World Championship Wrestling presents Saturday Night
Date: 11/14/1992
From: Atlanta, GA
Matches:
1.) Van Hammer defeated Mustafa Saied
2.) Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas defeated The Vegas Connection (Diamond Dallas Page & Vinnie Vegas)
3.) Erik Watts defeated Chris Sullivan
4.) Shanghai Pierce & Tex Slazenger defeated Joe Barrett & Keith Cole
5.) Ian Weston defeated John Peterson in a battle of the underdogs match
6.) Brian Pillman fought The Freedom Fighter to a double count-out
7.) Scotty Flamingo defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell
8.) Kensuke Sasaki defeated Bobby Eaton by disqualification
9.) Big Van Vader defeated Tony Atlas in the first round of the King of the Cable Tournament
10.) Dustin Rhodes defeated The Barbarian in the first round of the King of the Cable Tournament
Angle Developments/Notes:
1.) Jim Ross and Larry Zbyszko are on commentary. Ross says that Jake Roberts will not be in the King of the Cable tournament and Bill Watts will have a major announcement regarding the tournament.
2.) This episode is a special two and half hour edition of WCW Saturday Night.
3.) Hammer wins his enhancement match with a slingshot suplex.
4.) Backstage, Tony Schiavone interviews Bill Watts, Cactus Jack and The Barbarian. Watts announces that Jake Roberts is no longer with WCW due to personal issues and hopes he gets them settled. Watts announces that Barbarian is replacing Jake Roberts against Dustin Rhodes. Cactus is happy to have to people in the tournament with Tony Atlas and Barbarian competing now. Cactus promises the King of the Cable is going to be his.
5.) DDP and Douglas kickoff the tag match. DDP backs Douglas into a corner and delivers a right hand followed by a shoulder ram. Douglas blocks a strike and punches DDP several times. DDP knee lifts Douglas and sends Douglas into the corner, but is met with a boot. Douglas hits a middle rope clothesline for a two count. Steamboat leaps off the top to axe handle DDP and works over the left arm. Douglas returns and kicks DDP on the arm. Steamboat axe handles DDP from the top again and keeps control of the left arm. Steamboat hip tosses DDP followed by an arm drag. DDP forearms Steamboat and yanks Steamboat to the mat. Vegas tags in and scoop slams Steamboat. Vegas covers for a two count. Vegas tries for a back suplex, but Steamboat counters. Vegas strikes Steamboat and Douglas tags in to help Steamboat hit a double back suplex on Vegas for a two count. DDP breaks the cover and Vegas completely misses a clothesline on Douglas. Douglas is double teamed and Vegas clotheslines Douglas successfully this time. DDP delivers a swinging neckbreaker for a two count. DDP puts a front face lock on Douglas to prevent a tag to Steamboat. Douglas tries to tag out, but DDP decks Steamboat. Vegas tags into the bout and clotheslines Douglas. Vegas stomps Douglas on the mat. DDP takes Douglas down to the mat for a near fall. DDP keeps a sleeper on Douglas.
Douglas elbows DDP and runs the ropes, but is met with a knee lift. DDP tosses Douglas into the corner and delivers a few strikes. Douglas strikes DDP and Vegas in the corner to break free. Douglas kicks DDP away into the corner and tags in Steamboat. Steamboat strikes Vegas several times and chops DDP. Steamboat slams DDP and delivers dropkicks to both Vegas and DDP. Douglas gets in the ring to dropkick DDP to the floor. Vegas slams Douglas, but Steamboat leaps off the top to crossbody Vegas, who trips over Douglas and Steamboat pins Vegas for the win. (**. Honestly, this was surprisingly better than I thought it would be. Vegas had a couple of bad spots, but the action was solid enough throughout. The crowd popped for the finish, so they must have cared for the match.)
