It's Wednesday, January 27th, 1995. Waiting to Exhale is the number one movie in the world. Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men are still dominating the charts with "One Sweet Day". Christmas has passed, and sadly so has Dean Martin. And in the world of WCW, it's a battle for supremacy as WCW's best takes on New Japan Pro Wrestling's best in the World Cup of Wrestling. It's WCW Starrcade 1995 from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. Attendance at 8,200 and a buyrate of .36.
Outside of the world cup of wrestling, what has been happening on Nitro? A headache is what's happening. Randy Savage won the WCW title in controversial fashion back at World War 3 in the battle royal. Hulk Hogan has been whining and crying for a title shot, but has surprisingly been passed over for three other men, Sting, Lex Luger and Ric Flair, who will battle in a triangle match to face Savage later in the night for the championship. While Hogan's been crying, everyone is questioning "what's going on with Lex Luger?" He's sided with Jimmy Hart and the Dungeon of Doom, while also still befriending Sting. And Sting is so tight with Luger that his loyalties come in to question. Will he defend his longtime friend, or aide his allies in Savage and Hogan? It's been going on an on for months with no definitive answer. Will we get that answer tonight? I doubt it. I really do.
Our commentary team is Tony Schiavone, Bobby Heenan, and DUTHTY RHODETH DADDEH! He promises some clubbing and some heiny kickin'. He's happy to be working with Tony and the Weasel. Heenan says that Savage is in trouble tonight due to the mounting injuries from the past month of defenses.
Opening action for the world cup of wrestling is Chris Benoit vs Jushin "Thunder" Liger. Benoit shoves down Liger early on and follows with a headlock and a shoulder block. Benoit slides under Liger, but gets caught in some arm drags that send him outside. Baseball slide and a flip off the apron from Liger. "USA" chants rain down as Liger waves the Japanese flag. Headscissors from Liger. Benoit finally regains some momentum with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. He tries for a powerbomb, but Liger gets in an arm drag and a belly to belly suplex. Benoit goes outside again as Liger tries for a dive, but Benoit avoids, so Liger just does a handstand.
Benoit comes back with a snap suplex and a nice back suplex. Whip and a clothesline follow. Benoit locks in a lion tamer, then tries a cover, but Liger kicks out at one. Hard chops and a headbutt by Benoit. Liger fights back, but Benoit quickly comes back with a bridging German suplex, covering for two. He tries a second cover and still just gets a two. Liger locks in a bow and arrow stretch into a dragon sleeper. Benoit rakes the face, forcing the break. Liger transitions into a camel clutch. A lot of "Rickshaw, eating fish" comments from Dusty and Heenan. This is going to be a long night. Benoit tries a back suplex, but Liger turns it into a cross body for two.
Benoit tries a tombstone, but Liger turns it into a pancake. He goes to the top, but Benoit catches him, landing a big superplex. Cover, but Liger kicks out. Stiff slam by Benoit who then goes to the top for the flying headbutt, but Liger avoids. Rolling kick by Liger into the corner followed by a sitout powerbomb, but Benoit kicks out at two. Brainbuster from Liger and a cover, but Benoit still kicks out at two. Benoit hits a forearm on Liger, then lands two German suplexes. He follows with a stiff powerbomb and a flaying headbutt.
Kevin Sullivan shows up and distracts Benoit. This issue stemming from the issues between the Horsemen and the Dungeon of Doom. Benoit turns around to get caught in a hurricanrana from Liger who covers for the three. A really good opener with lots of hard hitting back and forth action. Got a good amount of time, everything looked crisp (save for maybe that end hurricanrana). Once again, like most Benoit matches, I still have a problem looking back at Benoit matches and seeing him smash his head like that.
Mean Gene is with Eddie Guerrero who is unhappy about Sullivan's involvement. The focus changes to his match with Ootani. Eddie says it's an honor to represent WCW in the world cup of wrestling. He says he had to be at the top of his game to represent the WCW fans and he'll give it his best. For a guy as charismatic as Eddie was, this is a really bland babyface promo.
