It's January 23d, 1996. One night after the previous edition of Monday Nitro. And it's time to talk about the Clash of the Champions. Similar to the concept of WWF's Saturday Night Main Event, WCW would regularly hold these free Pay Per View level shows. So, instead of a regular PPV this month, WCW gave us this instead free on TBS. WCW is still live in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada. On tap tonight includes the wedding of Colonel Robert Parker and Sister Sherri, new WCW tag team champions Sting and Lex Luger defending against the Blue Bloods, and the Mega Powers reformed as Hogan and Savage reunite with Miss Elizabeth to take on Ric Flair and The Giant. Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan are our commentators tonight. Thankfully no Dusty to make this a mess like Starrcade.
Gene Okerlund is at the Little White Chapel, where the wedding is being prepared for later in the evening. He makes references to Michael Jordan, Joan Collins, Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson.
Opening action for Clash 32 is Public Enemy taking on old friends from the early days of TOTNG, The Nasty Boys. Knobbs and Grunge brawl in the ring as Saggs and Rocco Rock battle on the outside. Rock throws Saggs into the guardrail while Grunge avoids a splash by Saggs and hits a back suplex. Rock stands on the guardrail, but Saggs kicks the leg, causing him to fall groin-first into the rail. Saggs heads up the entrance way while Grung ends up tumbling over the ropes. Saggs returns with a table. Knobbs tries to dive at Grunge, but eats the guardrail.
Saggs sets the table up in the corner, and goes to throw Rocco Rock into it, but Rock comes back with a bulldog. He follows with a flying headbutt at Grunge, followed by a moonsault. Cover gets a two. Saggs back drops Grunge as Knobbs elbows Rock back outside. Saggs piledrives Grung in the ring as Knobbs sets the table up in the middle of the ring. Referee Nick Patrick calls the match off as Public Enemy regain control, setting Knobbs on the table.
Rocco Rock hits a moonsault on Knobbs, breaking the table's side, and hurting him more than he did Saggs. Grunge tries to use a piece of the table, but Saggs grabs it and smashes it over Grunge's back. Grunge tries to escape, and Saggs responds by literally throwing the table on the head of Grunge.
Ouch!
Saggs continues to assault Grunge with a piece of the table as we go to break. It was a garbage match, but I think that's the point. Despite that, it was a fun, yet painful, watch.
Eric Bischoff is with Ric Flair and The Giant (with Jimmy Hart). Flair says that a little title loss meant nothing to the nature boy, but tonight, the man wearing his title will have to face him and the Giant tonight. Giant says that he's gonna make it short and simple. Tonight is the night where Hogan and Savage are wiped off the the face of the planet forever. Flair says that Savage can't hide behind Slim Jim and Hogan can't hide behind Baywatch, tonight they have to face a fire breathing giant.
Up next, it's Dean Malenko taking on "Das Wunderkind" Alex Wright. Headlock takedown by Wright is turned into a headscissor from Malenko. The role ends up reversed until Wright gets in a hammerlock. Fast leg sweep by Malenko. Wright returns to the headlock. Malenko tries a back suplex, but Wright escapes. Some flips and dropkicks by Wright, followed by a headscissor that sends Malenko retreating to the outside for a spell. Headlock takedown by Wright. After some more fast counters, it's Malenko back in control with an elbow to the leg.
He goes to work on Wright's leg, dropping his knee and slamming Wright's leg into the post. Malenko grabs the bad leg and yanks it down in a painful position. He goes into a leg lock. He continues to work the leg until Wright comes back with an elbow and a flying cross body, huring the leg further. Wright hits more elbows until Malenko tries a back slide, only for Wright to break free and land a dropkick. Malenko comes back around with a back suplex. He goes to the top buckle, but gets dropkicked. Wright goes up and connects with a superplex. He hits a bridging German suplex, covering for two. He tries again, but Malenko escapes, also avoiding a dropkick. Hard elbow to the face by Malenko. Wright reverses a whip and flips over Dean. Kick to the leg and a roll up for the three gets the win by Malenko in a really good match.
Very fast paced work from Wright and very painful, methodical wrestling from Malenko. I will say Wright doing big high risk moves and flipping around hurt it a bit since it didn't help sell the leg damage by Malenko, but I still thought this was a solid showing from both men and worked for the brief time allotted.
Up next is supposed to be The Taskmaster taking on Disco Inferno. However, Disco decide to no-show this match, and instead we get an Elvis Impersonator.
Thankfully, not played by Rob Bartlett.
With peanut butter and banana sandwich in hand, Elvis makes his way into the ring. He grabs the mic and grabs a piece of paper. He has a singing telegram saying that Disco is singing at Colonel Parker's wedding instead.
This angers Sullivan enough to beat the crap out of the Elvis impersonator. Well, if the king wasn't dead before...
