It's Sunday, March 24th, 1996. The Birdcage is number one at the box office. Celine Dion finally topples Mariah Carey with "Because You Loved Me", and the world is still mourning the loss of George Burns. But in WCW, The Alliance to Eliminate Hulkamania is trying to bury Hulk Hogan 6 feet under. But since this is Hogan-Senpai we're talking about, we know who is winning this. It's WCW Uncensored 1996. Held in the Tupelo Coliseum in Tupelo, Mississippi, to an attendance of 9,000. Up from last year's 5,700+, despite the buyrate being down to a 7.0 from last year's .96.
So, what's been going down in WCW since Superbrawl? Chaos. A lot of chaos. Ric Flair is still the WCW World Heavyweight Champion and has since formed an alliance with Dungeon of Doom leader Kevin "Taskmaster" Sullivan to finally put an end to the Mega Powers. Their master plan to defeat Hogan and Savage is to lock them inside the Doomsday Steel Cage. Three tiers, each containing different wrestlers. Flair, Arn, Meng, Barbarian, Lex Luger, Kevin Sullivan and two new additions, Z-Gangsta (Zeus) and the Ultimate Solution. So, yeah. Classic WCW overbooking.
Elsewhere, DDP is still having trouble keeping his money and his career, not to mention his former Diamond Doll Kimberly, who now has the hots for the former Zodiac, the Booty Man. Sting and Luger were supposed to defend the WCW tag team titles against the Road Warriors in a Chicago Street Fight, but when Luger won the WCW World Television Title, he found an out and thus Sting needed to find a tag partner. That unlikely partner wound up being Harlem Heat member Booker T. The Giant has had beef with the massive Loch Ness, while the Belfast Bruiser wants to get some of Lord Steven Regal. And Colonel Robert Parker's romantic issues continue as he's in intergender action against Madusa.
Opening action is the WCW United States Title on the line. Eddie Guerrero challening Konnan. We have Bobby Heenan, Dusty Rhodes and Tony Schiavone at the table, so expect insane rambling once again. Quick exchange of holds and counters early on until Konnan start gaining control of the arm. Eddie rolls out of the arm bar then hits a diving arm drag using the top turnbuckle for leverage. Heel hold by Eddie keeping Konnan down on the mat. He does this neat spot where he does a handstand while keeping the heel held, so every time Konnan tries to get up, he just kicks him back down. That's unique.
Eddie then transitions into a figure four leg lock. Konnan manages to grab the ropes quickly. Roll up counters from both men with near falls. Snapmare and a headlock from Eddie, who then transitions into pulling the arms back and placing his head between the shouder blades. Konnan turns that into a leg lock of his own, transitioning that into a sloppy Boston crab. Eddie rolls out. Konnan reverses an arm drag with one of his own. Quick exchange from both men as it's still a stalemate. Both men begin to slap each others as this match is going far more intense.
Crowd is split between both men as things are still in a stalemate. Eddie sets Konnan up and hits a crisp Frankensteiner off the top buckle. Cover gets a two. He then applies a camel clutch, but Konnan strengths out, sending Eddie falling out of the ring. They play to the crowd some more as we're still evenly matched. Another quick exchange until a springboard arm drag wins it out for Konnan. More hold exchanging as Konnan gets out of a headlock from Eddie and then begins to twist the shoulders. However Eddie gets an arm drag takedown. Eddie goes to dive off the top buckle, but Konnan gets out of the way, negating the dive attempt.
Konnan goes for a monkey flip, but Eddie flips out of it and lands on his feet. Eddie follows with some more flying headscissors and arm drags that send Konnan to the outside, allowing Eddie to finally hit a successful dive off the top. Eddie brings Konnan back in and hits a slingshot over the ropes. Cover, but Konnan kicks out. Eddie returns to working the head by wrapping his legs around it. Konnan transistions into a headscissor STF of some sort, then immediately turns it into a multiple German suplex spot, only for Eddie to roll him up for two.
