WCW Pro 2/2/1997

Written by: Bob Colling

World Championship Wrestling presents Pro
Date: 2/2/1997
From: Orlando, FL

Matches:
1.) Mark Starr defeated Jerry Flynn
2.) Nasty Boys defeated Southern Posse
3.) Joe Gomez defeated Bill Payne
4.) Jim Powers defeated Lucious Luther
5.) Meng & Barbarian defeated Chris Benoit & Arn Anderson by disqualification

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) It is a little bizarre to see Mark Starr get an introduction and be presented in a match where he’s not the enhancement guy. Obviously this match took place before Jerry Flynn got any kind of push in the company. In just about a year or so the roles would likely be reversed for Starr and Flynn. Flynn hit several kicks until Star countered a kick and got a submission out of Flynn with an ankle lock.

2.) I’m fairly certain that the Nasty Boys had let the company by this point. Obviously, the match was taped many months ago and they are just now airing it. I think it’s safe to say that the Nasty Boys don’t exactly fit in with WCW at this point. They were going to join the NWO and then were rejected. When that happens it really hurts them to be faces in the company.

3.) Lee Marshall interviewed WCW Television Champion Lord Steven Regal. Regal notes he’s the only champion that is under the WCW banner. Regal is out there wrestling and not worrying about being a celebrity. Regal is proving that he’s the best wrestler in the world. Regal brags about outwrestling Malenko and out suplexing the Steiner Brothers. Regal has gone all over the world and retained the championship. Regal proclaims he’s the best wrestler today and he’ll continue to beat anyone that gets in his way.

4.) Lee Marshall interviewed Dean Malenko. Malenko says that there are a lot of expectations to live up to when you’re a second generation wrestler. Malenko would be proud to live up to half of what his father did in his career. Malenko chose to come to WCW because he was told the best would be coming into the Cruiserweight division. Malenko lists all the top challengers that are out there coming for the title. Malenko has his eyes on being the US Champion and the World Champion because he’s getting accustomed to having gold around his waist.

5.) Benoit and Barbarian kickoff the tag team main event. Barbarian takes Benoit down and misses an elbow drop. Benoit chops Barbarian in the corner a few times. Barbarian knee strikes Benoit in the corner and chokes Benoit to control the match. Benoit dropkicks Barbarian on the knee and delivers a few more shots. Anderson tags in and wraps Barbarian’s leg around the ring post. Anderson stomps on Barbarian’s left ankle followed by more strikes to the knee. Benoit returns to the match and beats on the left leg of Barbarian. Benoit tries for a snap suplex, but Barbarian counters with a suplex of his own. Meng enters the match and works over Benoit with stomps. They trade strikes in the middle of the ring with Meng getting the advantage. Meng atomic drops Benoit and continues with strikes. Barbarian tags in and Benoit goes for a sunset flip getting a two count. Barbarian drives Benoit down with a backbreaker for a one count. Arn distracts the referee while Benoit is double teamed with stomps on the mat. Meng nails Benoit with a double palm strike to the neck. Meng puts a nerve hold on Benoit for a moment. Benoit fights out of the hold with strikes. Benoit takes Meng over with a German suplex. Barbarian enters the match and clubs Benoit over the back. Anderson plants Barbarian with a DDT. Meng enters and is hammered away by Benoit and Anderson. Barbarian nails Anderson with a big boot and Benoit pulls the referee out of the ring! That leads to a disqualification! (*1/2. I was not expecting Meng and Barbarian to win this by disqualification, at all. Anderson didn’t have a major role in the match as Benoit did the majority of the work, which was likely the right decision. This kind of finish makes me wonder if Meng and Barbarian are due for a bigger push in the tag division.)

Final Thoughts:
Not a strong episode of Pro this time around, but it’s an easy forty minute watch regardless of quality.

Thanks for reading.