World Championship Wrestling presents Pro
Date: 3/23/1996
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) WCW Television Champion Lex Luger defeated Joey Maggs
2.) Ice Train defeated The Gambler
3.) Randy Savage defeated Kurasawa
4.) WCW United States Champion Konnan defeated Chris Kanyon
5.) Hulk Hogan defeated Meng by disqualification
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Chris Cruise is back on commentary returning from his vacation. The announcers promote the Uncensored cage match.
2.) Joey Maggs is being managed by Teddy Long and actually got an entrance. Despite that, Luger was able to easily retain the WCW Television Championship. This match was filmed so long ago that Luger didn’t have the TV or Tag Team Championship that he currently holds. As expected, Luger won the match with the Torture Rack.
3.) Hulk Hogan comes out with a chair to watch Savage in action. Savage attacks Kurasawa from behind and keeps control with an eye rake. Kurasawa overhand chops Savage in the corner a few times. Kurasawa headbutts Savage and continues with strikes in the corner. Hogan yells from the floor, and since it’s elevated it’s almost eye level. Kurasawa yanks down on Savage’s taped up arm. Savage tries for a suplex, but Kurasawa counters with an arm bar for a moment, but doesn’t get a submission. Kurasawa slams Savage and heads to the top rope. Kurasawa misses an elbow drop. Savage goes to the top and axe handles Kurasawa followed by a clothesline. Savage hits a top rope elbow drop to win the match. (*. I guess I can appreciate the arm work by Kurasawa, but it was an obvious outcome for Savage to go over. Kurasawa isn’t a great in-ring guy and thus the action was going to be limited.) After the match, Hogan makes a reference to Pillman, but he’s no longer with WCW so that’s a bit awkward.
4.) Meng shoves Hogan away on a lockup. Hogan responds with an eye rake and right hands in the corner. Hogan nails Meng with a running clothesline in the corner and bites Meng. Hogan delivers another running clothesline in the corner. Hogan back rakes Meng and continues to bite Meng on the forehead. Hogan keeps Meng on the mat choking him for a few moments. Hogan gouges Meng’s mouth and pummels Meng with right hands on the mat. Meng delivers a strike to the midsection a few times to get the advantage. Meng back rakes Hogan to gain the advantage. Hogan rams Meng into the corner, but Meng no sells it and throat thrusts Hogan. Meng chokes Hogan instead of going for the Tongan death grip. Meng tries for a piledriver, but Hogan avoids it. Hogan bites Meng on the mat all over his body. Hogan delivers a running clothesline off the ropes and continues with elbow drops. Hogan boot scrapes Meng on the eyes. Meng bites Hogan’s forehead on the mat and delivers several stomps. Meng leg drops Hogan for a two count. Meng puts a nerve hold on Hogan, but doesn’t get a submission. Hogan breaks free and shoulder blocks Meng. Meng savant kicks Hogan, but misses an elbow drop. Hogan gets a second wind and blocks a right hand to hammer away on Meng. Hogan big boots Meng and plays to the crowd. Hogan and Savage have chairs and hit the entire Dungeon of Doom with chair shots to end the match. Hogan wins by disqualification. (*. It’s a really bizarre match with all the biting by the two men. I’m sure it was supposed to get across the level of desperation and hatred that Hogan has for guys in the DOD, but it just came across really weird to me. A DQ finish isn’t a shocker, but I’d just have Hogan get a win in a rare TV appearance that isn’t Nitro.)
Final Thoughts:
Hogan and Savage both being in action probably makes this the kind of show you’d want to check out, but both of their performances provided very little. I’d consider this a disappointing show.
Thanks for reading.