Curt Hennig – A “GOAT” show, as Perfect as possible
Watch It – A consistently good show worth watching in its entirety
Watch It…With Remote in Hand – 3 or more above-average ratings
High Risk Maneuver – Mostly filler, inessential, but 1-2 good matches
DUDleyville – Zero redeeming qualities, chore to watch
Fall Brawl 95' - September 1995
Asheville, North Carolina
CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into tonight's show, the WCW World Champion is Hulk Hogan, the United States Champion is Sting, Bunkhouse Buck and Dick Slater hold the WCW World Tag Team Championships, and The Renegade is the Television Champion.
COMMENTATORS: Tony Schiavone and Bobby Heenan
Kicking things off, we have Johnny B. Badd taking on fellow babyface Brian Pillman. I really enjoyed Pillman's match with Alex Wright at June's Great American Bash and Badd, with the right opponent, can hold his own. Michael Buffer announces that the winner of this match will be granted a US Title shot against reigning champion Sting giving some extra heft to the contest. Pillman gets a bit of a mixed reaction from the crowd, which makes sense as Badd was the "purer" babyface coming into this one while Pillman had been teasing some shadiness leading up to this. When the match kicks off, Pillman extends a hand in friendship and follows it up with some straight wrestling moves and absolutely no cheap shots - marks of a play-by-the-rules competitor. As this bout goes on, though, Pillman slowly starts to work in some heel mannerisms out of desperation as Badd just won't stay down, even after getting busted open. After a dozen or so minutes of action, I wasn't in love with this match, but the longer these two go, the better things get. Pillman is especially captivating here, the amount of character he puts into his performance is something to behold. After 20 minutes, you have a near-classic on your hands and when it finally comes time for the finish, it makes absolute sense that things would boil down to yet another "mirror" spot where both guys try to hit the same move. (4/5)
Ric Flair is in the back to share some thoughts with "Mean" Gene.
Shit. Cobra vs. Sgt. Pittman is next. Cobra arrives first, but when Pittman is announced, instead of coming down the aisle, Pittman sends a decoy soldier down to distract his opponent while the Sarge descends from the top of the arena. Cobra must've been awful in combat (which might explain how he ended up in WCW). Pittman proceeds to destroy him in relatively quick fashion. This match is absolutely ridiculous and kinda awesome and, thankfully, kept short. Overall, this is a better-than-average match/segment just due to its execution, which is flawlessly stupid. (3.5/5)
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No, seriously, these two guys absolutely nailed it.
Next we get some bona fide Wrestlecrap: the notorious Mr. Wonderful and Gary Spivey video. Bizarre, unreal, and so shittily 90s that it actually looks like it was recorded in 1986. (5/5)
Diamond Dallas Page challenges The Renegade for his TV Championship next. DDP has a ton of energy in this match, which is the same compliment I've paid him in a bunch of his prior bouts. DDP does some over-the-top selling at the start that destroys any kayfabe WCW had left over from the NWA days, but Page's willingness to make Renegade look like the most powerful force on Earth actually works to keep the match entertaining. Several times the Yoga Master blatantly (and in defiance of physical law) positions himself for a spot and takes a ridiculous bump, single-handedly forcing the match into "good territory." When Page is on offense, he's solid, but it's his fighting spirit that enables a dramatic story to take shape (and eventually leads to some of the crowd actually rooting for him). The finish is an obvious attempt to keep Renegade at least somewhat credible. The best "Page vs. a broom" match I've probably ever seen and easily the best "Renegade is a broom" match too. (3.5/5)
WCW World Tag Team Champions, Bunkhouse Buck and "Dirty" Dick Slater vs. Harlem Heat is next. Prior to the match, it is posited that Sherri and Colonel Parker may be an item, which adds extra drama to this match. While I could see some people digging this one, I found it mostly boring, with only a few moments here-and-there of good offense out of Booker T and Bunkhouse (who have absolutely carried their teams for months now). The finish continues the Sherri/Parker love story, but I'm not too intrigued in seeing it continue if these are the kind of matches we're going to get out of it. (2/5)
A video package and some words from Arn Anderson bring us to "The Match We Never Thought We'd See" - Arn Anderson vs. Ric Flair. When the match starts, Anderson gets to working on Flair's arm, but Naitch stays cocky and arrogant, not letting Anderson get the mental edge. As the match wears on, the fact that these guys know eachother so well comes across quite well as they cut each other off and increase the physicality. With tempers finally flaring, it becomes apparent that this is more than just a battle between two old friends at odds over a petty dispute - they are actually trying to prove who was the real cornerstone of the Horsemen. In terms of action, there's a nice mix of brawling and classic Flair spots, but I would have preferred a more dramatic finish. Its nice to see Brian Pillman get put back into a place of prominence on the roster, but a more definitive finish could've made this one a true classic. I've seen many critics fault this match for being "too typical" of Flair, but I find there are enough twists to the formula that it works. (3.5/5)
As the ring is set up for War Games, we get a series of video packages highlighting Hulk Hogan's feud with the Dungeon of Doom, including a recap of Hogan's motorcycle getting crushed by a monster truck (ostensibly driven by The Giant). The third video sequence also covers how Vader, who has gone "AWOL," has been replaced by returning WCW superstar, Lex Luger. We then go backstage to hear from the good guys, all of whom are rocking full face paint, including Jimmy Hart.
