Written By: Bob Colling
World Championship Wrestling presents Clash of the Champions XXVII
Date: 6/23/1994
From: Charleston, South Carolina
A video hyping up the title unification match between Sting and Ric Flair opens the show. Other matches are hyped up as well. Also, Hulk Hogan’s debut in WCW is mentioned.
Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan and Mean Gene hype up the main event between Ric Flair and Sting. They also talk about the appearance of Hulk Hogan later on. Heenan believes that Sherri Martel will be Hulk Hogan’s manager.
Opening Contest: WCW World Tag Team Champions Cactus Jack/Kevin Sullivan defeated the Nasty Boys to retain the titles: Jack and Sags start the match and they beat the crap out of each other in the corner with Jack getting the upper hand. Sullivan and Knobs come in and Knobs is knocked down by the champs. Sags is met with a double clothesline and the same happens to Knobs. The challengers bail to the floor as the champs play to the crowd. Sullivan and Knobs are now the legal men and Sullivan hammers away on Knobs until Jack and Sags come in again and brawl. Sullivan works on Knobs but is met with a big boot as Sullivan makes his way to the corner. Sags and Knobs are rammed into each other by Sullivan, twice and Jack is power slammed by Sullivan off the top onto the Nasty Boys! Knobs sends Jack face first into the corner and delivers several right hands. Jack tries to fight out of the corner but is sent across the ring. Jack comes back with a big boot and a running clothesline for a near fall. Sullivan tags in and works on Knobs arm with a few elbow strikes. Jack comes back in and kicks Knobs arm a few more times. Sags tags in but is met with a back elbow from Jack for a near fall. Sags low blows Jack knees Jack on the side of the head a couple of times. Jack avoids a backdrop with a boot to Knobs gut and tags in Sullivan. Sullivan drops Knobs with a right hand and gets a two count. Sags tags in and punches Sullivan in the ribs and drops a leg across Sullivan’s chest. Knobs pokes Sullivan in the eyes and rams Sullivan into Sags boot. Sags tosses Sullivan to the floor and Knobs gets a few shots in form the apron. Knobs comes off the apron connecting with a double axe handle. Sags misses a knee drop coming off the ropes and Jack tags in. Jack meets Knobs and delivers several right hands and a forearm smash. Jack head butts both Knobs and Sags. Jack clotheslines Knobs over the top to the floor and avoids a charging Sags who falls to the floor as well. Jack springs off the bottom rope but misses a back splash and hits the guard railing! Sags tosses Jack shoulder first into the ring post and connects with a back suplex on the floor! Knobs misses a splash in the corner and both Jack and Sags go down following a double clothesline. Sullivan tags in and cleans house with right hands on both Sags and Knobs. Sags and Knobs go to the floor trading right hands. Knobs hits Dave Sullivan on the floor and Dave goes after Knobs with his crutch until Sags attacks Dave! Back in the ring, Jack DDT’s Knobs and is able to get the three count! **½
Mean Gene interviews WCW International Champion Sting. Sting assumes that everyone has heard what happened on television last week. Sting believes he knows it was Ric Flair and says that mind games will get you nowhere. Sting proclaims that he will eat Flair up and spit him out.
A video promoting the Guardian Angel. He was the Boss until April when his handcuffs and nightstick were taken away from him.
Second Contest: The Guardian Angel defeated Tex Slazenger: Angel wins the squash match in under two minutes following a side slam. NR
Backstage, Jimmy Hart and Hulk Hogan have arrived to the arena.
Third Contest: Lord Steven Regal defeated WCW Television Champion Larry Zbyszko to win the title: Regal with several forearm shots and sends Zbyszko to the apron where Regal continues to stomp the champ. Regal uppercuts Zbyszko in the corner and continues to kick the champ down. Regal drops Zbyszko with another uppercut and head butts Zbyszko in the midsection followed by a uppercut for a near fall. Regal controls Zbyszko with more uppercuts and slaps Zbyszko several times. Zbyszko comes back with several punches a kick to Regal’s midsection. Zbyszko backs Regal in the corner and hammers away on Regal. Zbyszko tosses Regal over the top onto the ramp way and tosses Regal back into the ring. Regal regains control with a leg takedown and attempts a butterfly suplex but Zbyszko counters with a backdrop and almost wins the match. Zbyszko takes Regal over with a vertical suplex and gets a two count. Zbyszko goes for and plants Regal with a pile driver but Regal kicks out! Zbyszko with a swinging neck breaker and gets a couple of near falls. Regal backs Zbyszko into a corner but doesn’t do anything. Zbyszko with several forearm shots but Regal comes back with several uppercuts and a knee drop. Regal has a sleeper hold on Zbyszko but Zbyszko starts to get to his feet. Regal stops Zbyszko with several forearm shots and gets a two count following a uppercut. Zbyszko has a body scissors locked in and rakes Regal’s eyes. Regal head butts Zbyszko to break free from the body scissors. Regal with a jumping knee strike and continues to deliver several uppercuts. Zbyszko comes back with a bear hug and drops Regal to the mat where he goes for a Boston crab but Regal rolls through and uses the ropes for leverage to regain the title! *½
Mean Gene is with Dustin Rhodes and Arn Anderson. Gene asks Anderson to answer if Anderson will team with Rhodes at Bash at the Beach in July. Anderson says that the old Arn Anderson would be teaming with Rhodes if he were to team with Rhodes. Anderson expects to get hurt real bad, they may get fined, and they may get hurt permanently. Anderson ends up saying that he will be Rhodes partner. Rhodes says that the whole world stands behind himself and Anderson. Rhodes also believes that no tag team can stand in their way.
