RATING LEVELS:
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
A pretty excellent video package welcomes us to WCW Fall Brawl 96'. The clip does a nice job of bringing viewers up to date with the WCW/nWo feud - basically, Ted DiBiase showed up as the nWo's financial backer, The Giant turned on WCW, and Lex Luger was stabbed in the back by none other than WCW poster boy Sting.
Diamond Dallas Page arrives for his match against Chavo Guerrero Jr., who Schiavone notes is a relative newcomer to the sport. Chavo dominates the early going and DDP's selling really helps give Chavo's offense credibility despite the noticeable size difference between the two. When Page takes control, the match gets very good - arguably the best bout Page had had up to this point. His character work is marvelous and he utilizes a number of innovative maneuvers, to the point that despite throwing in tons of classic cocky heel schtick, the crowd gets behind him a bit. While there are some noticeable hiccups (including a somewhat awkward finish) there are also some thrilling moments and clever cut-offs. Considering I'd never heard anyone talk about this match, it exceeded my expectations. (4/5)
Backstage, Harlem Heat, Sister Sherri, and Colonel Parker are seated around WCW's CompuServe station.
"Mean" Gene Okerlund presents a recap of the history of the nWo vs. WCW war. I like how comprehensive this package is and wish the WWE would utilize similar treatment more often - not just with, say, Lesnar vs. Taker, but with similar long-running programs like current Authority angle, the dissolution of the Shield, or a midcard rivalry like the seemingly never-ending rivalry between Sheamus and Randy Orton. In terms of adding context to the main event, this is an incredible video. (+1)
Onward to Scott Norton vs. Ice Train in a submission match. I was surprisingly entertained by their bout at Hog Wild and while the initial minutes of this are actually quite good, with some impressive offense out of Ice Train, when things slow down, they slooooow doooown. Storyline-wise, the stipulation makes sense based on Norton attacking Train's injured shoulder (?) throughout their feud, but in terms of what they can accomplish in the ring, both guys are at their best when they're allowed to just throw stiff clotheslines and toss each other around. The crowd boos the finish (and I would too) but I'm not sure that wasn't the plan. If WCW was attempting a double turn, I'd say they almost nailed it. (2.5/5)
The Mexican Title is on the line in the next match and the commentary team is joined by Mike Tenay - Juventud Guerrera challenging the reigning champion, Konnan, who is making his first PPV appearance with the "Gangsta" look. This is the show where Guerrera trips on his way to the ring. It's excellent. Konnan had also joined the Dungeon of Doom since The Clash of the Champions. In the first minute, Juventud impresses, moving with remarkable speed and taking two ridiculous bumps. Unlike Mysterio, though, the selling is less dramatic and while his offense is equally breathtaking, it's not nearly as fluid. Konnan connects with a power bomb on the outside that is awesome as a storytelling point, but imperfect in execution. Speaking of Konnan, he seems significantly more comfortable as a heel, taunting the crowd and slowing the match down. At one point, the announcers pitch the WCW Hotline - Mike Tenay noting that he has details about the "internet rumors" surrounding Hall and Nash. Pretty cool for September 96'. From here, Konnan obliterates him with some power bombs and german suplexes, which leads to an awkward segment where Guerrera just walks out of the ring, no selling any of the damage. The next several minutes are a mix of insane high spots, unbelievable kick outs, and long stretches of nothing. Instead of selling injury, they just look tired, essentially sleepwalking there way to the next big spot. Konnan came out of this looking like an absolute monster, while Guerrera proved he could withstand a tremendous beating. Really interesting match and worth watching. (4/5)
The WCW pay-per-view of Chris Jericho! His opponent is none other than Chris Benoit, who gets welcomed with cheers due to his Horseman status. Lots of high-impact offense, both guys getting to show off their most impressive spots. This one feels significantly more personal and dramatic than the Benoit/Malenko match at Hog Wild, but the intensity doesn't necessarily translate to increased fan interest. Long stretches are fairly quiet and there's one questionable logic choice - Jericho not going for a cover after a devastating tombstone piledriver - but for the most part, the match tells a straightforward story of two guys wrestling to exhaustion to beat each other. Pretty good commentary work and a clean finish make this one an above-average showing and strong debut for Jericho. (3.5/5)
