World Championship Wrestling presents Power Hour
Date: 7/4/1992
From:
Matches:
1.) Johnny B. Badd defeated John Black
2.) Brian Pillman defeated Greg Valentine by disqualification
3.) Big Josh defeated Tracy Smothers
4.) WCW Tag Team Champions Steiner Brothers defeated Buddy Lee Parker & Bob Bassum
5.) Ron Simmons defeated Terrence Taylor
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Jim Ross hosts Power Hour and runs down what we’ll see on the program.
2.) Johnny B. Badd wins his enhancement match following a left hook. Badd came off the top rope during the match, Jim Ross noted that the match was recorded before the rule change.
3.) Jim Ross teases the hotline by saying a championship in WCW is going to be eliminated. I believe this is in reference to the WCW United States Tag Team Championships.
4.) The Brian Pillman vs. Greg Valentine match was taped prior to Pillman losing the WCW Light Heavyweight Championship to Scotty Flamingo, so he has the title around his waist here.
5.) Valentine backs Pillman into a corner to kickoff the match, but they have a standoff. Valentine controls Pillman with a hammerlock, but they counter each other until Valentine elbows Pillman. Pillman comes off the ropes to hit a crossbody and a dropkick knocking Valentine to the mat and to the floor. Valentine regroups on the floor for a few moments. Valentine puts a headlock on Pillman upon returning to the ring. Pillman is met with a shoulder block by Valentine and drop toe holds Valentine to the mat. Pillman keeps leg control, but Valentine doesn’t submit. Valentine goes to the ropes, but is pulled away from the ropes. Valentine breaks free by kicking Pillman’s face. Paul E. Dangerously comes out to the aisle watching the match for a potential new member. Valentine chops and strikes Pillman in the corner. Pillman strikes Valentine and tries for a hip toss, but Valentine clotheslines Pillman and tries for the figure four, but Pillman almost wins with an inside cradle. Valentine chops Pillman and hits a double under arm suplex. Pillman kicks Valentine into the corner chest first. Valentine forearms Pillman over the back and tosses Pillman through the ropes to the floor.
On the floor, they begin to trade strikes with Pillman getting the advantage. Pillman brings the action back into the ring and Valentine begs off as Pillman strikes Valentine and hits a leaping clothesline. Pillman climbs to the top missing a missile dropkick and holds his left knee. Valentine takes advantage and locks in the figure four leg lock. Pillman tries to rollover on the hold, but Valentine holds the ropes. Pillman prevents his shoulders from being down on the canvas. Pillman can’t rollover as Valentine uses the ropes for leverage. Valentine refuses to let go of the hold and the referee disqualifies Valentine. After the match, Ron Simmons runs down and attacks Valentine to save Pillman. Dustin Rhodes rolls Valentine into the ring, but Valentine bails to avoid Simmons again. (*1/2. I am a bit surprised by the DQ finish here to protect Valentine. I suppose it would be seen as an upset for Pillman to beat Valentine. Clearly this was used to advance issues Valentine has with both Simmons and Rhodes.)
6.) Josh backs Smothers into a corner, but backs off and Smothers yells at fans in the crowd. Josh and Smothers counter each other on the mat for a moment until Smothers reaches the ropes. Madusa comes out to the aisle to scout the match as Josh hit a suplex on Smothers for a two count. Josh stands on Smothers back and stomps him with the log roll and does the same to the chest. Smothers bails to the floor to regroup, but returns quickly. Josh puts a headlock on Smothers and delivers a shoulder block. Smothers nails Josh with a leaping uppercut. Smothers stomps Josh in the corner and continues with a back rake. Smothers throat thrusts Josh and heads to the top rope hitting an axe handle for a two count. Josh strikes Smothers several times, but an eye rake stops Josh. Josh almost wins with an inside cradle and Smothers heel kicks Josh to the mat. Josh powers out of a cover attempt. Smothers keeps Josh on the mat with a chin lock. Josh elbows Smothers a few times and comes off the ropes with a forearm. Josh chops Smothers several times and hits a powerslam. Smothers backs off into the corner. Josh elbow strikes Smothers into the corner followed by another strike. Josh pummels Smothers until Smothers delivers an atomic drop and a heel kick. Smothers heads to the top rope again, but Josh strikes Smothers in midair. Josh kicks a charging Smothers in the corner and hits the top rope Northern Exposure for the win. (*. A lifeless crowd for the most part. With the new top rope rule Big Josh is going to need a new finisher. Smothers had better offense here than he had in his outings with Pillman, which is a bizarre thing to say.)
7.) We see footage from the Clash of the Champions where Terry Gordy and Steve Williams eliminated the WCW Tag Team Champions Steiner Brothers from the NWA Tag Team Title Tournament.
8.) Steiner Brothers won their enhancement match when Scott pinned Parker following the Frankensteiner.
9.) Missy Does The Mail hosted by Missy Hyatt is next. Hyatt talks about Nikita Koloff declining the offer from the Dangerous Alliance. We see footage of Koloff refusing the offer from WCW Worldwide. Koloff wants the WCW United States Championship held by Rick Rude. We also see footage from WCW Worldwide where Koloff brawled with Rude after tossing Madusa to the mat. A match has been signed between Rude and Koloff for the WCW United States Championship, but Hyatt doesn’t say when that’s happening.
10.) Taylor and Simmons lockup until Simmons shoves Taylor away a few times. Simmons backs Taylor against the ropes and is met with a slap. Taylor gets in Simmon face and is pushed against the ropes. Simmons hits a snap powerslam and Taylor bails to the floor to regroup. Simmons rolls Taylor into the ring and plays to the crowd as Taylor begs off in the corner. Simmons controls Taylor with an arm bar. Simmons shoulder blocks Taylor for a two count and goes back to wrist control. Simmons strikes Taylor over the shoulder several times. Simmons sends Taylor upside down into the corner and Simmons leg drops Taylor on the arm for a two count. Simmons headbutts Taylor on the shoulder and keeps arm control. Taylor strikes Simmons a few times. Simmons powerslams Taylor and waits looking for a football tackle, which Taylor avoids and sends Simmons through the ropes to the floor. Taylor strikes Simmons on the mat. Taylor hits a gut wrench sit down powerbomb for a two count. Taylor knee drops Simmons for a two count. Taylor keeps Simmons on the mat with a chin lock. Taylor knee lifts Simmons and leaps off the middle rope to deliver an elbow drop for a two count, but Simmons powers out. Taylor punches Simmons on the mat several times. Simmons fires back with right hands. Simmons backdrops Taylor coming off the ropes. Simmons continues with an atomic drop and clothesline. Simmons football tackles Taylor on the knee. Taylor eye rakes Simmons, but Simmons plants Taylor with a spinebuster for the win. After the match, Greg Valentine tries to attack, but Simmons fights Valentine off. Simmons is double teamed, but Simmons hits a double leaping shoulder block. Simmons fights them off and stands tall. Dustin Rhodes comes out after the chaos to stand tall with Simmons. (*1/2. The most surprising part of this match was Taylor hitting a gut wrench sit down powerbomb on Simmons, which was something I was not expecting to see. It’s a fine match with Simmons giving Taylor a bit more than I expected he would.)
Final Thoughts:
A skippable program as the action this week wasn’t great from the feature matches. I think I’m a sucker for Ron Simmons in this era. The Koloff/Rude angle is following up well from the Rude/Steamboat saga.
Thanks for reading.