Our next match in the world cup of wrestling is Koji Kanemoto taking on Alex Wright. Loud "USA" chants despite the match featuing a Japanese man and a German man. An exchange of arm work from both men early on. Kanemoto takes Wright down and begins to work the leg. He grabs the leg and Wright counters with an enziguri. Fast European uppercuts and some arm wringers from Das Wunderkind. Kanemoto tries to work the arm, but Wright counters. Arm drag by Wright followed by fast headscissors.
Wright hits some headbutts to the midsection, followed by a cross body sending both men to the outside. Wright returns to the ring and hits a baseball slide and a dive over the top rope. Both men return in the ring as Wright applies a chinlock. Kanemoto takes Wright to the corner and lands some chops and fists. He locks in a chinlock and drops an elbow to the back of the head. Big spin kick by Kanemoto. He follows by setting Wright on the ropes and hitting some chops and a dropkick. He places Wright over the ropes and chokes him for a bit, leading to a dropkick. Kanemoto gets a plancha that takes down Wright. Wright reverses a whip, sending Kanemoto crashing into the guardrail. Kanemoto stalls to get into the ring, allowing for Wright to attempt an over the rope suplex. Kanemoto counters and hits a dragon suplex, but Wright gets the ropes.
Moonsault by Kanemoto who opts not to cover. He continues to stomp at Wright and whips him into the corner, only to be caught in the German suplex, bridging for two. Jumping kick by Wright and some shoulder to the cut. Running elbow to the sternum and a slam. Slingshot splash, but Kanemoto gets his foot on the ropes. Wrights goes up for a dropkick, but Kanemoto hits one of his own, cancelling it out. Kanemoto whips Wright, but Wright counters with a cross body for two. Spin kick by Kanemoto and a body slam.
Flipping sault by Kanemoto who counters for two. He goes back up top, but Wright gets the dropkick this time. Wright goes back up and lands a missile dropkick to the shoulder. Wright hits a superplex off the top buckle. Cover, but Kanemoto kicks out at two. Kanemoto reverses a whip, catches Wright and drops him on the buckle, roll up gets the three. New Japan is 2-0 in the cup. A decent back and forth match with a lot of athleticism, but it felt really disorganized and messy.
Mean Gene shills the WCW hotline and interviews Sonny Oono, who is elated at being 2-0 in this tourney. He promises it will be 5-zip. He says that maybe he should buy WCW and Iowa. This is America, everything is for sale. He also says that he has friends in the Dungeon of Doom.
Up next, it's Masahiro Chono taking on Lex Luger in the third match of the world cup of wrestling. Luger starts with some strikes and a headlock followed by a shoulder block. He lifts up Chono, landing a press slam as the crowd is hot for Luger. Boots to the sternum by Luger. Chono ducks a clotheslines and hits some forearms and a boot that sends Luger to the outside. We get some stalling as Chono returns to the ring. Luger lands a strike to the midsection, a boot, and throws Chono back and forth into the buckles.
Luger tries a suplex, but Chono blocks it, landing one of his own. He drives some knees to the face of Luger and chokes him in the corner. Loud USA chants (the first match where it's justified) as Chono grinds the face of Luger. Chono reverses a whip and locks in a sleeper, turning it into a reverse DDT. Chono locks in his patented STF, but Luger crawls to the ropes, forcing the break. Chono lands some elbows to the face and an inverse atomic drop. Chono goes to the top, then changes his mind, landing his bit boot the "mafia kick". Chono then decides to go up, but gets hit with an elbow by Luger. Rack by Luger gets the win, earning WCW its first win in the cup. Solid little back and forth match save for some stalling and slow spots. It was merficully short as most Luger matches should be, and Luger going over makes sense considering Luger working the triangle match later in the night.