Fourth Contest: Johnny B. Badd defeated WCW United States Champion Steve Austin via reverse decision: Before the bell, Austin slaps Badd but Badd doesn’t do anything because Austin still has the belt in his hands. Badd jabs Austin a few times but doesn’t connect. Austin gets the upper hand with a few chops to back Badd into a corner. Badd avoids a backdrop and starts to chop Austin in the corner. Badd runs into a back elbow and Austin taunts the fans. Austin tosses Badd to the floor but Badd yanks Austin to the floor and rams Austin head first into the apron. Badd with a wrist lock and Austin drops to his knees. Austin chops Badd but isn’t able to break the grip of Badd. Austin is sent into the ropes and Badd dropkicks Austin followed by a arm drag. Badd is yanked down by the chair but gets up and dropkicks Austin to the floor where Austin hit’s the railing. Badd heads to the top and knocks Austin down with a clothesline back in the ring for a two count. Badd drops a knee across Austin’s right arm a few times. Badd with a arm bar but is sent into the ropes. Badd shoulder blocks Austin but misses a left hook. Badd runs into a boot in the corner and Austin yanks Badd down by the hair. Austin drives his elbow into Badd’s upper back and Austin taunts Badd. Badd is sent into the ropes and nearly rolls Austin up for a upset win but Austin kicked out. Badd fights back with a few left hands but Austin kicks Badd down. Badd is sent into the ropes and comes off dropkicking Austin. Badd atomic drops Austin and takes the champ down with a head scissors! Badd with several punches and DDT’s Austin. Badd backdrops Austin and knees Austin in the corner. Badd with a running clothesline in the corner and scoop slams Austin. Badd heads to the top rope but is crotched by Austin. Austin hooks Badd for a superplex but Badd blocks it and drops Austin face first to the mat. Badd goes for a top rope sunset flip but Austin moves. Austin goes for the cover but Badd kicks out at two. Austin chokes Badd on the middle rope and misses a running attack. Badd knocks Austin down and gets a two count of his own. Badd hammers away on Austin in the corner until the referee pulls Badd off. Austin nails Badd with brass knuckles and rolls Badd up to win the match. **
After the match, a second referee comes down and shows the referee that Austin had used the brass knuckles. Badd rolls Austin up and the new referee counts the three. The belt does not change hands.
Hulk Hogan’s music hits and the fans give him mediocre baby face reaction. Hogan meets up with Mean Gene to cut a promo. Hogan knew that his fans would be excited that he signed with WCW. Hogan talks about being pumped up with being in “the WCW”. Hogan mentions being a former five time World Champion. Hogan mentions he needs to clean up his legacy and needs to prove that he is the best World Champion. Ric Flair shows up on the jumbo screen and tells Hogan that he has been looking for Hogan for a long time. Flair tells Hogan he will show Hogan why he is the greatest of all time. Hogan has been watching Flair’s moves for the past fifteen years. Hogan says that someday he will destroy Ric Flair.
Shaq and Hulk Hogan cut a promo awhile back and just repeated Hogan’s catchphrases.
Before the match, Sherri Martel comes down to the ring and reveals that she is wearing Sting’s face paint!
