WCW SuperBrawl VII

WCW SuperBrawl VII - February 1997

San Francisco, California

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan is the reigning WCW World Champion coming into tonight's show. The United States Champion is Eddie Guerrero, the Television Champion is Prince Iaukea, Dean Malenko holds the WCW Cruiserweight Championship, and The Outsiders are the WCW World Tag Team Champions.

COMMENTATORS: Bobby Heenan, Tony Schiavone, and Dusty Rhodes

WCW's seventh annual SuperBrawl kicks off with a bizarre, zero budget clip of Roddy Piper leaving Alcatraz and jumping on a boat headed to the Cow Palace in San Fransisco, California.

Our opening contest pits WCW Cruiserweight Champion Dean Malenko against the man who stole the title, Syxx. As Schiavone notes early on, Syxx was trained by Malenko's father, Boris Malenko, adding an extra element of personal grudge to the match. Malenko comes in like a house on fire, hitting Syxx with some swift offense and pulling him up by the hair at 2 to prolong the match and get some punishment in. Unlike Syxx's match with Guerrero at Souled Out, the action is fluid and the crowd is into things from the very start, the big spots (like a crossbody from Malenko that brings both men to the outside) getting their intended reactions. What might be most shocking to fans, though, is how good Waltman is here - his kicks and strikes are on point, his bumping and selling bring all the emotion and suspense that the technically proficient-but-charisma-lacking Malenko can't, and when he does pull out some bigger offense (a legdrop from the top, a snap suplex), he adds enough character shtick to it that the fans are disgusted more than impressed. I would've loved 4-5 more minutes of this match, but its hard to argue with the idea of using this match to build towards a three-way feud between Malenko, Syxx, and Guerrero. Very good opening match. (3.5/5)

"Mean" Gene Okerlund is in the back, hocking the WCW Hotline. He is then joined by Diamond Dallas Page, who runs down the list of possible opponents he'll face tonight. Okerlund informs him that his opponent will be Marcus Bagwell. Good promo out of Page, but not good enough to warrant bonus points.

Mike Tenay joins the announce team to help out with tonight's 6-man: Konnan, La Parka, and Villaino IV vs. Super Calo, Juventud Guerrera, and Cyclope. Tenay informs viewers that 6-man tags are very common in Mexico, meaning that tonight's match is one that plays to the strengths of the athletes involved. Transcribing the action in this match would be impossible - there is just so much cool stuff going on at any given moment that doing so would require multiple rewatches. Cyclope and Villaino start things off with some great chain wrestling before Guerrera and Konnan come in to quicken the pace. Moments later we get La Parka and Super Calo trading moves, including a sick senton from Calo onto the floor and La Parka connecting with a suicide dive through the ropes onto a seated Calo. While not overstaying its welcome, the match does lack a clear "throughline" to really carry it and clearly define which sides are heels or faces. Stilll, as an outright spotfest, this match offers the kind of vareity sorely lacking in today's WWE product. Good stuff. (3.5/5)

The Television Championship is on the line next, with Prince Iaukea defending against Rey Mysterio Jr.. The story coming into this match is that Iaukea had a huge upset victory over Lord Steven Regal to capture the title and is coming into this match as the clear underdog due to his inexperience relative to Mysterio. The match starts with some good chain wrestling, Iaukea showing his inexperience at specific moments, but looking pretty good overall. Iaukea's offense gets little to no reaction, but its fairly solid - a guerrilla-press-into-a-backbreaker, a nice vertical suplex, a huge crossbody to the floor all look good. Mysterio's counters don't fare much better until he takes control and lands an outstanding senton to the arena floor through the second rope, yet another example of Mysterio busting out a move I've never seen before (he follows it up moments later with a double-springboard moonsault and a split-legged moonsault off of dead-center in the top rope for good measure). Iaukea is able to get back on offense, though, landing a huge Samoan Drop off the top rope, but a botched Mysterio victory roll and run-in from former Television Champion Steven Regal ends this otherwise excellent match in an unsatisfying way. A better finish would've earned this one an extra half-point, but I'm comfortable giving credit where credit is due as this was significantly above average thanks to several innovative spots by Rey. (3.5/5)

