World Championship Wrestling presents Power Hour
Date: 4/4/1992
From:
Matches:
1.) Marcus Alexander Bagwell & Tom Zenk defeated Mike Thor & George South
2.) Nikita Koloff defeated Chris Sullivan
3.) Vader defeated Mike McReynolds
4.) Barry Windham defeated Bob Cook
5.) WCW Television Champion Steve Austin defeated Rick Steiner
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Jim Ross hosts Power Hour and lets us know that Ricky Steamboat has suffered a broken nose and fractured cheekbone thanks to WCW United States Champion Rick Rude. Plus, WCW Television Champion Steve Austin battles Rick Steiner.
2.) Zenk and Bagwell prevail in their enhancement match easily when Zenk pinned Thor after a crossbody off the top. Bagwell pinned South at the same time with a fisherman suplex.
3.) Eric Bischoff interviewed Nikita Koloff and asks why Koloff was at Sting’s press conference. Koloff doesn’t want to talk to Bischoff and says everyone knows who he wants to talk to. Koloff says they need to have a heart to heart conversation and then the world will know why Koloff was at Superbrawl.
4.) Koloff won his enhancement match following the Russian Sickle (clothesline).
5.) Jim Ross talks about the recent feud between WCW World Champion Sting and Vader. Ross shows footage of their recent interactions including a match that happened on Power Hour back in February. Footage from Worldwide is shown where Vader recently attacked Sting after Sting’s enhancement match. Vader attempted to attack with a steel chair, but Sting fought back with a splash in the corner. Sting used the chair on Vader, but Vader didn’t budge. Sting leapt off the top rope, but was slammed in midair followed by a big splash over Sting’s back. Vader whacks Sting over the back with a steel chair shot. Vader continues with a snapmare and leaps off the middle rope to splash Sting on the mat.
6.) Vader wins his enhancement match following a uranage. Vader is a monster and I love watching him.
7.) Barry Windham won his enhancement match following a running clothesline.
8.) Missy Does The Mail hosted by Missy Hyatt is next up. Hyatt talks about the WCW United States Champion Rick Rude feuding with Ricky Steamboat. Rude is Hyatt’s favorite wrestler and notes that Steamboat got some level of revenge recently. We see footage from WCW Pro where Steamboat choked Rude with a belt after countering the Rude Awakening. Steamboat hung Rude over the ropes. Hyatt thinks Steamboat is out of line for his actions and says he’s always sticking his nose into Rude’s business. Hyatt shows footage from Saturday Night where Steamboat got involved in Rude’s match with Bagwell post match. Eventually wrestlers and officials break things up between the rivals. Hyatt is happy about Steamboat’s injury to his nose and cheekbone. This happened on WCW Worldwide where Steamboat struck Madusa accidentally and showed great remorse leading to Rude hitting Steamboat with a chair shot. Hyat suggests Madusa needs a plastic surgeon when you look at her.
9.) Steiner backs Austin into a corner for the early advantage, but backs off cleanly. Austin backs Steiner into a corner and backs off without a cheap shot. Steiner counters Austin on the mat and gets arm control for a moment as Austin reaches the ropes to break the hold. Austin is kicked away by Steiner and they have a standoff. Austin controls Steiner with a side headlock. Austin shoulder blocks Steiner to the mat and taunts Rick. Austin puts another headlock on Steiner, but is sent into the ropes where Steiner decks Austin with a clothesline causing Austin to bail to the floor to regroup. Madusa gets on the apron to distract Steiner before checking on Austin. Steiner headlocks Austin, and keeps the hold on despite Austin trying to break free. Steiner keeps a top wrist lock on Austin, but is pulled to the mat. Austin puts a sleeper on Steiner, but doesn’t get a submission or pass out. Austin strikes Steiner over the back and runs the ropes. Steiner manages to powerslam Austin in midair for a two count and taunts Madusa on the floor.
Austin recovers to deck Steiner with a clothesline for a near fall. Austin controls Steiner on the mat with a front face lock. Steiner counters with a hammerlock on the mat and puts a full nelson on Austin before switching to a hammerlock. Austin elbows Steiner to break free and tries for a suplex, but Steiner blocks and counters with a suplex of his own for a two count. Steiner keeps Austin with a sleeper on the mat. Austin breaks free with a jawbreaker. Austin throws Steiner through the ropes to the floor. Steiner stalks toward Madusa, but is met with a strike by Austin off the apron. Austin drops Steiner throat first over the railing. Madusa gets a cheap shot in as the referee is distracted by Austin. Austin nails Steiner with a short arm clothesline for a two count. Austin strikes Steiner a few times, but Steiner battles back with right hands of his own. Steiner clotheslines Austin coming off the ropes. Steiner powerslams Austin coming off the ropes. Steiner heads to the top rope hitting the bulldog! Steiner covers, but Madusa gets in the ring to cause the disqualification. Steiner slams Madusa, but Paul E. Dangerously whacks Steiner with his cellphone to leave Steiner laying. (**. There was a lot of rest holds and not a ton of action, so this was a bit on the slower end for pace. The DQ finish wasn’t something I expected, but I guess they don’t want Rick looking weak in a singles role? One of the weaker main events I’ve seen on Power Hour considering the talent involved.)
Final Thoughts:
Koloff returning to WCW just adds to the loaded star power at the top of the card. WCW has a ton of big names and a great undercard. Rude/Steamboat continues to have great angle advancement and it looks like Vader is going to be the first TV feud for Sting, which is perfectly fine to me. Despite a disappointing main event, WCW put on another good program.
Thanks for reading.