WRESTLING 20 YEARS AGO PODCAST

Listen to our March 1996 WWF podcast, reviewing the Shawn/Bret training montages, the Billionaire Ted segments and Wrestlemania XII.

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1) Training Videos  
The build for the babyface vs babyface Bret vs Shawn matchup at Wrestlemania was about two things – respect and conditioning. Hardly the most nuanced storyline but it made sense in the context. Video packages began airing profiling both men, including Rocky-style training montages for Michaels. The idea was nice, and Bret's shots across the bow were very good for the time (almost UFC-style).  If there was a weakness, Bret's chat was all about Shawn, but Shawn's chat was all about Shawn also. That may have been art imitating life, but was a miscommunication that perhaps could've been avoided. 

2) Pillman Is Back 
It didn't take long; the grand departure of Brian Pillman lasted all of a matter of weeks. The angle was still going, of course – Pillman's return was hidden from almost everyone... including the cameramen. So when he got into it with some people in the front row nobody was ready for the shot. It fit the "reality" level of the storyline, but like many things in this storyline was perhaps too clever for its own good.  

3) Piper/Goldust 
When Razor Ramon was suspended in mid-February for six weeks, ruling himself out of Wrestlemania, it left Goldust without a program for the show. Resting on Piper's acting history, the two were hastily paired into a program, and one that very quickly came off. Goldust cut a promo on the set of Piper's Pit, then the week followed we got a great in-ring promo exchange between the two. Piper hit that lovely middle ground of being able to knock his opponent down in a way that built them up. 

4) Bischoff Talking Shit 
By this stage, if you still think Bischoff has any credibility left as an announcer after six months of Nitro then I don't know what to tell you. Him plugging Pillman for the pay per view in theory at least made sense, but when Bischoff used the news about the suspension of Dennis Rodman as a hook to buy Uncensored because "he's been by Hulk Hogan's side before"... he was probably pushing things a bit too far.   

5) Geriatric Control Center 
The Billionaire Ted segments had been hit and miss. The ones where the WWF were trying to take political shots often fell flat, but when it came to good old fashioned jibes at WCW's on air product they had a far better success rate. While the ultimate conclusion would come at Wrestlemania, the Geriatric Control Center segment that aired on Raw (parodying Okerlund's PPV control centers) hit the nail on the head. "Will nightfall follow sunshine? I can't tell you about it on TV but call my hotline for this exclusive information". Fantastic.  

6) The Steiners Are Back 
I will write properly about the WCW tag team division below, but the Steiners return was a lovely surprise on the Nitro early in March. Once again a timely reminder that anything can happen on Nitro, and they wrestled a nice hard hitting match against the Road Warriors on their return. Of course, like all WCW tag team matches, it ended in a nefarious finish. But at this stage you can't win them all.  

7) Debuts (Mark Henry/Justin Hawk Bradshaw) 
File these under one for the future. You'd be forgiven for completely overlooking the debuts of the pair on Raw in March (even with the benefit of hindsight it's hardly that major) but Justin Hawk Bradshaw accompanied by Uncle Zebakiah won on debut – the JHB branding close to where he'd end up! As for Henry, he was still an Olympian just sat in the crowd. 

8) Tag Team WCW 
It's snuck up on us somewhat, but in the space of a few months WCW's tag division has been completely turned around. No longer is it about the American Males and Dirty Dick Slater & Bunkhouse Buck. With The Steiners, The Public Enemy, The Road Warriors, The Nasty Boys, Harlem Heat and the champs (Sting and Luger), there's reason to be optimistic and plenty of noteworthy matches for TV.  

9) Billionaire Ted 
The WWF urged anyone who shared their "concerns" about Ted Turner's potential power following the TBS/Time Warner merger to write to the chairman of the FTC... it would be fascinating to know if anybody actually did. The segments were growing a little tired and the ideas running a bit thin. This month it revolved around a TV Trivia show spotlighting some of Turner's more questionable quotes, and a mock boardroom with Ted in front of the FTC. 

10) Lex Luger 
Ah... a motivated Lex Luger. Luger's act continues to be one of the strongest on TV, floating between an outright heel and a tweener very nicely. His promos are picking up, and the opening segment where he did his full in ring entrance while The Giant and Loch Ness were brawling in the aisleway was top quality. His celebration after he won the subsequent match with Loch Ness by default (count-out) was also great. 

Listen to our March 1996 ECW podcast, reviewing ECW Big Ass Extreme Bash 1996. 

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ECW held a double-header "Big Ass Extreme Bash" pair of shows across two days firstly in New York and then the following day in the more familiar surroundings in the ECW Arena. While the tape released (that I'm reviewing this show from) only includes highlights from the event, the most important of which made their way onto Hardcore TV – the opening angle with Shane Douglas and Brian Pillman and the ECW debut of Chris Jericho against Cactus Jack both aired on TV in March. 