Mean Gene is with Luger's buddy Sting. He says Johnny B. Badd will tie it up. When it comes to Kensuke Sasaki, who beat Sting for the US title last week, the title isn't on the line tonight but pride is what's up for grabs. As it goes to Sonny Oono buying WCW, it's over the Stinger's dead body. On to the triangle match, he already sees the Luger questions coming. He and Luger are friends, and he's trying to patch things up with Savage. He says that he's gotta do what he's gotta do tonight to get his title shot.
Up next, it's our fourth match in the world cup of wrestling. Johnny B. Badd (with Kimberly) vs Masa Saito. Oono cuts a promo yelling at "American geisha girl" Kimberly saying she should be in the kitchen. Kimberly grabs the mic, calls him Hop Sing and says this ain't no bath house, she ain't no geisha and if this sport is for men, what is he doing here. Fun enough little promo. Good to see Kimberly showing charisma.
Saito takes Badd to the corner early and gives a bow. Badd tries to work the arm but Saito gets an arm drag in. He tries again, but Saito takes him back down and locks in a chinlock. Hairpull takedown by Saito, much to the anger of Badd. Chops b Saito, but Badd comes back with shots of his own. But Saito hits even harder. An exchange of blows from both men, but it's Saito who is the winner. He rams Badd into the buckle and takes Badd to the bottom rope, choking him and tearing at the face. Oono chokes Badd with the Japanese flag.
Belly to back suplex by "Mr. Torture" who covers, but Badd kicks out. Clothesline by Saito who covers for two. He takes Badd to the ropes as Oono chokes Badd yet again. Side Russian leg sweep by Saito who covers, but Badd kicks out. Badd lands some fists and gets a boot and a knee lift. Badd goes up and hits a jumping ax handle. He goes back up and lands a big sunset flip, but Saito kicks out. Badd gets in some more strikes that takes Saito down. Badd hits a suplex. Cover, but not even a one count. Oono distracts Badd, allowing for Badd to fall over the top rope, which causes a DQ. Saito turns his attention to Kimberly, but Badd attacks Saito, dropkicking him to the outside. Due to the mess of an ending, Badd gets the win for WCW at 2-2. Rushed match that was decent at best. The top rope DQ was lame and just felt like a way to rush the ending even further.
Mean Gene is with Lex Luger and Jimmy Hart. Hart says that Sullivan has a short fuse and that's why he got involved in the Benoit match earlier in the evening. Luger talks the triangle match and says that the moment of truth has arrived. You look at the top names of WCW over the years like Sting, Flair and Luger (well if you don't count that four year spell for Lex). Luger says he owns the Macho Man and will coming right at him because he's had him in the rack many times. He would have torn the arm out of the socket if not for Sting. He tells Jimmy to let him go alone this one time due to his past with Sting.
Up next, Shinjiro Ootani takes on Eddie Guerrero in round five of the world cup of wrestling. With both brands tied at two a piece, this will be the much needed tie breaker. A bit of stalling early on as Eddie plays to the crowd and Ootani tries to avoid contact. Eventualyl we get Eddy locking in an arm bar as Dusty mumbles about hot toddies. Hairpull by Ootani who also rips at the face of Eddie. He brings Eddie to the ropes and twists his nose. Eddie comes back with an enziguri.
Eddie twists his boot over the face of Ootani, but gets caught in a half crab. Eddie escapes, turning around into a chinlock. Ootani comes back with a monkey flip, but Eddie turns things around with a hurricanrana that sends Ootani in retreat to the outside. Ootani returns to the ring only to heat a dropkick to the face. Slam and a slingshot plancha by Eddie connects. He then locks in a boston crab, Ootani managing to grab the ropes eventually. Eddie stomps at Ootani then follows with a pinning powerbomb, but Ootani kicks out at two. Eddie follows with a brainbuster. Cover, but Ootani gets the ropes.
