wrestling / Video Reviews
Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Slamboree ’93: A Legend’s Reunion
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...-Written: 10.05.25
-The debut of what I always thought was a cool name for a PPV. They obviously dropped the Legends Reunion part down the line, but doesn’t change the fact the name is good. Today The Legends are just part of the normal show and get World Titles Matches. Let’s get to it!
–Raise High The Roof to set the mood for the show.
-Announce Team: Tony Schiavone and Larry Zbyszko (Hour One of Nitro three years early)
-May 23, 1993
-The Omni, Atlanta, GA
-Attendance: 7008
-PPV Buys: 100,000 (Basically what they have been doing for the last 3 PPV)
-WCW kind of did a Legends Reunion when they celebrated Clash XX at the end of 1992. I assume the germ for this show came from that.
-Maxx Payne plays The Star-Spangled Banner on his guitar and then transitions into a rock song as a bunch of jacked up men carry The Fabulous Moolah out on a covered sedan. Much like Andre at Clash XX, it’s weird to see Moolah somewhere other than WWF.
-Eric and Missy set the table for what’s to come tonight. WCW really liked killing time before getting to the first match.
Bobby Eaton and Chris Benoit vs. 2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell
-Bagwell and Scorpio have matching tights as they have been an actual team since SuperBrawl. Scorpio and Benoit start and do their thing with to pop the crowd. Benoit suckers Bagwell into the ring which lets Eaton hit Scorpio from behind. It doesn’t last though as Scorpio uses his speed and catches Eaton in the corner and then dives on Benoit. Eaton tries an elbow, but Scorpio moves and Benoit takes the elbow. Bagwell in with a dropkick to send Eaton to the floor. Eaton and Benoit regroup and we settle in with Bagwell and Eaton. Tony notes that Jesse is recovering at a hospital bed in Minnesota. Eaton and Benoit continue to get bounced into each other. They regroup on the floor again. Eaton and Bagwell lockup as Larry talks about the young guys listening to The Legends that are present. Make your own AEW joke. CM Puk gets it! Bagwell gets sent to the floor and then back in Eaton drops a knee from the top rope. Benoit back in and he lays out Bagwell with a hooking clothesline. Benoit drops a leg off the middle ropes and takes time to let us know that’s three before covering and only getting two. Eaton back in and he drops a series of knees for a two count. Benoit chokes Bagwell on the middle rope as Eaton gets the ref away. Back in Benoit gets a belly-to-back suplex for two. He hooks a head scissors and gets an assist from Eaton. That’s just easy to do and always gets the crowd going. Modified neckbreaker gets two! Slam from Benoit and he heads up top. He goes for the head-butt, but Bagwell gets the knees up. Hot tag to Scorpio! He runs wild and sends Eaton into the buckle. Everyone in the ring as Benoit takes a backdrop. Scorpio up top and he hits the twisting splash for a two count. That count seemed weird. Eaton accidentally decks Benoit and Scorpio comes off the top with a twisting leg drop for the pin at 9:25. Larry: “What was that?” We were saying that a lot about things Scorpio would break out.
Winners: Marcus Bagwell and 2 Cold Scorpio via pin at 9:25
-Solid enough tag match that the crowd enjoyed. Works for me. **3/4
Van Hammer vs. Sid Vicious
-Colonel Parker has made his WCW debut and wanted Hammer to join his stable. Hammer turned him down, so Parker promised a big surprise. Sid would qualify! Just a year after closing Mania with Hogan, he is back in WCW. A stretcher gets brought down and that should have been a tip off. Sid gets a MONSTER pop from the crowd. The man just has an aura about him and he just always looked like a star. They give him pyro! Hammer destroys the stretcher. Hammer gets in three punches, but that’s it. Sid drops him with a clothesline and hits a powerbomb to a big reaction. See ya Hammer at 36 seconds.
Winner: Sid Vicious via pin at 36 seconds
-That’s the perfect way to deliver on the surprise and book Sid’s return. SQUASH
-Eric interview legends Red Bastien and Bugsy McGraw. They both put over Sid and McGraw cuts a fun promo as he notes Eric has on too much make-up. Bugsy made the most of his time here.