Super Calo vs. WCW Cruiserweight Champion, Rey Mysterio is next. While not as instantly attention-grabbing as Konnan/Juvi, Mysterio and Calo do a nice job of building up the suspense over the course of a fairly lengthy contest. While not as interesting a watch as the aforementioned match, this one is still nothing short of great, Mysterio doing a tremendous job of selling for Calo while still coming across as the superior, more resilient fighter. There are a number of never-seen-before spots (Calo's somersault senton to Rey on the floor is sickening) as well as some excellently-executed hits (hurricanranas from everywhere, Rey Rey's springboard flipping West Coast Pop to the outside), though the crowd just never seems to really come alive. Granted, there are some botches, but if the audience had been awake for the bigger spots, they'd be even easier to overlook. Excellent Cruiserweight Title match that I haven't seen much hype about. Maybe a hair too long, though. (3.5/5)
Proof that crowd reactions can save a terrible match, Harlem Heat vs. The Nasty Boys for Heat's WCW World Tag Team Championships is our next match. The crowd is 1000% behind the Nasties, getting loud every time it looks like they might get their hands on Sister Sherri or Colonel Parker. The in-ring action is pretty rudimentary, though Booker T does a handful of his signature maneuvers. A dead crowd would have sunk this match to unseen depths of boringness, but the fact that the announcers and the audience are so thoroughly engaged (at unexpected times you can actually see people on their feet for this one), there's actually a smidgen of drama and suspense in the proceedings. The screwy finish is well-executed and, for whatever reason, actually gets cheered a little despite most of the crowd booing the heels out of the building minutes before. Not worth watching, but not a total failure. (1.5/5)
After a brief promo backstage, we get "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. The Giant in a grudge match. After a brief flurry of offense from Savage, the Giant takes control, dominating in the ring. There's an interesting moment when the commentators note that the fans are distracted by something in the crowd, noting that the nWo has everyone on edge. This is the kind of thing the WWE commentators of today would never do unless absolutely forced to admit that what's happening in the ring isn't the most exciting thing happening at any particular moment. The Giant locks in a boston crab at one point, the first and potentially only time I think I've ever seen him pull out that particular submission. The biggest pop of the match comes when Savage miraculously picks up the big man for a powerslam, but give credit to the bookers who don't make their prized 7-footer eat a surefire pin after Savage connects with an elbow drop. Nothing much to this match, but its not a trainwreck either. (1.5/5)
Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Lex Luger are backstage and they announce that they are not seeking a 4th partner for tonight's War Games match. Sting arrives and tells his best friend Lex Luger that he didn't attack him on Nitro, implying that it was an impostor who performed the act six days prior. Luger doesn't buy it, but Sting tells him, even if he has to go in alone, he's headed to the ring.
Michael Buffer announces the rules of the match, familiar to anyone reading this blog I'm sure.
Main event time - Team WCW vs. The New World Order, with Scott Hall and Arn Anderson kicking things off for the opening 5 minute period. The action of this match is nothing to write home about, though the crowd is hot for it, especially for Flair's offense. Despite this match lacking the brutality that War Games was known it, the storytelling is well-executed, particularly once the Fake Sting arrives and the baby faces are outnumbered. It is at this point that the tension of the match really builds and then peaks once the real Sting shows up. Sting cleaning house is an absolutely awesome bit of foreshadowing to the Sting/Hogan feud that will become, without question, one of the best WCW storylines in the history of the company. From there, Sting deserts his teammates and the nWo ends up winning the match in short order - but the show doesn't stop there as a "We Want Sting" breaks out and Lex Luger gets destroyed in the aisleway. Randy Savage tries to make the save, but ends up falling prey to the numbers game. But, again, the post-match drama doesn't end there because Miss Elizabeth shows up as well, covering up her ex-husband (and getting spray painted for her trouble). Hogan grabs the mic and cuts a great promo, ripping apart the former husband-and-wife and drawing jeers from the crowd as trash gets tossed into the ring. It is a dramatic and legitimately disgusting scene played perfectly by Liz. As a match, this one leaves much to be desired, but the post-match (including Hogan and The Giant closing out the show from the commentary booth) is the best thing the nWo has done on PPV since the Bash At The Beach. (3/5)
With an average match rating of 3.07-out-of-5 (thanks to a well-made video package nabbing a bonus point early in the show), September 96's Fall Brawl may not be as historically significant as July's Bash at the Beach, but it is a significantly more enjoyable show top to bottom (and the highest rated one since June's Great American Bash). The opener is excellent, Guerrera/Konnan is a must-see mess of a match, Jericho/Benoit is above average, and the WCW Cruiserweight Championship match is also quite strong. There are some low points after that, but the drama and "big match feel" of the main event rounds out the card well.