Clothesline in the corner from Eddie. He whips Ootani to the corner, but Ootani flips over the ropes and hits Eddie with a springboard dropkick, sending Eddie to the outside. Ootani follows with a springboard plancha over the ropes, connecting and hurting the shoulder. He brings Eddie back into the ring and chokes Eddie on the bottom rope, occasionally stomping at him. He continues to rip at the face of Eddie and turns it around into a chinlock. Eddie breaks free and hits a back suplex. Cover, but Ootani kicks out at two.
Eddie tries for another brainbuster, but Ootani escapes and counters with a bridging German Suplex for two. Dusty and Heenan chastise Schiavone for talking about German suplexes, this coming from their crazed conversation about the mafia kick earlier. I haven't talked much about the commentary team, but my god it is a mess. Dusty rambling, Heenan trying to be the one positive voice for New Japan, and a crap ton of rickshaw jokes. 1995, people! Ootani hits a springboard spinning heel kick off the top rope, connecting wonderfully. Slam by Ootani who goes up top, but Eddie recovers and follows with a frankensteiner off the top. Cover, but Ootani kicks out at the last millisecond.
Splash mountain bomb by Eddie, but Ootani kicks out at the two count. Ootani gets Eddie in a leg grapevine, but Eddie gets to the rope. Ootani waits until the near five count to break it. He goes to attack Eddie, but Eddie sends him falling through the ropes. He slams Ootani on the ropes and then springboard cross body blocks him off the ropes to the outside. Pitch perfect spot. He brings Ootani to the ring and tries to suplex him over the ropes (on the stairs BTW), but Ootani reverses it.Springboard dropkick to the back of Eddie's head. Ootani is a bloody mess as it appears his nose was busted. Eddie breaks from a full nelson and goes for a hurricanrana pin, but Ootani counters it. Eddie counters it again, but Ootani gets the last counter, earning him the three.
A really good match with a good amount of length to it. It felt like the action built up at just the right pace. It was hard hitting, but never focused entirely on hitting big spot after big spot, just to kick out of everything. Both Eddie and Ootani looked good with both men showing off their high flying prowess along with their speed in the ring. Definitely one of the night's strongest matches so far.
Mean Gene is with Randy Savage. Savage says the pressure is on him and Sting to win the cup. He must have just seen Toy Story as he says "to infinity and beyond." He's been the underdog all his life as has Sting. This is a moment in time and he's going to take advantage of it. He's coming to get Tenzan. When it comes to Hulk Hogan, Savage says to tell him he's in the zone. He's going in there to even the score for the red white and blue.
Up next, it's Randy Savage facing off with Tenzan in the sixth match of the world cup of wrestling. Savage takes Tenzan into the corner until the referee forces a break. He does it again, but this time Tenzan gets in some cheap shots while the referee forces another break. Ax handle to the back of Savage followed by some stomps. He rams Savage into the buckle and chokes him. Clothesline by Tenzan who covers for two. He twists the face and takes Savage to the corner, landing some chops and headbutts.
Savage tries some strikes but Tenzan no-sells them and strike Savage back down. Another eye rake. He follows with some more stiff strikes to the shoulder and the back of the head. Savage pulls at the nose and whips Tenzan. Tenzan reverses and lands a spinning heel kick.He stomps at Savage a bit while Sonny Oono says that Savage should give up and WCW is his. He takes Savage to the outside and rams him into the post and drops him throat-first into the guardrail. He brings Savage back in and hits a headbutt and a Samoan drop. Tenzan drops a headbutt off the second rope. Cover, but Savage kicks out at two. He slams Savage again and goes for a moonsault but misses. Clothesline by Savage sends Tenzan tumbling through the ropes. After a bit of a struggle, Savage drops Tenzan on the ropes. Elbow drop by Savage gets the win and taking us to 3-3.
