WCW Pro 1/25/1992

Written by: Bob Colling

World Championship Wrestling presents Pro
Date: 1/25/1992
From: Shocklin, MO

Matches:
1.) Van Hammer defeated Mark Kyle
2.) Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat & Ron Simmons defeated Pat Rose, John Peterson & Zan Panzer
3.) Brad Armstrong defeated Richard Morton
4.) Steiner Brothers defeated Vader & Mr. Hughes
5.) Dustin Rhodes defeated WCW Television Champion Steve Austin in a non-title match

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Backstage, Eric Bischoff interviews Paul E. Dangerously. They promote the match between Windham and Austin taking place in the main event. Dangerously thinks that Windham is choking under pressure and doesn’t believe that Windham can handle success. Dangerously claims that Arn Anderson told him that Windham couldn’t hold up his end of the deal in the Four Horsemen. Dangerously says that Windham needs to learn to runaway from the Dangerous Alliance.

2.) Morton cheap shots Armstrong and hits an arm drag. Morton leaps off the top and is met with a powerslam in midair. Armstrong keeps a headlock on Morton to keep control on the mat. Armstrong stomps on Morton’s face to avoid a catapult. Morton knee lifts Armstrong and sends Armstrong to the floor. Armstrong quickly returns and nearly wins with a rollup from behind. Armstrong keeps Morton on the mat with a headlock. Morton backs Armstrong into a corner and delivers a shoulder ram to break free. Armstrong takes Morton down to the mat out of the corner to keep headlock control. Morton breaks free with a head scissors. Morton keeps control with a head scissors on the mat. Armstrong pops free and punches Morton, but runs into an atomic drop. Morton knee lifts Armstrong to the mat. Armstrong almost wins with an inside cradle, but Morton spikes Armstrong with a DDT for a two count. Morton controls Armstrong on the mat with a chin lock, but doesn’t get a submission. Armstrong nearly wins with a sunset flip and is stopped by a clothesline from Morton. Morton scoop slams Armstrong and delivers a knee drop to maintain control of the contest. Armstrong misses a shoulder ram in the corner and crashes to the mat where Morton delivers a leg drop to the arm. Armstrong drives Morton face first down to the mat and connects with a backdrop out of the corner. Morton sends Armstrong through the ropes to the floor. Morton sends Armstrong into the ring post face first. Morton sends Armstrong to the floor, but Armstrong climbs to the top and hits a flying crossbody for the win. After the match, Morton drives his knee into the back of Armstrong off the top rope to leave Armstrong laid out. (**1/2. I enjoyed the match as they kept my interest and didn’t have much stalling to kill the match. I can appreciate a clean finish for Armstrong, as well.)

3.) Gordon Solie hosts the Wrestling News Network segment. Solie promotes Superbrawl II which will see Lex Luger defending the WCW World Championship against Sting. The new WCW Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton cut a promo. Anderson suggests it shouldn’t be a surprise that they won the tag titles.

4.) Steiner Brothers actually came out with a pitbull and safe to say it’s the most effective usage of a dog I’ve in wrestling.

5.) Scott and Hughes kickoff the tag match with Scott backing Hughes into the corner, but backs off. Scott takes Hughes down to the mat, but Hughes reaches the ropes quickly. Hughes punches Scott a few times to gain the advantage. Hughes shoulder blocks Scott, but Scott hits an overhead belly to belly suplex. Vader tags in and pummels Scott with several forearm strikes in the corner. Vader hits a running big splash in the corner. Vader decks Scott with a short arm clothesline. Vader scoop slams Scott, but Scott plants Vader with a powerslam. Vader misses a clothesline, but sits down on Scott to counter a sunset flip attempt. Hughes returns to the match and misses a splash in the corner. Scott manages to tag in Rick. Rick backdrops Hughes and decks Vader off the apron. Rick nails Hughes with a clothesline for the win. (*1/2. I was surprised by how quick that match went, but I thought it was fine for what it was. Hughes taking the clean win protects Vader from suffering a loss, which is ideal.)

6.) Jack Brickhouse hosts the Brickhouse Bonus to discuss with Dangerous Alliance being the new WCW Tag Team Champions. Jack thinks that Anderson and Eaton could be an unbeatable team. Brickhouse mentions that they have a collection of titles because they are all great athletes.

7.) Barry Windham was originally suppose to challenge Steve Austin for the WCW Television Championship, but Windham reveals that he’s not medically cleared. Dustin Rhodes has come out as well to chat with Windham about his injury. Paul E. Dangerously tells Rhodes he’ll never get a title shot against Austin. Rhodes attacks to start the match..

8.) Rhodes stops Austin with an elbow strike off the ropes and keeps control with strikes. Austin dumps Rhodes through the ropes to the floor. Austin leaps off the apron with a clothesline to take Rhodes out on the floor. Austin drives Rhodes back first into the ring post. Austin drives Rhodes back first into the ring apron. Dangerously nails Rhodes over the back with his phone. Austin tries for a suplex into the ring, but Rhodes tries to stand causing them to both awkwardly go down. Austin blocks a slam attempt managing a two count. Austin blocks another suplex attempt for a near fall. Austin drives Rhodes down with a backbreaker for a near fall. Austin hits a gut wrench suplex for a near fall. Austin misses an elbow drop. Rhodes goes for a backslide, but Austin kicks out. Rhodes delivers a clothesline and goes to the top rope. Rhodes misses an elbow drop off the top. Austin tries for a cover managing a two count. Austin sends Rhodes into the corner back first and delivers a few right hands. Austin taunts the referee, but Rhodes fights back with strikes. Rhodes tries for a monkey flip, but Austin avoids it. Rhodes avoids a clothesline and tries for the running bulldog, but Austin tosses Rhodes away for a two count. Rhodes gets an inside cradle on Austin and wins the match! (**1/2. Another short match, but I thought it was a lot of fun. The action was quick and they had plenty of good counters throughout. I’m fine with a clean win for Dustin in a non-title environment and I could see Rhodes now chasing Austin for the gold.)

9.) Eric Bischoff interviews the WCW United States Tag Team Champions Tracy Smothers and Steve Armstrong. They have their sights set on the Steiner Brothers. Smothers says they are sick and tired of not getting the respect they deserve. Smothers would knock his own grandma out to keep the tag titles. Armstrong chimes in and says they want respect and they will go out and beat the Steiner Brothers to get that respect. They changed their attitudes to win the titles and they will keep them.

Final Thoughts:
I thought this was a really good episode of WCW Pro. The forty minutes flew by and the action was entertaining throughout the whole show.

Thanks for reading.