Main Event: WCW World Champion Ric Flair defeated WCW International Champion Sting to unify the titles: Sting shoves Flair down a few times out of a lockup situation. Flair with a shoulder block and yanks Sting down by his hair a few times but Sting kips up and backs Flair into a corner waving his finger but doesn’t do anything. Flair with a hammerlock but Sting reverses into one of his own. Flair briefly has a front face lock on Sting but Sting counters with a hammerlock. Flair is dropped to the mat and Flair walks up the ramp way to rethink what he is doing. Flair with a shoulder block but Sting is able to gorilla press slam Flair, twice. Flair rolls to the floor and flops down face first in front of Sherri Martel and flips out at the camera man! Flair begins to get in some fans face but the referee comes down and holds Flair back. Flair comes back into the ring and pokes Sting in the eyes as Sting wrenches on Flair’s arm. Flair chops Sting in the corner but Sting isn’t affected and hip tosses Flair followed by several running clotheslines sending Flair to the floor and Flair crashes into the guard railing. On the floor, Flair yells at some fans and stalls. Flair enters the ring and works on Sting with a few right hands to the face. Flair goes back to chop Sting but again doesn’t do anything to Sting. Sting wants more chops and hip tosses Flair. Flair gets up but is met with a dropkick. Flair avoids a second dropkick and drags Sting to the middle of the ring where Sting rolls Flair up and gets a two count. Flair shoves the referee and flips out as he almost lost. Flair chops Sting again but Sting comes back with right hands and attempts a Stinger Splash but Flair moves and Sting hit’s the corner hard! Flair tosses Sting over the top to the floor as the referee checks the time for Flair. Flair chops Sting effectively and drops Sting with a right hand. Flair drops Sting throat first across the top rope as Sting stands on the apron. Flair follows up with two knee drops as Sherri cheers on Sting. Flair covers Sting using the ropes for leverage but Sting kicks out at all the pin attempts. Flair yells at Sherri to sit down as she was trying to get the referees attention. Flair chops Sting in the corner again and connects with a back suplex. Flair goes for the figure four but Sting kicks Flair away. Flair misses a elbow but manages to connect on a second attempt. Flair locks in a sleeper hold in the middle of the ring. Sting fights out of the hold by ramming Flair head first into the top turnbuckle. Sting with a shoulder block and catapults Flair into the corner. Flair flops down face first and rolls to the apron. Sting is able to bring Flair back into the ring with a vertical suplex and gets a two count. Flair flips in the corner and Sting clotheslines Flair on the apron. Sting with a few punches in the corner until Flair fails a attempted atomic drop. Sting crotches Flair on the top rope and comes off the top rope with a superplex! Sting heads to the top rope and leaps off missing a splash! Flair with a vertical suplex but Sting quickly gets up and hip tosses Flair. Sting dropkicks Flair and press slams Flair as well. Sting clotheslines Flair over the top to the floor and Sting leaps to the floor looking for a crossbody but Flair moves Sherri in front of him and Sting knocks out Sherri! Flair kicks Sting from the apron and goes for a hip toss but Sting counters with a backslide and gets a two count. Sting is concerned about Sherri and Flair rolls Sting up from behind using the tights for extra leverage to win the match and to unify the titles! ***½
After the match, Sting is disappointed that he lost the match. All of a sudden, Sherri and Flair embrace. Sting decks Flair and turns his attention towards Sherri until Flair chop blocks Sting’s knee. Sherri leaps off the top splashing onto Sting a couple of times while Flair holds Sting. Flair dumps the referee to the floor. Flair low blows Sting and continues to beat down Sting until Hulk Hogan runs down and rips off his shirt. Hogan hammers away on Flair and goes for the big boot but Flair bails to the floor. Sherri sneaks up from behind going to hit Hogan with her purse but Hogan turned around in time. Hogan is slapped by Sherri and Flair pulls Sherri out of the ring. Hogan and Jimmy Hart check on Sting as Hogan theme music plays.
Hulk Hogan is being interviewed by Mean Gene. Hogan says he is going to tear Flair apart. Hogan says in two days he is going to bring a contract to Ted Turner and challenges Flair to a title match. Mean Gene can’t wait for Saturday Night as Clash of the Champions comes to an end.
End of show
My Take: The opener was fine brawl that would have been a lot better if it has been a street fight or something. Obviously, I know that you can’t have every match between those two teams have that stipulation but I am sure it would have been better. It’s not like they even had rules anyway, they just didn’t use any weapons.
The squash was just a squash so not much needs to be talked about. Though, I do find it funny that the Guardian Angel has been in WCW for less than a year and has already had a gimmick change. Oh well.
Regal/Zbyszko was extremely repetitive and fairly boring to be quite honest. Thankfully the belt is back on Regal so that he can move on and start defending the title against people who are more entertaining than Zbyszko.
Badd/Austin was a decent contest but the outcome was kind of dumb. I don’t know why they would do the aftermath and then not make it clear who won the match officially. It’s a shame that Austin would not be apart of WCW in a main role by November.
The promo by Hogan and the actual debut of him was done horribly I thought. Hogan is being pushed obviously as a mega baby face. Why on earth would you have Hogan debut in Flair country? Flair is naturally going to get a huge baby face reaction. I also thought it was pretty obvious that Flair was going to win the main event as they planted the seed of a Hogan/Flair match by having Flair cut Hogan off during his promo.
The main event was a very good match in my opinion. Flair and Sting work very good with each other and they delivered on the expected spots. This match also was the last time Sting would be considered WCW’s top baby face for several years. Flair and Sherri is a good combination and they had a good swerve on Sting. Especially by saving the reveal for after the match which is a rare thing nowadays.
Overall, the opening match and main event contest are the highlights of the show. I wouldn’t consider anything horrible but the rest was mediocre really. Check out the show for the main event.
Thanks for reading.