World Championship Wrestling presents Pro
Date: 9/15/1996
From: Orlando, FL
Matches:
1.) Nasty Boys defeated Rick Thames & Bill Payne
2.) Ice Train defeated Cliff Sheets
3.) Chavo Guerrero Jr. defeated Prince Iaukea
4.) Chris Benoit defeated Jim Powers
5.) VK Wallstreet defeated John Tenta
6.) WCW Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat fought Public Enemy to a no contest
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) After winning his match, Chavo Guerrero Jr. was attacked by DDP. DDP slid into the ring and planted Chavo with a diamond cutter. They square off at Fall Brawl later on in the day.
2.) Powers starts off with a hammerlock, but Benoit counters quickly. Powers shoulder blocks Benoit and delivers a stomp to the face. Powers keeps arm control on the mat, but Benoit palm strikes free and delivers a forearm strike. Benoit takes Powers down with a dragon screw leg whip. Teddy Long is watching the match from the stage. Benoit leg sweeps Powers and splashes onto Powers knee a few times. They trade a couple of chops, but Benoit gains the advantage. Powers nails Benoit with a kick to the head. Powers rams Benoit into the corner, but Benoit pulls Powers chest first into the corner. Benoit dropkicks Powers on the knee. Powers tosses Benoit with an overhead belly to belly suplex. Powers rams Benoit face first onto the turnbuckle several times. Powers nails Benoit with a running knee lift. Powers continues with a standing dropkick for a near fall. Powers misses a splash in the corner and Benoit hits a back suplex. Benoit heads to the top rope hitting a diving headbutt. Benoit covers and wins the match. (*1/2. Far better than I expected going into it. Powers displayed some fun offense, and Benoit is his typically good self.)
3.) Tenta still has hair on half his head due to Big Bubba. Tenta backs Wallstreet into a corner, but Wallstreet gets the offense with strikes. Wallstreet tries for a slam, but Tenta counters with a slam and a clothesline. Tenta delivers an elbow drop and tosses Wallstreet to the floor. Wallstreet tries for a sunset flip from the apron, but Tenta sits down and delivers a leg drop. Tenta covers, but Wallstreet kicks out at two. Tenta powerslams Wallstreet for a two count. Tenta works over Wallstreet in the corner with strikes. Tenta splashes Wallstreet, but misses a second splash attempt. Wallstreet avoids an elbow drop and uses the ropes for leverage to pin Tenta. (*. This wasn’t boring because Wallstreet didn’t have an extended segment of offense.)
4.) All four men in the main event go after it before the bell sounded. Ray slams Rock to the mat as they legally start the match. Booker tags into the match and hammers away on Rock with strikes to the midsection. Booker connects with a leaping spin kick for a near fall. Rock is taken down with a double vertical suplex. Booker misses a middle rope forearm drop. Grunge tags into the match and backdrops Booker. Grunge clotheslines Booker for a two count. Rock tags back into the match and Booker is met with a double back elbow strike. Rock delivers a forearm drop and tags Grunge back into the match. Grunge slams Booker and Rock goes to the top rope hitting the Drive By. Ray gets in the match to prevent a cover. Ray is knocked to the apron while Booker is placed on a table, which is not steady. Rock misses a somersault splash attempt and the table falls off the stage. The Nasty Boys rundown to the ring and attack Harlem Heat on the floor. (*. I can’t say I’m surprised that the Nasty Boys got involved in this one. They barely got five minutes of time, so this wasn’t designed to be a good match, but rather a last minute hype for the PPV match.)
Final Thoughts:
A fine edition of WCW Pro with the enhancement matches being enjoyable for what they are. Powers/Benoit was a fine little match, too. Fall Brawl has my interest and looks to be a solid show on paper.
Thanks for reading.