A decent match that was focused more on stiff strikes than technical prowess. But like a lot of Randy Savage matches the end just happens out of nowhere. It feels really jarring that after about 89% of Tenzan offense it only takes three movies to finish it off. Despite that, it still did the job in continuing the concerns that Savage may be in jeopardy in his title match tonight.
As Heenan fumbles with his chair in comedic fashion, Mean Gene is with Ric Flair. He talks about the world cup of wrestling, but his focus is on the bigger trophy the WCW title. He tells Luger and Sting that to be the man they have to beat the man. They both have wrestled, but Flair will be fresh and invigorated. With the bright lights and Dolly Parton to his left and some other lady on his right, he'll leave with the WCW championship stylin' and profilin'.
It's the final match of the world cup of wrestling. US champion Kensuke Sasaki taking on Sting. Sting comes to the ring with an American flag for patriotic pap. Sneak attack by Sasaki who continues throw Sting into the buckles. Scoop slam by Sasaki who covers for one. Sting comes back with some strikes and a stinger splash. Sasakit reverses a whip and gets a bulldog in. Clotheslines follow, but Sting comes back with a dropkick and a clothesline over the ropes. Sasaki reverses a suplex over the ropes and catches Sting with a powerslam. Brainbuster from Sasaki who mocks the crowd a bit. It works as "USA" chants start.
Arm bar by Sasaki has Sting tied up in the ring. He follows up with more stomps and an arm drag takeover. Cover only gets a two count. Sasaki locks Sting in a scorpion death lock. Part of me is expecting to hear "Ring the bell!" right now. Sting powers out of it. Leg drag takedown by Sasaki. He tries again, but Sting lands an enziguri. Sasaki sets Sting on the top rope and tries a running powerslam, but Sting escapes, lands some clotheslines and a facebuster. Scorpion Death Lock gets the win and the cup. A good match. I do wish it had gone a bit longer, but for a finals it did the trick. It was no Bam Bam/Bret from KOTR 1993, but it still did the trick.
Mean Gene is with the WCW competitors to present the world cup of wrestling. He tells them to take the belt out and fill it with champagne. He talks to Sting about the triangle match, but Sting is focused on playing to the crowd. Luger and Sting hold up the trophy as we the crowd pops for it and Heenan is particularly distraught.
Up next, it's the triangle match to see who faces Savage later in the night. Lex Luger, Sting and Ric Flair. All three men have had issues with Savage, particularly Sting who has been in this flux of trust since he wants to settle things with Savage, but is still trying to keep his friendship with Luger. This match will not be triple threat rules where all three will be in at once. Instead it will be two men in at once, and the other needs to be tagged in.
Flair and Sting start things off. Flair gives off his patented strut and woo, to which Sting just woos back. I was hoping for Luger to just randomly yell like he does whenever he hits any move. Sting gets in a press slam and a clothesline to start. Cover, but Flair kicks out at two. He tries for the Scorpion Death Lock, but Flair is quick to get the ropes before it's applied. Flair rolls to the outside and takes a breather. Flair locks in a hammerlock and wrenches the elbow, taking Sting to the mat. He gets caught using the ropes, forcing a break. Flair continues with some offense, right hands and a stiff chop.
Back into the hammerlock, taking Sting back to the mat. He takes Sting to the corner and hits a chop, to which Sting no-sells and mockingly struts out of, taking Flair to the corner. Hiptoss and a dropkick by Sting followed by another press slam. He follows with corner punches and a bite to the face. Facebuster by Sting sends Flair back to the outside. Flair throws Sting to the barricade, but Sting no-sells and battering rams him. Sting is in full no-sell mode and gets Flair back to the ring, hitting another hiptoss. Flair avoids a dropkick and mocks Luger. More strikes by Flair including a punch that knocks Sting down. He mocks Luger and throws Sting through the ropes, Sting landing knee-first into the steps. He continues to land some strikes and returns to the ring, mocking Luger some more and hitting a knee drop. Cover, but Sting kicks out constantly.