After some thoughts from The Giant, Marcus "Buff" Bagwell takes on the nWo's most wanted man, Diamond Dallas Page. The crowd is very much behind DDP for this, popping big for his offense and booing whenever Buff takes a minute to pose and gloat. While this one doesn't feature the innovation of the previous two matches or the technical skill of the opener, the crowd is definitely more engaged in the characters. The bbiggest reaction of the match, though, might come when referee Scott Dickinson gets in the face of Buff, allowing Page to recuperate a bit and connect with an absolutely perfect clothesline to the former American Male. When DDP calls for the Diamond Cutter, the crowd is on its feet, though, Page doesn't apply the move, instead opting for his sitout powerbomb. Bagwell gets a second wind, though, hitting Page with a back elbow and, moments later, countering Page's Diamond Cutter with a backslide and then a fisherman suplex. Bagwell gets cocky, though, and demands the referee count Page out for a TKO instead of going for the pin. As expected, Page takes the opportunity to grab a quick breather and ends up hitting Bagwell with the Diamond Cutter before the nWo cavalry arrives and clears the ring. Better-than-average match with an unncecessarily undefinitive ending, which has become an unfortunate pattern on this show so far. (3/5)

Chris Jericho vs. Eddie Guerrero for Guerrero's United States Championship is next. Solid mat wrestling starts things off while Schiavone plays up the idea that these two represent the future stars of the sport. Over the next several minutes, these two dish out move after move of flawless wrestling, including a big stalling vertical suplex and early incarnation of a Liontamer out of Jericho before Eddie comes back with a devastating powerbomb and crisp brainbuster. Sadly, the crowd is mostly unimpressed despite the efforts of the competitors, even when Jericho launches Guerrero into the stratosphere with a release german suplex. As the match wears on, Jericho begins to show frustration and utilize borderline heel tactics to maintain control of the match, including an atomic drop onto the top rope. Despite Jericho's bottomless bag of high impact offense, Guerrero manages to find the ropes whenever he needs to. The final stretch is well-executed, but seems a bit lackluster compared to how excellent the previous minutes had been. Again, I'm tempted to go 4-stars on this, but I can't fully recommend it when this really needed just one or two extra minutes (with a more thrilling conclusion) to warrant that praise. Very good, but not great match. (3.5/5)

A triangle tag team match is next - The Faces of Fear taking on Public Enemy taking on Harlem Heat. Rocco Rock and The Barbarian start things off, but within a minute or two we see both members of the Heat and Johnny Grunge in the ring, the match progressing at a nice, quick pace. Booker T pops the crowd with a spinnerooni-into-a-heel kick before finding himself on the receiving end of a Faces of Fear onslaught of stomps and forearms. Barbarian hits a huge belly-to-belly from the top rope, a spot I certainly didn't expect to see in this one, before Meng comes in and lays out Booker T with a piledriver. There's a bit of a hiccup afterwards, but its easy to overlook after Meng and Barbarian hit Booker with their undeniably sick finisher - a back-body drop into a powerbomb by Barbarian. The actual finish comes a minute later, capping off a match that, while certainly not great, doesn't overstay its welcome and doesn't get bogged down by a single rest hold. This was about as good as this match could be. (2/5)

Up next is a grudge match between Jeff Jarrett and Steve "Mongo" McMichael, one based on the not-so-subtle love triangle between the two and McMichael's wife, Debra, and Jarrett's "Is He/Isn't He?" status as a Four Horsemen (this match would decide whether or not Jarrett would officially join the stable). Knowing the backstory helps tremendously as a viewer - the fact is, I went into this match caring about the outcome more than I have for any Jarrett or Mongo match ever. Jarrett controls the early part of the contest, showcasing his experience and wrestling knowledge, but Mongo gets some shots in as well, including a powerslam and a tackle. Mongo's boisterous, overdramatic selling is laughable, but his mechanics aren't terrible (easily better than, say, former Television Champion the Renegade's). Debra gets involved anytime the match spills out of the ring, giving the match a story element that none of the previous bouts had to offer. There's a thoroughly botched sleeper hold that Jarrett unwisely opts to repeat, leading to a dull near double countout and Debra illogically thinking aloud, "I wonder which one to help," a line the commentators wisely rip apart for its idiocy. Moments later we get a sloppy ref bump and Debra teasing a full turn on her husband, though, I do give credit to Jarrett for hitting Mongo with the briefcase with substantial might. Far from great, but at under 10 minutes, this one won't bore you. (2.5/5)

