World Championship Wrestling presents Power Hour
Date: 11/7/1992
Matches:
1.) Ricky Steamboat defeated Brian Pillman
2.) Johnny Gunn defeated Mike Thor
3.) Brad Armstrong defeated Vinnie Vegas by reverse decision
4.) Tony Atlas defeated Scott Allen
5.) WCW United States Champion Rick Rude defeated Nikita Koloff to retain the title
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Missy Hyatt opens the show letting us know that WCW United States Champion Rick Rude battles Nikita Koloff.
2.) Steamboat backs Pillman into a corner, but Pillman delivers a few knee strikes and a blow over the back. Pillman continues with strikes and rams Steamboat into the corner face first. Steamboat chops Pillman coming off the ropes and knocks Pillman to the floor. Steamboat chops Pillman on the floor and they return to the ring. Steamboat atomic drops Pillman followed by a knee lift. Steamboat blocks a kick and leg sweeps Pillman followed by a forearm drop. Steamboat scoop slams Pillman, but Pillman sends Steamboat chest first into the corner. Pillman back suplexs Steamboat for a two count. Pillman throws Steamboat through the ropes to the floor. On the floor they trade chops until Pillman rams Steamboat into the apron and into the ring. Pillman leaps off the top hitting an axe handle for a two count. Pillman drives Steamboat face first onto the mat and snapmares Steamboat before putting a chin lock on Steamboat. Pillman puts his feet on the ropes for the illegal leverage for a moment. The referee doesn’t see the leverage, but Steamboat doesn’t submit. Steamboat gets an inside cradle for a two count. Pillman stops Steamboat with a boot to the chest. Pillman rams Steamboat into the corner and continues with chops in the corner. Pillman strikes Steamboat several times followed by more chops. Steamboat staggers into the ropes and chops Pillman to the mat. Steamboat strikes Pillman into the corner and sends Pillman into the ropes, but Pillman kicks Steamboat followed by a clothesline for a two count. Pillman puts an abdominal stretch on Steamboat.
Pillman kicks Steamboat away after a hip toss and goes to the top rope. Steamboat avoids and superkicks Pillman. Steamboat avoids a middle rope crossbody attempt by Pillman. Steamboat works over Pillman in the corner with several strikes. Steamboat rams Pillman head first into the top turnbuckle several times. Steamboat comes off the ropes to deliver a forearm drop causing Pillman to roll to the apron. Steamboat plants Pillman with a back suplex into the ring for a near fall. Pillman eye rakes Steamboat, but is sent into the ropes and misses a crossbody hitting the ropes and falls over the top to the floor. Steve Austin comes out and claims that Steamboat tossed Pillman over the top. Steamboat slaps Austin on the floor. Steamboat pummels Austin in the ring and Pillman hits a top rope crossbody, but Steamboat rolls through to pin Pillman. After the match, Austin and Pillman double team Steamboat. Austin slams Steamboat, but Shane Douglas comes out and makes the save. (***. A good match that got plenty of time and the crowd enjoyed the action. I like the clean finish for Steamboat fighting off Austin and Pillman to still win the match. I think at some point Pillman needs to win these matches to establish his heel persona as an actual threat to the faces, though.)
3.) Teddy Long talks about how wrestlers can do crazy things because of the pressure. His focus is on Brian Pillman, who use to do things right, but now he’s doing things wrong. We get a history of his attitude change that started on September 2nd at the Clash of the Champions. Pillman has had issues with Brad Armstrong and most recently Shane Douglas.
4.) Johnny Gunn won his enhancement match following a tilt a whirl slam. Gunn did a lifting reverse DDT during the match, which looked to be a better finishing move option.
