WCW Wrestle War 91'

WCW WrestleWar 91'

Phoenix, AZ - February 1991

CHAMPIONSHIP RUNDOWN: Coming into WrestleWar, Ric Flair is the WCW World Champion, the United States Champion is Lex Luger, and the TV Champion is Arn Anderson. The Steiner Brothers hold the United States Tag Team Championships while Doom are the World Tag Team Champions. The 6-Man Tag Titles are held by the Junkyard Dog, Ricky Morton, and Tommy Rich.

COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross and Dusty Rhodes

Kicking things off, the 6-Man Tag Team Championships are on the line with Junkyard Dog, Ricky Morton, and Tommy Rich defending against the heel trio of Big Cat and The State Patrol (Buddy Lee Parker and James Earl Wright). Boring, uneventful contest between 6 guys that, maybe at one time were interesting and worth getting excited about, but were definitely not that in 1991 WCW. This one felt too long around minute 5. Inexplicably poor finish on this one too as Morton gets the pinfall despite not being the legal man. Was there some sort of rule in place where anyone could make the pinfall at any time? If so, the announcers don't bother to make that clear. (0.5/5)

Brad Armstrong takes on "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton in the second match on the show. With Eaton and Armstrong, you know you are going to get solid scientific wrestling and good psychology, but as neither guy was really over as a singles performer, this match overstays its welcome despite the talents of both men. Armstrong is blander here than he was even during his "Candyman" days while Eaton, arguably one of the top 5 tag specialists of all time and as despicable as he was in the Midnight Express, is just an incomplete act without a manager or tag partner in his corner at this time. The match goes close to 13 minutes but ends up feeling like 20 because, while Eaton's offense is really sharp at times and Armstrong's comeback fiery, there's no real suspense when there's no real story behind why these guys are so desperate to defeat each other. Better commentary would've helped as, beyond this being a chance for them both to "climb the ladder," the announcers never really discuss any history between the two (Armstrong's Lightning Express faced the Midnight Express plenty of times for that to have been played up a bit more). 2 for 2 on disappointing matches. (1.5/5)

Niki Handa and Miss A vs. Mami Katmura and Itsuki Yamasaki is next - a rare treat from Japan. Handa is sporting Zach Ryder-esque gear. Dusty Rhodes' commentary is, as expected, ridiculous, though, in his defense, this sort of action was almost completely unheard of in the US in 91'. Physical, stiff, grappling-based - this isn't as spot-heavy (and, thus, crowd-pleasing) as the showcase match featuring Bull Nakano at World War III 95', but its still quite good and Miss A's kicks are especially remarkable. Despite being unfamiliar with the performers, the crowd seems to respect the sheer number of suplex and strikes that these women deliver. (3/5)

"Nature Boy" Buddy Landell is out next to a chorus of boos. His opponent tonight is noneother than Dustin Rhodes, who's making his WCW pay-per-view debut (he'd wrestled at the 1990 Royal Rumble). Dustin isn't nearly as polished as he would become and he'd pick up some speed and agility as he slimmed down in the years after this, but even with just a few years in the business, one can see why "The Natural" nickname wasn't total nepotistic bullshit. He works the crowd, he sells without dying, and his offense, while rudimentary, is delivered with intensity. Landell is the pro in comparison and I wish he'd put more effort into drawing heat in this match as he was a "natural" himself when it came to pissing off audiences. (2/5) 

Missy Hyatt tries to get an interview with Stan Lane but gets chased out of the lockerroom by the tobacco-spittin' Texan.

The Royal Family make their way to the ring for the next bout. I was unfamiliar with this gimmick for Rip Morgan and Jack Victory, but that's them. Their opponents are The Young Pistols, Steve Armstrong and Tracy Smothers. After about a minute of action, the lights go out for some reason and the match needs to be spotlighted until power is restored. Like the Armstrong/Heenan match, the issue here really isn't that the work isn't up to snuff as much as it is that this match is being fought for no reason beyond having a "distinct bearing on the World Tag Team Title scene." Nothing personal, nothing at stake, just two teams competing. Without any characters to get truly excited about, the crowd reacts mildly to everything they see, even if what they're seeing is some quality, textbook tag team wrestling. I would've liked a stronger finish, though, as Morgan and Victory seemed to have things in control and the finish felt a bit out of place coming in before Smothers made a true hot tag. (2/5)

Diamond Dallas Page cuts a promo about the greatness of the Fabulous Freebirds. He gets cut off by Teddy Long but "Peanuthead" walks away and Page continues to run his mouth. Love the "Homey Don't Play That" reference - real topical. 

