Written by: Matt Peddycord
WCW Worldwide
August 17, 1991
Tallahassee, FL
The current WCW Champs were as follows:
World Champion: Lex Luger (7/14/1991)
U.S. Champion: Vacant (7/14/1991)
World Television Champion: Steve Austin (6/3/1991)
World Tag Team Champions: Vacant (7/18/1991)
U.S. Tag Team Champions: The Patriots (8/12/1991)
World Six-Man Tag Team Champions: Dustin Rhodes, Big Josh & Tom Zenk (8/5/1991)
Magnum TA is continuing to do his job as a “broadcast journalist” and find out what the HECK Lex Luger is doing with Harley Race and why he’s got such an attitude change. Today, he’s going to meet up with Lex Luger’s old pal Sting on “Straight Talk with the Boss”. Hopefully, we’ll actually get some answers this week!
Your hosts are Tony Schiavone & Magnum TA!
- The Young Pistols vs. Rip Rogers & Sam Cody
If Sam Cody is going to remain being a wrestler, he at least needs to get a shirt on. It’s GROSS. The Pistols put Cody away pretty quickly with the DEAD-EYE DEVICE (doomsday dropkick device). (1:36) There’s no getting up from that.
- Sting vs. Harley Watkins
Like nice guys ALWAYS do, Sting mocks the jobber and gives him a Stinger Splash before applying the SCORPION DEATHLOCK. (1:36) Wow, these guys aren’t getting paid by the hour today.
The WCW Top Ten for August 17-18!
10. Bobby Eaton [same]
9. Dustin Rhodes [same]
8. Diamond Studd [^1]
7. Johnny B. Badd [v1]
6. El Gigante [^1]
5. WCW World TV Champ Steve Austin [v1]
4. Sting [same]
3. Nikita Koloff [same]
2. Ron Simmons [same]
1. Barry Windham [same]
WCW World Heavyweight Champ Lex Luger
The Steiner Brothers promo: Scott thanks all the fans for their cards and letters and lets everybody know that he totally like tore his bicep, but he’ll be back in no time. Rick begins to ramble on about what his parents told him not to do and then brings up the Hardliners. He puts on some Terminator-esque sunglasses and says, “We’ll be back.” I guess that would be topical humor in 1991.
- The Hardliners vs. Kenny McGuire & Mark B
Yes, the guy just has a letter B for his last name. You know the drill – the Hardliners work on the arms of these jobbers until McGuire gives up during a Fujiwara armbar. (2:49) Almost a three minute match!
The WCW Patriots have a PSA for us! Don’t play with matches, kids! Adults can play with them and get burnt all they want to, but you kids need to stay away from them.
- WCW World Television Champion Steve Austin (w/Lady Blossom) vs. Robert Gibson
Johnny B. Badd and Teddy Long come down before the match starts to ask Gibson if he wants to give his title shot to Johnny since his knee is so banged up, but of course he refuses. Badd and Long hang out around ringside to cheer him on, signaling Johnny’s face turn. Austin pays too much attention to Badd at first and gets rolled up for 1-2-NO! Austin fires back and stomps a mudhole in the corner, but Gibson gets an inside cradle for two. Austin goes after the hurt knee, but Gibson kicks him off into the corner during a figure-four attempt. Another Gibson cradle gets two. Enziguri kick from Gibson puts Austin on the floor in front of Badd. Badd badmouths him, so Austin comes up swinging and gets counted out to give Robert Gibson the win. (2:25) Badd and Austin roll around on the floor punching each other, but it’s Badd who gets in the KISS THAT DON’T MISS. The crowd doesn’t seem sure what to think about all this. ½*
It’s time for “Straight Talk with the Boss” with special guest Sting! He says he’s looking forward to the US Title tournament in the Omni and looks forward to hopefully taking on Nikita Koloff in the finals. He asks Sting about Luger, but Sting says he doesn’t know. They’re close buddies, but he has no idea what’s going on with Lex? Well that was extremely pointless.
- Ron Simmons vs. Morgis the Maniac
Morgis looks like an extremely creepy trailer park guy who happens to wear karate pants. Morgis attacks from behind and then gets punished for attacking Simmons from behind. Simmons gives him a bunch of falling headbutts and finishes with a SPINEBUSTER. (2:33) Crowd seems pretty bored during that squash. Hmm.
- Nikita Koloff vs. Bob Starr
Nikita goes on in a pre-taped promo about wanting Sting in the US title tournament, but he doesn’t even show up for it and takes a sabbatical from WCW to go and run his gyms in North Carolina. Another jobber tries to jump a guy from behind, but it ultimately fails and gets him drilled with a SICKLE. (1:14) Another short squash in a long string of them. Starr gets the cobra clutch after the match.
Next week, the Freebirds and Badstreet take on Tom Zenk, Bobby Eaton and Big Josh for the WCW Six-Man tag titles!
From a recent episode of World Championship Wrestling, we see the Enforcers confronting the Freebirds during a US tag title defense. Bottom line is, they want a tag title shot!
- The Enforcers vs. Bobby Eaton & Big Josh
Josh holds on tight to a headlock on Zbyszko to start. He charges at Zbyszko in the corner, but Arn pulls Larry out of the way just in time. The Enforcers isolate Josh a bit, but Josh comes back with a whip reversal into the corner on Larry. It’s short-lived though as the Enforcers take back control. Josh counters a chinlock with a back suplex on Arn, but can’t make the tag until he avoids an elbow drop and rolls right into his corner. Bobby does okay until he gets double-teamed and that’s when the Freebirds walk down to ringside. The Freebirds pull the top rope down and let Bobby fly out to the floor so they can go toe-to-toe with the Enforcers. We’re out of time! (around 6:00) They completely ignored Eaton and Josh except to get rid of them, which is odd considering the Freebirds have a six-man tag titles match against them next week. Enforcers worked a good match by cutting the ring off and stuff until the Freebirds came down to ruin everything. *½
Final Thoughts: Just a bunch of squash matches and buildup for the US title tournament on August 25. The Freebirds/Enforcers feud just seems like a lame idea. Luckily, it didn’t go on for long. Next week’s show looks to be a good one, so stay tuned!