A San Francisco Death Match is next - Kevin Sullivan (with Jacqueline) taking on Chris Benoit (with Woman) in what has to be their dozenth match against eachother. Aside from the No DQ, No Countout stipulation, the commentators note that Jacqueline and Woman will be strapped to eachother to prevent their involvement (or guarantee it?). The bell rings and the slugfest starts, with Jackie and Woman rolling out of the ring and going after eachother with their strap while Benoit and Sullivan go at it in the ring. All four end up in the ring, where the strap comes undone and Benoit ends up taking some big shots to the back from Jackie, allowing Sullivan to end up hanging him over the top rope. The crowd goes crazy as the women beat down on the men, at one point clotheslining both of them with the strap before Benoit and Sullivan start brawling down the aisle. The men end up backstage, eventually fighting their way through the crowd, smashing eachother into guardrails and walls all along. Sullivan looks like he has the victory locked in, hitting Benoit with a double stomp, but Woman breaks the count, allowing Benoit to connect with a piledriver and pull out a table. After setting up Sullivan on the table, Benoit attempts to hit him with a diving headbutt, but Jacqueline tries her best to stop him by covering her up. Unfortunately for her, Benoit goes for it anyway and the table doesn't break, making for one of the ugliest spots of the night, all three ending up on top of eachother in a battered heap. Paul Orndorff makes a surprise appearance, as does Terryy Taylor, all helping sell the devastation of this match. Had the table broken, the overdramatic post-match may have been more believable, but kudos to WCW for trying their best to still sell the carnage of this one. Overall, not an all-time classic but a nice change of pace on the card and a fun watch. (3/5)

After a not-so-humorous UnCensored commercial starring Hugh Morrus, it is time for tonight's WCW World Tag Team Championship match - The Outsiders defending against The Giant (whose partner, Lex Luger, has been barred from the match due to an injury). For some reason, The Giant gets an Undertaker-like entrance, the lights shutting off and absolutely no music announcing his rival. Hall starts things off by mocking the big man, but eats a huge back elbow for his transgressions, followed moments later by some chest chops and an impressive press slam. Hall angers Giant again by spitting in his face then tags in Nash, who gets some real offense in before getting rocked himself and put out of the ring by a huge Giant dropkick. On the outside, The Giant lifts up Nash with ease, slamming him back-first into the steel post before landing an elbow drop. At this point, the nWo shows their cunning, Hall serving as a distraction while Syxx clocks him with the title, Nash hits him with a big boot, and Hall eventually serves up a viciously awkward-looking bulldog. The Giant won't stay down, but the tide has shifted and The Giant is essentially helpless in the ring. When The Giant does get a comeback going, it is believable and well-executed, though, his tossing of Syxx into Nash is a bit sloppy. In an amazing feat of strength, Nash miraculously powerbombs The Giant, which takes both men out, giving time for Lex Luger to come out, toss Bischoff aside, and lock Nash into the Torture Rack. The crowd goes bananas at the finish, though, it almost goes without saying that this decision will somehow be reversed due to Luger's involvement. Very fun match that has a "big match feel" and plenty of good character work out of Hall particularly. Extra half-point for Nash delivering a Jacknife Powerbomb onto the 7 foot-400 pound Giant. (3.5/5)

Main event time - Roddy Piper vs. Hollywood Hogan for Hogan's WCW World Championship. The match starts off with some excellent character work out of Piper and Hogan, the fans definitely enthralled by the clash of the two legends. Piper controls the early going, hitting Hogan with rights and lefts, choking him out with his tee-shirt, and clawing into his skin. Unfortunately, this just about sums up all the offense we'll see in the match from either guy. Props to the agent who helped develop this match for spiking it with appearances by Michael Wallstreet, Sting, and Randy Savage, all of whom add just enough excitement to keep the fans intrigued on the ending. Speaking of the ending, it makes very little sense. Randy Anderson's initial call is 1000% legit, so watching him reverse it just doesn't work. The post-match draws nothing but boos and, again, the fans are essentially screwed out of both a clean finish and a genuine appearance by their hero, Sting. If you judge this match simply on the in-ring action, it's not going to rank too highly at all (though, credit should be given to Piper and Hogan for doing so little and drawing such big responses), but as an overall spectacle, it's not the worst thing I've ever spent 15 minutes on. (2.5/5)

With a respectable 3.05-out-of-5 average score, SuperBrawl VII is a fairly watchable show. Starting off with a string of four really fun bouts, even the least enjoyable matches (the main event, triangle tag match, and Jarrett/Mongo) are arguably better than they have any right to be. Hogan/Piper is saved by storyline-progressing run-ins that illustrates why WCW was able to crush WWE for 82 weeks, Jarrett/Mongo benefits from being the culmination of an undeniably clever, multi-layered storyline, while the triangle tag match is surprisingly watchable due to its brevity and impressive performances out of Booker T and the Faces of Fear. Compared to the previous month's Souled Out PPV, the lowest scoring WCW PPV since Slamboree 96' (which featured such gems as Big Bubba tagging with Stevie Ray to take on the team of Fire & Ice), SuperBrawl VII is an outright masterpiece.

FINAL RATING - Watch It All...With Remote In Hand