The show was based at Huntington Beach in California... that may have been its only redeeming feature
Listen to our July 1995 podcast, review Bash At The Beach and the latest developments in the Dungeon of Doom.
Subscribe to the podcast via: iTunes | RSS Feed | Email Newsletter
Subscribe to the podcast via: iTunes | RSS Feed | Email Newsletter
Four months after their last outing, we're finally onto the rematch between Vader and Hogan. This one will be inside a steel cage to keep the Dungeon of Doom out (Dennis Rodman is on hand, too). Elsewhere Randy Savage is getting his rematch in a lifeguard (lumberjack) match against Ric Flair, Meng faces Sting for the US Heavyweight Title, we have a triangle match for the tag titles and the Dungeon of Doom make their formal debut as Ugandan Warrior Kamala takes on Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Oh, and did I mention this show is literally taking place on a beach?
Hulk Hogan on the main event is being presented a Harley Davidson bike, out walks Paul Wight (aka the Giant and will eventually be known as "The Big Show"). He tears off his shirt, throws it at Hogan and says "REMEMBER THIS". Hogan, after some horrid acting, eventually establishes "that's Andre's" - and we're on our way to Wight being established as the son of Andre The Giant. Impossible to tell how many people are on hand for this one, although the idea there were “hundreds of thousands” is blatantly bollocks. Probably 6,000-7,000 at peak, although the crowd dwindled as the show went on and afternoon became early evening.
Sting vs Meng (w/ Col. Robert Parker) for the WCW United States Heavyweight Title Match
Booted out of the co-main event position to the opener was quite the demotion for Sting, as well as the US Title belt. This match delivered about as much as you would expect, following an incredibly methodical pace with Meng on top, before Sting slowly gained a foothold in the match. At one stage Meng gets Sting up for a powerbomb, but Sting reverses that into an hurricanrana. Sting eventually wins with a roll up, Road Warrior Hawk comes out to make the save as Meng attacks Sting post match. Not bad, but could have been more.
The Renegade (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs Paul Orndorff for the WCW Television Title Match
Renegade has the worst dropkick in wrestling, I can say that as a fact. WCW officials thought this was a “smart” crowd when they were booing Renegade after the match, but evidence suggests that it was just anti-Renegade, who’s just awful. Ordorff gets thrown to the outside, grabs some sand and throws it in Renegades eyes (ref Randy Anderson, preposterously, is supposed to have missed it). Renegade hits a belly to back suplex and that’s enough for the win. Mercifully not too long.
Kamala (w/ The Taskmaster) vs Jim Duggan
The in-ring PPV debut of the Dungeon of Doom was sadly a predictable one. Duggan, for all the bigger issues wrong with his position on the roster, at least has his schtick down. After a long bearhug, Duggan rallies and bodyslams Kamala, sets for his three point stance clothesline and hits it. Taskmaster goes for the distraction, and Zodiac (the latest gimmick for Butcher/Brutus Beefcake) comes from across the ring and nails Duggan with Kamala’s headgear. Not good.
Diamond Dallas Page (w/ The Diamond Doll and Max Muscle) vs Dave Sullivan
A small child offers the Doll some flowers, which doesn’t impress DDP. Dave runs out and attacks DDP with the flowers and the match went downhill pretty much from then on in. On the June podcast I said for all of the faults with these two having an arm wrestling contest, at least it wasn’t a proper match… I was right. The crowd start amusing themselves, despite Dave hitting a couple of suplexes. Eventually, Dave gets distracted by Max Muscle and DDP hits the Diamond cutter for the three count.
Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri) vs The Nasty Boys vs The Blue Bloods in a Triangle Match for the WCW World Tag Team Titles
Nobody really thought this one through, really. Four men on the outside, two in the ring, the match became very difficult to follow and very difficult to enjoy as the tags were too frequent to really stick. Regal took a lot of punishment in this one, taking a “pit stop” arm pit move from the Nasty Boys, followed by Knobbs sitting out on a sunset flip. Eventually, Sags back body drops Booker T onto Regal, covers them both by sitting on top of Booker T, but the ref deems that Booker T is the one who pinned Regal, so the Heat retain. Wasn’t really worth it, the Heat were just a few days away from losing the belts to Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater anyway.
Ric Flair vs Randy Savage in a Lifeguard Match
Unlike the WWF, who managed to do a lumberjack with about 30 men on the outside, WCW settled on a much more manageable and watchable dozen guys. That being said, this match was a tangible drop on Flair and Savage from the Great American Bash. At one stage Arn Anderson manages to sneak into the ring, nail Savage with a DDT and have it all go unnoticed by the ref. Eventually Savage hits a top rope elbow for the win. Probably the best match on the card, but that’s a low bar which these two will be disappointed they barely exceeded.
Hulk Hogan (w/ Jimmy Hart & Dennis Rodman) vs Vader in a Steel Cage Match For the WCW World Heavyweight Title
Your standard Hogan fare. Loses the advantage early on, kicks out of two Vader bombs, then slowly fights his way back into the match. After twice failing to hit the bodyslam, he does the third time. Hogan hits a big boot so weak that he may have missed Vader completely. Taskmaster and Zodiac run out but Rodman holds them at bay, Hogan drops the leg and goes to climb out of the cage. Vader follows him but gets knocked down and Hogan retains. Not great, not awful.
