Rock Star Gary reflects on...WCW Slamboree 1994!

Live from Philadelphia, PA

Airdate: May 22, 1994

Attendance: 4,800 (3,600 paid)

Hosted by Tony Schiavone and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan/ Jesse “The Body” Ventura

“Mean” Gene Okerlund welcomes us to the show then introduces the Legends in alphabetical order: Ole Anderson, The Assassin, Penny Banner, Red Bastien, Tully Blanchard, The Crusher, Don Curtis, Terry Funk (not shown), Verne Gagne, Hard Boiled Haggerty, Larry “The Axe” Hennig, Killer Kowalski, Ernie Ladd, Wahoo McDaniel, Angelo Mosca, Harley Race, Ray Stevens, Lou Thesz, Johnny Weaver, Mr. Wrestling II, and referee Tommy Young. He then mentions Jesse’s name on commentary but Heenan will be the color commentator to start the show.

And since we’re in Philadelphia it wouldn’t be a wrestling card unless ECW Hat Guy was prominently shown on camera. How does this guy always get great seats?

Tony interviews WCW Commissioner Nick Bockwinkel who has the WCW International title in hand. Without hesitation Bockwinkel requests Sting’s appearance. Sting comes through the curtain dressed in a red suit.

Bockwinkel announces that “Ravishing” Rick Rude has been stripped of the title, and it is being returned to Sting due to a no-contest ruling in the match. That’s WCW nonsense for Rude’s unexpected and unfortunate retirement due to a severe neck injury suffered in Japan. Unequivocally Sting rejects the offer of the title and wants it “up for grabs” in his match against Vader tonight. So sayeth the shepherd…

Match 1 for the US title: “Stunning” Steve Austin (champion w Col. Parker) versus Johnny B. Badd

Highlights:

• Curtain-jerking his second PPV in a row the Badd man emerged from behind the curtain.
• Early in the match Austin went for a sleeper. Badd dropped down giving Austin a jawbreaker. At KOTR ’96 these two performed the same move but busted Austin’s mouth badly.
• Sherri Martel aka Sensuous Sherri was at ringside.
• Ringside photographer was PWI editor Bill Apter.
• Badd countered a slam with an inside cradle.
• With referee Randy Anderson distracted, Parker choked Badd on the second rope.
• Tony acknowledged the crowd’s chant of “We’re not hostile!” I beg to differ.
• Austin attempted a splash from the second rope only to hit knees.
• Gutwrench suplex by Badd.
• Oklahoma roll with a cradle by Badd, but Parker got on the apron to distract Anderson.
• Distraction rollup only got 2. Whew!
• Top rope sunset flip got 2.
• Belly-to-back suplex by Badd, but Austin used leverage and pinned Badd.

Rating: *1/2

Summary: In every good match there must be good chemistry. In this case the chemicals didn’t mix well. Bad match with a hot finish.

The Philadelphia crowd loves their heels and cheers Austin’s victory. After the match Badd gave Austin the “kiss that don’t miss.”

Okerlund shills the hotline. He then interviews Wahoo McDaniel and Ernie Ladd. Unfortunately neither man is with us any longer.

“The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes cuts a promo from Hollywood. Could Goldust be far behind?

Match 2 (Legends): Tully Blanchard versus Terry Funk

Highlights:

• So WCW could pull Blanchard out of mothballs for this but not for the Horsemen last year?
• ECW received a mention per a fan’s sign.
• Gordon Solie replaced Tony for this match.
• The match began on the floor.
• Blanchard gave Funk a vertical suplex. I was hoping for the slingshot suplex.
• Atomic drop on the floor by Funk.
• Neckbreaker by Funk.
• Funk nailed Blanchard with a wooden piece of the ramp.
• He then gave Blanchard a piledriver through the piece.
• ECW! ECW! ECW!
• DDT by Funk on the ramp.
• They may not be hostile, but the Philly crowd chanted “We want blood!”
• Another piledriver by Funk.
• Attempted moonsault by Funk missed.
• Pretty contrived ref bump.
• Funk brought a chair into the ring.
• He then attempted a third piledriver on Blanchard from the top rope onto a chair but they botched it.
• Blanchard blasted referee Nick Patrick as Funk grabbed his branding iron.
• He whacked Blanchard with it. Patrick called for the bell.
• Funk stole Hat Guy’s hat then gave it an elbow drop and some head butts.
• Cappetta gave the official decision as a double-DQ. Nobody lost but the fans.

Rating: **1/2

Summary: Funk played extremely well to the ECW crowd in attendance and put on a good show. This match proved why Blanchard was retired however. He should have laid down for Funk here.

After the match Gordon shills the official Slamboree t-shirt and program for only $24.95!

Back in the dressing room Jesse “The Body” Ventura interviews “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Footage from WCW Saturday Night is shown. Parker promised a 6’7” former World Champion to face Flair at Slamboree. Somehow I don’t think the Hulkster was under that mask.