Legends Match: Dick Murdoch, Don Muraco, and Jimmy Snuka vs. Chief Wahoo McDaniel, Blackjack Mulligan, Jim Brunzell
-Muraco and Snuka on the same team doesn’t seem right. Tony tells us that Brunzell and Muraco have beef and Larry says it’s over a woman. Snuka and Brunzell start and do some mat wrestling. Mulligan in and he works the arm of Snuka. Murdoch grabs Mulligan by the hair from the apron and fires off right hands. Murdoch gets the tag and runs Mulligan down with a shoulder. Mulligan back with a hip-toss and another. Murdoch back with an elbow drop for two, but Mulligan kicks our rather easy. Wahoo gets the tag and Murdoch bails up the ramp. Muraco gets the tag and it will be him and Wahoo. Wahoo hits a chop and gets a slam and another. Muraco bails to the corner as Larry talks about Wahoo getting that Indian blood going and he starts smoking. Wahoo gets trapped in the corner and starts firing off chops, but gets held in the corner by Snuka and Muraco. Brunzell in and he hits Murdoch with a dropkick. Shoulder tackle but he runs into a hip topss. Murdoch pops the crowd with a flying head scissors as Larry wonders how he can get his stomach up that high. Brunzell reverses a whip and gets a sleeper, but Murdoch runs him into the corner where Muraco and Snuka attack. Muraco back in and he drops a leg. Brunzell gets a tag to Wahoo, but the ref was with Murdoch so no dice. Muraco accidentally decks Snuka and I am sure that will go over well with someone as level headed as Snuka. Murdoch back in and he heads up top and drives his knee into Brunzell to drive him into the mat. He drops an elbow, but Wahoo makes the save. Muraco back in and he misses a clothesline which lets Brunzell hit a cross-body for two as Snuka makes the save. Snuka in and he accidentally hits Muraco and they nearly come to blows. Everyone in the ring to brawl so Anderson throws the match out at 9:27.
No Contest at 9:27/
-So, nobody wanted to job! I mean, it’s not good, but let the old guys have their moment, I guess. 1/2*
-Missy interviews Mad Dog Vachon and The Assassin. Assassin cuts a promo on Dusty Rhodes and wants a match any time, any place.
Legends Match: Ivan Koloff and Baron Raschke vs. Thunderbolt Patterson and Brad Armstrong
-So it was supposed to be Bob Armstrong, but he is not here, so Brad takes his place after Koloff and Baron call his father a coward. I’m reviewing a Thunderbolt match. His Hall of Fame speech was fire a few years back as he took the crowd to CHURCH. All four men brawl to start and the crowd, for their part, are way into this one. Koloff and Baron look so old as they regroup on the floor. Larry questions how Brad can be allowed to compete due to well, not being old. Patterson has the crowd going which is good because there isn’t any wrestling happening at the moment as Baron stalls. We get some comedy spots from a side headlock that won’t work for Baron. He gets frustrated and tags out to Koloff. Tony is spitting all kinds of history tonight and brings up Koloff ending the World Title reign of Bruno. Larry: “When Koloff beat Bruno, you would hear a pin drop.” They don’t name the Title of course, but we know. Oh, yeah, the match. Baron gets The Claw on Brad, but Patterson makes the save. Hot tag to Bolt and he throws crazy fists. Baron and Koloff get thrown into each other. Brad gets mounted punches in the corner as Patterson hits Baron with a punch to the throat and gets the pin at 4:39.
Winner: Thunderbolt Patterson and Brad Armstrong via pin at 4:39
-On one hand it was short, but on the other hand it was barely a match. The crowd enjoyed Patterson being out there. Not a fan, but people seemed to be having fun. DUD
-We get a special Live edition of A Flair for The Gold. Flair brings out Fifi The Maid and yes, that is Flair’s current wife. Flair had been promising a Horsemen reunion and brings out Arn Anderson. Arn cuts a promo on Barry Windham as they have a match later tonight. Flair says Tully and Barry won’t be here tonight. So he brings out his “cousin” Ole Anderson, and he also cuts a promo on Barry. He then announces the newest member of the Four Horsemen: Paul Roma! Yep! You may hate it and it may have been a bad fit, but you can’t take it away from him. Man, this just looks weird! Flair accepts the challenge of Pillman and Austin as he is going to put the tights back on. Why didn’t he have a match on this show? He’s been back for months and they still haven’t put him in a match on PPV.