Back to the wedding. Bunkhouse Buck and Dirty Dick Slater have arrived, and neither man have seen the colonel. So far neither the colonel nor Sherri have arrived.
Eric Bischoff interviews the new WCW World Tag Team Champions Sting and Lex Luger. Bischoff tries to focus on the controversy of the title change last night, but Luger says that it doesn't matter as they're the tag champs of the 90s. Luger says he's back with the big boys and that they're the best.
They get interrupted by Hawk and Animal, the reunited Road Warriors. Animal says it's good to be back in WCW, but business is business. They're focused on winning the WCW Tag Titles, and want a shot for the belts. Sting is ready for the match, but Luger is hesitant. He says that they have more rematches in the books before taking on a team that was on the shelf. He wouldn't want to be the one to reinjure them. Hawk says that they have an annual beating quota and they're behind. If they want to be the first in that beating quota, then it's fine by them.
Interview segment with Paul Orndorff, who is still injured after the piledriver from Flair and arn back in December. He says that his injury is cervical. His right arm is getting weak and numb. This injury is career ending, says his doctors. He talks about how Gary Spivey helped him rebuild his career after a long slump and how this is an unfortunate time. He says that he's from the old school when you'd earn respect. The Four Horsemen don't know the meaning of respect and that they knew that he would have been the one to shut up Brian Pillman. They've held a grudge with him since he turned down the invite and it was orchestrated to take him out with the spike piledriver. He's a proud man and is proud of who he is and if they think that he's gonna take it sitting down, then they're mighty wrong. You haven't seen the last of Mr. Wonderful.
Cut to Brillo Head, who is in the crowd for this event. You know for a psychic, maybe he should have given Orndorff fair warning about this.
Back to Mean Gene as finally Colonel Parker has arrived. He asks to borrow fifty dollars for Mean Gene as he's lost all his money here in Vegas. He recieves a phone call from "his fried pie" and is in a panic talking to her. Gene is more concened at a honking horn than the Colonel's concerns.
Up next, it's Eddie Guerrero taking on "The Loose Cannon" Brian Pillman. Pillman is more concerned early on at yelling at the crowd like a raving maniac. He shoved the "four horseman" hand gesture in Eddie's face. Eddie shoves him as Pillman exits the ring again to jaw jack the crowd. Headlock and shoulder block by Eddie. He then dropkicks Pillman back out to the ring.
What happens next is a particularly infamous moment. Pillman once again is out of the ring acting manic. He grabs Bobby Heenan by the jacket and the neck, which freaks out Heenan who then yells "What the fuck are you doing?" (which is still uncensored on the WWE network version BTW) as he angrily escapes the announce table. Heenan had recently had neck surgery, and as such was considered a "no-touch" due to his injuries. Heenan was also not paying attention to Pillman at the time and thought it was a fan jumping the rail and attacking him. Pillman did apologize after, unaware of the "no-touch" situation, so there was no heat from either man. But for a good chunk of this remaining show, Heenan is going to be considerably shook.
Heenan starts to leave the announce position, but then returns and apologizes for his outburst, while Guerrero and Pillman stall. Despite being obviously legit pissed, Heenan still sings the praises of Pillman and continues to work heel. Now that's a professional, folks! Pillman goes for a handshake of some sort, but Eddie hits some chops and a backbreaker. Pillman gets some strikes out of the corner and chokes Eddie, following with a slap. He locks in a chinlock, which Eddie escapes. He hits a dropkick, then tries a whip. Pillman reverses the whip, but Eddie catches him with a dropkick. Pillman rolls back out, makes his way back to the announce position, then changes his mind. He goes back in the ring as Eddie gets a strike in.
Pillman whips Eddie to the corner, but Eddie gets in a boot and a tornado DDT. Cover only gets a two. He beats Pillman down in the corner and whips him to the corner. Pillman avoids, then trips Eddie, trying to cover him using the ropes. He argues with the ref as Eddie rolls him up for two. Cross body and a grab of the tights get the win for Pillman. He almost slides near the table as Heenan leaves again. A match that wasn't too memorable for what was in-ring, but more memorable for the Heenan incident.
Eric Bischoff is interviewing Randy Savage, Macho Man and Kevin Greene of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Hogan says that now that Savage has won the title, you gotta admit they have momentum. And with Lean Mean Kevin Greene tonight, he'd love to see the heel stables try to get involved. Savage praises a Greene who gives off a decent "ooh yeah". Hogan asks Greene if the Giant or Flair try to sneak up behind him, what would he do. Greene says that he'd plow through them like the Steelers will the Cowboys at the Superbowl (the Steelers lost BTW). On to the second secret weapon, Hogan mumbles around, eventually talking about Elizabeth being in their corner. They all start to argue on which one of them will go out with her after the show. Hogan says that she's more than Savage can handle at least.