FINAL RATING - Watch It…With Remote in Hand
Fall Brawl 96' - September 1996
Winstom-Salem, North Carolina
Diamond Dallas Page arrives for his match against Chavo Guerrero Jr., who Schiavone notes is a relative newcomer to the sport. Chavo dominates the early going and DDP's selling really helps give Chavo's offense credibility despite the noticeable size difference between the two. When Page takes control, the match gets very good - arguably the best bout Page had had up to this point. His character work is marvelous and he utilizes a number of innovative maneuvers, to the point that despite throwing in tons of classic cocky heel schtick, the crowd gets behind him a bit. While there are some noticeable hiccups (including a somewhat awkward finish) there are also some thrilling moments and clever cut-offs. Considering I'd never heard anyone talk about this match, it exceeded my expectations. (4/5)
Backstage, Harlem Heat, Sister Sherri, and Colonel Parker are seated around WCW's CompuServe station.
"Mean" Gene Okerlund presents a recap of the history of the nWo vs. WCW war. I like how comprehensive this package is and wish the WWE would utilize similar treatment more often - not just with, say, Lesnar vs. Taker, but with similar long-running programs like current Authority angle, the dissolution of the Shield, or a midcard rivalry like the seemingly never-ending rivalry between Sheamus and Randy Orton. In terms of adding context to the main event, this is an incredible video. (+1)
Onward to Scott Norton vs. Ice Train in a submission match. I was surprisingly entertained by their bout at Hog Wild and while the initial minutes of this are actually quite good, with some impressive offense out of Ice Train, when things slow down, they slooooow doooown. Storyline-wise, the stipulation makes sense based on Norton attacking Train's injured shoulder (?) throughout their feud, but in terms of what they can accomplish in the ring, both guys are at their best when they're allowed to just throw stiff clotheslines and toss each other around. The crowd boos the finish (and I would too) but I'm not sure that wasn't the plan. If WCW was attempting a double turn, I'd say they almost nailed it. (2.5/5)
The Mexican Title is on the line in the next match and the commentary team is joined by Mike Tenay - Juventud Guerrera challenging the reigning champion, Konnan, who is making his first PPV appearance with the "Gangsta" look. This is the show where Guerrera trips on his way to the ring. It's excellent. Konnan had also joined the Dungeon of Doom since The Clash of the Champions. In the first minute, Juventud impresses, moving with remarkable speed and taking two ridiculous bumps. Unlike Mysterio, though, the selling is less dramatic and while his offense is equally breathtaking, it's not nearly as fluid. Konnan connects with a power bomb on the outside that is awesome as a storytelling point, but imperfect in execution. Speaking of Konnan, he seems significantly more comfortable as a heel, taunting the crowd and slowing the match down. At one point, the announcers pitch the WCW Hotline - Mike Tenay noting that he has details about the "internet rumors" surrounding Hall and Nash. Pretty cool for September 96'. From here, Konnan obliterates him with some power bombs and german suplexes, which leads to an awkward segment where Guerrera just walks out of the ring, no selling any of the damage. The next several minutes are a mix of insane high spots, unbelievable kick outs, and long stretches of nothing. Instead of selling injury, they just look tired, essentially sleepwalking there way to the next big spot. Konnan came out of this looking like an absolute monster, while Guerrera proved he could withstand a tremendous beating. Really interesting match and worth watching. (4/5)
The WCW pay-per-view of Chris Jericho! His opponent is none other than Chris Benoit, who gets welcomed with cheers due to his Horseman status. Lots of high-impact offense, both guys getting to show off their most impressive spots. This one feels significantly more personal and dramatic than the Benoit/Malenko match at Hog Wild, but the intensity doesn't necessarily translate to increased fan interest. Long stretches are fairly quiet and there's one questionable logic choice - Jericho not going for a cover after a devastating tombstone piledriver - but for the most part, the match tells a straightforward story of two guys wrestling to exhaustion to beat each other. Pretty good commentary work and a clean finish make this one an above-average showing and strong debut for Jericho. (3.5/5)
Super Calo vs. WCW Cruiserweight Champion, Rey Mysterio is next. While not as instantly attention-grabbing as Konnan/Juvi, Mysterio and Calo do a nice job of building up the suspense over the course of a fairly lengthy contest. While not as interesting a watch as the aforementioned match, this one is still nothing short of great, Mysterio doing a tremendous job of selling for Calo while still coming across as the superior, more resilient fighter. There are a number of never-seen-before spots (Calo's somersault senton to Rey on the floor is sickening) as well as some excellently-executed hits (hurricanranas from everywhere, Rey Rey's springboard flipping West Coast Pop to the outside), though the crowd just never seems to really come alive. Granted, there are some botches, but if the audience had been awake for the bigger spots, they'd be even easier to overlook. Excellent Cruiserweight Title match that I haven't seen much hype about. Maybe a hair too long, though. (3.5/5)
