WCW Saturday Night 5/4/1996

Written by: Bob Colling

World Championship Wrestling presents Saturday Night
Date: 5/4/1996
From:

Matches:
1.) Chris Benoit defeated The Barbarian
2.) The Steiner Brothers defeated State Patrol
3.) Alex Wright defeated Billy Kidman
4.) WCW World Champion The Giant defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell

Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Marcus Alexander Bagwell comes out and says he’s wishing Lex Luger luck tonight against WCW World Champion The Giant in the main event. Bagwell considers Luger a friend because Sting is friends with Luger. Bagwell believes that Luger will win the WCW World Championship tonight.

2.) Barbarian backs Benoit into a corner and delivers a few knee lifts. Benoit counters with chops in the corner followed by an eye rake. Benoit runs into a press slam by Barbarian, but Benoit slides down and avoids a sit down splash to dropkick Barbarian from behind. They go to the floor where Benoit rams Barbarian into the ring steps and chokes Barbarian with a camera cord. Benoit connects with a neckbreaker in the ring and a leg drop before taunting the fans. Benoit continues to work over Barbarian in the corner. Benoit drops Barbarian with a clothesline for a near fall. Benoit takes Barbarian over with a German suplex for a near fall. Benoit delivers another German suplex and an overhead suplex after avoiding a wild elbow strike. Benoit goes to the top missing a diving headbutt. Barbarian hooks Benoit for a powerbomb and drives Benoit to the mat for a near fall. Benoit gets a crucifix attempt on, but Barbarian drops down to the mat for a near fall. Barbarian misses a big boot and Benoit chop blocks the left knee a few times. The referee calls for the bell saying that Barbarian can’t continue. (**1/2. The finish is fine as it makes Benoit look devastating to cause the match to end because a guy like Barbarian is deemed unable to continue. I was honestly surprised by how well these two meshed in the ring together.)

3.) Lee Marshall interviews Chris Benoit and Arn Anderson. Benoit has returned from Japan as a “new man” according to Marshall. Benoit says this was just a small taste of what is to come. Benoit tells Anderson that the Horsemen was all about trust and asks where Anderson was when Flair lost the WCW World Championship on Nitro. Kevin Sullivan enters the scene and confronts Benoit. Benoit asks what Sullivan’s claim to fame was regarding slapping a Horsemen. Sullivan says they may have to coexist at Slamboree, but not for too long. Sullivan notes that the Dungeon of Doom have the WCW World Championship in their control.

4.) A video package promoting WCW United States Champion Konnan is shown.

5.) Mean Gene interviews the Steiner Brothers following their squash victory. Rick isn’t happy that they were split in the Battle Bowl competition at Slamboree. Scott says they have always trained with each other, but never to wrestle each other. Gene is blaming the girls that were with him for the Steiner’s having to wrestle each other.

6.) Marcus Alexander Bagwell makes his way out while Lex Luger is being introduced. Bagwell doesn’t look to be all that happy. Bagwell gets on the microphone and says that Luger isn’t here and knows that Luger had a charity golf tournament today. Bagwell is sure that something really bad must have happened for him to not be here. WCW World Champion The Giant makes his way out and confronts Bagwell, who is in street clothes. Giant asks if Bagwell plans on wrestling for Luger. Bagwell says he’s just hear to relay a message. Bagwell says he’s made a lot of mistakes in his life, but get cutoff by Giant challenging him. Bagwell accepts the challenge.

7.) Bagwell avoids Giant in the corner a few times and hammers away on Giant in the corner. Bagwell is shoved away in the corner and ducks a clothesline, but is unable to hit a crossbody. Giant drives Bagwell down to the mat with a chokeslam and delivers a second chokeslam for the win. (NR. Squash.) After the match, Giant treis for a third chokeslam, but Lex Luger finally shows up wearing sunglasses and Giant casually leaves the ring.

8.) Mean Gene interviews Lex Luger to find out what happened. Luger says that there are other obligations outside of the ring and says he was a victim of circumstance. He had just walked through the door and missed the match.

9.) After a commercial, Luger is with Gary Juster for another interview with Mean Gene. Luger is demanding a title shot on Nitro. Juster believes that Luger deserves a title shot and the title match is made for Nitro this Monday. Luger promises to give his best effort to walk out as the new champion on Nitro.

Final Thoughts:
I can appreciate a show long storyline, but Bagwell being used in it was a little weird. Barbarian/Benoit was a fun match and the show was an easy watch overall this week.

Thanks for reading.