Flair continues to beat down Sting and lands a vertical suplex, which Sting no-sells. Sting takes Flair to the corner and tries for a superplex, but Flair rakes the eyes. This doesn't deter Sting who lands a press slam. He goes again for the superplex, this time succeeding. Cover, but Luger enters the ring and stops the pin. Luger backs away as Flair gets in a cheap shot sending Sting to Luger's corner. Luger tags himself in and goes right after Flair. Flair retreats, but Luger punches him and brings him back to the ring.
Luger gets some punches in the corner, but Flair gets in a low blow. He tries to attack Luger, but Luger keeps taking him down with shoulder blocks. Press slam by Luger (this is at least the fourth press slam at this point of the match), and takes Flair to the corner landing the ten punches. Elbow by Luger who covers for two. Blatant thumb to the eye by Flair followed by a chop block. Flair begins to stomp down on the leg He grabs a steel chair and smacks it into the leg of Luger. There was no DQ due to Sting distracting the ref. He drapes Luger's leg on the rope and drops his weight. He calls for the figure four, but chooses instead to mock Sting. Sting distracts the ref, allowing Flair to low blow Luger.
Flair locks in the figure four leg lock. He uses the ropes for leverage when possible, keeping the pressure. Luger begins to no-sell and turns the hold around. Flair tries to suplex Luger over the ropes, but Luger counters, sending Flair back into the ring. Cover, but Flair kicks out at a close two. Flair goes up, but gets caught and thrown off. Luger no-sells the strikes of Flair. Flair finally takes in Sting, which means that now we have to see the friends go at it. We get a handshake from both men as they finally lock up.
Luger takes Sting to the corner and then breaks the hold. Sting does the same. Luger gets a boot tot he midsection and throws Sting head-first into the buckle. He boots Sting some more and throws him into the buckle. He tries a third time, but Sting reverses it, slamming Luger into the buckle. He tries for some ten punches, but Luger counters with an inverse atomic drop. Sting no-sells and hits some clotheslines. Luger calls time out as Sting obliges. Luger gets in an elbow to the back of the neck of Sting and takes him back into the corner with some shoulders to the midsection. Sting boots Luger out of the corner and gets a big knee in.
Sting whips Luger into the corner, but like a locomotive, Luger hits a big clothesline. He drops Sting throat-first into the ropes and chokes him with his boot. He boots Sting to the outside and goes for an ax handle, only for Sting to get a shot in the midsection. Sting goes up and hits a cross body, but Luger kicks out at two. Sting slams Luger and goes for a slingshot, but Luger gets his knees to the midsection, derailing his momentum. Luger drops some elbows and covers Sting for two. More elbows and a cover, but Sting gets the ropes. Sting grabs the boot of Luger and takes him to the corner.
Sting tries for the Scorpion Death Lock, but Luger gets to the ropes. Blatant low blow by Luger to Sting. He lifts Sting and hits an inverse atomic drop. Sting gets a roll up on Luger for two. Luger gets right back up and tries for a back drop, but Sting turns it into a sunset flip for two. Sting reverses a suplex and lands one of his own. Sting lands a big facebuster. Sting whips Luger in the corner and hits a stinger splash. Sting misses a second as Luger locks in a torture rack. The referee gets knocked down, allowing Flair to hit a chop block on Luger. The throws both men out as the referee counts the both of them out. Sting tries to get back in, but Luger grabs his arm. Ric Flair wins by brilliant count out.
I really liked this match. Yes, a match with Lex Luger in the majority of it was actually really good. All three men put in an effort, all worked well together, all continued to tell their individual stories quite well. From Flair's issues with Sting and Luger, to Luger and Sting putting friendship aside, to Luger being more cold hearted and willing to get cheap shots in on Sting. The length of the match didn't hurt it at all either. It was just the right pace at just the right amount of time. Also that ending. Absolutely brilliant. Fitting for the dirtiest player in the game to execute such a masterful move to win the match.