And that’s the end of the show. Well, it would be but we get a presented “argument” between Flair (out in underpants and a vest) and Vader and Arn Anderson. They’re not pleased Vader couldn’t get the job done, after they disappear Vader lays down the challenge that will ultimately see him face both of them in a handicap match at the Clash. They’re basically turning Vader face here, this is basically the first stage of it.
Overall Score: 2/10
Go Back And Watch: I’d be tempted to miss the entire show. If it wasn’t for the show being outside on a beach this show would have absolutely no redeeming features.
Hulk Hogan on the main event is being presented a Harley Davidson bike, out walks Paul Wight (aka the Giant and will eventually be known as "The Big Show"). He tears off his shirt, throws it at Hogan and says "REMEMBER THIS". Hogan, after some horrid acting, eventually establishes "that's Andre's" - and we're on our way to Wight being established as the son of Andre The Giant. Impossible to tell how many people are on hand for this one, although the idea there were “hundreds of thousands” is blatantly bollocks. Probably 6,000-7,000 at peak, although the crowd dwindled as the show went on and afternoon became early evening.
Sting vs Meng (w/ Col. Robert Parker) for the WCW United States Heavyweight Title Match
Booted out of the co-main event position to the opener was quite the demotion for Sting, as well as the US Title belt. This match delivered about as much as you would expect, following an incredibly methodical pace with Meng on top, before Sting slowly gained a foothold in the match. At one stage Meng gets Sting up for a powerbomb, but Sting reverses that into an hurricanrana. Sting eventually wins with a roll up, Road Warrior Hawk comes out to make the save as Meng attacks Sting post match. Not bad, but could have been more.
The Renegade (w/ Jimmy Hart) vs Paul Orndorff for the WCW Television Title Match
Renegade has the worst dropkick in wrestling, I can say that as a fact. WCW officials thought this was a “smart” crowd when they were booing Renegade after the match, but evidence suggests that it was just anti-Renegade, who’s just awful. Ordorff gets thrown to the outside, grabs some sand and throws it in Renegades eyes (ref Randy Anderson, preposterously, is supposed to have missed it). Renegade hits a belly to back suplex and that’s enough for the win. Mercifully not too long.
Kamala (w/ The Taskmaster) vs Jim Duggan
The in-ring PPV debut of the Dungeon of Doom was sadly a predictable one. Duggan, for all the bigger issues wrong with his position on the roster, at least has his schtick down. After a long bearhug, Duggan rallies and bodyslams Kamala, sets for his three point stance clothesline and hits it. Taskmaster goes for the distraction, and Zodiac (the latest gimmick for Butcher/Brutus Beefcake) comes from across the ring and nails Duggan with Kamala’s headgear. Not good.
Diamond Dallas Page (w/ The Diamond Doll and Max Muscle) vs Dave Sullivan
A small child offers the Doll some flowers, which doesn’t impress DDP. Dave runs out and attacks DDP with the flowers and the match went downhill pretty much from then on in. On the June podcast I said for all of the faults with these two having an arm wrestling contest, at least it wasn’t a proper match… I was right. The crowd start amusing themselves, despite Dave hitting a couple of suplexes. Eventually, Dave gets distracted by Max Muscle and DDP hits the Diamond cutter for the three count.
Harlem Heat (w/ Sister Sherri) vs The Nasty Boys vs The Blue Bloods in a Triangle Match for the WCW World Tag Team Titles
Nobody really thought this one through, really. Four men on the outside, two in the ring, the match became very difficult to follow and very difficult to enjoy as the tags were too frequent to really stick. Regal took a lot of punishment in this one, taking a “pit stop” arm pit move from the Nasty Boys, followed by Knobbs sitting out on a sunset flip. Eventually, Sags back body drops Booker T onto Regal, covers them both by sitting on top of Booker T, but the ref deems that Booker T is the one who pinned Regal, so the Heat retain. Wasn’t really worth it, the Heat were just a few days away from losing the belts to Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater anyway.
Ric Flair vs Randy Savage in a Lifeguard Match
Unlike the WWF, who managed to do a lumberjack with about 30 men on the outside, WCW settled on a much more manageable and watchable dozen guys. That being said, this match was a tangible drop on Flair and Savage from the Great American Bash. At one stage Arn Anderson manages to sneak into the ring, nail Savage with a DDT and have it all go unnoticed by the ref. Eventually Savage hits a top rope elbow for the win. Probably the best match on the card, but that’s a low bar which these two will be disappointed they barely exceeded.
Hulk Hogan (w/ Jimmy Hart & Dennis Rodman) vs Vader in a Steel Cage Match For the WCW World Heavyweight Title
Your standard Hogan fare. Loses the advantage early on, kicks out of two Vader bombs, then slowly fights his way back into the match. After twice failing to hit the bodyslam, he does the third time. Hogan hits a big boot so weak that he may have missed Vader completely. Taskmaster and Zodiac run out but Rodman holds them at bay, Hogan drops the leg and goes to climb out of the cage. Vader follows him but gets knocked down and Hogan retains. Not great, not awful.
And that’s the end of the show. Well, it would be but we get a presented “argument” between Flair (out in underpants and a vest) and Vader and Arn Anderson. They’re not pleased Vader couldn’t get the job done, after they disappear Vader lays down the challenge that will ultimately see him face both of them in a handicap match at the Clash. They’re basically turning Vader face here, this is basically the first stage of it.
Overall Score: 2/10
Go Back And Watch: I’d be tempted to miss the entire show. If it wasn’t for the show being outside on a beach this show would have absolutely no redeeming features.
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