-Beach Blast commercial!
Legends Match: Dory Funk Jr. (w/ Gene Kiniski) vs. Nick Bockwinkle (w/ Verne Gagne)
-So it’s former NWA Champion vs former AWA Champion. THE FORBIDDEN DOOR IS OPEN! Johnny Valentine joins Larry and Tony on commentary. Man, you can hear Greg when he talks. Larry mentions was the last AWA Champion and was responsible for retiring Nick. Tony spouts of more history as he goes over when each man won their first World Title and how each man beat the man in their corner for the Championship. Very slow start as this is kind of wild to me as it looks like watching a match from a by gone era. Nick gets a hammerlock but Dory backs him into the corner and unloads with forearms. Dory hooks a neck crank as Verne tries to come into the ring for some reason. Nick with a head scissors as the crowd is just scary quiet. Maybe just respect for their elders. Nick gets some advice from Verne before we go again. Dory gets a slam but Nick kicks away and gets a slam of his own. Funk rolls to the floor and regroups with Gene as we pass 5 minutes. Dory unloads with more forearms and gets a one count. I appreciate the work they are doing, but man, is this dragging. This crowd is being very patient with them thankfully. Nick fires off forearms in the corner and they look really good. Again, the work is strong and tight, but the crowd just doesn’t care. There’s also be too many times where they have stopped and started again. I understand why, but there hasn’t been any flow to this. Dory gets a chinlock, but Nick counters with a double leg, but can’t get a Boston Crab. Dory with a nice belly-to-back suplex. Now some in the crowd are getting a little restless as there are some boos and a boring chant. Double wrist-lock as we hit the 10 minute mark and some in the crowd pop when they are told there are only 5 minutes left in the match. Dory unloads with forearm uppercuts in the corner, but Nick takes him down and gets a two count. Nick works a side headlock, but Dory breaks with a knee followed by a heavy forearm. That one sent Nick to the ramp outside the ring. Dory with a suplex back in the ring for a two count. Piledriver from Dory only gets one as Nick gets his foot on the rope. They fight for a backslide and Nick wins that battle, but it only gets two. Back elbow from Funk and the crowd wakes up for the Spinning Toe Hold. Nick counters with a roll-up for two. Nick with the figure-four and that brings Gene in, who kicks Nick and that should be a DQ, but the ref just ignores it. They continue to fight for pins and we get a 15 minute draw.
Time Limit Draw at 15:00
-I totally appreciated the work but this is an acquired taste. Credit to both of them though for going out there and rocking an old school, mat based match. I was bored by it, but it was well worked and everything made sense. **
-The crowd gives them a nice ovation after the match which was nice to see.
Dustin Rhodes and Kensuki Sasaki vs. “Ravishing” Rick Rude and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff
-Rude and Dustin had been feuding over The US Title. Rude shoves Sasaki to start and hits a double bicep pose. Sasaki shoves Rude a few times and then throws him into the corner. The crowd is awake after that last match and are into this one. Tony mentions Sasaki has been teaming with Hawk in Japan. I’m sure they are raising hell over there. Oh, Tony just mentioned they are called The Hell Raisers. Well, thanks for ruining my joke. Orndorff in and Sasaki works the arm before tagging Dustin, who also goes after the arm. Hammerlock and Dustin drops knees to the arm. Sasaki in and he also controls with a hammerlock and then stomps at the elbow. Dustin back in with a right hand and back to the arm. Paul gets close enough to his corner to make a tag to Rude. This is what the crowd wants to see. They start trading right hands and the crowd pops. Backdrop from Dustin. He gets caught with a knee in the corner though. Then Rude makes the same mistake and runs into a knee. Dustin looks for the bulldog, but Rude just lets Dustin’s momentum take him to the floor. Orndorff sends Dustin into the railing as the Rude has the ref pulled. We get a Paula chant as Rude hits a DDT. He swivels the hips as he yells for Rhodes to get up. Orndorff in and he runs Dustin into the corner a few times. Back to Rude for shoulders in the corner. This is another one with a slow and methodical pace. Rude looks for a Tombstone, but Dustin reverses to one of his own for a two count. Paul back in and he and Dustin run into each other. Tags made on both ends. Sasaki off the ropes with a clothesline and we get an inverted atomic drop on Rude. Not a Rude match without one. Clotheslines from Sasak and he gets a Gorilla Press Slam. Everyone in the ring as Wonderful and Rude get run into each other. Sasaki heads up again, but Wonderful shoves him off the top. Rude Awakening finishes at 9:41.
