Written by: Bob Colling
World Championship Wrestling presents Saturday Night
Date: 9/3/1994
From: Atlanta, GA
Matches:
1.) Dustin Rhodes & The Nasty Boys defeated Tex Slazenger, Shanghai Pierce & Big Bad John
2.) Jim Duggan defeated John Faulkner
3.) Diamond Dallas Page defeated Kenny Kendall
4.) WCW Television Champion Lord Steven Regal defeated Brian Armstrong
5.) Stars & Stripes defeated Bad Attitude
6.) WCW United States Champion Ricky Steamboat defeated Jean Paul Levesque to retain the title
7.) Alex Wright defeated Brady Boone
8.) Vader defeated Chris Michaels
9.) Brian Pillman defeated Steve Austin by disqualification
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Dusty Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes and the Nasty Boys are interviewed following their victory in the opening match. They say that we’ve just seen just a little taste of what will happen at War Games in two weeks at Fall Brawl for the Stud Stable. Knobbs says they were picked because they take a licking but keep on ticking. Dustin made a mistake and that led to a broken arm. He is no longer emotional and is now full of hate for Arn Anderson. They will get the Stud Stable in two weeks. Dusty Rhodes chimes in and talks about a young woman marrying an old man and saying not to get the old man started. Well, Col. Parker has gotten Dusty started, folks! Dusty has a surprise for Parker next week. Dusty doesn’t need a rocking chair. Stud Stable can not have their soul today.
2.) The angry trucker guy is in the front row yelling at Ricky Steamboat prior to his match. Again, the camera focuses on him so it’s a work.
3.) Steamboat backs Levesque into a corner but doesn’t take advantage and is instead shoved to the canvas. Steamboat keeps Levesque on the canvas with a headlock for a few moments. Steamboat skins the cat and ducks a clothesline leading to a rollup for a near fall. Levesque gets a few rights in but Steamboat chops Levesque before blocking a big boot and trips Levesque to the canvas. Steamboat catapults Levesque into the corner and connects with a back suplex for a two count. Levesque counters a back suplex with a right hand and soon delivers a hip toss. Levesque avoids Steamboat in the corner causing Ricky to hit the ring post shoulder first. Levesque works over the shoulder briefly causing Steamboat to deliver a clothesline. They go to the floor where Levesque sends Steamboat shoulder first into the ring post with a hammerlock. Levesque wraps Steamboat’s shoulder around the post. Levesque goes to the top rope and drops Steamboat’s arm across the top by dropping to the floor. Levesque continues to control the right arm but Steamboat drives his head to the lower midsection of Levesque after being kicked to the ropes. Levesque takes Steamboat back down to the canvas with an arm bar. Levesque slams Steamboat and delivers a hammerlock scoop slam. Steamboat counters a scoop slam with an inside cradle for the win. After the match, Levesque attacks Steamboat stomping on the shoulder of Steamboat. Levesque sends Steamboat shoulder first into the ring post again. (**. Glad that Levesque got some offense in and the focus on the arm wasn’t all that boring. The aftermath really shows me that WCW wanted to keep Levesque looking strong moving forward. Wonder if a Levesque/Steamboat angle could have been a plan long-term?)
4.) Col. Robert Parker, Arn Anderson, Bunkhouse Buck, Terry Funk and Meng, or better known as the Stud Stable are interviewed regarding Fall Brawl and the War Games match. Parker doesn’t seem all that worried about the surprise and thinks Dusty Rhodes might have gotten cold feet. Terry Funk wonders if Dusty has lost 25 pounds and says they can’t be surprised. Arn Anderson is a team player saying that is what it takes to be a winner in War Games. Meng is shadow boxing as the Stud Stable promise a beating for Dusty Rhodes and company.
5.) Kevin Sullivan and Dave Sullivan come out for an interview segment. Kevin tells Dave to not worry about Hulk Hogan. Kevin says either him or Cactus Jack will not be around anymore soon. Kevin slaps his brother and says that nobody else can do it. Kevin says Cactus crossed a line when he slapped Dave. Kevin is going to beat Cactus fair and square in the middle of the ring. Kevin says that Cactus has no guts if Cactus doesn’t meet him next week on Saturday Night. Kevin slaps Dave again for questioning Kevin.
6.) Austin avoids Pillman at the start of the match bailing to the floor. Austin complains of a hair pulls when he’s backed into the corner. Austin continues to complain about a hair pull any time Pillman as the advantage. They slap each other with Pillman knocking Austin to the canvas and he bails to the floor again. Austin returns to the ring and controlled Pillman with several strikes. Pillman stops Austin with a sleeper hold but Austin gets out of it and puts a sleeper on Pillman until a jaw breaker breaks the hold. Pillman goes to the top but gets crotched by Austin. Austin takes Pillman off the middle rope with a superplex for a two count. Austin comes off the ropes with a knee drop. Pillman chops Austin but a kick to the gut stops Brian. Pillman counters a power bomb with a hurricanrana and attempts a splash but Austin gets his knees up. Austin leaps off the middle rope but gets dropkicked in midair! Pillman chops Austin a few times followed by a head scissors. Pillman is fired up and chops Austin in the corner followed by right hands. Pillman misses a running boot in the corner and is hung upside down in the corner. Austin stomps on Pillman in the tree of woe. Austin gets disqualified for not stopping his attack. Ricky Steamboat comes into the ring and has an icepack on his shoulder. Austin works over the shoulder of Steamboat briefly before leaving to avoid Pillman. (**1/4. An enjoyable match between two guys that have some chemistry and a heated past. The aftermath kept Austin strong, too. I liked that Steamboat didn’t get the better of Austin and that the faces didn’t get revenge for what transpired.)
7.) Steve Austin is interviewed by Mean Gene for what just happened. Austin laughs saying that this is what Steamboat gets. He wants to know what Steamboat is going to do at Fall Brawl when he can’t do anything with his right arm. He knows that Steamboat is going to cry for another stipulation for the match. Austin believes the WCW United States Championship is coming right back to him at Fall Brawl.
8.) Mean Gene interviewed Hulk Hogan on the beach regarding his knee and what happened at Clash of the Champions with Ric Flair. Hogan says he’s been with a doctor in Orlando and thinks it would be better if his knee was broken. Hogan promised the kids that Hulkamania would run forever when he came to WCW. He’s amazed that nobody has control of Flair in WCW. Hogan thinks they are all trying to set him up. Hogan says he’d defend the championship at any point because he’s a fighter. Hogan wants to box all the “clowns” in the ring and find out who the best fighter is. Hogan wants Gene to interview Ric Flair when he doesn’t expect it like he always does for him. Hogan assures Gene that he’s ready for Flair no matter what.
9.) Guardian Angel comes out for a squash match to close the program. Angel literally wins the match in five-seconds. Vader comes out with a steel chair and confronts Angel. However, Sting has come out and gets in the ring. All three men are meeting at Fall Brawl in a number one contenders match. Several officials have come out to keep the peace amongst the three men.
10.) Guardian Angel and Sting are interviewed to close the program. Angel knows that Sting believes in fair play and appreciates Sting came out to look over his back. Angel hopes to get his hands on Vader and get Vader out of WCW. Angel tells Sting when they meet in the ring Sting will be nothing but a stranger. Sting tells Angel to go for it because that’s what he’ll do, too.
Final Thoughts:
Some continued good hype for Fall Brawl tonight as well as entertaining matches between Steamboat/Levesque and Austin/Pillman. The Hogan era hasn’t gotten off too badly, but by the end of the year it is kind of drastically different.
Thanks for reading.