Bringing in the end of summer, here's the first of my Fall Brawl reviews.
WCW FALL BRAWL 1995
Opening promo calls this PPV “
a continuous bombardment of excitement". Well fuck me, I better strap in.
Tony Schiavone & Bobby Heenan are commentating. They talk about The Giant running over Hogan's motorcycle with a monster truck.
United States Champion #1 contender match
Flyin Brian Pillman vs Johnny B Badd (Marc Mero)
Michael Buffer does the introductions.
A pretty slow and choreographed catch-as-catch-can start. Pillman is in the midst of changing over to his loose canon gimmick. Johnny B Badd shines here, incredibly smooth and consistent in the ring. He pulls off a beautiful sunset flip from the top ropes as well as a great top rope Frakensteiner. They go 30 minutes. Lots of changes in pace and various high spots. Odd ending with Badd pinning Pillman after a cross-body collision. Weird to see a half hour work rate showcase match start a PPV. Would have been a lot better in a different slot.
3.75/5 stars.
Cobra vs Sgt Craig Pitbull Pittman
Cobra's entrance theme is in Morse Code. Amazing.
Pittman repels down from the top of the arena on a rope like a commando. Someone from Pittman's platoon distracts Cobra in the ring. Pittman sneaks up behind Cobra and chokes him with a belt of bullets. For some reason the ref decides this is the signal to start the match. After a minute, Pittman makes Cobra tap with the Code Red, a cross arm bar. What.
0.25/5 stars
They play an amazing montage of
Paul Orndorff absolutely losing his shit in his dressing room by himself. Yelling and thrashing around, lost in the meaning of his own existence. Gary Spivey of the Psychic Companions Network enters the room. Orndorff can't fucking believe it. "GARY SPIVEY??" Spivey tells him his future. Tells him he needs to be Mr. Wonderful again. Orndorff says "I
AM Mr. Wonderful" in the mirror.
5 stars for this masterpiece. Bravo.
World Television Championship
Diamond Dallas Page w/ Diamond Doll and Max Muscle Vs (C) The Renegade, w/Jimmy Hart
This is the first time I've ever seen The Renegade. He appears to be a direct rip off of Ultimate Warrior, even down to his entrance music and sprinting to the ring. DDP's pink diamond get-up is pretty amazing. The Renegade can actually work a match. so he has that on Warrior at least.
DDP's presence is fantastic. He sells like a boss for Renegade. Mr. Muscles outside the ring on the hard camera looks disgusting in his bike shorts. Surprisingly acceptable match. Max Muscle interferes, DDP hits a Diamond Cutter for the win and title.
2.5/5 stars
World Tag Team Championships
Harlem Heat w/ Sister Sherri Vs
(C) Bunkhouse Buck & Dirty Dick Slater w/ Colonel Robert Parker
Black guys from Harlem Vs Southern good ol' country boys. Stevie Ray no-sells the shit out of them. Booker must feel bad and sells hard when he's tagged in. Heel isolation tactics by Buck & Slater as Stevie acts like a total dumb ass in the corner. Crowd boos intermittently, but only get excited when Colonel Parker and Sherri get into the second ring together and make out. Out of fucking nowhere the Nasty Boys run in and hit Slater in the head with his own boot. Harlem Heat get the pin and the tag titles. What.
1/5 stars.
Arn Anderson Vs Ric Flair
Tony Schiavone "This is not the cocky and arrogant Ric Flair", whilst Ric Flair is on camera spinning around in a feathered robe with fireworks going off behind him.
Lots of wrestlers in the seats to sell the importance of this showdown. Heenan compares it to Dallas vs The 49ers. Flair immediately starts bumping the very moment Arn hits him. Anderson goes to the mat and works Flair's arm relentlessly, great ring psychology. Ric comes back with a cheeky mix of chops and dodges, he even hits a top rope double axe handle to the outside. Very kicky punchy match, lots of fighting on the outside. It's back and forth the entire way through. There's a well done figure-four spot. Brian Pillman gets up on the ring apron and starts yelling at Flair and then kicks him in the head. Arn catches Flair in the ring and hits the DDT. Arn gets the pin for the victory. This gets lots of heat from the crowd, lots of boos. Looks like a heel turn.
3.5/5 stars. Great display of old school dubya cee dubya wrasslin'.
Hilarious Kevin Sullivan promo for the upcoming War Games match. I think the same person that did the Mr. Wonderful masterpiece did this.
War Games
Hulkamaniacs (Sting, Luger, Macho, Hogan) w/Jimmy Hart
Vs
Dungeon of Doom (Meng, Zodiac, Kamala, Shark AKA John Tenta) w/Kevin Sullivan
In a prematch promo, Sting is absolute coked out of his god damn mind. They all look hilarious.
Michael Buffer is back for introductions.
Crowd seems pretty hype for this. Sting and Shark are the first ones in the cage. Tenta appears to have tattooed a shark on his left bicep, overtop of the tiger he used to have on there...living the gimmick I guess. Zodiac in. Savage in. Kamala in. Shark is the only one really doing occasional wrestling moves. Luger in…big pop. Luger accidentally clotheslines Macho in the back, Macho gets upset and they start pulling each other's hair like two girls. Meng takes advantage and just lays out all 3 of them. Kamala takes a breather in the corner while this is all happening. Meng is the only one delivering a believable beat down. Hogan comes in as the final man. He immediately throws talcum powder in the faces of Meng, Kamala, and Zodiac, then bites Zodiac in the face. What a fucking cunt. Hogan puts Zodiac in a camel clutch, Zodiac submits. Hulkamaniacs win.
1.5/5 stars
As a stipulation, Sullivan has to face Hogan on his own after the match is over. Sullivan tries to book it to the back. The ref and security drag him back. Hogan mauls him around the cage. The Giant comes out and into the cage going after Hogan. Giant chokes him, grabs his head and..snaps his neck? Luger, Macho, and Sting make their way back out and chase Giant out of the cage. Commentators say he'll be heading to the hospital. Heenan laughs his ass off. Credits.