Match 3: Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) versus WCW Pro announcer Larry Zbyszko

Highlights:

• His lordship besmirched The Living Legend (and America) on the Pro to set this one up.
• Tony returned to the commentary table at ringside.
• Don’t miss the sign that stated “WWF stinks.”
• At the beginning of the match Regal stalled much like his adversary usually did.
• Reverse savate kick by Zbyszko sent Regal to the floor.
• Zbyszko countered an abdominal stretch into an inside cradle.
• Rope-assisted abdominal stretch by Zbyszko much to the crowd’s delight.
• One-too-many European uppercuts from Regal was countered into an attempted backslide.
• Zbyszko hooked a sleeper, but Regal gave him a jawbreaker. Sir William added an umbrella shot afterwards to further knock Larry loopy.
• Regal hooked Zbyszko for a butterfly suplex; however, Larry countered it with a back drop, hooked the arms, and got the pin.

Rating: **1/2

Summary: What an upset! Obviously that puts Zbyszko in line for a shot at the TV title, right? In this case, yes. However, the match was already in the can (taped 5/2/94) for the 5/28/94 episode of WCW Saturday Night.

Okerlund interviews Terry Funk. Funk claims to be THE legend. Next he wants a piece of “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes. I wonder what Dustin’s then-wife Terri thought about that.

Gordon Solie hosts the Hall of Fame induction. Lou Thesz joined him in the ring as a presenter. The first inductee is Harley Race. The second inductee is the Crusher. The third inductee is “The Cat” Ernie Ladd. The fourth inductee is the Masked Assassin. The fifth inductee is Ole Anderson. Lastly, the sixth inductee is Dick the Bruiser (posthumously). His daughter Michelle accepts the award.

Back in the dressing room Jesse interviews Colonel Parker. He then tries to encourage Parker to reveal Flair’s mystery opponent to no avail.

Match 4 (Bull rope): Bunkhouse Buck (w/ Col. Parker) versus “The Natural” Dustin Rhodes

Highlights:

• Buck tried to attack Rhodes before the bell but ate a cowbell to the head instead.
• Rhodes hung Buck with the bull rope while Buck was on the floor.
• The rabid Philly crowd chanted “We want blood!”
• Dustin destroyed Buck’s knee with the ring post and the cowbell.
• Buck walloped Rhodes with the cow bell after pulling Rhodes’ shirt over his head.
• He then made Rhodes eat the ring post. Provolone or Cheese Whiz, pal?
• Buck tied him to the ring post, but eventually Rhodes hit him low.
• Another healthy chant of “We Want Blood” rang through the arena.
• Buck climbed to the top rope, but got caught and slammed to the mat.
• Referee Nick Patrick got sandwiched. No pickle jokes, please.
• Parker climbed into the ring and distracted Rhodes; thus Buck took advantage.
• After escaping a double-team Rhodes nailed Buck with the cowbell and got the pin.

Rating: **1/2

Summary: Unique psychology by Rhodes didn’t play into the finish, but this feud will continue.

After the match Terry Funk charges down the ramp and knocked Rhodes silly with the branding iron. Rhodes is busted open. They try a spike piledriver without success. WCW officials break it up. It looks like Rhodes will need a partner to fight with these two brawlers.

Okerlund interviews Red Bastien and Ray “The Crippler” Stevens. After Bastien’s wrestling career ended he trained Sting and the Ultimate Warrior in the mid ‘80s.

Match 5 for the WCW World title: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (champion) versus Colonel Parker’s mystery opponent

Highlights:

• Jesse substituted on commentary for Heenan.
• Flair’s coming out first? That’s not tradition! Dammit!
• Colonel Parker came to the ring alone. He then announced his mystery challenger—former WWF World champion Hulk Hogan former NWA World champion Barry Windham. I can see one particular resemblance to his father Blackjack Mulligan, nd it ain’t the cowboy hat.
• Buffer screwed up referee Randy Pedersen Anderson’s name. Did he think he was announcing the PBA bowler?
• Windham clotheslined Flair over the top rope to the floor.
• While on the floor he made Flair eat the steel railing. Sweet peppers on that one, please.
• Flair flip in the corner to the floor.
• Windham climbed to the second rope to deliver right hands to Flair’s head. Flair responded with an inverted atomic drop.
• Flair S-L-O-W-L-Y climbed to the top rope only to get caught then superplexed.
• Flair hooked the figure-four leg lock, but Windham made it to the ropes.
• A second try earned Flair a poke in the eye.
• Flair tried a third time successfully, but Windham grabbed the ropes immediately.
• Forearm from the top rope by Flair.
• Flair came off the ropes with a cross body block and both men tumbled over the top rope to the floor. Definitely a callback to their match in 1986.
• Flair then made Windham taste the steel railing. I wonder if Barry had visions of Tastykake there.
• Somersault rollup by Flair got 2.
• After Windham tossed Flair to the floor Flair chopped Parker down.
• Sunset flip by Flair from the apron into the ring.
• Parker tried to assist Windham only to eat a right hand by Flair.
• Windham used the distraction to roll him up but only got 2. Whew! Those distraction finishes aren’t cool.
• Flair flip In the corner, but he landed on the apron, ran to the adjacent corner, and delivered a high cross body press for the pin. Flair retained the World title.