War Games Time - Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Sting, and Lex Luger vs. The Dungeon of Doom, comprised of The Shark, The Zodiac, Meng, and Kamala. This is Luger's return to WCW pay-per-view after a lengthy jaunt in the WWE. After a lengthy run through the rules and the teams, The Shark and Sting kick things off. These two had solid chemistry together, so it was a wise decision to let them kick things off. They deliver what they need to also, as Sting soars over the top rope to deliver a flying clothesline across the two rings and follows it up with a big bodyslam to the massive Tenta. There are plenty of goofy spots thrown in - anyone expecting a bloodbath like the War Games of yore is barking up the wrong tree by looking here. The Zodiac is next and he too ends up suffering at the hands of Sting who inexplicably tries to lock in a Scorpion Deathlock when the match can not be ended until all members of both teams have entered. Savage enters next, but the Dungeon of Doom remains in control, maintaining the upperhand when Kamala enters. As one might have predicted, Luger comes in next and things are fairly even at this point, but Luger and Savage inadvertently hit eachother, and this leads to the two of them brawling for a bit until the Dungeon of Doom recovers. Meng steps in and the stage is set for the arrival of Hulk Hogan, who comes in tossing salt (like a heel would). In one of the worst spots I've ever seen, Hogan rocks Zodiac with a series of fists as he flops between the two rings, bouncing into the attack comically. Heenan calls the Hulkster a "one man platoon" and that is not far from the truth as he levels everybody with back rakes. The finish comes when Hogan locks in a camel clutch and, as per the stipulation, this means Kevin Sullivan is to be stuck in the cage with Hulk Hogan. Sullivan tries to escape but Head of Security Doug Dillinger forces him back into the ring. Heenan tries to talk Sullivan up, but he's no match for the Hulkster, bumping for him left and right until The Giant enters the picture. The Giant proceeds to "snap" the Hulkster's neck, escaping the cage before the Hulkamanaics return to the scene. All in all, the match is garbage, but there is something kind of enjoyable about seeing Hogan get laid out at the end of a pay-per-view. Entertaining if you have the stomach for this kind of cartoonish, craptastic, lowest common denominator brand of sports-entertainment. (3/5)
Diamond Dallas Page challenges The Renegade for his TV Championship next. DDP has a ton of energy in this match, which is the same compliment I've paid him in a bunch of his prior bouts. DDP does some over-the-top selling at the start that destroys any kayfabe WCW had left over from the NWA days, but Page's willingness to make Renegade look like the most powerful force on Earth actually works to keep the match entertaining. Several times the Yoga Master blatantly (and in defiance of physical law) positions himself for a spot and takes a ridiculous bump, single-handedly forcing the match into "good territory." When Page is on offense, he's solid, but it's his fighting spirit that enables a dramatic story to take shape (and eventually leads to some of the crowd actually rooting for him). The finish is an obvious attempt to keep Renegade at least somewhat credible. The best "Page vs. a broom" match I've probably ever seen and easily the best "Renegade is a broom" match too. (3.5/5)
WCW World Tag Team Champions, Bunkhouse Buck and "Dirty" Dick Slater vs. Harlem Heat is next. Prior to the match, it is posited that Sherri and Colonel Parker may be an item, which adds extra drama to this match. While I could see some people digging this one, I found it mostly boring, with only a few moments here-and-there of good offense out of Booker T and Bunkhouse (who have absolutely carried their teams for months now). The finish continues the Sherri/Parker love story, but I'm not too intrigued in seeing it continue if these are the kind of matches we're going to get out of it. (2/5)