Up next, the WCW world tag team championship is up next. The Blue Bloods (Lord Steven Regal and The Earl of Eaton) taking on the new champs Sting and Lex Luger. Regal and Sting start things off. We get some stalling as Sting mocks the lordly behavior of Regal. Regal works the wrist with a wristlock until Sting turns it around with one of his own. Regal rolls out and turns it around, but Sting transitions into a headlock and a shoulder block. Sting returns to the headlock, but Regal shoves him off, only for Sting to land a dropkick. A strike by Luger followed by a chop from Sting disorients Regal.
Tag to Bobby Eaton. In comes Luger, who gets raked in the eyes. Eaton throws Luger to the outside, but gets caught with a back body drop on the concrete followed by a clothesline. Luger carries Eaton back into the ring and flexes at him. Tag back to Regal who has his dander up. Luger flexes his pecs, but Regal can't quite retaliate. Luger takes Regal to the corner as Regal screams "unhand me!" This allows hin to get in a cheap shot and a series of European uppercuts and a knee. Tag to Eaton who gets in a punch.
Luger fights both off until Regal gets in a cheap shot, allowing Eaton to hit a neckbreaker. Regal comes back in with an elbow drop. Crowd chants for Luger as Regal drops the knee over his face. Tag back to Eaton as Regal gets in some face blows. Eaton goes to the tope and lands a flying knee drop. Tag back to Regal who goes for the Regal Stretch, but Sting makes the save with a face rake. Tag to Eaton who goes up, but gets caught in a sloppy powerslam. Luger ducks a clothesline, but both he and Eaton collide into each other. Tag to Sting who lays both Blue Bloods out with strikes. Luger comes back in and takes out Eaton. Cheap shot by Regal takes Luger out. Eaton goes for a clothesline off the top, but ends up hitting Regal. Sting locks in the Scorpion Death Lock for the win and the title retain.
Great tag title match. Didn't depend on too much "face in peril" stuff, everyone got a chance to look good (Save for that bad powerslam spot from Luger). Everyone had a chance to show off some Charisma, and the action was fast paced with no real slowdown to be found. Also, I like that the focus was the match itself, not just another episode of "Can Luger Be Trusted".
Back to the chapel as Okerlund is with Colonel Parker. Harlem Heat have arrived, as have Sister Sherri. The Colonel reveals that he's now flat broke, but at least they're getting married. Sherri seems a bit inebriated as the two of them argue over the recent developments. They try to get into their trailer, but Bunkhouse and Slater say the door's locked.
Bischoff is here to shill their interviews on Compuserve and to interview Brian Pillman. Pillman threatens to say the seven words you can't say on TV (Heenan beat him to one) and they won't do anything about it. He talks about how Orndorff's made tonight's subject "respect". He says that respect is what pumps the ice water through the horsemen's black hearts. He's not Hogan, Savage, or Sting. He's Brian Pillman, and he's here to teach Respect however it takes, even if he has to hack a thumb off.
Up next, the Mexican Heavyweight Champion Konnan is in action next against Psicosis. Mike Tenay joins the team since he's the only one at the table who even knows who Konnan and Psicosis are.
Before I get to the match proper, I just want to take a second to talk about that awful getup Konnan wears to the ring. I get that it's supposed to be a superhero costume (complete with a cape. Edna Mode would be quite pissed), but that headgear. I would like to take this time to apologize to Aldo Montoya for the years of "jock strap on face" jokes from the wrestling community, because this looks like Konnan stitched together several jock straps to make for quite the mask.
Konnan sends Psicosis to the outside. Konnan tries an arm drag off the ropes, but Psicosis counters everything. Konnan locks him in a unique submission, but Psicosis gets to the ropes. A pair of German suplexes by Konnan. He then catapults Psicosis and turns it into an inverted Stf, locking the arm and leg and pressing the face. Psicosis gets the ropes, forcing a break. Je then catches Konnan with a spinning heel kick, and grapevines the arm. Konnan turns it around into a leg lock, until Psicosis again gets the ropes.
Hard chop by Psicosis, but Konan grabs the arm, runs the buckle and hits an arm drag, followed by a headscissors and some arm drags. Dropkick to the leg and a DDT connect. Psicosis reverses a whip, then goes up, landing a dropkick that sends Konnan outside. Big Tope dive by Psicosis to the outside, that seens both men crash awkwardly. They both return to the ring as Konnan sets Psicosis on the top buckle and hits a release German suplex. He ties all the limbs of Psicosis in a submission for the quick win. Great match, Konnan looked very strong and Psicosis was no slouch either. Just the right amount of time as well.