Proof that crowd reactions can save a terrible match, Harlem Heat vs. The Nasty Boys for Heat's WCW World Tag Team Championships is our next match. The crowd is 1000% behind the Nasties, getting loud every time it looks like they might get their hands on Sister Sherri or Colonel Parker. The in-ring action is pretty rudimentary, though Booker T does a handful of his signature maneuvers. A dead crowd would have sunk this match to unseen depths of boringness, but the fact that the announcers and the audience are so thoroughly engaged (at unexpected times you can actually see people on their feet for this one), there's actually a smidgen of drama and suspense in the proceedings. The screwy finish is well-executed and, for whatever reason, actually gets cheered a little despite most of the crowd booing the heels out of the building minutes before. Not worth watching, but not a total failure. (1.5/5)
After a brief promo backstage, we get "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. The Giant in a grudge match. After a brief flurry of offense from Savage, the Giant takes control, dominating in the ring. There's an interesting moment when the commentators note that the fans are distracted by something in the crowd, noting that the nWo has everyone on edge. This is the kind of thing the WWE commentators of today would never do unless absolutely forced to admit that what's happening in the ring isn't the most exciting thing happening at any particular moment. The Giant locks in a boston crab at one point, the first and potentially only time I think I've ever seen him pull out that particular submission. The biggest pop of the match comes when Savage miraculously picks up the big man for a powerslam, but give credit to the bookers who don't make their prized 7-footer eat a surefire pin after Savage connects with an elbow drop. Nothing much to this match, but its not a trainwreck either. (1.5/5)
Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Lex Luger are backstage and they announce that they are not seeking a 4th partner for tonight's War Games match. Sting arrives and tells his best friend Lex Luger that he didn't attack him on Nitro, implying that it was an impostor who performed the act six days prior. Luger doesn't buy it, but Sting tells him, even if he has to go in alone, he's headed to the ring.
Michael Buffer announces the rules of the match, familiar to anyone reading this blog I'm sure.
Main event time - Team WCW vs. The New World Order, with Scott Hall and Arn Anderson kicking things off for the opening 5 minute period. The action of this match is nothing to write home about, though the crowd is hot for it, especially for Flair's offense. Despite this match lacking the brutality that War Games was known it, the storytelling is well-executed, particularly once the Fake Sting arrives and the baby faces are outnumbered. It is at this point that the tension of the match really builds and then peaks once the real Sting shows up. Sting cleaning house is an absolutely awesome bit of foreshadowing to the Sting/Hogan feud that will become, without question, one of the best WCW storylines in the history of the company. From there, Sting deserts his teammates and the nWo ends up winning the match in short order - but the show doesn't stop there as a "We Want Sting" breaks out and Lex Luger gets destroyed in the aisleway. Randy Savage tries to make the save, but ends up falling prey to the numbers game. But, again, the post-match drama doesn't end there because Miss Elizabeth shows up as well, covering up her ex-husband (and getting spray painted for her trouble). Hogan grabs the mic and cuts a great promo, ripping apart the former husband-and-wife and drawing jeers from the crowd as trash gets tossed into the ring. It is a dramatic and legitimately disgusting scene played perfectly by Liz. As a match, this one leaves much to be desired, but the post-match (including Hogan and The Giant closing out the show from the commentary booth) is the best thing the nWo has done on PPV since the Bash At The Beach. (3/5)
With an average match rating of 3.07-out-of-5 (thanks to a well-made video package nabbing a bonus point early in the show), September 96's Fall Brawl may not be as historically significant as July's Bash at the Beach, but it is a significantly more enjoyable show top to bottom (and the highest rated one since June's Great American Bash). The opener is excellent, Guerrera/Konnan is a must-see mess of a match, Jericho/Benoit is above average, and the WCW Cruiserweight Championship match is also quite strong. There are some low points after that, but the drama and "big match feel" of the main event rounds out the card well.
FINAL RATING - Watch It…With Remote in Hand
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