World Championship Wrestling presents Pro
Date: 7/25/1992
Matches:
1.) Dan Spivey defeated Jim Boss
2.) Junkyard Dog defeated John Peterson
3.) Diamond Dallas Page defeated Larry Santo
4.) Marcus Alexander Bagwell Super Invader
5.) Greg Valentine, Dick Slater & The Barbarian defeated Ricky Steamboat, Dustin Rhodes & Barry Windham
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko are hosting WCW Pro this week. Schiavone and Zbyszko promote the six man tag main event. Zbyszko notes that Greg Valentine has been insulting the Rhodes family and the six man tag will be interesting as a result.
2.) This is Dan Spivey’s return to WCW last being seen in the summer of ’91. Spivey had been working for AJPW, and still works for AJPW. Spivey won his enhancement match with a dangerous looking powerbomb.
3.) WCW Magazine hosted by Eric Bischoff is next. Bischoff promotes the August 8th event at the UIC Pavilion. Dick Slater and the Barbarian cut a promo about their match with Tom Zenk and Brian Pillman. Slater tells Chicago to get ready for the highlight of the show. WCW World Champion Vader will defend against Sting.
4.) Footage from Macon, GA on July 1st is shown where Junkyard Dog headbutt Mr. Hughes breaking his glasses and seemingly got the glasses into his eyes. Hughes is checked on by officials as JYD stood there confused by what happened.
5.) Junkyard Dog won his enhancement match following a side Russian leg sweep.
6.) Eric Bischoff interviewed Dustin Rhodes at ringside. Bischoff brings up Greg Valentine’s comments about Dustin and his father, Dusty. Dustin sets the record straight and says Dusty was and is a great champion. Dustin says that Valentine will never match what Dusty Rhodes had accomplished in his career. Dustin can take care of himself if Valentine has a beef with him. Dustin promises to settle their issues tonight in the six man tag main event. Greg Valentine marches down to ringside to confront Dustin. Valentine asks if Dustin is scared to be out there without his father. Valentine says he use to beat Dusty up everyday and twice on Sunday. Valentine is going to prove he can do the same to Dustin tonight. Valentine swipes Dustin’s face, but Dustin tackles Valentine and pummels Valentine on the floor. Dick Slater and Barbarian come out to beatdown Dustin. Valentine elbow drops Dustin on the right knee several times. Barry Windham and Ricky Steamboat rundown to save Dustin, but Dustin is holding his knee in pain.
7.) Diamond Dallas Page won his enhancement match after slingshotting Santo over the top rope by leaping over the ropes to the floor.
8.) WCW Magazine is up next with Eric Bischoff promoting the August 8th house show in Chicago. Bischoff notes that WCW Tag Team Champions Steve Williams & Terry Gordy will take on Nikita Koloff and Ricky Steamboat. Terry Gordy says it feels great to be the tag champions. Steve Williams tells Steamboat and Koloff to lose in Chicago. Nikita Koloff shares comments regarding the tag match. Koloff admits they have made a name for themselves in WCW. Koloff promises he will be ready and Steamboat will be ready, too. Koloff warns the tag champs to be ready.
9.) Bagwell counters a hammerlock by Invader, but is met with an elbow. Invader strikes Bagwell to stop the countering of each other. Invader shoulder blocks Bagwell and runs the ropes. Invader blocks a hip toss and decks Bagwell with a clothesline. Invader rams Bagwell into the corner. Invader chops Bagwell in the corner. Bagwell kicks Invader, but runs into a powerslam. Invader puts a torture rack on Bagwell and wins the match by submission. (*. I’m kind of taking this as if they could actually have plans for Invader in a meaningful manner. Bagwell had been getting some steam in WCW and just got absolutely squashed here. Invader looked good here, I thought.)
10.) Chicagoland Report is up next. Schiavone also promotes the August 8th show in Chicago. Jack Brickhouse provides comments regarding Nikita Koloff declining the Dangerous Alliance offer. Brickhouse talks about Koloff wanting the WCW United States Championship since it represents peace and freedom. Larry Zbyszko interviews the WCW Tag Team Champions Terry Gordy & Steve Williams. Williams talks about the submission hold Gordy put on Scott Steiner and they beat them in their own backyard. Gordy asks if Zbyszko has ever seen them not be impressive. Zbyszko thinks they are the last of the real men in wrestling.