5.) Armstrong uses his speed to sidestep Vegas early lockup attempt on a couple of attempts. Vegas tosses Armstrong into a corner, but misses a splash attempt as Armstrong moves out of the way. Vegas knee lifts Armstrong followed by a clubbing blow over the back. Vegas tries for a slam, but Armstrong counters with a dropkick and a wrist lock. Armstrong kicks Vegas on the knee and keeps arm control. Armstrong keeps Vegas on the mat, but Vegas forearms Armstrong to break free. Vegas misses a clothesline and catches Armstrong on a crossbody to deliver a backbreaker. Vegas plants Armstrong with a side slam for a near fall. Vegas keeps Armstrong on the mat with a chin lock. Armstrong refuses to give in. Armstrong elbows Vegas a few times, but is yanked to the mat and kicks out of a cover. Vegas misses another splash in the corner and Armstrong pummels Vegas with strikes. Armstrong springboards off the middle rope to back elbow Vegas. Armstrong is caught coming of the top, but Vegas drops down. DDP distracts Armstrong allowing Vegas to knee lift Armstrong from behind and wins with a rollup. After the match, Armstrong is double teamed by Vegas and DDP until Van Hammer runs into the ring to make the save. The referee apparently has reversed his decision and Armstrong wins by disqualification. (*1/2. A fine TV match that is clearly setting up a tag match as the blowoff. I probably would have kept Vegas as the winner, though.)
6.) Missy Does The Mail hosted by Missy Hyatt is up next. Hyatt received a letter from Theresa who wants to know how Missy can stand Paul E. Dangerously considering his behavior. Hyatt shows footage from Halloween Havoc where Dangerously took credit for Rick Rude’s success, but was confronted by Rude’s manager, Madusa. Madusa thanks Vader and Race for winning the match Rude was scheduled for originally. Dangerously tells Madusa he’s tired of Madusa from day one and he’s the boss because he’s the man. Dangerously berates Madusa for being a woman and being nothing more than a chick who takes orders. Dangerously only hired Madusa because the other one he wanted had a previous commitment. Dangerously fires Madusa and shoves her. Madusa drops Dangerously with a kick! Vader and Race ran out of the scene quick.
7.) Tony Atlas won his enhancement match with a full nelson causing his opponent to pass out.
8.) A video package promoting the King of the Cable is shown.
9.) Rude and Koloff have their match joined in progress. Koloff misses a clothesline on the floor and hits the ring post. Rude rolls Koloff into the ring and heads to the top rope hitting an axe handle over the arm and taunts the crowd. Rude keeps Koloff on the mat with an arm bar. Rude wrenches on the arm in the middle of the ring, but Koloff doesn’t submit. Koloff strikes Rude a few times in the midsection and decks Rude against the ropes. Rude avoids a backdrop with a boot and a clothesline. Rude wrenches on Koloff’s arm on the mat. Rude wrenches on Koloff’s arm a few more times, but Koloff gets to his feet. Rude yanks Koloff back down to the mat by using his singlet. Koloff strikes Rude several times into the corner and continues with body shots. Rude nails Koloff with a boot as Koloff charged the corner. Rude misses a middle rope dropkick crashing to the mat. Koloff strikes Rude several times in the midsection. Koloff lifts Rude into the air and down to the mat. Koloff atomic drops Rude and gets a rollup for a two count. Koloff hooks Rude for a snap suplex leading to a one count. Koloff nails Rude with a leaping shoulder block for a near fall. Rude stops Koloff by locking in a sleeper hold. Koloff breaks free with a jawbreaker to drop Rude to the mat.
Madusa got on the apron and tossed something to Rude, but Koloff gets an inside cradle for a two count. Koloff clotheslines Rude over the top to the floor! Rude has put the object in his tights. Madusa gets in the ring onto Koloff’s back, but is yanked to the mat. Rude punches Koloff with the object and pins Koloff to win the match and retain the title! (**. I wasn’t expecting the cheating finish, and it doesn’t feel like the feud is something that is going to be continuing on. It wasn’t a classic bout, but it was a decent TV match.)
Final Thoughts:
A good episode of Power Hour this week with Steamboat/Pillman being good and the main event was solid for what it was. There wasn’t much of a dull spot on the show and it was a productive hour of WCW programming.
Thanks for reading.