The second night at the ECW Arena featured the same crew in a similar set of match-ups, Jericho faced Taz and Cactus Jack (in his final appearance before joining the WWF) faced off against long time friend/foe Mikey Whipwreck – the pairings effectively swapping opponents. With New Jack returning, this show also marked as formal a "babyface turn" for the Gangstas into one of the promotion's primary acts.

New Jack Promo
After being accosted by a fan (who's actually New Jack's wife) we get an impassioned promo from the newly freed from prison New Jack, who said he never thought he'd miss anyone in his life, but he missed these "crazy, retarded mother fuckers in ECW. Fuck Eric Bischoff, fuck Vince McMahon WCW may be where the big boys play but this is where the real mother fuckers play". This was tremendous, New Jack playing the foul mouthed babyface is money already. Damian Kane comes out and gets his Headhunters a spot in the main event that's now a triangle tag match.
 
Bad Crew vs El Puerto Ricano and Damian Stone
Listless action that seems to go to a no contest as Brian Pillman walks out with Philadelphia Eagle Harry Boatswain. Pillman, talking to Joey Styles, says he's quite certain the rogue horseman is here. Douglas joins in the fun from the eagles nest, Pillman and Boatswain flee and Douglas comes down to the ring. Douglas says “it’s WCW vs ECW, and I say extreme wins”. Douglas attempts to rip off his shirt, but doesn’t quite make it and it ends up around his neck like a cape, he bemoans Hogan for that. Fans chant – "Pillman is a pussy." 

We get brief highlights of The Eliminators facing "The Dudley Clique" (in this case Buh Buh Ray and Hack Myers). Saturn hits a lovely Frankinsteiner on Buh Buh. Myers takes a total elimination and the Eliminators retain the titles.

Chris Jericho vs Taz (w/ Bill Alfonso)
Not the longest match for these two, clocking in at six minutes, but some nice back and forth in an even contest. Jericho busts out a lionsault, and his running-diagonal turnbuckle dropkick to the outside. After a Tazplex, Jericho starts selling a neck injury but says he is OK to continue, Taz locks in the Tazmission and Jericho submits – a decision then overturned Ito a DQ after Taz doesn't release the hold. A lot of post match carnage, including Pillman running scared of both Taz and Douglas – Pillman swan dived over the guardrail into the arms of Boatswain before making a hasty exit. We tease Douglas and Taz as a rivalry.

Juventud Guerrera vs Rey Misterio Jr in a (2 out of 3 Falls Match)
The previous night in New York these two did a two out of three falls match where Guerrera won 2 to 1, so no prizes for guessing what happened here (much like with their booking of Eddy Guerrero and Dean Malenko, one weakness they had with their booking of outside stars was never being brave enough to have one look definitively stronger than the other).
This match was great, tons of athleticism and a preview of what we would soon be seeing in WCW on Nitro. Guerrera took the first fall with a drag suplex, Misterio hits an impressive powerbomb to level it at 1-1. After this we actually venture outside, Misterio takes a powerbomb onto the hood of a car. We return to the ring, Misterio takes it with a reverse hurricanrana from the top, and piledrives Guerrera through the time keepers table afterwards.
 
Mikey Whipwreck vs Cactus Jack
A really good brawl this, and a great way for Cactus to sign off. For the first time as a heel in ECW he breaks out the apron elbow drop. Lots of action on the outsider, including a guardrail neck-breaker which looked fun. We get near the eagles nest, Mikey hits a splash off the top to the floor. Jack wins it in the ring with some chair shots and a piledriver onto a steel chair.

After the match Cactus hugs Mikey, then says “I’ve said some pretty outrageous things, and to have 99% of you give me this kind of reception makes it all seem worth it." Cactus makes it up with the sign guy, who has a sign that says “Keep Uncle Vince away from Dewey”. Cactus goes to praise the pair of visionaries and creative geniuses without whom ECW wouldn’t exist… he is, of course, on about Stevie Richards and the Blue Meanie. Cactus says if he has one last wish, it would be to strut out of the ECW arena. Very nice finale this.

The Pitbulls (w/ Francine) vs The Bruise Brothers (Ron and Don Harris)
An arena wide brawl that was particularly difficult to follow on television. The video, also, cuts out a chunk of the match, but see do see the Pitbulls hit a superbomb onto one of the Bruise Brothers, the Fabulous ones (Richards and Meanie) come out and Francine eats another superkick. The match seems to end in a no contest when Tommy Dreamer comes out wielding a plastic sling type thing he's been holding his arm together with as a weapon.
 