6.) Jim Ross interviews Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham. Windham says they are looking forward to their title match with Steamboat and Douglas as he knows they can give them a match they are use to. Steamboat and Douglas enter the scene and puts over the Vegas Connection. Steamboat recalls offering his hand to Dustin Rhodes and shakes hands with the champs. Douglas does the same. Steamboat says Douglas is probably his best tag partner he’s ever had. Dustin Rhodes asks didn’t Steamboat say the same thing to him. Windham tells Steamboat that he was just a stand-in when he won the tag titles. Douglas chimes in and tells the champs to bring everything they’ve got. Steamboat suggests they bring a little extra to end the segment.
7.) Watts continues his undefeated streak by winning his enhancement match with an STF. Paul E. Dangerously has a bounty on Watts, by the way.
8.) Jim Ross conducts an interview with Erik Watts. Watts will team with Kensuske Sasaki against Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton in a bounty match. Watts has never hidden from a challenge and says it is easy to find him. Watts knows it will be tough, but he’s not backing down from the challenge at the Clash.
9.) Shanghai Pierce and Tex Slazenger win their enhancement tag match, though it isn’t nearly as one-sided as you might expect. Cole and Barrett get a couple moments of control on Pierce for example. In the end, Slazenger clotheslines Barrett and Pierce hit a standing elbow drop for the win.
10.) Jim Ross interviews Bill Watts regarding the King of the Cable. Watts says Cactus Jack and Harley Race are barred from ringside in the King of the Cable matches tonight.
11.) Tony Schiavone hosts Up Close with his guest being Dr. Death Steve Williams this week. Schiavone says that Williams is one of the most intimidating men in wrestling. Schiavone puts over Williams success in football with Oklahoma. Williams believes he’s the most intimidating wrestlers in the world. Williams only thought about taking people down to the ground on the football field, including his own brother. Williams earned his nickname in wrestling and recalls shattering his nose and got a hockey mask. Williams has carried that nickname in pro wrestling and upholds that nickname. Schiavone asks for his goals in 1993. Williams wants to be the best and in order to be the best you’ve to beat the best. Williams is no stranger to Ron Simmons and notes they battled at the Orange Bowl and he beat him once before. Williams says they will find out who the real champion is.
12.) Jim Ross interviews WCW United States Champion Rick Rude and Madusa. Rude is prepared to step into the ring and do battle with Sting. Rude says one thing has been under his skin. Rude says the fans have refereed to Sting as the man ever since Rude has been there. Rude mentions he defeated Sting for the WCW United States Championship, but the fans didn’t call him the man. Rude is bitter about not getting a shot at the WCW World Championship. Sting won the WCW World Championship and lost it, but is still called the man. Rude promises he will prove to the world that he’s above Sting once and for all and he’s better than Sting ever will be.
Sting joins the program backstage with Teddy Long. Sting says he doesn’t tell the people to call him anything and he’s celebrated his wins like a man, similar to taking his losses as a man. Sting has something to say to Rude face to face. Sting leaves the locker room to head to the arena with some backup. Sting has a question for Rude and says the fans refer to him as Ravishing Rick Rude. Sting asks if Rude’s family friends refer to him as Ricky, or Rick.. or well it’s censored, but I think he’s saying Dick. Rude is not happy about this development. Rude heads into the ring and attacks Bob Cook, who was waiting for the neck match. Rick Rude delivers the Rude Awakening. Rude tries to ripoff his shirt, but his cuffs are too tight and struggles even in a rage.
13.) The underdog match is between two enhancement wrestlers, as per usual. Weston wins the match with a sloppy rollup. The fans are not all that interested in this concept, and I don’t blame them.
