Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Clash of the Champions XXII

-I don’t know about you, but Clash of the Champion is feeling… wait, can I get sued for paraphrasing a song lyric? Nevermind! Welcome to 1993 as I start the journey of getting this year done before everything leaves Peacock in December. Which means come Jan 2026, I’ll be wanting to go back to December if we don’t have the library available anywhere. Yeah, two T Swift references in one opening paragraph. Let’s get to it!

-Announce Team: Jim Ross and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
-Jan. 13, 1993
-The Mecca, Milwaukee, WI
-Attendance: 4000

-This show took place two days after the debut of Monday Night RAW on USA. So we are in a whole new world as far as wrestling on TV. This is also the last Clash of Champions for Jim Ross as he was bound for WWF not long after this show. We are also getting to close to the end of Watts run as racial remarks from an interview made their way to Hank Aaron (apparently by way of Mark Madden). WCW was definitely heading into a transition period in 1993 and it will be interesting to see it all play out.

-Tony Schiavone welcomes us to the show and has Bill Watts with him. Watts mentions Ric Flair and I am sure that’s nothing. He informs us that Van Hammer is injured and out of the arm wrestling match tonight. Also, Erik Watts is suspended after being arrested following an incident with Arn Anderson.

-Larry Z is with Erik Watts and he claims he is innocent and the truth will be told, but he will accept the suspension.

Cactus Jack vs. Johnny B. Badd

-This was supposed to be Watts vs. Jack in a Bounty Match. Badd gets the match instead and we have a story as these two were partners last month at Starrcade in the Lethal Lottery. They show the video of Badd decking Jack with a left hook to cost them the tag match. Jack was getting over huge with the crowd and even Jesse has to note all the “Jack” signs in the crowd. Badd starts fast with jabs, but Jack grabs the ropes and gives us a Bang Bang to pop the crowd. Jack chokes in the corner and the crowd roars. Cool! He misses a charge in the corner and Badd gets a roll-up for two. Dropkick from Badd followed by an arm-drag. He grabs an armbar but Jack throws some forearms to break. He boots Badd in the head, but gets run into the top buckle. Jack gets caught with a boot to the face and another. A right hand knocks Badd on his ass. Small package gets a one count. Back elbow from Badd. He heads up top but misses a sunset flip and Jack drops an elbow for the pin at 2:53 to a BIG POP.

Winner: Cactus Jack via pin at 2:53
-Weird ending as Badd just jobbed to an elbow. I mean, who wins matches with an elbow? What a cROCK! The cool thing about this short match is the reaction to Jack. Outside of that, I assume Watts being pulled screwed up whatever was planned. *

-2 Cold Scorpio pulls up in a limo and plays basketball with some kids. He tells them about the importance of staying in school and then they dance. I used to be able to dunk a basketball. Now, I’m old and my knees would hate me if I dare try.

2 Cold Scorpio vs. Scotty Flamingo

-Still wild to me I ended up becoming a massive fan of Flamingo once he found a different set of wings and angst in ECW. Scorpio hits a handspring elbow and then a running boot to the face. Scorpio fakes a dive, but lands on the apron and then lands on Scotty. Back in the ring, Flamingo hits a mule kick and sends Scorpio to the floor. Scotty flies over the top with a dive. Cool! Snapmare gets a one count. Scorpio gets a small package for two. Flamingo lays the boots to Scorpio and hits a nice snap suplex. He goes a choke and then hooks a reverse chinlock. Scorpio fights back with a hip-toss and a dropkick. He hits a slam and heads up top. He twists his body in mid air to hit a splash for two. He misses a splash in the corner and Flamingo gets a roll-up for two. He hits a lariat, but gets caught in the corner with a boot to the face. Scorpio uses the ropes to hit a leg drop and then the 450 finishes at 4:11 (mania).

Winner: 2 Cold Scorpio via pin at 4:11
-Fun match! Some crazy stuff at the time and the crowd was popping for it. **3/4

-We flashback to Main Event from Jan. 10 and Vader and Mr. Wonderful beat the piss out of Cactus Jack. I’m sure Vader and Wonderful were best of friends for years to come. Jack returns later in the show and went crazy with a shovel on both men and Harley Race. No wonder he was getting over with the fans. I believe the shovel story is covered in Foley’s first book and it was a funny one.