Another roll up by Konnan only gets a two. He follows with a clothesline and a cover for two. Hurricanrana by Eddie who covers for two. Konnan hits a big powerbomb, covering for two as Eddie kicks out. Konnan heads up top, but Eddie tries to stop him. However Konnan just shoves Eddie off the top. Konnan hits a suicide dive that sends Eddie crashing into the barricade. Eddie slides out of a suplex over the ropes, but Konnan comes right back with a clothesline. Konnan goes back up, but Eddie stopes him again, hitting a superplex. Slow cover, but Konnan kicks out. Eddie goes for the frog splash, but Konnan gets up and tries to throw him off, only for Eddie to roll him up for two.Eddie goes for a hurricanrana, but falls groin first on Konnan's head. Commentary try to say it was a low blow, as Konnan covers for the win.
I really enjoyed this match. Definitely Konnan's best showing so far on this blog. When it was slow, it was still solid mat wrestling. When it was fast, it was a lot of super quick, super effective spots. It was eighteen minutes of wrestling that never felt like it dragged too much. And with the seemingly contentious ending, there's definitely room for future matches with these two, which I welcome at this point. Good start to the show.
Mean Gene shills WCW on Compuserve, as we see The Giant typing away on a computer. Gene then interviews Colonel Parker and Dick Slater. Parker says that he thanks Dick Slater for all the training. He's doing it for Colonel Parker and Elvis. He's gonna take Madusa and give her what all the good for nothing members of the male gender haven't got the guts to do.
Up next, we have the Belfast Bruiser taking on Lord Steven Regal (With Jeeves, which Dusty refers to as 'Chives'). Finlay gives a slap to the face of Jeeves as hea heads to the ring. He nails Regal with his jacket and begins to club at him. Headlock from Finlay is turned into a hiptoss by Regal, who follows with some uppercuts, only for Finaly to come back with a few shots of his own. Cover gets a two count. Hard kick to the back of Regal by Finlay gets a decent pop. Regal gets a kick and a European uppercut and then goes into a chinlock.
Finlay breaks free and hits a snapmare and a stomp to the eye. He tosses Regal outside and hits a chop off the apron. He picks Regal up and drops him throat-first on the guardrail. Finlay then rams Regal's shoulder into the post and hits a stomp to the affected area. Finlay continues to work the arm until Regal breaks free and gets some shots in. He whips Finlay to the corner and hits a dropkick. Repeated cover attempts only get a two count. Regal goes into a shoulder lock of sorts, keeping Finlay down to the mat.
Finlay turns the hold around and takes Regal to the mat, but he's unable to get the shoulders down.More punches from Regal who then turns things around to another shoulder lock. Regal begins to punch Finlay and choking him with his boot. Finlay thumbs Regal in the eye and returns to hitting knee strikes. Scoop slam and a senton by Finlay who covers for two. Finlay transitions into a headlock as Regal tries in vain to break free. Regal manages to turtn it around, getting in an elbow to the face. Boot by Finlay and a clothesline for two.
Finlay drags Regal's head out of the ring and rams it into the apron. He then follows with a head ram into the barricade. Finlay goes for the chairs in the crowd, but they're glued together, so that doesn't work. Finlay instead tries a suplex over the ropes to the inside, but Regal counters, hitting one of his own. Elbow drop off the apron by Regal, who almost kicks the camera in the process.
Regal clubs the chest of Finlay and brings him back in, hitting a snapmare and an elbow drop. Cover, gets a two. Meanwhile, on commentary, Dusty is confused about if Ireland and England are the same country. I love Dusty, miss him so much, but his commentary was atrocious at times. Belly-wellys and plunder ahoy. Back in the ring, Regal regains control with a cheap kick to the underleg and another elbow. Cover gets a two.