14.) Pillman and Fighter trade wrist locks until Pillman elbows Fighter and rams Fighter into the corner. Fighter hip tosses Pillman followed by an arm drag. Pillman puts a hammerlock on Fighter. Pillman sends Fighter into the ropes and leapfrogs over. Fighter dropkicks Pillman and knocks Pillman to the floor. Ross and Zbyszko are surprised by how well Fighter is competing. Pillman chops Fighter in the corner, but Fighter responds with chops. Pillman pulls Fighter through the ropes to the floor. Pillman leaps off to clothesline Fighter on the floor. Pillman rolls Fighter into the ring and climbs to the top rope. Pillman axe handles Fighter for a two count. Fighter is met with a forearm over the back. Pillman stomps Fighter and chokes Fighter over the middle rope. Fighter strikes Pillman a few times. Fighter backslides Pillman for a two count. Pillman rubs Fighter’s face onto the mat and delivers a snapmare. Pillman controls Fighter with a head scissors on the mat. Pillman switches to a front face lock, but Fighter gets out of the hold. Fighter is stopped by an eye rake. Fighter rams Pillman face first into the corner. Fighter blocks a splash by getting his knees up. Fighter strikes Pillman several times, but Pillman fights back with chops. Pillman chops Fighter in the corner. Fighter backdrops Pillman out of the corner. Fighter decks Pillman into the corner and Pillman bails to the floor. Fighter rams Pillman into the corner a few times followed by a clothesline. Fighter continues with chops on the floor before returning to the ring. Pillman knee lifts Fighter followed by chops. Pillman throws Fighter to the floor and they trade strikes leading to a double count out. After the match, several officials come out to keep them apart. (**. Clearly the Freedom Fighter isn’t a random masked wrestler. I thought this was a decent battle between these two. I enjoyed the brawling and there wasn’t a lull to the match for the most part.)
15.) Jim Ross interviews Brian Pillman, who says that was Brad Armstrong as the Freedom Fighter. Pillman isn’t surprised Armstrong hid behind a mask. Pillman thinks Armstrong is ashamed to show his face due to the previous Clash. Pillman promotes their match for the Clash on Wednesday.
16.) Jim Ross conducts an interview with WCW World Champion Ron Simmons. Ross notes that Robbie Waker has left the area. Simmons thinks Cactus Jack and the Barbarian have something to do with Walker disappearance. Simmons says Cactus and Barbarian don’t know about the ghetto and losing family. Simmons is proud to be the first black man to win the WCW World Champion. Simmons promises hell will be raised at the Clash and he’ll show what the ghetto is all about.
17.) Bagwell gets a headlock on Flamingo to start the match and takes Flamingo down to the mat. Bagwell shoulder blocks Flamingo and kicks Flamingo away after a hip toss. Bagwell is rammed into the corner by Flamingo, but elbows free and rams Flamingo into the corner before gaining headlock control. Flamingo delivers a back suplex, but Bagwell doesn’t let go of the hold. Flamingo backs Bagwell into the corner and delivers a few kicks. Flamingo stomps Bagwell in the corner and delivers a snapmare followed by an elbow drop. Bagwell goes back to a headlock on the mat. Flamingo knee lifts Bagwell and throws Bagwell to the floor. Flamingo forearms Bagwell on the apron. Bagwell misses a sunset flip from the apron leading to a near fall for Flamingo. Flamingo controls Bagwell on the mat with a body scissors. Flamingo puts a Boston Crab on Bagwell, but doesn’t get a submission. Bagwell avoids Flamingo in the corner, but Flamingo continues to beat on Bagwell with strikes. Bagwell strikes Flamingo and delivers a backdrop. Bagwell dropkicks Flamingo followed by a clothesline. Bagwell kicks Flamingo followed by a crossbody. Flamingo puts something on his hand and decks Bagwell to pickup the win. After the match, Johnny B. Badd tries to tell the referee what happened. Badd has boxing gloves on, but dropkicks Flamingo to the floor. (*1/2. A cheap win for Flamingo is fine. Considering Flamingo has a feud going on this probably isn’t the upset you might think it is.)
18.) Jim Ross interviews Johnny B. Badd who says we just witnessed a travesty. Badd promotes the three round boxing match with Flamingo. Badd puts over his boxing accolades and promises he’s turning up the heat at the Clash. It will be a blessin’ to teach Flamingo a lesson.