Winners: Rick Rude and Paul Orndorff via pin at 9:41
-Crowd was into it early, but the match killed them off quickly. Give me the previous match back as at least the work looked better. *
-Gordon Solie inducts Lou Thesz, Verne Gagne, Mr. Wrestling II, and Eddie Graham. I’ve always been a sucker for Hall of Fames as I love wrestling history and enjoy whenever the past can be honored.
Bounty Match: Sting vs. The Prisoner
-This was supposed to be Scott Norton, but he went back to Japan. They scrambled to bring in the guy who was Nailz in the WWE and came up with the clever Prisoner name. They bury Norton on commentary by noting he and Prisoner got into an altercation and Prisoner is the one that walked away in better shape. Prisoner rushes Sting to start and chokes in the corner. Then we get more choking as The Prisoner makes sure to hold until 4.5. He lands a back elbow and goes back to the choke. Prisoner throws punches in the corner and gets a back breaker for two. Prisoner misses a back splash in the corner and Sting comes alive with punches. Prisoner goes to the eyes and throws Sting to the floor. He uses one of the camera cables to choke which should be a DQ. He uses the cable to hang Sting over on the apron. Running knee in the corner. Sting ducks a clothesline and hits one of his own for a one count. Backdrop by Sting and that looked rough. Stinger Splash gets two as they are on different pages here. Slam by Sting, but he misses an elbow. Prisoner goes after the ref which lets Sting come off the top with a clothesline for the pin at 5:15.
Winner: Sting via pin at 5:15
-Weird decision to let the WWF reject dominate Sting. Then Sting doesn’t even get a win with the Scorpion. 1/2*
Steel Cage Match: Unified World Tag Team Titles: The Hollywood Blondes (c) vs. Dos Hombres (Ricky Steamboat and Tom Zenk)
-Douglas and Steamboat come out dressed as Dos Hombres because they own a victory over The Blondes with the gimmick, so they are running it back. The real story is Shane Douglas got fired but was promoted for tag matches so they went under masks with Brad Armstrong filling in for Shane the first time and now Zenk doing it this time. Weird as he they announced it as Douglas being under the mask. I am sure Douglas will get back on his feet and find a place to unleash any extreme anger he has. Austin starts with Uno (I guess) and I think it’s Steamboat. Austin tries to pull the mask off, but Uno throws chops and yes, it’s Steamboat. I always found tag matches in a cage to be weird where they have to tag in and out. Just let them go! Pillman in and he blocks from being sent into the cage. He delivers a knee to the ribs. Larry: “The fans are in it for the gore.” I guess you could call them sickos. Zenk in though he is called Douglas and I guess is trying to work like him. He gets a hammerlock on Austin and maintains the hold even as Austin tries to snap him over. We see two guys in suits watching in the crowd, taking notes. Larry and Tony have no clue who they and neither do it. Zenk rams the back of Austin’s head into the cage. Tag to Steamboat and he comes off the top with a shot to the arm. He hooks an armbar and then backdrops Austin into the cage. That bump had to suck for Austin. Atomic Drop and Austin bounces into the cage. He takes another upside bump into the cage as he was young and willing to kill himself. Zenk gets the tag and Austin catches him coming in. Tag to Pillman and he fires off chops in the corner. He misses off the ropes and takes a very weak shot to the gut, but sells it like he was shot. That was weird! Pillman misses an elbow and Dos Hombres work him over in the corner. Zenk or Steamboat with a Gorilla Press Slam and he tosses Pillman into the cage. Cool! Austin gets hung upside down on the cage and Steamboat hits a cross-body. Zenk tries one but Austin slides down and they kind of crash into each other. Ouch! The Blondes take over and Austin starts getting cocky. The Blondes work over what I think is Zenk in the corner. Pillman uses a towel to choke behind the