Sunset flip attempt by Regal is met with a knee to the face from Finlay. Meanwhile, Dusty can't pronounce Glutimus Maximus and is saying Lutimen Maximal, as Schivaone shoots about Dusty's poor pronunciation. This is getting more interesting than the match at this point. Finlay goes for an elnow drop, but Regal dodges, and goes right back into the arm lock, then starts elbowing the face of Regal. Finlay turns things around into an ugly back drop. Finlay tries to roll Regal into a crab, but Regal turns it around into a cover. Regal slams Finlay's face into the apron, but Finlay full on punches Regal in the face. Finlay drags Regal out and rams him hard into the ring apron.
Regal is a bloody mess after another stiff punch by Finlay. After 18 minutes of being straight punched in the head, I can imagine. Finlay continues to go on the attack, bringing Regal back in. Another stomp to the chest and some head rams into the buckle. Regal sends Finlay over the ropes, then begins to brawl with him up the entrance way, throwing Finlay into the doomsday cage. And after 18 minutes, we just suddenly have Bobby Eaton and Dave Taylor show up to beat down Finlay. Regal hits a hard slap and leaves.
I'm conflicted on this one. On one hand, I loved how brutal this match felt. Granted, I would have loved to see the two of them focus on a more technical style in the ring, but I loved that the majority of the match was stiff punches and a general sense that these two wanted to brutalize one another. No shades of grey at all. However, it did feel like it dragged hard with it almost being 18 minutes long, plus the deflating DQ finish really hurt it. But considering neither men looked to want to just get a win, this may have went on another 18 minutes at this point, so best case scenario?
Mean Gene is backstage with Jimmy Hart and the Giant as they prepare for the match with Loch Ness later. Hart says that tonight is the night that he'll prove why he is the greatest manager as he'll show why nobody puts their hands on him. Gene brings up that the winner of tonight's match faces Flair for the WCW title. Master rhymer Giant "I could start off with rhymes. I could start off with riddles. Loch Ness tonight I'm gonna smoke you like bacon on the griddle". He says that Monday night, he'll tear Flair limb from limb, promising to take back his belt. Gene gets a shill of the hotline, mentioning that a major superstar is on his way to retirement to go to Hollywood.
We get an interview from Loch Ness. I'm not one to talk dentistry, but yikes. He calls Hart a weasel-face for promising him a title match, but taking him out of it. He promises to drop 700 pounds on the Giant and he won't get up. He can't say what he'll do to Jimmy Hart because it's not suitable for television. Gene makes a dentist crack which seems to really offend the big man, or at least completely blindside him.
Up next, it's intergender action. Madusa taking on Colonel Robert Parker. So yeah, the situation between the colonel and his "fried pie" haven't been going so well since Clash of the Champions. Parker takes Madusa to the corner early then breaks clean as the announce team lose their minds over this. He does it a second time, but she shoves him back. Madusa takes him to the corner as the two lock up, only for her to toss him across the ring. More stalling until Parker picks Madusa up over his shoulders and hits an airplane spin only for Madusa to roll him up for two and follow up with a body slam that sends the colonel spilling to the outside.
Parker gets toweled off by Dick Slater, then returns to the ring and locks back up with her. He double choke bombs her to the mat. He tries an elbow, but Madusa evades and hits him with a pair of second rope dropkicks. Madusa heads up top and hits a messy splash to Parker on the outside. She kicks Parker some more and brings him back in. She ducks a clothesline and hits a German Suplex. Cover, but Slater pulls her leg out, allowing Parker to cover for the win.
It was okay, definitely better than it had any right to be, but I think both of them put in the work to get some fun out of this. It also helped to have the announce team lose their minds over this match like it's the damnedest thing they've ever seen. Also maybe it's my Alundra bias that just can't hate something this brief and this basic, so it wasn't as offensive as I'd feared.
It's WCW interviewer and former voice of Tony the Tiger (seriously) Lee Marshall backstage with the Road Warriors. They say it doesn't matter who they go against, they're here to kick anyone's butt. Sting and Booker T are about to learn why they're the Chicago Big Bullies. Hawk talks about the medula oblongata and promise to remove the brain stems of Sting and Booker. There's no stinking way those two can beat them any time, especially in their match.