Chris Benoit vs. Brad Armstrong

-Jesse puts over Benoit for being able to make it out of The Hart Dungeon. Not sure why, but it’s kind of weird to hear Jesse calling a Benoit match. Brad avoids a powerbomb with an arm-drag and then gets a dropkick followed by another arm-drag into an armbar. Benoit fights out and kips up to his feet, but Brad catches him with another dropkick and back into the armbar. Knuckle Lock and Benoit bridges up on his neck and powers to his feet. He breaks Armstrong down who bridges on his neck. Armstrong uses the leverage to get a suplex and right back to the armbar. We get some boring chants though it sounds like it’s just one guy. I mean, he kind of has a point as this armbar has gone on for a bit. They are working through it, but they are letting this crowd kind of die as we are past 5 minutes and not much has happened. Things start to pickup as they counter each other and Benoit just goes for a kick in the stomach. He drops Brad gut first on the top rope and that gets a good reaction from the crowd. Benoit springs off the middle ropes and catches Brad with a clothesline on the apron. Jesse applauds him for that one. The bump made it look like it would hurt Benoit more. Clothesline from Benoit and a snap suplex gets two. Headbutt from Benoit as you can hear Jesse becoming a fan. Brad fights back with a knee-lift, but Benoit cuts him off. Backbreaker and he holds it as he bends Brad over his knee. Slam and Benoit heads up top. Brad meets him up there, but Benoit knocks him down. The Dynamite Headbutt misses! Swinging neckbreaker from Brad and he drops an elbow for a two count. Benoit counters a whip and gets a Dragon Suplex for the pin at 9:14.

Winner: Chris Benoit via pin at 9:14
-Good match, but it started slow before kicking things into gear the final four minutes. ***

-Video package on The Rock N Roll Express being reunited and becoming Tag Champions in Smokey Mt. SMW is called a hip, young promotion and WCW will feature their Tag Title rematch at SuperBrawl. We get footage from SMW of the Rock N Roll against The Heavenly Bodies. Man, Cornette got SMW on WCW and WWF PPV in the same year and nearly the same match (one had Lane as a Heavenly Body and the other Del Ray).

Arm Wrestling Match: Vinnie Vegas vs. Tony Atlas

-Van Hammer won the Strongest Arm Tournament, but he is injured. Tony Atlas is getting the nod because he didn’t get to compete in the tournament. Vinnie Vegas also has beef because he is left handed and was forced to use his right. I am right handed, but I open all lids with my left hand for whatever reason. They take turns going back and forth with the crowd starting a weak “Tony” chant. Lots of yelling from Atlas. Vegas finally gets the win at 1:19.

Winner: Vinnie Vegas at 1:19
-Vegas calls out Hammer after the match. Again, somewhere a possibly stoned Shawn Michaels was stumbling across this guy and the rest was history.

Wrecking Crew vs. The Z Man and Johnny Gunn

-Z-Man starts with well, I am waiting for Ross to let me know. Okay, it’s Rage (Al Green), so we are good. Man with a side headlock and holds on as Rage tries to push him off to the ropes. Another try and Z-Man holds on. Third time is the charm and Rage gets a Gorilla Press, but Z-Man punches his way out. He comes off the top with a cross-body and then hits a dropkick that sends Rage to the floor. Fury (brother of Johnny Ace and Animal) in and he gets a dropkick that sends him to the floor as well. The Crew regroup on the floor, so Gunn clears the ropes and lands on them with a dive to pop the crowd. Cool! Gunn gets the tag and gets a roll-up after the Wrecking Crew accidentally run into each other. Fury in and Gunn gets an arm-drag as Rage tells someone in to the crowd to shut up and it gets a good reaction. Fury hits a clothesline and connects with a backbreaker. He sets too early on a backdrop and gets planted on his face. Z Man back in and they get a little wonky with something, so Fury just clubs him on the back. Sidewalk slam from Fury! The Wrecking Crew go to work on Z Man’s back. Fury off the middle ropes, but gets caught on the way down with a super kick. Hot Tag to Gunn and he goes crazy with slams and then a flying forearm. Rage decks Gunn from behind on the apron and they hit The Wrecking Ball for the pin at 6:06.