It appears that Jimmy Hart has sided with Ric Flair as we get to our main event. Ric Flair, still somewhat worn from the previous match taking on Randy Savage for the WCW title. Flair whips Savage and tries a hiptoss, but Savage gets a backslide for two. He throws his shirt at Flair as the two grapple each other to the corner. Flair wins out with a chop. Savage turns things around with some strikes of his own.
Paul Orndorff, still in a neck brace, is at the ramp way. Back in the ring, Flair gets in an inverse atomic drop. He tries for the figure four, but Savage stops it. More rights by Savage and a ram into the buckle. He throws Flair, who tumbles out of the ring. Savage dives off the top, but Flair gets a cheap shot to the midsection. Orndorff is sent back up the entrance as Flair slams Savage into the barricade and throws him into the post. Stiff chops and punches by Flair and an arm slam into the barricade.
With the ref distracted, Jimmy Hart gets a quick kick in on Savage that had me laughing at how ineffective it looked. Flair brings Savage back into the ring and locks in the hammerlock, using the ropes for leverage. He continues to knee drop the injured elbow some more, still using the ropes when possible. He continues to wring the arm around and drives the knee into the elbow. Savage hits some punches and a shoulder block, but gets caught in the sleeper. Savage throws Flair off, and gets a right hand in. Cover, but Flair kicks out at two. Another cover attempt still only gets a two.
Savage whips Flair to the corner then comes back with a back drop and a couple clotheslines. Cover, but Flair kicks out at two. More fists by Savage who then goes up for an ax handle. Jimmy Hart distracts the ref as Flair gets in a cheap shot. Flair tries to use the megaphone on Savage, but Savage counters, grabs the megaphone and smashes it over Flair's head, busting him. Savage goes back up top and hits the elbow. Pillman and Benoit interfere, but Savaget hrows Pillman on the Benoit. Arn arrives and gets in a cheap shot on Savage with a loaded fist. A bloody Flair covers for three to win the WCW title.
A decent enough match, though it felt more like a TV match and not so much a big fight feel match. But considering these guys have all wrestled twice, I wasn't expecting another 20 minute brawl. I do find it a bit funny that two pay per views this month had title matches complete with blade jobs. Plus the championship hot potato continues since we started this blog. From Hogan to Giant to Savage and now to Flair, and since his name's still on the belt, most likely right back to Hogan. Because the world revolves around guess who? Hogan-Sempai!
And that wraps it up for Starrcade 1995. A really good show that focused on wrestling. The world cup of wrestling was great stuff as we got excellent matches like Benoit vs Liger, Ootani vs Guerrero, and Alex Wright vs Kanemoto. Granted, my issues were more bad and blatantly racist commentary (more on that shortly) and some really rushed matches like Saito vs Badd, Tenzan vs Savage and Sting vs Sasaki. But despite those issues, it was still a fun little tourney to watch. As for the rest of the show, we had an awesome triangle match. And when one of the three elements is Lex Luger and I call the match awesome, that's saying something. Plus a decent at best main event with Savage vs Flair that continues to push storylines further for Nitro with the Horsemen back in full control of the WCW title.
So, what hurt the show? The commentary. I love Dusty Rhodes and Bobby Heenan, and feel that Tony Schiavone was underappreciated as a play by play announcer, but my god these three do not work well together. They just talked over each other for the majority, ripped into Schiavone for trying to call the moves in the ring, couldn't focus on a lot of matches, and Dusty, god rest his son of a plumber's soul, but he was the worst of the three. Constantly rambling on and getting lost, not understanding what either Heenan or Schiavone were trying to say. It was almost Art Donovan bad. Almost. And in the end it does hurt what was a solid show by a small margin. Starrcade 1995 is easily the best show we've covered for WCW on this blog so far, and even with some minor nicks, it still is worthy of an A- rating. An excellent three hour program.