Up next, it's an "I Quit Match" (not in the normal sense). Diamond Dallas Page vs the Booty Man. If Page wins, he get Kimberly and the money back, but if he loses, he must quit wrestling. Page looking more destitute and sleazy than usual with how broke he is at this point. Booty goes on the attack, but Page leaves the ring to berate the crowd. Page throws his cigar at Booty then returns to the outside to go at it with the crowd. He plays to the crowd to boos, while Booty does the same to a pop. In other words, a lot of stalling to open this match.
Page begins to work the arm, but Booty turns it around into a few wringers. Page goes back to yelling at the crowd as we get even more stalling. Which is fine by me, the less I have to cover a Brutus Beefcake match the better. Booty locks in a headlock to Page and turns it into a shoulder block spot that sends Page back outside. Page returns and takes Booty to the corner, but Booty comes back with a slap to the face. More shoulder work by Booty who goes into an arm bar. Page breaks free, but Booty avoids offense to strut. He avoids a strike from Page and sends him right back outside. Cool, more stalling spots. Mile a minute.
Page threatens to hit the referee, but gets shoved off the apron. He's had enough and begins to walk off, but Booty attacks him and brings him back to the ring. Page begs him off, then throws Booty to the buckle. Page hits some elbows, then tries to ram Booty to the buckle, but Booty follows with his spot of ten buckle smashes on each rung. This sends Page falling outside, smashing into the post, and falling over the barricade.
As we get even more stalling, Kimberly comes to ringside, dressed in Booty Man colors. Page hits an elbow to Booty and locks in a headlock. Booty breaks free as we get a criss cross until both men stop. Page struts, only to eat another punch that hangs him into the ropes, allowing for some shots from Booty. Page tries some sort of hip toss, but Booty stops and covers. Booty tries a cross body, but Page ducks.
Page stomps on Booty for a bit, then berates Kimbely. Back suplex by Page, who then taunts and mocks Kimberly. Slow cover only gets a two count. Into a chinlock by Page, which leads to the arm drop spot. Of course, the third drop leads to Booty Man recovering. Booty breaks free, but gets hit with a knee to the gut from Page. Cover only gets a two. Back into the long chinlock as Page uses the ropes for leverage. Booty breaks free, but gets thrown into the rope. Page calls for Kimberly to go in his corner and kisses her. She slaps him (DQ DAMMIT!) as Booty hits the High Knee to mercifully end this match.
This was 16 boring minutes. Fair dos to Page who was the highlight as his charisma was the best part of this match. But my god is Ed Leslie a dull watch. Too much stalling, long, dull rest holds. If it was much shorter, it would have been fine, but I was just ready for this to come to an end. I was fine with this show up to this point, but we're already reaching the beginning of the quality tipping point.
Mean Gene is with Lex Luger and Jimmy Hart. Hart says that it's a sad and emotional night, because this will be the last night he teams with Luger, because he's a man of his word. He hands Luger a personalized Jacket, and runs away. Luger has been caught between a rock and a hard place. He says that tonight is the most dangerous match he's ever seen or witnessed with the doomsday cage, but he has to watch Sting in a Chicago street fight. Gene says that Luger ditched Sting, but Luger says that's up for debate. Luger says that he'll have Sting's back tonight and he'll give his best in tonight's main event.
Up next, it's the "Giant vs Giant" match. Loch Ness taking on The Giant. The immovable object vs the immobile object. Chops by the Giant take Loch Ness to the corner and gets a boot choke. Headbutts by Loch Ness and clubbing blows to the back. He rams Giant in the corner, and Giant follows suit. Giant tries a corner splash, but Loch Ness avoids, sending Giant flying over the ropes. Chop by Loch Ness, followed by an elbow drop. He goes for a second, but misses. Clothesline and a boot from Giant. Running leg drop and a cover gets the win for the Giant in a merciful 2 and a half minutes.