A video package and some words from Arn Anderson bring us to "The Match We Never Thought We'd See" - Arn Anderson vs. Ric Flair. When the match starts, Anderson gets to working on Flair's arm, but Naitch stays cocky and arrogant, not letting Anderson get the mental edge. As the match wears on, the fact that these guys know eachother so well comes across quite well as they cut each other off and increase the physicality. With tempers finally flaring, it becomes apparent that this is more than just a battle between two old friends at odds over a petty dispute - they are actually trying to prove who was the real cornerstone of the Horsemen. In terms of action, there's a nice mix of brawling and classic Flair spots, but I would have preferred a more dramatic finish. Its nice to see Brian Pillman get put back into a place of prominence on the roster, but a more definitive finish could've made this one a true classic. I've seen many critics fault this match for being "too typical" of Flair, but I find there are enough twists to the formula that it works. (3.5/5)
As the ring is set up for War Games, we get a series of video packages highlighting Hulk Hogan's feud with the Dungeon of Doom, including a recap of Hogan's motorcycle getting crushed by a monster truck (ostensibly driven by The Giant). The third video sequence also covers how Vader, who has gone "AWOL," has been replaced by returning WCW superstar, Lex Luger. We then go backstage to hear from the good guys, all of whom are rocking full face paint, including Jimmy Hart.
War Games Time - Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Sting, and Lex Luger vs. The Dungeon of Doom, comprised of The Shark, The Zodiac, Meng, and Kamala. This is Luger's return to WCW pay-per-view after a lengthy jaunt in the WWE. After a lengthy run through the rules and the teams, The Shark and Sting kick things off. These two had solid chemistry together, so it was a wise decision to let them kick things off. They deliver what they need to also, as Sting soars over the top rope to deliver a flying clothesline across the two rings and follows it up with a big bodyslam to the massive Tenta. There are plenty of goofy spots thrown in - anyone expecting a bloodbath like the War Games of yore is barking up the wrong tree by looking here. The Zodiac is next and he too ends up suffering at the hands of Sting who inexplicably tries to lock in a Scorpion Deathlock when the match can not be ended until all members of both teams have entered. Savage enters next, but the Dungeon of Doom remains in control, maintaining the upperhand when Kamala enters. As one might have predicted, Luger comes in next and things are fairly even at this point, but Luger and Savage inadvertently hit eachother, and this leads to the two of them brawling for a bit until the Dungeon of Doom recovers. Meng steps in and the stage is set for the arrival of Hulk Hogan, who comes in tossing salt (like a heel would). In one of the worst spots I've ever seen, Hogan rocks Zodiac with a series of fists as he flops between the two rings, bouncing into the attack comically. Heenan calls the Hulkster a "one man platoon" and that is not far from the truth as he levels everybody with back rakes. The finish comes when Hogan locks in a camel clutch and, as per the stipulation, this means Kevin Sullivan is to be stuck in the cage with Hulk Hogan. Sullivan tries to escape but Head of Security Doug Dillinger forces him back into the ring. Heenan tries to talk Sullivan up, but he's no match for the Hulkster, bumping for him left and right until The Giant enters the picture. The Giant proceeds to "snap" the Hulkster's neck, escaping the cage before the Hulkamanaics return to the scene. All in all, the match is garbage, but there is something kind of enjoyable about seeing Hogan get laid out at the end of a pay-per-view. Entertaining if you have the stomach for this kind of cartoonish, craptastic, lowest common denominator brand of sports-entertainment. (3/5)
With a shocking average match/segment rating of 3.42-out-of-5, Fall Brawl 95' is a surprisingly entertaining show (earning the highest rating since Bash At The Beach 94'). Granted, much of that entertainment value comes with the sheer hokeyness of it - the Pittman/Cobra, Mr. Wonderful video, and TV Title match are not "good" good, they're "bad" good. Meanwhile, Badd/Pillman and Anderson/Flair are actually pretty good, or at least good enough to satisfy wrestling fans between the more cartoonish stretches of this show. As for the main event, there's not much to recommend about it, but its not unwatchable - in fact, the Giant's attack on Hogan is a refreshing change to how most of the shows from this era ended.
FINAL RATING - Watch It All
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