We're at the White Chapel as Sherri is getting dressed in the limo. Colonel Parker is still begging for thirty bucks from Mean Gene. Gene says he'll walk Sherri down the aisle as we go to commercial break. The wedding is up next. When we return, Gene takes her down the drive-thru. He talks to Sherri about the colonel talking to her yesterday, to which she has no recollection. Disco Inferno is also there to dance at the wedding like he promised through Elvis earlier. They make it to the woman who'll marry them who does the "Does anyone object" line, which mean you know what's gonna happen next.
And out from the trailer is Madusa who slaps Sherri. This leads to a catfight as both women brawl by the buffet table. Harlem Heat hold Sherri back as Bunkhouse and Slater drag away Madusa. So, we may have just found out who the colonel's little fried pie is, and it's sure not Sherri.
It's main event time. Ric Flair and The Giant team up against Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, who are accompanied by Miss Elizabeth, and Steelers star Kevin Greene. I've noticed the video package for Hogan is Hogan beating the crap out of Vader. Subtle, guys. Also accompanying Hogan and Savage is Woman, Debra, Linda and the other ladies from the prior evening.
Flair antagonizes Kevin Greene to start. When Greene comes in the ring intent to tackle Flair, the Nature Boy exits the ring. Flair grabs the mic and says that he'll hurt Greene before the Super Bowl. Flair takes Savage to the corner and lands some chops and punches. Savage reverses a whip and hits a back body drop, followed by a couple clotheslines. Patented Flair bump that knocks the cameraman right off the apron with him. Flair then walks into a boot from Hogan that sends him crashing to the mat below.
Hogan throws Flair back in to a waiting slap by Savage. Flair gets a low kick to Savage and returns to chops in the corner. Savage ends up in the corner of the Giant who lands a clubbing forearm to the back. Flair tries a hiptoss, but Savage turns it into a backslide for two. Savage blocks a punch and lands several of his own. He brings Flair to Hogan who ets in a punch. Flair finally tags in the Giant. Savage tags in Hogan, who is more than ready to get some of the Giant. The Giant throws Hogan into the corner a couple times. Hogan tries a headlock, but Giant comes back with the weakest shoulder block I've ever seen. Hogan tries to lift him up, but no such luck as Giant grabs him and slams him with ease.
Boot to the midsection and an elbow by the GIant. He grabs the legs of Hogan and headbutts the lower extremities. Backbreaker by the Giant. He goes for an elbow Drop, but Hogan escapes. Hogan calls for the body slam and succeeds, collapsing due to a bad back. Like that will matter in a minute. Tag to Flair who suplexes Hogan.
Yup.
Schiavone shills Child's Play as Hogan hulks up and hits some clotheslines. He rakes the eye, but Flair gets in an eye poke. He sends Hogan to the Giant's corner who bearhugs him on the outside. Heenan again moves away from the table as the Giant brings Hogan back in. Hogan no-sells the chops, but gets caught with an elbow. Flair goes up, but Flair throws him off the buckle. Tag to Savage who nails Flair and goes up for an ax handle, connecting. He slams Flair and goes for the elbow as Hogan clotheslines Giant and they brawl on the outside. Elbow drop by Savage, but Jimmy Hart distracts him. This gives Flair enough time to nail him with a loaded weapon for the win.
Kevin Greene warns Hogan about the loaded weapon as Zodiac and Pillman make their way to the ring. Hogan grabs them both and gives them to Kevin Greene to throw to the outside. Hogan, Greene and Elizabeth check on Savage as we exit the Clash of the Champions.
A solid main event. Everyone had a chance to look good. Hogan's shenanigans were minimal, and Hogan doesn't win, which is always a plus for me. Apparently this had to do with Flair losing the title the previous night and threatening to walk if he didn't win on this show. Seems fair to me. Kevin Greene was a fun enough addition that wasn't too overbearing, and Miss Elizabeth was... there as well.
Overall, Clash of the Champions 32 was a really good night of wrestling for WCW. Granted, no match went over ten minutes, and I wouldn't call anything involved a classic, but what we got was still very entertaining. I liked the mess that was Public Enemy/The Nasty Boys, Thought Malenko/Wright was good, but could have used Wright selling better. Pillman vs Guerrero disappointed, but was more memorable for the Heenan incident. Meanwhile, the tag matches with Sting and Luger against the Blue Bloods and the main event tag of Hogan and Savage vs Flair and the Giant were great matches that didn't depend on dragging time out with face in peril spots. Plus, while brief, Konnan vs Psicosis was great stuff.
And then there's the Sherri and Colonel Parker wedding which I was dreading going in, but I found to be entertaining. From Parker' lack of money, to Sherri being somewhat inebriated, to Madusa being revealed as the colonel's fried pie, it was some decent trash television at its best. In the end, Clash gets a strong A- rating. A show that was better than I expected going in and was not disappointed.
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