Alexandra York's newest talent acquisition, Terry Taylor challenges Tom "The Z-Man" Zenk next. Going back through WCW's history, Zenk's career is one that I definitely "got wrong" when I was a kid and believed him to be really just a jobber-to-the-stars. I think, at least at one point, Zenk was lined up to be a star himself, but for whatever reason (ego? lack of charisma?) never reached that US Title level that he could've and maybe should've. Earlier in the show, York predicted that Taylor would wrap this one up in around 15 minutes. I'm hoping it takes about half as long as Terry Taylor has put on some real snoozers over the past few shows. Taylor is much more interesting as a heel, taking "powders" to consult York's "computer" (really just a word processor, I think), and Z-Man puts forth effort in keeping the crowd engaged and on his side. Taylor tries to choke Zenk out with a TV cord on the outside and Z-Man's face is priceless. Back in the ring they go and Taylor continues to control the match for the most part, Zenk hitting flurries of offense here and there but getting cut-off every time he looks like he's about to get on a roll. Decent enough finishing stretch with Z-Man getting the visual pin but York causing a distraction and allowing Taylor to grab the tights for the victory. An improvement on Taylor's babyface run leading up to this as he finally has a real character. (2.5/5)

Paul E. Dangerously makes his way down the aisle dressed like a mariachi band member. He tells all the illegal aliens who crossed the border that they'll be arrested tonight before welcoming his guest, El Gigante. As funny as this segment is (and Dangerously does have some funny, very non-PC lines), it makes no sense that Dangerously would so openly mock the monstrous Gigante without any fear of getting hurt. Dangerously eventually slaps Gigante with a sombrero before getting bodyslammed to the mat. Gigante puts on the sombrero and walks off with a smile on his face. I said this before - it is no surprise that Vince saw dollar signs in Gigante even after his failed WCW run as WCW simply had no clue how to promote him. That being said, Vince botched things too with the ridiculous Giant Gonzalez bodysuit and immediate thrust into a main event feud with the Undertaker, not exactly a master storyteller or in-ring hand in the 90s. Gigante needed a mouthpiece (Brian Pillman would take that role soon enough) and shouldn't have been letting pipsqueak managers like Dangerously run him down if he was meant to be intimidating. Still, all in all, one of the more entertaining segments on this show so far. (+1)

After a word from Hiro Matsuda, Stan Hansen and Big Van Vader get to brawling even before the bell rings. As Jim Ross promises on commentary, this one is not going to be pretty. The first big shot of the match is a Vader clothesline that looks like it would put a oak tree on its side. He follows it up with a splash in the corner and Hansen, who is still chewing on what appears to be a full bag of dip, hits the mat hard. Vader tosses Hansen to the outside and splashes him again before the Texan can finally get a little bit of offense in. Back in the ring they go and Hansen is able to land a back suplex and follow it up with an elbow drop. The crowd gets a bit restless so Hansen and Vader exit the ring and grab some weaponry, bashing each other mercilessly. The chairshot to The Lariat seems to have woken him up a little as he hits Vader with a big forearm. Back out the ring they go and Vader drops Hansen stomach-first onto the guardrail. The brawling continues in the ring and Pee Wee Anderson is tossed aside as these two continue to tear into each other. The crowd boos as he disqualifies both men. Vader goes up top, though, crashing down with a splash onto the standing Hansen. As disappointing as the match's outcome is, the fact that these two just continue to go at it was a very wise production move. I was expecting something with a clearer story and some escalation, but they opted instead to just beat the tar out of each other and not bother with any plot at all. Not my cup of tea, but certainly watchable for the sheer viciousness of the striking. (2.5/5)

The United States Title is on the line next - Lex Luger defending the strap against "Dangerous" Dan Spivey. Luger is in tremendous shape here, jacked to the gills. Unfortunately, while cosmetically this might have been his peak, in terms of performing, he's had much better nights thanks to much better opponents. With both guys considerably limited in what they can do, they work hard but never really develop a story beyond rear chinlocks, the occasional power move, and multiple mid-ring collisions. Luger is tremendously over so its not like the crowd doesn't care, but close to three decades later, its hard to get excited about this match. (1.5/5)

After exiting the ring, Grizzly Smith and Nikita Koloff present Luger with the new US Championship...or do they? As just about anyone would've predicted, Koloff hits Luger with the new belt and then cuts a promo about how he's coming for the gold, ending his 2-year retirement. Koloff should've been a much bigger success story, but according to an interview I read, he wanted to leave the business by age 35 and did so - even if he still probably could've been a huge deal had he jumped ship to WWE in 92'/93'.