Rating: ***

Summary: Well, since this is 1994 and not 1987 it’s not as great as it could have been. Flair needs a new and fresh challenger. Steamboat and Windham put up good fights, but they were not going to steal the gold away from the Nature Boy.

Tony shills Bash at the Beach on July 17. Hmmm…I think a big match might be signed for that one.

Okerlund interviews Don Curtis and the Crusher.

A promo from former Philadelphia Flyer Dave “The Hammer” Schultz is aired. He will be the special guest referee for the next match.

Match 6 for the WCW World Tag Team titles (Broad Street Bully): The Nasty Boys (champions) versus Cactus Jack and Kevin Sullivan

Highlights:

• Kevin Sullivan? What happened to Maxx Payne? Well, let me tell you a quick anecdote about Darryl Peterson. During that awesome brawl at Spring Stampede Peterson and Knobbs didn’t cooperate at one point, and Knobbs broke his shoulder. Eric Bischoff called him on it. Peterson retorted and was subsequently buried.
• Schultz brought a hockey stick with him to the ring.
• Sullivan had the gall to wear Phillies gear.
• As soon as the Nasty Boys hit the ring the fight was on.
• Sullivan made Knobbs eat the steel railing. Some Liberty Bell flavor there, I assume.
• Chairs and crutches are the weapons du jour thus far.
• Cactus made Sags eat the steel railing. All that and a bag of Herr’s chips.
• Holy blue moon, Batman! Sullivan gave Knobbs a dropkick. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sullivan throw a dropkick before.
• Sags nailed Cactus with a fire extinguisher.
• Sullivan gave Knobbs a piledriver on the ramp.
• From the second rope Cactus attempted a Cactus elbow to Knobbs on the trashcan but missed hitting the trashcan, exterior mats, and the steel railing. OUCH!
• Cactus clothesline on Knobbs from the ramp into the ring.
• Cactus was busted open.
• Sags tossed Cactus from the ramp onto a table on the floor demolishing it.
• E-C-W! E-C-W! E-C-W!
• Table suplex from Cactus to Sags.
• Sags hit a top rope elbow on Cactus in the ring.
• Sags grabbed the hockey stick and got into a shoving match with Schultz.
• Schultz stole the hockey stick, nailed Sags with a few punches, and then pulled his shirt over his head reverting back to his goon days with the Broad Street Bullies.
• Cactus hammered Sags with the hockey stick and got the quick count pin from Schultz.
• WE HAVE NEW CHAMPIONS!

Rating: ***

Summary: Your mileage may vary on the rating. It was a non-stop brawl with blood and weapons which was perfect for the Philly crowd. Unfortunately the chaos in the match didn’t equal the chaos in Chicago from the previous month. This would be Foley’s one and only WCW title in his career.

After the match Maxx Payne emerges from the dressing room and crushes a guitar over the head of Sags. The Philly crowd ate it up with a spoon. Afterwards Sullivan, Cactus, and Payne chase Knobbs down the ramp toward the entrance. While there Dave Sullivan wanders out on crutches and whacks Knobbs with his crutch.

Sags is unable to get out of the ring by himself, so the trainer and Knobbs assist him. Meanwhile Okerlund interviews Lou Thesz and Verne Gagne.

Match 7 for the vacant WCW International World title: Vader (w/ Harley Race) versus Sting

Highlights:

• Heenan replaced Ventura on commentary.
• Buffer rumbled.
• Again Buffer screwed up referee Randy Pedersen Anderson’s name. I didn’t know Buffer was really into professional bowling.
• A minority portion of the audience believed that “Sting must die.” Yikes!
• A Sting right-hand sent Vader to the floor. Upon his return Sting gave him a vertical suplex. Impressive!
• Vader bomb.
• Another Vader bomb.
• Sting came off the ropes with a clothesline, missed Vader, and knocked Anderson down instead.
• Wow! Vader raised Sting high in the air while delivering a vicious one-armed chokeslam.
• A Vader cover received no count. Anderson was still down in the corner.
• Vader held Sting for Race to knock him silly with a chair but it backfired.
• DDT by Sting.
• Sting clotheslined Vader over the top rope to the floor only to suplex him back in.
• Stinger splash caught by Vader In mid-air and turned into a powerslam.
• Vader climbed to the top rope but missed the moonsault.
• Race tried to interfere with a diving head butt from the top rope but hit Vader instead.
• Top rope splash by Sting secured the victory.
• WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Rating: ***1/2

Summary: The chemistry between these two guys is great. They play off one another’s strengths so well.

After the match Vader intimidates Tony and Bobby to close the show.

Conclusion: While it wasn’t Spring Stampede great it was definitely a good show. Two titles were won, and Zbyszko pulled off a major upset of the TV champion. WCW is definitely on a roll here. The whispers of Hulk Hogan are upon them. Let’s see where it takes WCW. See you at the Clash!

Buyrate: 0.48

For more information on me please visit rockstargary.com.