11.) Tony Schiavone announces that Dustin Rhodes is hurt and thus the Barbarian will not be competing in the main event. It will now be a tag match.
12.) Slater and Steamboat kickoff the main event with Slater sending Steamboat into the ropes, but is met with a chop. Windham axe handles Slater from the middle rope and delivers a leg drop over the arm. Windham keeps control with a wrist lock and tags in Steamboat. Steamboat leaps off the middle rope to axe handle Slater and delivers a heel kick. Windham returns to the match and kicks Slater followed by elbow strikes before taking Slater down to the mat. Windham knee drops Slater over the back. Steamboat tags back into the match and Slater is met with a double chop. Steamboat tries for a dropkick, but Slater held onto the ropes and delivered a back suplex. Valentine tags into the match and hits a vertical suplex for a one count on Steamboat. Steamboat fires back with chops, but Valentine stops Steamboat with a chop. Valentine chops Steamboat several times in the corner. Steamboat boots Valentine in the corner. Valentine drop toe holds Steamboat and Slater enters to elbow drop Steamboat followed by a boot scrape. Slater jabs Steamboat several times and drops Steamboat to the mat with a strike. Slater continues with a swinging neckbreaker. Windham avoids a strike on the apron, but the referee gets distracted as Valentine double teams Steamboat.
Valentine puts an abdominal stretch on Steamboat, but doesn’t get a submission despite Slater adding extra leverage. Steamboat tries to reach his corner, but Valentine gets a rollup for a two count. Windham avoids a strike by Valentine. Steamboat decks Valentine to the mat, but Valentine backs Steamboat into his corner and Slater enters to work over Steamboat. Slater keeps a front face lock on Steamboat, and the referee doesn’t see Windham get the tag. Steamboat is double teamed in the corner for a moment. Slater takes Steamboat over with a vertical suplex for a two count. Slater elbows Steamboat against the ropes followed by a backdrop. Slater works over Steamboat’s lower back. Steamboat chops Slater and tries for a slam, but Slater lands on top for a two count. Slater hits a gut wrench suplex for a two count. Valentine enters the match and axe handles Steamboat over the back. Valentine suplexs Steamboat again for a near fall.
Steamboat kicks Valentine to the mat and tries to tag in Windham, but is stopped by Valentine and Slater tags into the match. Slater and Steamboat trade strikes in the corner. Slater and Steamboat collide in the middle of the ring. Windham finally gets the hot tag and cleans house with strikes on Valentine. Windham backdrops Valentine as Slater decked Steamboat off the apron. Slater brawls with Windham, but is knocked to the floor. Valentine elbow strikes Windham to the mat. Barbarian comes back out and scoop slams Steamboat on the floor! Valentine shoulder blocks Windham followed by an elbow drop for a two count. Dustin Rhodes comes out and stands on the apron. Windham kicks Valentine away and Rhodes enters to clean house. Dustin gets cutoff and Valentine focuses on the injured knee. Valentine locks in the figure four leg lock in the middle of the ring. Steamboat has a towel, but is yanked off the apron. Windham brawls with Barbarian in the corner. Steamboat brawls with Slater on the floor. Valentine tries to use the ropes for leverage, but is stopped. Steamboat gets the tag, but the referee didn’t see it. Rhodes takes Valentine down and locks in the figure four. Slater comes off the top to knee drop Rhodes! Valentine comes and pins Rhodes for the win! (***. This was a lot better than I ever expected it to be honestly. The crowd was into this and the attack angle earlier in the show actually made this mean something a bit more. This is a massive upset that I was never expecting to witness. I love it. Valentine and Rhodes are matched up on the house shows and this win should help his creditability on the live events with Rhodes.)
13.) WCW Magazine hosted by Eric Bischoff is next. Tom Zenk and Brian Pillman are excited to beat Dick Slater and Barbarian in Chicago.
Final Thoughts:
A good episode this week with a strong main event that exceeded my expectations. Invader looked good in his match and Dan Spivey being back in WCW is something I can get behind.
Thanks for reading.