
- Van Hammer
- Big Josh
- Richard “Ricky” Morton
- Thomas “Tommy” Rich
- The Enforcers: Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko (with Madusa)
- El Gigante
- Jushin Thunder Liger
- Bill Kazmaier
- Mike Graham
- Diamond Dallas Page
- Terrance “Terry” Taylor
- Tom “Z-Man” Zenk
- “Flyin’” Brian Pillman
- Abdullah the Butcher
- Cactus Jack (Mick Foley)
- The Patriots: Todd Champion & Firebreaker Chip
- Buddy Lee Parker
- “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton
- Mr. Hughes (Luger’s on-screen bodyguard)
- The Steiner Brothers: Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner
- Big Van Vader
- Nightstalker (Bryan Clark), as a substitute for Scott “Diamond Studd” Hall (also present)
- Johnny B. Badd
- Arachnaman (aka Brad Armstrong)
- “Rapmaster” P.N. News.
Notably absent are Barry Windham and Nikita Koloff, as is ex-WCW World Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (whose abrupt dismissal mid-summer led him to join the World Wrestling Federation).
Due to the show’s truncated video release, some matches appear in their entirety; several are highlighted; and one is inexplicably omitted. However, including the competitors’ catwalk-like entrances, the main event is shown intact.
MATCHES:
- COMPLETE MATCH: Hayes & Smothers vs. Garvin & Bagwell (12:45)
Winners: Garvin & Bagwell.
2. HIGHLIGHTS: Austin & Rude (with Dangerously aka Heyman) vs. Big Josh & Hammer (12:56)
Winners: Austin & Rude.
3. HIGHLIGHTS: Zbyszko & El Gigante (with Madusa) vs. Rhodes & Morton (5:54)
Winners: Rhodes & Morton.
4. COMPLETE MATCH: Liger & Kazmaier vs. Page & Graham (13:08)
Winners: Liger & Kazmaier.
5. OMITTED: Taylor & Zenk vs. Luger (with Race) & Anderson (10:25)
Winners: Luger & Anderson.
6. COMPLETE MATCH: Cactus Jack & Parker (with Abdullah’s interference) vs. Steamboat & Champion (7:48)
Winners: Steamboat & Champion advance.
7. COMPLETE MATCH: Sting & Abdullah vs. Eaton & Pillman (5:55)
Winners: Sting & Abdullah.
8. HIGHLIGHTS: Rick Steiner & Nightstalker vs. Vader & Hughes (5:05)
Winners: Vader & Hughes.
9. HIGHLIGHTS: Arachnaman & Badd vs. Scott Steiner & Firebreaker Chip (11:16)
Winners: Steiner & Chip advance.
10. HIGHLIGHTS: Simmons & Rich vs. News & Steve Armstrong (12:01)
Winners: Simmons & Rich.
MAIN EVENT: BATTLEBOWL (25:10). The winner subsequently challenges the WCW World Champion at February 1992’s SuperBrawl II.
Note: On December 28, 1992, at The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia, Starrcade ’92: Battlebowl – The Lethal Lottery II included a similar format.
REVIEW:
In retrospect, Koloff, Windham, and Flair lucked out. Even if they had participated, it would have made little to no difference bolstering Starrcade ’91’s bland content. Ross and Schiavone invariably telegraph the main event’s build-up as yet another Sting cliché-fest — paralleling the WWF’s depiction of Hulk Hogan during that era.
Despite some mild intrigue impacting the show’s oddball tag-teams, frankly nothing occurs that generates must-see viewing — even for a die-hard WCW fanbase. Case in point: with only two more shows to go before his early 1992 WCW exit, Luger’s boredom as its World Champion is readily evident. Supporting players, like Steamboat, Pillman, Simmons, Liger, Eaton, Rick Steiner, and even Garvin, at least, try to energize the audience – in spite of the lackluster in-ring action.
The 20-man Battlebowl itself (which resurfaces on the WWE’s Best of Starrcade DVD set) is, at best, okay entertainment. Some fun face-offs include: Sting vs. Rude; Steamboat vs. Anderson; Luger vs. Sting; Rude vs. Steamboat; Simmons vs. Luger; Austin vs. Sting; and even a rare Luger vs. Vader. WCW’s considerable star power, otherwise, is squandered throughout an unremarkable Pay-Per-View. Even Abdullah’s brutal assault on Parker before his tag match against Sting fails to muster interest.
Further, a few eye-rolling gimmicks (i.e. Brad Armstrong’s ‘Arachnaman’ phase) mimicking the WWF looked stupid then and have aged even worse seeing them now. The most tone-deaf offense is failing to include any surefire title match as an added attraction to help anchor this show. It’s simply a gaping hole that WCW’s elite players can’t divert attention away from fans. All this show does is wearily continue stirring the pot, so to speak, towards the Battlebowl’s ultra-predictable conclusion.
Despite a veritable surplus of pro wrestling icons, Starrcade ’91 makes for quickly forgettable viewing.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4 Stars
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