Written by: Bob Colling
World Championship Wrestling presents Worldwide
Date: 3/27/1993
From: Macon, GA
Matches:
1.) Johnny B. Badd defeated Danny Deese
2.) Eric Watts defeated Vinnie Vegas to advance in the WCW TV Championship Tournament
3.) Sting defeated Fred Avery
4.) Steve Austin & Brian Pillman defeated NWA/WCW Tag Team Champions Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas to win the titles
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Tony Schiavone conducts an interview with Ric Flair. Flair says he isn’t going to tell anyone where he is going to be. Arn Anderson comes over to the podium after being stopped by security, but is allowed up there. Anderson is thrilled that Flair is back in WCW. Anderson says that he is stronger today because he put the past behind him. Arn tells Erik Watts that he is a man of his word. Flair says it feels good to be reunited with Anderson and Arn teases the Four Horsemen reunion. Flair calls out Dusty Rhodes saying that the Four Horsemen provides for all or takes from all.
2.) Steamboat and Austin kick off the title match. They trade slaps in the corner with Steamboat getting the advantage and nearly winning with a rollup. Austin countered with a handful of tights but Ricky kicks out. Austin tosses Steamboat to the floor but Ricky quickly comes back in. Steamboat hits a backdrop and a standing dropkick. Steamboat decks Pillman off the apron and tags in Douglas. Austin comes off the ropes and is hip tossed. Steamboat press slams Douglas onto Austin for a two count. Austin drives Douglas into the corner and tags in Pillman. Pillman works over Douglas in the corner with a few strikes but Douglas fires back with strikes. Douglas sends Pillman chest first into the corner for a two count. Pillman recovers and works on the knee until Douglas uses his free leg to kick Pillman in the head. Steamboat tags in and works over Pillman with a few strikes. Pillman and Steamboat trade chops until Steamboat catches Pillman with a slam and catapults Pillman into Douglas in the corner followed by a back suplex. Douglas hits a slingshot splash and nearly pins Pillman. Pillman stops Douglas with a jaw breaker and tags in Austin as the show goes to commercial.
Douglas kicks Austin away after a few takedowns and kicks Austin to the floor. Douglas hits a suplex but Austin powers out at two. Douglas locks in an abdominal stretch but Austin isn’t going to give in. Steamboat tags in and puts the same hold on. Austin gets out with a hip toss but Steamboat puts the hold right back on. Douglas tags in again and the champs continue to ficus with the abdominal stretch. Austin gets out of the hold and elbow drops Douglas allowing Pillman to get tagged in. Pillman works over Douglas with a few strikes and a shoulder block. Douglas stops Pillman with a press slam and hammers away on Pillman in the corner. Douglas runs over Pillman with a running clothesline and the same for Austin. Steamboat tags in and chops Pillman for a two count. Steamboat drives Pillman down to the mat with a back suplex. Steamboat controls Pillman tagging in Douglas to hit a top rope axe handle. Austin tags in and works over Douglas with strikes. Austin sends Douglas face first into the turnbuckle several times and focuses his offense on the left knee. Douglas tries to fight out of the corner but can’t. Douglas has a rollup on Austin but gets sent into the ropes allowing Pillman to choke Douglas with a towel but the referee was distracted by Steamboat.
Austin knocks Douglas to the floor as Pillman continues to choke Douglas with the towel. Douglas tries to tag Steamboat, but Ricky was out of position and Pillman hits a clothesline to knock Steamboat off the apron! Pillman misses a splash hitting the railing chest first. In the ring, Austin continues to choke Douglas with the towel. Pillman power slams Douglas and Austin attempts a slingshot splash but misses. Austin locks in a bear hug and Douglas is in serious pain. Douglas fights out of a bear hug and continues to hammer away on Austin. Douglas tries to tag in Steamboat but Austin delivers a spine buster for a two count. Douglas drives Austin down with a back suplex and both men are down. Pillman stops Douglas with a back suplex as Steamboat was out of position again. Pillman heads to the top but Douglas gets his knees up to block a big splash! Austin tags in and misses a splash against the ropes. Douglas staggers and tags in Steamboat, who cleans house with strikes on the challengers. Steamboat dropkicks both men and rams them into each other head first. Steamboat tosses Austin over the top but the referee didn’t see it. Steamboat hits a superplex on Pillman. Steamboat heads to the top and hits a flying cross body but Austin leaps off the top only to hit Pillman on accident. Steamboat has the cover but only manages a two count! Douglas hits a cross body onto Austin on the floor! Douglas scoop slams Austin on the floor as Pillman collides with Steamboat. Austin recovers and whacks Steamboat over the back with one of the championships and Pillman pins Steamboat to win the titles! (***1/2. Okay, that was loads of fun. A lot of non-stop action and even the early portions of the match was enjoyable as it wasn’t overly slow. It came across like both teams were desperate to win and that made for some intense action. I liked the focus on Steamboat being out of position a few times that may have cost the champs the titles.)
3.) The Hollywood Blonds are interviewed regarding their title win just moments ago. Brian Pillman says that they overcame a lot to win the titles tonight. Austin thanks Steamboat and Douglas for allowing them this opportunity because they were stupid to give them one last shot. Pillman says there are plenty of teams that warrant a title shot and isn’t sure when Steamboat and Douglas would get a title shot against them.
Final Thoughts:
A good episode largely to the tag title match and a big title change. It was as good if not better than I was expecting.
Thanks for reading.