19.) Paul E. Dangerously comes out with the Dangerous Alliance for his public workout. Dangerously says he’s not a wrestler nor a fighter. However, he is a man who can teach any woman what manhood is all about. Dangerously is going to show the world what a real man is all about with help from his men. They have an enhancement guy with them that is part of the workout. They are bullying the enhancement guy before the workout with Dangerously. Dangerously does some jumping jacks and punches the enhancement guy, but Steve Austin decks the jobber from behind and Dangerously pins the jobber. Dangerously brags about winning despite not doing any actual damage on his own.
20.) Jim Ross interviews Madusa. Madusa say she’s disgusted by Dangerously’s workout. She’s sick of Dangerously and says Dangerously doesn’t have a clue about their operations. Dangerously enters the scene and gives Madusa a chance to back out of their meeting at the Clash. Madusa refuses to back out. Dangerously doesn’t think Madusa will do anything because she’s a woman. Dangerously tells Madusa she’s nothing because she’s a woman. Dangerously puts down Madusa as being stupid and says she’s born stupid. The Dangerous Alliance bail on Dangerously, but he’s unaware of them bailing on him. Dangerously knows Madusa is wondering if she should kiss or hit him. Dangerously claims Madusa called him from Rude’s room. Madusa calls it a lie. Dangerously throws water on Madusa. Dangerously realizes his men have bailed. Madusa chases Dangerously through the crowd and outside. (Dangerously may be a little too good at degrading women.)
21.) Backstage, Tony Schiavone interviews Harley Race and Big Van Vader. Race says being barred from ringside is ludicrous and says he’s paid to make sure Vader gets a fair shot. Race is confident that Vader will take care of business. Vader says Tony Atlas isn’t big or bad enough because Vader feels no pain.
22.) Eaton backs Sasaki against the ropes, but backs off. Sasaki backs Eaton against the ropes and backs off. Eaton puts a headlock on Sasaki, but is sent into the ropes. Sasaki dropkicks Eaton, but Eaton responds with a kick. Sasaki kicks Eaton and delivers a clothesline sending Eaton to the apron. Michael Hayes complains on the apron. Sasaki gains wrist control on Eaton and puts a hammerlock on the mat for a few moments. Sasaki knee drops Eaton on the back followed by stomps. Eaton and Sasaki trade strikes until they both go down. Hayes decks Sasaki from the floor. Eaton chokes Saskai over the middle rope. Eaton decks Sasaki with a clothesline. Eaton elbows Sasaki coming off the ropes for a two count. Sasaki elbows free from Eaton and shoulder blocks Eaton to the mat. Sasaki backdrops Eaton coming off the ropes and delivers a couple of dropkicks. Sasaki tries for a suplex, but Eaton counters with a suplex for a two count. Sasaki clotheslines Eaton for another two count. Sasaki sends Eaton into Hayes on the apron for a near fall. Sasaki arm drags Eaton, but Arn Anderson enters the ring and plants Sasaki with a DDT causing a disqualification. After the match, a couple of enhancement guys are sent to the floor. Erik Watts and Marcus Alexander Bagwell make the save. (*1/2. While the DA don’t approve for degrading women, they are still heels. At least we know their limits. There wasn’t much here to get excited about.)
23.) Vader and Atlas have a stare down in the middle of the ring. Vader shoves Atlas into the corner and taunts Atlas before playing to the crowd. Vader shoves Atlas away into the corner. Vader backs Atlas into a corner and delivers a few forearm shots to the chest and several body shots. Atlas strikes Vader in the corner and headbutts Vader into the corner. Vader misses a clothesline. Atlas tries for a clothesline, but Vader doesn’t budge. Vader headbutts Atlas into the corner and body strikes Atlas. Atlas boots Vader in the corner and strikes Vader. Atlas punches Vader in the corner. Vader strikes Atlas with a body strike. Vader scoop slams Atlas to the mat. Vader sends Atlas into the corner, but is caught on a splash attempt! Atlas can’t execute a slam, though. Vader drops Atlas with a short arm clothesline. Vader leaps off the middle rope to hit a splash for the win. (*1/2. Kept it simple and to the point. The slam tease by Atlas got the crowd to pop. Vader is a beast and it was never a doubt.)