Lee Marshall is backstage with the strange alliance of Sting and Booker T. Booker says that he has something to prove to the Road Warriors as when it's all over, it's going to end up a Harlem street fight. Sting says that they're straight OG brothas. He starts firing up Booker as he says that Booker and Sting are coming at the Road Warriors like you wouldn't believe.
And that is our next match. A Chicago Street Fight. The Road Warriors vs Sting and Booker T. Since Booker is taking Luger's place in this match, the WCW World Tag Team Titles are not on the line. The teams brawl early on with Hark throwing Booker out of the ring, only to eat a kick to the face from Booker. Back in the ring, Animal rams Sting into the buckle and gets corner punches in. Back drop on Booker to the outside. Both get back in the ring as Booker hits an ax kick on Animal. Cover, but Animal kicks out at two.
Hawk and Sting fight outside while Animal catches Booker with a powerslam on the inside and an elbow drop. Cover, but Booker kicks out at two. Animal then takes Sting by the legs and drags him groin-first into the post. Booker sends Hawk throat-first into the barricade and Hawk follows suit. Sting yanks Animal groin-first into the post while Booker helps. Booker hits a piledriver on the outside, but Hawk just no-sells and hits a clothesline. Back in the ring, Animal hits a clothesline on Sting. Cover, but only gets a two.
Even more brawling as we go forward. Booker dives off the top rope, but gets caught in the midsection, while Hawk dropkicks Sting on the entranceway. Reverse chinlock by Hawk on Sting, who then lets Animal work Sting while he switches to work on Booker. Sting walks off seemingly while Booker locks in an arm bar. Sting comes back with a chair and begins bashing Animal with it. He comes back to the ring and bashes Hawk over the head with it. Animal grabs the chair and hits both Booker and Sting. Cover, but Sting makes the desperate save. Jump kick by Booker on Animal and a piledriver on Hawk by Sting...
Which Hawk again no-sells. I can't stand it with Hogan, but wow, two piledriver no-sells and we aren't even halfway through this damn match. Powerbomb on Sting by Hawk who then hits a stomp to the lower extremities. Outside, Animal is choking Booker with a camera cable while inside, Hawk locks in a chinlock. Booker comes back by choking Animal with the cord while Hawk throws Sting over the barricade and into the crowd. Hawk then grabs a chair and smashes it hard over the back of Sting's head. Sting back drops Hawk on the outside while Booker then dives on Animal off the apron.
Animal throws Booker into the mesh of the Doomsday cage and throws him into the barricade. Hawk hits a clothesline and an elbow on Sting. Animal gets on the buckle, but Booker returns in time to knock him off. Booker goes up and hits a knee on Hawk. Cover, but Hawk gets his foot on the rope. Why this is a break in a no-disqualification match is beyond me, but that's what happens. Colission from both Sting and Animal leads to Sting falling on the groin area of Animal. Hawk hits a back suplex as all four men seem broken and beaten, and we're only at the halfway point.
Sidewalk slam from Booker wile Animal chokes Sting with his boot. Hawk slams Booker, who does the Spinaroonie, colliding into Animal, so it doesn't even end up looking impressive. These guys are clearly winded. Sting tries a splash, but misses. Hawk goes up, but Booker catches him with a dropkick. Booker gets a blatant low blow on Animal while Hawk continues to work Sting. Booker planchas over the rope, despite Animal being too far away to make contact. Sting hits an ugly clothesline, then he and Booker hit a double clothesline to Animal.
Suplex by Booker on Animal, but now Animal no-sells and hits one of his own. Sting drops Hawk on the ropes then shakes the ropes to do damage. Sting goes for the Scorpion Death Lock, but Animal stops it. Hawk drags Sting out and rakes the face. Animal drops Booker on the ropes and shakes it. Elbow drop by Hawk on Sting and switches with with Animal. Hawk goes up top and hits a nice diving clothesline on to Booker. Booker goes for a camel clutch on Hawk while Sting slams Animal's leg on the apron. He goes for a chinlock just as Hawk breaks free.
