WCW Clash Of The Champions #25 Review (Vader Vs. Flair)

November 10, 1993 Location: St. Petersburg, Florida, USA (Bayfront Center) Announced attendance: ca. 6000 TV rating: 3.3 (TBS) [down 13.2% from Clash #24’s 3.8 rating]

Hey everyone. Welcome to my review of the 25th edition of WCW Clash of the Champions. In the main event, Big Van Vader puts his World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Ric Flair. The Hollywood Blonds explode as Stunning Steve meets Flyin’ Brian. The International World Heavyweight Championship is up for grabs too, with Rick Rude defending against Road Warrior Hawk. Also, Sting & Davey Boy Smith team up to face The Nasty Boys. All that and much more!

Here is the list of WCW’s champions heading into Clash #25:

• WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Big Van Vader [239th day of his 3rd reign] – previous champion: Sting

• WCW International World Heavyweight Champion: Rick Rude [53rd day of his 1st reign] – previous champion: Ric Flair

• WCW United States Heavyweight Champion: Dustin Rhodes [73rd day of his 2nd reign] – previous champion: Dustin Rhodes, before it was vacated

• WCW World Television Champion: Lord Steven Regal [53rd day of his 1st reign] – previous champion: Ricky Steamboat

• WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags) [18th day of their 2nd reign] – previous champions: 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell

Note: in title matches, the defending champions are underlined

Enjoy the review!

Your hosts are Jesse Ventura & Tony Schiavone

The show starts with a brief video to hype up tonight’s events.

Then, Mean Gene Okerlund wants us to call the WCW Hotline and vote for the best manager of the year: Sir William, Missy Hyatt, Harley Race or Teddy Long.

We hear from commentators Jesse & Tony for a while, until they throw it to Michael Buffer for our first match of night.

Rick Rude vs. Road Warrior Hawk

WCW International World Heavyweight Championship

Hawk challenging for a World Title just feels weird. Animal too, for that matter. Rude and Hawk shove each other to start and feel each other out. They pose and Hawk rams Rude into the corner and takes him off his feet. Hawk wants a test of strength. Rude doesn’t seem interested. Rude finally goes to work on Hawk, who no-sells a bunch of shots in the corner before ramming Rude’s head into the buckle several times. Hawk backdrops Rude and slams him. Suplex by Hawk gets two. Rude eventually comes back with a backbreaker. He goes up top, but Hawk gets his boot up. They take the fight to the floor and get counted-out at 5:23.

Result: Rick Rude retains via draw (double count-out)

• Rating: What a lame opener. Not much happened in the beginning, and then it simply ended just as the action was picking up. The fact that Hawk had just returned to WCW and essentially got a title shot out of nowhere doesn’t help, either. 3/4*

The Shockmaster vs. The Equalizer

During Shockmaster’s entrance, Jesse Ventura does nothing but mock him (and his epic fail at Clash #24) the whole time. Hilarious! The bell rings and Equalizer immediately jumps The Shockmaster from behind. Equalizer takes control with some choking by the ropes. He deliverss a backdrop suplex for two. Shockmaster comes back with a big boot, no-sells a clothesline from Equalizer and catches him with the bearhug slam for the finish at 2:29.

Winner: The Shockmaster

• Rating: Just a glorified squash that you could’ve seen on any episode of WCW Saturday Night at the time, really. 1/4*

Mean Gene interviews Col. Robert Parker, who’s happy he manages Stunning Steve now instead of Sid Vicious. Sid left WCW because of the infamous incident with Arn Anderson.

Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) vs. Johnny B. Badd

WCW World Television Championship

Regal bitchslaps Badd in the corner to start. Badd locks up aggressively and shoulderblocks Regal for two. Hiptoss gets two. Sunset flip gets two more. Johnny B. Badd is feeling it, with Regal taking a second in the corner to rethink strategy. Badd takes Regal down with a headlock, staying in control. Regal tries to turn things around, but this doesn’t seem to be his night. Johnny goes back to the headlock, with some idiots in the crowd starting a “boring” chant. Yeah, because the two previous match were truly something else! Anyway, Regal manages to turn it into a standing surfboard submission. Badd flips and kicks Regal in the chest to break the hold, eventually going back to the headlock. Johnny goes for a crossbody, Regal moves out of the way and Badd knocks himself out on the top rope. Regal throws a few European uppercuts and finally takes control. Meanwhile, Schiavone announces British Bulldog has issued a challenge for Rick Rude’s International World Title. Badd throws a first to cut Regal off. With Regal seemingly out cold, Johnny covers but Sir William puts Regal’s foot on the rope at the last second. Badd stops to argue with Sir William, allowing Regal to roll him up for the win with a handful of tights at 6:33.

Winner & still champion: Lord Steven Regal

• Rating: Solid wrestling here. Both men tried their best to make the most of the six minutes they got, and the result was a perfectly acceptable TV Title bout. **1/2

Stunning Steve Austin (w/ Col. Robert Parker) vs. Flyin’ Brian Pillman

The Hollywood Blonds explode! Jesse doesn’t wanna see his favorite tag team fighting. Pillman doesn’t even get an entrance, which is weird. Pillman jumps Austin as soon as he enters the ring, and they get into a fight outside. Pillman gets the better of that exchange after sending Austin into the railing. Back in the ring, Pillman backdrops Austin to stay on top. Chops in the corner and a flying headscissors by Pillman. Austin begs for mercy, but Pillman responds with a kick to the face. Austin is thinking piledriver on the ramp, blocked by Pillman with a backdrop on the ramp. Austin turns things around, though, and dumps Pillman off the ramp onto the railing below. Austin throws Pillman back inside, only for Pillman to surprise him with a springboard crossbody. Pillman goes for another attack, but Austin necksnaps him on the top rope. Austin chokes away on the ropes before applying a half Boston Crab. The referee breaks the hold when he sees Austin using the ropes for leverage. Meanwhile, Schiavone promotes the upcoming Battlebowl PPV on commentary, and wonders if we’ll see a reunion of the Hollywood Blonds there. Pillman delivers a springboard back elbow smash, and we get a double KO spot.

Austin goes to the top rope, yet Brian crotches him using the ropes. Pillman follows him up there for a superplex, Austin slams him off the top rope and attempts a flying fistdrop, but Pillman catches him with a dropkick in midair for two. Austin goes for a piledriver, Pillman counters with a hurricanrana and gets two. Blind charge by Pillman, Austin tries to catch him with a Stungun but Brian lands on the apron, goes for another springboard crossbody which Austin turns into a powerslam in midair for a close two count. Pillman catches Austin with a quick DDT for a close nearfall of his own. Brian wants a crucifix pin, but Austin overpowers him and slams him to counter. Austin goes up top, misses a flying kneedrop and Pillman nearly steals it with a cradle. Austin goes for the Stungun yet again, but misses once more by nearly throwing Brian to the floor this time around. Brian lands on the apron, though, and he goes for Air Pillman. However, Parker grabs Austin’s ankle at the last moment and knocks Brian on his head, allowing Austin to steal the win at 9:12. Brian goes after Austin again, but the heels get out of town immediately.

Winner: Stunning Steve Austin

• Rating: Great chemistry between the former partners, who put on a very good match here. They told a great story, showing they know each other well by countering each other’s moves time and time again. The cheap finish made sense here, with Austin picking up a cheap win that allows the feud to continue. ***3/4

Battlebowl Control Center w/ Mean Gene

• Okerlund starts by explaining the rules

• Paul Orndorff says he wants to win the battle royal for the ring; he wants it to say “Mr. Wonderful” instead of “Paula”

• 1991 Battlebowl winner Sting says you’ll see the best of WCW at Battlebowl, and anyone can win

Dustin Rhodes (w/ Dusty Rhodes) vs. Paul Orndorff (w/ The Assassin)