Diamond Dallas Page presents The Fabulous Freebirds next, Page years away from lacing up the boots himself. Page then welcomes the new "road boss" of the Freebirds - Big Daddy Dink (Oliver Humperdink). I can't believe this gimmick would go on for months longer. Their opponents tonight at the World Tag Team Champions, Doom, heels as well but more popular than the Birds (who earn a "Freebirds Suck!" chant within the first 10 seconds of the match). Simmons drops Hayes with a nasty spinebuster early on, but Hayes gives him a solid bulldog in return. Powerslam out of Simmons and then Jimmy Jam eats one too off the top rope. The Freebirds head out of the ring to regroup but it doesn't do that much help as Doom continues to overpower them as the match goes on. The fun of this match (though there's not much of it) is seeing Simmons manhandle the Birds with serious power. Reed accidentally decks his partner, costing them the match and the titles. Simmons and Reed split in the post-match, Reed going to town on his former partner with rights and lefts. This was better than I thought it'd be, but I thought it'd be really, really bad, so, just by keeping it short and letting Simmons shine, they exceeded my expectations. (2/5)

The12-year old winner of the Wrestle War Sweepstakes stands with JR and Dusty Rhodes and tells JR that his favorite team is Doom...who just broke up a minute earlier. It really doesn't get any better than that.

A clip is shown of Brian Pillman getting his head pounded into the mat by a Ric Flair kneedrop from the top rope. I don't think they'd even let someone do that in the WWE today as it looks absolutely vicious.

War Games time - Flair, Sid, Windham, and Zybysko (replacing Arn Anderson) vs. Sting, Pillman, and The Steiner Brothers. Windham starts for the Horsemen and then Pillman comes rushing in, eager to get some revenge on his enemies. Pillman delivers a big head scissors and is just unrelentless in his efforts - great fire, great offense, at one point even targeting Windham's lacerated head with his own teeth. Windham takes an incredible bump as the clock winds down too, selling for Pillman with no selfishness at all. Flair comes in (because the heels always win the coin toss) and immediately gets to work on Flyin' Brian. Sting evens things up a minute or so later and the crowd, which was already at maybe an 8 or 9, goes to 10 and pretty much stays there for the rest of this match. Its hard for Ric Flair to be overshadowed, but this match is really all about Pillman, Windham, and the Stinger. Considering this match doesn't have all the big spots of today's cage matches, it is remarkable how much more violent and dangerous this match feels just from the way the guys bump and sell. The blood helps, to be sure, but its not like everyone is just gigging themselves right and left. Even when the babyfaces are outnumbered, Pillman fights back with stiff chest chops and the heels do a great job of selling for Sting like he's the righteous superhero that he was. Like Windham, the selflessness of Zybysko is commendable here because, as a WWWF and AWA main eventer, he's coming in a bit unheralded and could've looked out for number one. Instead, he dives into the fray and plays the part that Arn Anderson would've, respecting the build and story this match needed to tell. When Sid comes in, he looks a bit confused and his blatant spot-calling is confusing just because, in a match like this, its not like you're setting up highly technical sequences. Unlike other War Games, where, once everyone is in, you're just counting down the minutes until someone submits, I like how the brutality continues and they don't rush to the finish. When the finish does come, it is one of those things that couldn't have looked more cruel and definitively deal-ending if it had been executed properly. Sid's first powerbomb to Pillman looks like it could've ended his career and certainly helps explain why Pillman despised the big man backstage even more than he did in front of the cameras. The second powerbomb is better executed and really cements the idea that, unless someone stops the match, Pillman is going to have his career ended. This cues El Gigante to make his entrance and while I've read plenty of criticisms of Gigante throwing in the towel in a match where, technically, the winner should only be declared when a participant submits, I think this was actually incredibly smart booking. First, it protects the top four babyfaces on your roster at a time when they needed credibility - especially Sting. Second, it further links Pillman and Gigante as a tandem and puts Gigante into a prominent position in the show - which, from a workrate perspective, was dumb, but from an investment perspective, was their only option. You don't hire a 7'7 Giant and then not promote him as a star attraction, especially if you want to strike before the iron gets exposed as a terrible performer. Bonus points for Jim Ross and Dusty Rhodes' commentary on this match, which may be the best-called match JR had ever done before King of the Ring 98'. When people think fondly about the War Games matches of old, this is maybe the exact match that many fans of a certain age are reflecting on. Personally, I might even put this one higher in the 92' version, which is considered by most to be the best of the bunch. (4.5/5)


If it wasn't for the main event, this may have been one of the worst shows WCW had run in years - which is saying something when you consider how low some of the low points of 90' were. Vader/Hansen is not as good as it should be and no amount of extra managers can save how stale the Freebirds act comes across. The second best match of the night is probably the womens' match fought between the unknown talents from Japan, which shouldn't be the case when you look at the talent here - Luger, Bobby Eaton, and Doom were all pretty consistently good-to-great performers around this time but they're all thrown into such heatless matches and rivalries that it is impossible to care about anything that happens in the undercard. Fortunately, the final match of the night is maybe one of the best cage matches ever and features Brian Pillman in a breakout performance that should've helped propel him into a World Title challenger. Sadly, that never happened - but this crowd sure made it clear they would've supported it. With Kwang Score of 2.30-out-of-5, Wrestle War 91' might be a fun trip down memory lane for nostalgists, but for most everyone else its a...

FINAL RATING - High Risk Maneuver