Hawk clotheslines Booker over the ropes while Sting slams Animal. Elbow drop by Sting who goes up and goes for a cross body, but gets caught with a powerslam from Animal. Leg drop by Animal who covers for two. DDT on the outside by Booker, and this time Hawk doesn't no-sell. Cover, but Hawk quickly kicks out. After some more brawling, Booker tries to elbow Hawk, but misses. He gets the Spinaroonie this time and follows with a dropkick. Back outside, Animal clatters Sting with a chair.
He sets Sting on the post for a clothesline, but Sting dodges, causing Animal to crash his arm hard into the steel. Sting grabs the chair and smashes Animal several times until Hawk grabs it. Booker dives, but gets hit in the midsection with the chair on the way down. Sting wanders off to find a weapon while the Road Warriors work on Booker. Sting grabs two brooms and smashes them over Animal.
Animal grabs the brooms, hits Sting, then whacks Booker hard with a broom handle. He hits Sting so hard with the broom that you can see the dust flying out. He breaks a broom and chokes Sting with it. Booker drops Hawk on the rope, then focuses on Animal. More back and forth as both men switch opponents. Booker seems to have given up and walks away. Back in the ring, Hawk covers Sting for two. Animal gives chase on the outside and bumps into Lex Luger, who is primping in the mirror. He hits Luger, which angers Lex. Stevie Ray arrives as the two beat down Animal. They handcuff Animal to a post and continue to beat him down.
Booker returns to the ring as Sting misses a Stinger splash on the barricade. Booker throws Hawk into the stairs and brings Hawk back in. Sidewalk slam and a Harlem Hangover, but Hawk avoids. Stevie Ray clatters Hawk hard with a chair. Cover by Booker gets the win in a long 29:33. While it lived up to what it offered, which was a lot of brawling, there was no need for this to be almost a half hour long. The brawling went from interesting to tiring by the end and I was just waiting for this to come to an end by barely the ten minute mark. I did like the finish as it would make sense that Stevie Ray in particular would aid Booker in winning since Harlem Heat then become next in line for a tag title opportunity. Also, Luger, as always was the highlight with how he only got involved because his mirror time was interrupted. Other than that, this was a rough sit.
Main event time as we have ourselves the Doomsay Cage match. It's the Mega Powers (Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan) vs The Alliance to End Hulkamania (Taskmaster, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger, Meng, Barbarian, The Ultimate Solution and Z-Gangsta). Essentially to win, Hogan and Savage have to fight from the top to get to the bottom of the multi-tiered cage, eacg ier and room featuring foes. Starting it off is Flair and Arn (who is decked in sweats). Hogan and Savage beat down Flair and Arn for a bit on the top until Flair and Arn fight back.
Hogan grinds Flair into the pole in the center of the tier. Hogan gets chopped, but then begins no-selling them. Savage chokes Arn wth Hogan's shirt. Hogan rams Flair into the pole and chokes him with his boot. A lot more brawling and choking. Far less focus on slams since it's so high and definitely a safefy risk to be throwing guys around from that height. Arn locks a figure four on Hogan while Flair follows suit. The faces turn the holds around, forcing the break. Flair drops some sort of foreign object down to the lower level. Hogab and Savage throw powder in the faces of Arn and Flair (like faces do) and exit the trap door to floor two. now they have to deal with Meng, Barbarian, Luger and Sullivan.
Hogan grabs a chain and attacks Sullivan and Luger with it. Luger grabs it and starts smacking and choking Hogan with it. Meanwhile, Savage fights off both faces of fear until he gets caught with a double headbutt from Meng and Barbarian. Barbarian tries a piledriver, but Hogan makes the save and fights them off while Savage switches to Luger and Sullivan. Hogan locks meng and Barbarian in their area (poorly as he has problems with the chain) and works on smashing Luger into the steel. Elbow drops by Savage on Luger as Hogan almost knocks Sullivan off the scaffold.