WCW United States Heavyweight Championship

Dusty and Assassin tease a fight before the match, with the crowd chanting “Dusty” for it. Dustin starts off with a shoulderblock and a slam. Dustin grabs a side headlock, which Orndorff later reverses and turns into an armbar as the “Paula” chants begin. Orndorff stays on the arm for a while, until Dustin finally escapes before working over Paul’s arm himself. After a few more minutes of that, Orndorff drives his knee into Dustin’s gut and hits a backdrop suplex. Reverse chinlock by Orndorff. Dustin reverses, gets two with a backslide and hits a clothesline. Orndorff rams Dustin into the corner and follows it up with a clothesline of his own. Another reverse chinlock by Orndorff, before Dustin catches Paul with another clothesline for two. Dustin goes for the Bulldog, with Orndorff sitting down to avoid it. Orndorff tries to capitalize on it, but Dustin gets a sunset flip for two. Paul cuts him off with a clothesline, and he wants to hit the Piledriver. He goes for it, but Dustin backdrops him to block it. Orndorff misses a flying kneedrop off the top rope and Dustin retains with an inside cradle at 11:57.

Orndorff and The Assassin assault Dustin afterwards, with Assassin ramming Dustin into the post. That draws Dusty in, who runs wild with the Bionic Elbow. He wants to take off the mask, which ultimately allows Orndorff to jump him, and The Assassin hits Dusty with the US Title belt. Orndorff sets him up for the Piledriver, but Dustin makes the save and the heels bail.

Winner & still champion: Dustin Rhodes

• Rating: It was far from a bad match, but the people seemed far more interested in watching Dusty Rhodes against The Assassin than the actual match. This bout lacked something to take it to the next level, although there was nothing wrong with it technically. **

The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags) (w/ Missy Hyatt) vs. Sting & Davey Boy Smith

WCW World Tag Team Championship

They start brawling before the bell even rings. Sting fights Knobbs in the ring while Bulldog beats up Sags on the ramp. However, the cameras catch Rick Rude crawling on his way to the ramp, where he delivers the Rude Awakening to Bulldog. Road Warrior Hawk comes out for the save, but Rude is already nowhere to be seen. Sting helps Bulldog get up and carries him to ringside so the bell can finally ring.

The Nasty Boys jump Sting and double-team him, in what is essentially a Handicap Match. Sting manages to hit a double clothesline and cleans house with a couple of dropkicks. Cover by Sting after a flying fistdrop, released once Sting sees Sags coming in with an elbowdrop for the save, who ends up elbowing his own partner. Davey Boy Smith is still out of it in the corner, as Sting brings it to Sags. Jesse Ventura blames Davey Boy for the attack, as he should’ve been focused on his tag title shot tonight and worry about Rude tomorrow. Not a bad point! Finally, after Sting checks on Davey Boy one too many times, The Nasty Boys get the upper hand. Knobbs suplexes Sting off the apron into the middle of the ring for two. Bearhug by Knobbs, as Bulldog is finally on his feet asking for the hot tag, which wakes up the crowd. Sting breaks the hold with an overhead belly to belly suplex, although that ends up sending Knobbs into his corner, and Sags comes in to prevent the hot tag.

Knobbs chokes Sting with their jacket while Missy Hyatt distracts the referee Nick Patrick. Knobbs applies a camel clutch on Sting back inside the ring. Sting overpowers him to break the hold before finally making the hot tag to Davey Boy. Bulldog comes in and he’s cleaning house. Powerslams to both Nasty Boys, dropkicks to both Nasty Boys, a double clothesline and a double DDT. Then, Bulldog gorilla press slams Sting onto The Nasty Boys. He finishes Knobbs with the Running Poweslam… but the referee is busy with Sting. Meanwhile, Sags comes off the top rope with a flying elbowdrop to the (injured) back of Bulldog’s head. Knobbs gets the cheap pin to retain the belts at 8:30.