ref’s back. Austin gets a one count as a foot gets on the ropes to break. Pillman with a snapmare and he comes off the second rope, but a well placed boot blocks. Both men down! Austin in and he cuts off the hot tag and laughs at Steamboat. Shoulder tackle from Austin, but he gets caught with a dropkick. Austin gets chopped by Steamboat and Zenk fires off right hands. Zenk goes for the tag, but Austin catches him with a spinebuster. Larry notes Austin has the potential to be up there in the next decade and become a Legend. Good call! Hot tag is made to Steamboat and he starts firing off chops on both Blondes. Austin into the cage and same for Pillman. Austin tries to escape, but Steamboat pulls his tights down. Flair is watching in the back jealous! Everyone on the ring as we get stereo 10 count punches in the corner from Dos Hombres. The Blondes get run into each other. One member from each team ends up getting tossed into the cage. Steamboat pulls off the mask and heads to the top of the cage. He comes off with a cross-body for two though we get a bell and the fans go crazy. It was definitely a two. We get stereo covers and The Blondes kick out again. Austin gets a stun-gun out of nowhere and that gets the pin as Pillman holds Steamboat back at 16:10.
Winners and Still Unified Tag Team Champions: The Hollywood Blondes via pin at 16:10
-Poor Douglas gets called out for taking the pin in a match he wasn’t involved. This was fun, but as I stated, I am not a fan of Tag Cage Matches where tags and rules are followed. The Blondes retaining was obviously the right call. ***
-Eric is with Dusty Rhodes, Mr. Wrestling II, and Stu Hart. What is Stu doing there? I mean, good for him being there with other Legends, but weird with his son being a star in the WWF. Well, I guess his son-in-law was wrestling for the World Title later in the show, so it makes sense now.
NWA World Heavyweight Championship: Barry Windham (c) vs. Arn Anderson
-Arn finally gets a chance at The Big Gold Belt. Unfortunately, everyone knows Barry is only keeping it warm for Ric Flair. I am no digging that theme music for Arn and he certainly got an upgrade with his later theme. This is Barry’s first World Title defense since winning it from Muta back at SuperBrawl. Arn controls with a side headlock, but gets shoved off. Arn hits a belly-to-belly suplex as he is trying catch Barry quick and get the win. I appreciate that. Backdrop out of the corner gets another two count. Barry lands a heavy right hand to turn the tide. Arn fakes a right hand and when Barry ducks, Arn drops him with a DDT for two. Always great! Barry rolls to the ramp. Arn makes the mistake of following and Barry pulls him through the ropes and sends him up the ramp. Back in the ring, Barry gets a DDT for two. To the floor where a few fans yell for Arn to slap Windham’s face. Arn sling shots Arn to the floor as Tony and Larry debate if that should be a DQ. Barry is bleeding from the head after being sent into the railing. Tony notes this is NWA rules so going into the railing is legal. I have no recollection of it being a DQ when tossed into the railing. That’s dumb to me! NWA were real men apparently. Arn cranks on a headlock as Larry goes on about how big the cut is. Thankfully for Arn, they aren’t in Baltimore. Arn heads up, but Larry dropkicks him ot the floor. Barry is just pouring blood down his face. Suplex on the floor from Barry! Arn crawls back into the ring, but Barry is waiting and comes off the top with a clothesline. Tony makes me happy by noting Barry’s blood has formed a half mask like The Phantom of the Opera. I always appreciate when wrestling and Phantom come together. Suplex into a pin gets two for Windham. Arn gets a spinebuster out of desperation and that’s enough for Barry to grab his title and start walking away. Arn follows and throws Windham back into the ring. Arn throws the ref across the ring in a bit of anger and he has instant regret. That lets Barry grab the World Title and one belt shot later, Barry gets the pin at 10:55.
