WCW Worldwide 2/25/1996

Written by: Bob Colling

World Championship Wrestling presents Worldwide
Date: 2/25/1996
From: Orlando, FL

Matches:
1.) Public Enemy defeated American Males
2.) WCW Television Champion Johnny B. Badd defeated Disco Inferno to retain the title
3.) Dave Taylor & Earl Robert Eaton defeated Armstrong Brothers
4.) Shark defeated Dave Sullivan
5.) The Nasty Boys defeated WCW World Tag Team Champions Sting & Lex Luger by disqualification

Angle Developments/Notes:
1. As you can see above, every match above features notable names so it’s a rather strong show for Worldwide standards. Hopefully these matches provide entertainment.

2. Riggs and Rock started off the tag match with Rocco working over Riggs with a few strikes. Rock surprisingly countered a tilt a whirl with an arm drag. They have an awkward moment where they get stuck hugging each other. Riggs cleans house with dropkicks on Public Enemy. Bagwell is deemed “the better of the duo”, which is a good way to get the team over, right? Grunge enters and works over Bagwell briefly. Bagwell scoop slams Grunge and hits a splash for a two count. Grunge is getting worked over by the American Males. Public Enemy are able to get control over Bagwell after a knee to the back from the apron by Rock. Rocco misses a springboard moonsault from the middle rope. Riggs gets the hot tag and cleans house. Rock sends Riggs to the floor. Rock rolls through a top rope cross body but Bagwell breaks up the cover. Grunge punches Riggs on a roll up attempt and Rock pins Riggs to thankfully end this one. (1/2*. There were so many mix ups in this match that it’s incredible. Two teams that do not mesh well at all. Rock and Riggs especially had a hard time finding any kind of chemistry.)

3. Disco Inferno comes to the ring with gold rings that spell DDP. Inferno scoop slams Badd early on but they trade arm drags. Disco manages to drop Johnny throat first across the top turnbuckle. Badd nearly rolls Inferno up for a win. Inferno stops Johnny with an elbow to the throat. Johnny knocks Inferno out of the ring with a left hook and hits a somersault dive onto the floor. Badd hits a slingshot splash from the apron into the ring for the win. (*. Nothing too great of a match. The constant pin attempts works after a long period of action, not after three minutes.)

4. Backstage, Mean Gene is with the American Males, who lost a match just minutes ago. Gene names all the elite teams that it includes the American Males, apparently. Riggs thinks their future is so bright that they need to wear shades. They cut a promo on Public Enemy, whom they just lost to. Bagwell says his title win as the American Males was the best moment in his career. 1996 is going to be the year of the American Males.

5. Shark demands competition and not Dave Sullivan. Dave opens up with a flurry of right hands and avoids a splash in the corner. Sullivan clotheslines Shark, who falls down rather easily. Dave misses a splash in the corner. Shark hits a power slam and an elbow drop. Shark wins after a side slam. (DUD. A quick squash match to put Shark over.)

6. The main event started during the break. Sags works over Luger with a few stomps but Luger drops Jerry with a leaping forearm smash. Knobbs knees Lex from the apron and Sags plants Lex with a piledriver! Knobbs gets the tag as does Sting. Knobbs hammers away on Sting with right hands but Sting runs over Knobbs with clotheslines. Sting comes off the ropes but misses a splash as Knobbs gets his knees up. Luger and Sags are back in the ring with Lex working over Sags. Sags hits a running clothesline in the corner on Luger. Brian gets a near fall after a snap suplex on Lex. Sting gets the tag but Knobbs avoids a dropkick and clotheslines Sting. Sting gets hammered on by the Nasty Boys in the corner. Knobbs big splashes Sting but can’t get a three count. Sags slams Sting and goes to the top rope. Sting gets his boot up to hit Sags right on the chin. Knobbs and Luger get the hot tags and they go after each other. Luger cleans house with clotheslines. Lex drops Knobbs with a power slam. Sting bulldogs Sags and misses a Stinger Splash. Knobbs drives Lex face first into the canvas but Jimmy Hart comes out to distract Knobbs. Lex and Sting have been disqualified. (*1/2. An odd finish to the match. I’m not sure why they had to do a DQ finish for the Nasty Boys. The match was average at best but nothing overly great happened.)

Final Thoughts:
Considering all the top talent on the show, this one failed to deliver top quality matches. The show still went by faster because of the people involved, but it was also a disappointing show as there was potential to have a strong showing.

Thanks for reading.