World Championship Wrestling presents Power Hour
Date: 8/22/1992
Matches:
1.) WCW/NWA Tag Team Champions Terry Gordy & Steve Williams defeated Terry Bronson & Tommy Angel
2.) Barry Windham defeated Terrence Taylor
3.) WCW Television Champion Steve Austin defeated Tom Zenk
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Missy Hyatt opens the program noting that there’s some changes to the program including a Mat Classics segment. Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko will be calling the action, too.
2.) Williams and Gordy win their enhancement match when Williams won with a running powerslam.
3.) Teddy Long talks about profiles we’re going to see. Long notes we’ll get a profile on WCW Light Heavyweight Champion Brad Armstrong later on.
4.) Teddy Long does his first profile focusing on WCW Light Heavyweight Champion Brad Armstrong. The profile starts off with footage from 1980 where Brad Armstrong first arrived to the area and the promo saw him wearing a sling and feuding with Saito. Footage of Armstrong winning the WCW Light Heavyweight Championship from Scotty Flamingo is shown, again. Long notes that Armstrong has suffered a knee injury in Japan, but is confident that Armstrong will be back soon to defend the title.
5.) The mat classic this week on Power Hour is between Nikita Koloff and Al Perez, which originally aired at the Clash of the Champions II on June 6th, 1988.
6.) Taylor tries to take Windham down, but Windham gains headlock control on the mat. Taylor sends Windham into the ropes, but Windham delivers a dropkick and keeps control with a headlock. Taylor drives Windham to the mat with a back suplex and delivers a jawbreaker. Taylor rams Windham into the corner and delivers a few strikes. Taylor snapmares Windham and hits a rolling neck snap. Taylor tries for a cover, but Windham kicks out at one. Taylor eye rakes Windham, but Windham gets a sunset flip for a two count. Taylor throat strikes Windham in the corner. Taylor atomic drops Windham to the mat for a two count. Taylor keeps Windham on the mat with a chin lock. Windham strikes Taylor in the midsection, but Taylor delivers a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. Windham powerslams Taylor coming off the ropes for a near fall. Windham strikes Taylor into the corner and backdrops Taylor. Taylor stops Windham with an eye rake and a scoop slam. Taylor boot scrapes Windham before heading to the top rope. Windham stops Taylor and hits a superplex for the win. (*1/2. A harmless match and one-sided for Windham. I thought Taylor would be presented a little more viable, but that wasn’t the case.)
7.) Missy Does The Mail hosted by Missy Hyatt is up next. Hyatt talks about the issue between WCW United States Champion Rick Rude and Nikita Koloff. We see footage from their match on Worldwide where Koloff got disqualified after tossing Rude over the top to the floor and they brawled backstage. Koloff got attacked by the Dangerous Alliance, Greg Valentine and Terrence Taylor to end the segment. Hyatt notes that Koloff and Rude were fined $5k. We see footage from the Omni on August 16th, but this is clearly taped for TV. Eventually, Rude pins Koloff but only after a security officer kicked Koloff over the middle rope. The security officer is actually Madusa under a disguise. Madusa also promotes the Clash of the Champions where they will be on opposite teams.
8.) Zenk gains headlock control on Austin, but comes off the ropes to hit a crossbody for a one count. Zenk dropkicks Austin followed by an arm drag and keeps arm control. Austin and Zenk trade wrist locks, but Zenk kicks off the corner to keep Austin on the mat with a headlock. Zenk avoids Austin in the corner and fakes a crossbody before hitting a missile dropkick off the middle rope for a two count. Zenk tries for a headlock takeover, but Austin counters with a backbreaker. Austin rams Zenk into the corner and hits a back suplex for a near fall. Austin drop toe holds Zenk and delivers knee drops to the lower back. Austin snapmares Zenk and keeps chin lock advantage. Zenk elbows Austin a few times and rams Austin into the corner. Zenk tries for a suplex, but Austin lands on top for a two count. Austin clubs Zenk over the back and rams Zenk into the corner face first. Austin snapmares Zenk to the mat and keeps control with another chin lock. Austin doesn’t get a submission, but keeps Zenk on the mat for a few moments. Zenk gets to his feet and elbows Austin a few times. Zenk fakes another crossbody, but Austin press slams Zenk off the middle rope. Austin misses a middle rope elbow drop. Austin misses a strike and Zenk dropkicks Austin. Zenk dropkicks Austin coming off the ropes. Zenk suplexs Austin followed by a superkick for a near fall. Zenk comes out of the corner putting a sleeper on Austin, but Austin sends Zenk into the corner and hits the Stun Gun for the win. (**1/4. Not too bad of a match. Zenk looked a little sloppy in moments and I’m surprised he didn’t break his shoulder on the missile dropkick off the middle rope spot. They made good use of their time and I liked the pacing.)
Final Thoughts:
An average episode, but certainly nothing must-see as they addressed the happenings going on in WCW, but there weren’t any new developments. A simple hour program with some entertaining wrestling.
Thanks for reading.