Winner and Still NWA World Heavyweight Champion: Barry Windham via pin at 10:55
-Fun, old school match between two professionals. The crowd wasn’t really into it which was disappointing. You had two horsemen fighting for a World Title in North Carolina. I get it takes a bit away from the match when it’s a secondary World Title, but still. Not a fan of the ending but Barry did what he needed. With the story being that Flair was next, I think Barry needed a stronger way to win over Flair’s best friend. ***
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Big Van Vader (c) (w/ Harley Race) vs. “The British Bulldog” Davey Boy Smith
-CAMP CORNETTE EXPLODES! These guy would end up being on the same team less than three years later in the WWF. Vader is fresh off putting Cactus Jack on the shelf with the sick powerbomb on the floor. Bulldog has promised to stop Vader’s path of destruction. Lockup to start and Vader can’t throw Bulldog around like he’s done to others. Clothesline from Vader and Bulldog just stares at him. Vader lands a body shot and hits the vertical splash, but again, Bulldog just walks at him and poses. Vader goes back to what he knows best and traps Bulldog in the corner. He boxes the crap out of him and that drops Bulldog to a knee. Race lands a right hand on the floor. Vader follows and tries another splash, but Bulldog moves and Vader spills over the security railing. Bulldog shows off the power as he slams Vader on the floor. Great visual as Bulldog hits the delayed vertical suplex back in the ring and it gets one of the biggest pops of the night. There’s the crowd I’ve been waiting on. Vader gets a boot up in the corner and tries to come off the middle ropes, but Bulldog catches him with a powerslam on the way down. Clothesline sends Vader to the floor as the crowd pops again. Back in Bulldog tries a crucifix, but Vader falls back with a Samoan Drop. Vader drops an elbow to the thigh/stomach as he is warned about a low blow. It looked clean. Another one! Vader Bomb connects but Bulldog is out at two. Vader with a slam and he is back on the middle ropes. Bulldog gets to his feet and Vader comes off to knock him back down. Tony notes that Bulldog is bleeding from the nose and they wonder if he is bleeding internally. I assume just a bloody nose from one of the punches in the corner. Superplex is blocked and Bulldog gets a gourdbuster. He comes off with a head-butt and that leaves both men out. Bulldog counters a headlock by lift ng Vader up and dropping him on his ass. That’s different! He still can’t capitalize though as Vader is right back with right hands. Sunset flip attempt from Bulldog. Vader drops South, but Bulldog moves out of the way. This is getting kind of ugly as I think Bulldog is gassed. Vader off the top with a splash and that looked like it was right on Bulldog’s head. Vader is selling the move as Bulldog is up first. Weird! This has gone longer than needed as you can see they are struggling. I mean I guess on one had that’s kind of the point as it’s a fight and you shouldn’t be fresh by the 13 minute mark. Race lands another shot on the floor. Vader boxes Bulldog in the corner again. Larry says Stu should come out and throw in the towel. Hey now, don’t give Vince any ideas. No matter as Stu would never do that. Now, get Owen and Helen involved and you’re on to something. Bulldog gets an Electric Chair Drop in another display of power. Clothesline, but Vader is still standing. Bulldog starts throwing everything at Vader and gets two off a clothesline. He uses the corner to help him get The Powerslam, but Race pulls Bulldog out to break the count. Harley takes a suplex on the floor. Vader uses a chair and we get a DQ at 16:16.
Winner: The British Bulldog via DQ at 16:16
-Started strong, but went longer than needed for that finish. The ending was getting things back on track, but again, crappy ending. With a better ending this is easily the best match of the night. Sloppy at times, but was a heck of a fight. ***1/4
-Bagwell, Scorpio and others run down, but Vader mauls them. Finally, Sting is out for the real safe.
-Magnum TA gives his thoughts and we end with Tony and Larry interviewing Verne Gagne. He puts WCW over as having the best talent in wrestling. He would know as I mean, he had Hulk Hogan on his roster. Yep!
-Thanks for reading!
