SUMMARY: APPROX. RUNNING TIME: 30:00 Min.
On June 20, 1992, this non-title ‘Iron Man Challenge’ occurred at the Mobile Civil Center in Mobile, Alabama for WCW’s Beach Blast ’92.
On one side is WCW U.S. Champion “Ravishing” Rick Rude, with his usual ‘Dangerous Alliance’ cronies (i.e. Madusa and manager Paul E. Dangerously – aka Paul Heyman) ‘barred’ this time from ringside. Opposing him is former NWA World Champion Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. The bout’s stipulation specifies that the wrestler accumulating the most falls within thirty minutes becomes the winner.
Prior to the bout, co-hosts Tony Schiavone and Eric Bischoff offer brief remarks. Seen at ringside are the commentators: Jesse “The Body” Ventura and Jim Ross.
Note: Steamboat’s then-wife, Bonnie, and their young son makes a customary cameo appearance coming down to ringside during his ring introduction.
REVIEW:
Supposedly injuring a caught off-guard Rude’s ribs, Steamboat dominates the first several minutes. Yet, an aggressive Rude still racks up multiple falls to gain a numbers advantage over “The Dragon.”
For some viewers, this gritty bout could be construed as dull or merely slow-paced, but what matters most is probably its last ten minutes. Demonstrating several flashes of their impressive in-ring chemistry, Steamboat and Rude save their best trading blows for the end. Hence, the suspense factor kicks in, as Steamboat is forced to race the clock and still remain conscious against Rude’s hard-nosed onslaught.
Including Ross and Ventura’s spot-on commentary, this non-bloody ‘Iron Man’ face-off concocts a welcome deep dive into WWE’s video archives. If anything, even with ex-WCW Champions Ric Flair and Lex Luger by then working for the rival WWF, it makes for great nostalgia. Specifically, this ‘Iron Man Challenge’ is proof enough that World Championship Wrestling (two years before Hulk Hogan’s vaunted arrival) still had several wrestling legends, who could deliver the necessary in-ring substance.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7½ Stars