Winner: The Wrecking Crew via pin at 6:06
-This was a solid little tag match that topped any expectations I had. Some good stuff and no rest holds and they got in and out and accomplished what they needed. Weird to have the new young tag team that was getting vignettes only a few months ago lose, but here we are. **1/2

-Larry Z interviews The soon to be named Hollywood Blondes. Pillman does all the talking.

-Tony brings out Sting and nothing is really said, though they are short a member and will just run with the three they have since Hammer is out.

-Larry Z is with Team Vader and Harley Race throws out threats to Cactus Jack. Harley then fires The Barbarian because he is associated with Cactus Jack. He goes to choke out Race, but Vader punches him in the ribs and Mr. Wonderful drops him with a piledriver on the concrete.

-Video package hyping SuperBrawl III by showing highlights from SuperBrawl I and II. My reviews for each are here and here.

-I just noticed someone has a sign that reads “Jim Ross and Cactus Jack are related.” Not sure why I found that funny.

Unified Tag Titles: Shane Douglas (c) and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. Steve Austin and Brian Pillman

-Our Brush with Greatness begins here! Austin and Dragon start and Austin runs him into the corner. He sets too early on a backdrop and Dragon gets a small package for two. He gets another two count. Dragon with a crossbody for another two count as Pillman makes the save. Everyone in the ring and Pillman gets dumped to the floor with a dropkick and Dragon sends Austin to the floor as well. Fast, fast start to this one which plays into Ross and Ventura noting this only has a 30 minute time limit instead of an hour because of the TV restrictions. Pillman throws chops to Dragon in the corner, but you would think his chest would be used to it after the wars with Flair. Dragon back with strikes and Douglas hits one from the apron which sends Pillman into an armdrag. Douglas gets the tag and comes off the top with a shot to the arm. Dragon back in off the top as well and then back to Douglas, who comes off the top and then Dragon off the top and back to Douglas. Man, that’s a lot of tags. Jesse brings up The Steelers losing in the playoffs and that would be Cowher’s first year when they were the 1 seed and lost their first playoff game to Buffalo. My Niners would lose the NFC Championship Game to Dallas so thanks for reminding me of all of this Jess! Pillman pretends to injure his knee and gets in a shoulder, but slings back in and Douglas catches him with a powerslam. Austin back in and Douglas goes to work on the arm and gets a hammerlock. Douglas comes off the ropes with a back elbow but Pillman makes the save again. Double hip-toss from the champs and Dragon press slams Douglas onto Austin. Pillman rushes in and Dragon press slams him onto Austin as well. Cool! Austin gets close enough to his corner to throw Dragon into Pillman, who lands a right hand. Pillman gets the tag and suckers Douglas into the ring and tosses Dragon over the top behind the ref’s back. Austin slams him on the concrete for good measure. Dragon fights from the apron and tries a suplex to the floor, but Austin kicks him in the gut. Pillman gets multiple pin attempts back in the ring. Chops from Pillman! He then rubs Dragon’s face on the canvas. Dragon fires back with chops and Austin gets the ref so he misses Dragon getting a roll-up. It only gets two! Gut-wrench suplex and Austin decks Douglas to sucker him back into the ring again. Dragon knocks Pillman off the apron to the railing. Austin with a belly-to-back suplex for two and then a reverse backbreaker. Pillman gets the tag but springs in and accidentally hits Austin as Dragon dropped down. Dragon off the top with a chop to both Blondes. He staggers to the corner, but can’t make the tag. He flips out of a belly-to-back and gets one of his own to leave both men down and this crowd is ROCKING. The race is on and Steamboat just gets there and it’s HOT TAG Douglas. He runs wild with slams and dropkicks. Fired up babyface Shane Douglas is kind of weird to see. He hits Pillman with the belly-to-belly but Austin comes off the top and puts Pillman on top. The ref can’t get there in time as Dragon and Austin go at it. Austin gets frustrated and blasts Douglas in the head with a tag belt and he has been busted open. That’s enough for a DQ at 13:48. DDT to Steamboat! Pillman whips THE PISS out of Dragon with one of the belts before Scorpio and Armstrong run in for the save.