Winners & still champions: The Nasty Boys

• Rating: They told a simple story that was easy to understand, and fans were into Davey Boy’s comeback. The finish might seem lame in a vacuum, but with the added psychology of the Rude Awakening on the ramp about 10 minutes earlier, an elbowdrop to the back of the head is actually a believable ending. At the same time, it’s cheap and illegal, which is a perfect combination. Good little match with a nice story supporting it. **3/4

In the back, Col. Robert Parker gets in Ric Flair’s face as he’s getting ready to come out for our main event. Parker says he hopes Flair wins so Austin can take him down, and that earns Parker a punch in the face.

Main Event

Big Van Vader (w/ Harley Race) vs. Ric Flair (w/ Fifi)

WCW World Heavyweight Championship

Michael Buffer does the championship introductions for this one. Harley Race gets in Flair’s face just for old times sake, and Flair makes him pay with the Figure Four. However, Vader squashes Flair with a massive splash and we’re underway. Vader punishes Flair with numerous shots in the corner, followed by a clothesline out of the corner. Big slam by Vader. The monster goes up top and delivers a huge flying splash to continue the beating. Somehow, Flair finds the energy to fight back with chops, only to get knocked down by Vader almost immediately. Vader crushes Flair’s leg, which should take away the Figure Four. He follows it up with the usual haymakers in the corner, before throwing him to the outside. Harley throws him into the railing just to be a prick. Vader goes for a flying splash off the apron, but Flair moves out of the way and Vader eats some railing. Flair brings it to Vader, who removes the mask. Back in the ring, Flair knocks Vader down with a big chop. Vader gets his big foot up on a blind charge, which is enough to put Flair down.

Vader goes up top for a flying elbowdrop, but Flair rolls out of the way. Flair puts him in the Figure Four, Vader grabs the ropes to break the hold, and Race uses that distraction to rake Flair’s eyes. That allows the big man to turn things around with a suplex from the apron into the middle of the ring, which gets two. Vader goes up top, he attempts a flying splash that Flair turns into a powerslam of sorts for two. Now it’s Flair going up top, and he delivers a flying fistdrop. Vader whips Flair into the corner, but a Flair Flip sends Flair into the other corner for yet another flying fistdrop. Flair moves out of the way of Vader’s running clothesline, and Vader ends up destroying the referee instead. Vader hits a massive superplex, but there’s no referee to count the pin. He puts Flair in position for the Vader Bomb. Flair moves out of the way and covers Flair for the pin. The referee calls for the bell… but by disqualification! Flair gets the win, but Vader retains the title at 9:24.

Winner: Ric Flair by DQ (Vader retains the title)

• Rating: Physical and intense match that was very good for the relatively short time they got. Vader was violent when he brought it to Flair, as always. On another hand, Flair was resilient and they delivered a fun match. The referee was great in the end, making it look like a three count when he was crawling, which the crowd bought! The short match left me wanting more, and the finish left the door open for a future rematch. ***1/4

Vader and Steve Austin jump Flair immediately afterwards, attacking him until Dustin Rhodes and The Shockmaster come out to make the save. Flair gets the microphone and challenges Vader & Austin for a tag team match on WCW Saturday Night, with Sid Vicious as his partner.

END OF THE SHOW

Final thoughts: To be totally honest, I wasn’t expecting much from this Clash after the first matches. However, they managed to turn the tables starting with Austin vs. Pillman – the best match on the show. A close second would be Flair vs. Vader, who proved they could deliver a true classic with more time. Furthermore, WCW extended a few storylines throughout this show, which is always a positive. Some of the matches could’ve been better, but I’d still call this an enjoyable event overall for a high 6/10.

POINT SYSTEM

Click here to find out how the point system works.

That’s all from me today. Make sure you don’t miss the upcoming reviews. WCW Battlebowl is coming up soon, but also WWF RAW reviews, as well as WWF Survivor Series – both the PPV and the Survivor Series Showdown special.