Sabu vs Big Titan
Another match that was truncated in the end, Titan is Rick Bognor (who will soon become Fake Razor Ramon in the WWF). Titan does a slingshot knee drop over the top rope to the outside, Sabu rolls off the table and Titan goes through it knee first which seems like a load of fun. Sabu ends it with a DDT onto a chair and an Arabian Facebuster for the win.
 
Shane Douglas vs Raven (w/ Kimona Wanalea, Stevie Richards and The Blue Meanie)
Raven is carrying a very legitimate injury here which, really, should stop him for working all together. As is we get a match with about as many shortcuts as you can imagine. We get a ref bump which opens up the floodgates for all manner of interference from the Fabulous Ones (Douglas gives both of them and Raven a belly to belly suplex) and the Harris Brothers. Raven ends it with a DDT to the chair. A fine effort but a serious question as to whether Raven was in shape to perform.

The heel beat down continues post match before Dreamer, and then Sandman come out to even up the numbers. We then get a very uneasy truce between the trio... Dreamer leaves and Scorpio comes out to argument with Sandman himself. Some fine storytelling here.
 
The Headhunters (w/ Damian Kane and Lady Alexandra) vs Too Cold Scorpio and The Sandman (w/ "Mommy" - aka Missy Hyatt) vs The Gangstas (New Jack & Mustapha)
ECW triangle match rules in effect – two teams start, the third come out a while later, elimination rules. Your usual ECW main event fare, lots of brawling and shenanigans and a shockingly not-awful top rope leg drop from Sandman. The Gangstas come out and put one of the headhunters through the timekeepers table, we then get all six people brawling on the outside. Sandman eats some unprotected chair shots before Too Cold Scorpio hits a 450 splash to eliminate the Headhunters. We soon get a powerslam/splash combo from the Gangstas and that's enough for the win.
 
Score Rating: 5/10
Go Back And Watch: Cactus Jack's match and promo is memorable (come to think of it, so was New Jack's). The Juventud Guerrera/Misterio match is excellent, and Taz vs Jericho is a good outing. But all in all a disappointing show – ECW walks a fine balance between wrestling/brawling and shenanigans and they missed it on this night. 

Listen to our March 1996 WCW podcast, reviewing Uncensored in full.

Subscribe to the podcast via: iTunes | RSS Feed | Email Newsletter
 

This was it, finally heels in WCW were claiming they were going to end Hulkamania at Uncensored – it's not like we hadn't seen this promo about five times already since Hogan arrived. The idea for Uncensored was their most preposterous yet, a triple decker "Doomsday" Cage, orginally slated for a 4 on 1 match then doubled in size to see Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage take on the "Alliance To End Hulkamania". A team including Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, The Taskmaster and Lex Luger and, if you believed WCW over the week prior – Brian Pillman and potentially even Dennis Rodman.  

Pillman's story between the end of Superbrawl and this show was either ludicrous or non-existent, depending on how much of ECW you follow. Having left the show, Pillman rocked up at ECW's Cyberslam event six days later, having been "fired" by that "piece of fucking shit" Eric Bischoff. The whole thing, of course, was a storyline, and after a program with Shane Douglas that didn't really go anywhere, Pillman returned to Nitro as part of an end of Nitro attack.  

Eleswhere, Ed Leslie's latest gimmick was the "Booty Man" (I've got no idea), he was pitted off against the former partner of his new admirer (Kimberly Page) in Diamond Dallas Page. While Page's set of matches with Johnny B Badd we're probably wearing a bit thin by this stage, Badd quit the company a fortnight prior to the show and so instead we got this pairing. 
And, with Luger inexplicably parachuted into the main event, the "Chicago Street Fight" that Luger himself instigated would be filled with the team of Sting and Booker T taking on The Road Warriors. The Steiner Brothers, who returned to WCW just a few weeks prior, would have to settle for a match on the pre show, and "Loch Ness" (aka Giant Haystacks) makes his only formal WCW PPV appearance after having appeared in the closing angle at Superbrawl. 
 
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Eddie Guerrero vs Konnan for the United States Title 
An impressive opening five minutes in front of a crowd that absolutely did not care about the ground work and rest holds in the match. Things picked up with a series of arm drags and Guerrero showing off some high intensity, high flying offense later in the match. Konnan set up Guerrero for the Razor's Edge, then turned it into a powerbomb in one of the moves that got one of the bigger pops. After all that, it ends with Guerrero going for a Thesz press then being "low blowed" (your guess is as good as mine) by Konnan while taking the move. Quite what the plan with the finish was I don't know, but it looked stupid.  Konnan picks up the victory. 