Hogan and Sullivan brawl on the stairway connected to the cage while Savage smashes Luger around (complete with Luger overselling). Hogan and Sullivan brawl outside the cage as Luger and Savage follow (and the other heels are still trapped above). They make their way to the ring. Hogan grabs a microphone from Michael Bugger and smashes it over the head of Sullivan. Boot by Hogan while Savage and Luger brawl on the entrance way. The rest of the heels finally make their escape and follow to the outside.
Hogan smashes Luger with a bucket while Sullivan brawl some more. Sullivan throws Savage into the steel and Hogna rams Luger into the barricade. Sullivan rips off some wood planks and then changeshis focus to Hogan. Savage grabs a plank and smashes Sullivan. Ten ground punches and some head rams to the mat by Hogan. Hogan grabs a chair and smashes Luger with it. Luger later grabs the chair and smashes Savage and Hogan with it. It's just a full on mess at this point.
Hogan and Savage are in full control as Ultimate Solution and Z-Gangsta finally arrive. They grab Hogan and Savage by the throat and bring them inside the bottom cage. They easily shove Hogan and Savage off. Sullivan shows up and jabs Savage on the outside with some sort of pipe. Savage gets up and hits an ax handle to Z-Gangsta. Hogan takes Ultimate Solution and rams hm face-first into the steel. Z-Gangsta grabs Hogan by the throat and takes him down to the mat, while Ultimate Solution press slams Savage.
Solution grabs Savage with a bearhug slam. Arn and Flair finally show back up as they continue to beat down on the faces. Hogan and Savage grabs more powder and throw it in the faces of the heels, then Booty Man arrives with frying pans for the Mega Powers to just waffle all four of the heels over and over. Luger comes back in and attacks Hogan and Savage. He puts on a weighted glove, but he ends up hitting Flair almost intentionally. Hogan gets out of the cage while Savage covers for the win.
This was a bad match. Another fine example of insane overbooking that ends with the Creative Control powers once again making multiple stars look like geeks. First off, the whole point of this match being an escape the cage match went out the window by the time we got through tier two, and it just became a tag team match for about over five minutes. And then we get back into the cage where since the whole "escape to win" stipulation went out the window, Savage just pins Flair to get this over with. I also can't imagine this was fun to watch in the building. Trying to keep attention on a mesh cage at the far end of the entrance way with no form of video screens to help the fans in the nosebleeds follow along.
Since we started this blog, almost every WCW main event has been some sort of overbooked mess. A Wargames match. A monster truck match where the Giant fell off a building, but survived. A sixty man battle royal that was impossible to follow along with. A cage match where Hogan also murdered over eight men by himself, and finally a mess of a match that was doomsday indeed. And all while still trying to keep Hogan an interesting babyface, but at the expense of everybody else. The holding pattern I talked about is still very much a problem in WCW. But at this point, we're only a couple months away from something that will solve that problem.
And that is WCW Uncensored 1996. A frustrating event is how I'd put it. It started off good with Eddie vs Konnan, had a good (but far too long) brawl with Regal and Finlay, had a far less infuriating match with Madusa and the colonel, then went way downhill at the midway point. Booty Man vs Page was boring, Sting and Booker vs the Road Warriors felt like it went an eternity, and the main event, as with all Hogan matches, was an overbooked mess to the point that nobody seemed to know how this match was even won or lost. But, at least Giant and Loch Ness was mercifully short, that's a plus. I get that Uncensored means that they'd focus more on brawling than technical wrestling, but match after match of it just felt dull and lifeless. I got tired of it during Regal/Finlay and could feel myself aging midway through the tag match. While it didn't annoy me to the level of something like Wrestlemania IX, this was still a pretty dull event. Final rating is a D for dull.
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