24.) Jim Ross interviews WCW Tag Team Champion, Barry Windham. Windham talks about Dustin Rhodes competing against Barbarian tonight. Windham says Rhodes is prepared for the match and he’s behind his partner. Windham supports Rhodes looking at a singles career.
25.) Backstage, Teddy Long interviews Dustin Rhodes. Rhodes talks about Barbarian for a moment, but Cactus Jack storms the scene and rams Dustin’s head into lockers and leaves Dustin laying as officials pull Cactus away. Windham, Steamboat and Douglas check on Dustin to end the scene.
26.) Cactus Jack comes out and tells Jim Ross there was an accident backstage and demands Barbarian be awarded the match by forfeit. After a commercial, Ross confirms Rhodes is still competing against Barbarian.
27.) Dustin doesn’t look to be too bothered by the previous attack by Cactus. Rhodes avoids a strike in the corner and punches Barbarian in the corner a few times. Barbarian blocks a hip toss attempt. Rhodes strikes Barbarian several times against the ropes. Rhodes sunset flips Barbarian, but Barbarian misses a punch. Rhodes hits a crossbody coming off the ropes for a two count. Barbarian bails to the floor and Rhodes strikes Barbarian around ringside a few times. Rhodes strikes Barbarian in the corner several times. Barbarian shoves Rhodes away, but Rhodes hits a middle rope clothesline for a near fall. Rhodes puts a wrist lock on Barbarian to keep control of the match. Rhodes drops Barbarian over the top rope arm first. Rhodes leaps off the top, but Barbarian catches Rhodes to hit a powerslam. Barbarian forearms Rhodes in the corner a few times. Barbarian sends Rhodes into the corner back first. Barbarian kicks Rhodes on the mat, but Rhodes fights back with strikes. Barbarian drives Rhodes down with a backbreaker for a two count. Barbarian knee drops Rhodes on the lower back. Barbarian splashes onto Rhodes back. Barbarian has Rhodes over the shoulder, but Rhodes clotheslines Barbarian into the corner. Barbarian decks Rhodes with a clothesline. Rhodes kicks Barbarian followed by elbow strikes. Barbarian chokes Rhodes in the corner. Barbarian puts a bearhug on Rhodes, but doesn’t get a submission. Rhodes elbow strikes Barbarian and ducks an elbow. Rhodes clotheslines Barbarian. Barbarian nails Rhodes with a boot to the floor. Barbarian drives Rhodes into the apron back first to keep control. Barbarian chops Rhodes in the corner several times. Rhodes knee strikes Barbarian, but misses a bulldog attempt. Rhodes sidesteps Barbarian and Barbarian hits the post shoulder first. Rhodes gets a rollup and pins Barbarian to win the match. (*1/2. No surprise here. Cactus attack was likely done to try and give Barbarian a better shot at winning, but Dustin didn’t exactly sell the attack as if he was wounded or all that bothered by it going into the match.)
28.) Next week, Dustin Rhodes will battle Vader. Sting & Nikita Koloff will team up to battle Rick Rude & Vader, according to Ross.
Final Thoughts:
There wasn’t anything here all that great action-wise. Dangerously and Madusa may be the best angle going on WCW TV and I think there’s some good interest in seeing Madusa beat up Dangerously at the Clash. Rude and Sting had a fun segment, as well. I’d be looking forward to Rude vs. Sting as they tend to have good matches. I’ll consider this an average episode, but certainly not a must-see episode or anything.
Thanks for reading.