Lord Steven Regal (w/ Jeeves) defeated The Belfast Bruiser (Fit Finlay)
These two beat the piss out of each other, no other way of describing it. At one stage in the match, Finlay hits Regal with a closed left so heavy it broke his nose – Regal spent the remainder of the match bloodied and the commentary team pop, for once, sold the intensity. 17 hard hitting minutes with two guys who were very familiar with each other which ended in a slightly disappointing manner with interference from both Earl Robert Eaton and Squire David Taylor. Finlay wins by DQ, that was great. 


Col Robert Parker vs Medusa 
Well, it wouldn't be Uncensored without something monumentally stupid, would it? Parker and Medusa actually go for a collar and elbow tie up, which pops the commentators, Medusa sends Parker over after winning the test of strength, her smile a genuine reaction to the comedy of the situation. The match loses some steam after this (why would anyone be invested in this?) In the end Medusa goes for a German suplex with bridge, Dick Slater pulls her off the pin and Parker covers her for the three. 


Diamond Dallas Page vs The Booty Man 
Oh boy. SIXTEEN minutes this lasted. Too many rest holds that went on far too long – the match was really, really dull. Kimberley comes out in a cheerleader outfit dressed like the Booty Man, she's infatuated with him in a way that's really awkward. In the end she gets on the apron, DDP kisses her, Booty Man hits the high-knee (get it?) and wins the match. Awful - quite possibly the worst match we've covered since the podcast started. 
 

Loch Ness vs The Giant (w/ Jimmy Hart) 
So they sorta turned Loch Ness before this match, essentially saying he'd been flown over by Hart for the match against Hogan in the main event but Hart had gone back on that deal. Quite who or what thought this was a good idea I don't know, but at least it was short. One memorable moment in the match was Giant charging at Loch in the corner, he moved and Giant went right over the top rope to the floor. Giant ends it with a Hogan special: a soft big boot and and a leg drop, and that's the end of Loch Ness.  


The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) vs Booker T and Sting in a Chicago Street Fight 
Twenty nine minutes – a match so long that the Road Warriors blew up in so early they actually found a second wind down the stretch. I really enjoyed this match, a good old fashioned brawl where the lack of cardio of the LOD actually fit the story. It broke down quickly into a ringside brawl with chair shots, guard-rial shots and a ludicrous amount of low blows were used.  
Booker T had a great showing here, in amongst Sting and a legendary tag team he showed that he could belong at this kind of level, displaying his range of kicks. The match flat lined a bit in the middle but came strong at the end, Booker lead Animal to a backstage area where Luger and Stevie Ray were waiting, they ended up duct-taping Animal to a supporting beam so he was trapped. Ray comes out, hits Hawk over the back with a chair and Booker picks up the victory. Long match, but entertaining enough.  


The Alliance To End Hulkamania (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger, Meng, The Barbarian, The Taskmaster, Ze Gangsta And The Ultimate Solution w/ Jimmy Hart, Woman, Miss Elizabeth) vs Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage in a Doomsday Cage Match 
The whole show had been going on in the shadow of the triple decker cage that basically filled the space where the staging area would be. It actually looked quite demonic at times (particularly when they used some odd colour lighting to showcase it). The rules, that were never really explained, would see Hogan and Savage have to fight their way from the top section, through the two middle sections then, in theory in the ring that was on the bottom section (yes, they erected a ring specifically for this match on the staging area). As for Pillman and Dennis Rodman? Who knows. Ze Gangsta and The Ultimate Solution were two gargantuans who had been showcased on the Nitro prior to the show, and the Faces of Fear (Meng and Barbarian) were two late additions. 
What can you say about this match, honestly? Over 25 minutes of plodding, nonsensical action. Hogan and Savage brawled with Flair and Arn in the first compartment at the top, the floor so unsteady they couldn't really do anything beyond scrap. They made it down to floor #2, this time fighting off the Faces of Fear and Luger/Taskmaster. Hogan drags Taskmaster out of the cage onto the scaffolding area adjacent, Taskmaster ends up clinging ot the framing as Hogan threatens to kick him off of the 20ft drop. 
The match continued into farce in the final third, after it spilled into the actual ring – with Hogan and Savage going against Luger and Taskmaster, we eventually get back into the ring underneath the cage, where The Ultimate Solution and Ze Gangsta appear (and we get the reappearance of Flair and Anderson). This goes on for a few minutes, power gets involved, Luger decks Flair, Savage and Hogan escape before Savage remembers he might actually need to pin Flair to win the match. A proper mess.  
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Score Rating: 5/10 
Go Back And Watch: The first two matches are very good, the Sting/Booker T tag match I enjoyed more than most but it’s still a good story and a good showing for Booker. As for the main event… it’s batshit crazy but I think it needs to be seen.