Winners and Still Unified Tag Team Champions: Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat via DQ at 13:48
-Great match, but not a fan of the ending. The post match beatdown helped though as the crowd was getting into this and then were PISSED with the aftermath. The soon to be Blondes were great from the jump as a team. Steamboat getting beat up for the hot nearly always works. ***3/4

-We see video of Vader regaining The World Title from Simmons on Dec. 30 in Baltimore.

-Jesse brings out Vader, but Ron Simmons is out. He tells Vader he will have him on his back again. Race tries to punch Race and gets knocked down for his trouble. Spinebuster to Vader! Ron goes after Race again and that lets Vader attack from behind. He hits Ron with a shoulder breaker and now Ron is out of Thundercage.

Thundercage: Sting and Dustin Rhodes vs. Big Van Vader (w/ Harley Race), Barry Windham, and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff

-It’s the steel bar cage that goes around the ringside area so you can fight on the floor and has the an extended section on top that slants up, so you can’t really escape. It’s anything goes and come dressed as you are. Vader just watches from the apron as the other four fight each other. So, I guess it’s no DQ, but you still have to tag in and out. What is that? Dustin gets a Gorilla Press Slam, but Windham responds with right hands in the corner. He misses an elbow and Dustin throws mounted right hands in the corner. Sting makes a blind tag and he plans Windham face first on the mat. Gorilla Press Slam to Barry! Good power from Sting. Vader in and I find it funny he is just in his regular gear while everyone else is in jeans and are wearing belts. Sting lands a right hand and starts punching away in an effort to knock Vader down. He staggers him and gets an inverted atomic drop. DDT! These two are just great together! Maybe they should have a strap match or something! Stinger Splash in the corner and Sting just throws punch after punch as he POUNDS Vader down on his ass. Fantastic! It’s always been a great story that withe each battle against Vader, Sting just gets more confident. Vader gets sent to the corner and does a Flair Flip to land on the apron and drops Sting, who charged in after him. Vader off the top and he hits a slam. He comes off the second rope, but misses a splash. Sting with a series of boots to the face and a clothesline sends Vader to the floor. Orndorff in and he gets a German Suplex and stomps away. The crowd starts rumbling again as they try to rally Sting. He drops an elbow to the abdomen, which looked like it could have been low. Barry gets the tag and comes off the top with a double axe. Snap suplex gets a two count. Barry decks Dustin to draw him into the ring and really since there is no DQ, why not just stay in there? Vader back in and he hits a splash in the corner and then right hand to the side of the head. Gorilla Press Slam from Vader as he walks around with Sting before throwing him in the air and punching him on the way down. Sweet! Barry sets for the Superplex. But Sting fights his way out and knocks Barry to the mat. Sting falls down to sell the beating, but is able to crawl and make the hot tag. Dustin hits everyone and then gets a lariat on Windham. One for Wonderful and Vader as well. Backdrop to Barry! Corner clothesline and mounted punches in the corner. Here’s Cactus Jack with bolt cutters to open the door and he is here to even up the sides. Jack takes off his boot and just starts clock Vader, Wonderful, and Windham. Jesse complains about the use of an illegal object, but this is no DQ as JR notes. Things slow a little bit as Jesse even notes he has no clue who is legal. Should have just let everyone in the match at once. Wonderful tries a piledriver on Rhodes, but Jack comes off the top with a boot to the heat and gets the pin at 11:22.

Winners: Sting, Barry Windham, and Cactus Jack via pin at 11:22
-Fun match though Jack getting the pin was confusing since he was not legally part of the match. Him helping is fine, since no DQ, but Sting or Dustin should have gotten the pin. This would have been better as an all out brawl with everyone in the ring, but it was still fun. ***1/4

-Cactus cuts a babyface promo to make sure we really know he has turned. Good stuff and no wonder people were getting behind him. He faces Mr. Wonderful this Saturday Night.

-Ross and Jesse wrap things up as Cactus climbs the cage to celebrate.

-Thanks for reading!

8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

This was a really good Clash in a time when the show didn't feel as important as it did a few years earlier. It was just a solid two hour wrestling special with good matches up and down the card. The only "bad" match was short and featured the crowd turning Cactus into a star. Definitely worth a watch and credit to them for turning all the chaos of people being injured into a fun show.