wrestling / Video Reviews
Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Fall Brawl War Games ’93
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...-Written: 10.30.25
-Source: Peacock
-We are going on a WCW run for a bit as they have this show, Halloween Havoc, BattleBowl (which I forgot was a stand alone PPV), and a Clash before getting to Survivor Series. I should be able to get all these 93 shows done by the end of the year and will get as much 94 stuff as possible. Still waiting to hear word on what happens to the library once it leaves Peacock (Hey, Bob from October 2025. This is Bob from Feb. 2026 and all the WWE shows end up on Netflix, while we wait on the WCW library to pop up somewhere). Let’s get to it!
-Announce Team: Tony Schiavone and Jesse “The Body” Ventura
-Sept 19, 1993
-Astro Arena, Houston, TX
-Attendance: 6000
-PPV Buys: 95,000
-PPV buys have been consistent all year as they’ve been at 100,000 or 95,000. So they have a loyal PPV audience at this point.
WCW World Television Championship: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat vs. Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William)
-Dragon actually attacks Regal before the bell, but Tony notes that Regal beat the fire out of Dragon the night before with an umbrella. So Dragon is coming into this one with hurt ribs. Dragon starts with chops, but Regal goes to the ribs to stop the attack. Steamboat pitches Regal over the top to the floor and I am waiting for a DQ, but I guess it’s all good because he landed on the ramp and not the floor. What is that? Is that a legit rule they had or did they just cover for a mistake? Regal lands a shot to the ribs, but Dragon fires back with a chop and hits a reverse kick. Crowd is hot for this one to start which is a good sign. Dragon goes to a choke and Jesse is disappointed as he thought we would see classic wrestling. I mean, Jesse was there in the Silverdome when Steamboat was choking Savage. The man has a mean streak in him. Dragon with a hammerlock on the mat and he flips over to add more pressure. Nice! Regal rolls to take some of the pressure away, so Dragon just starts drilling knees to the arm. Regal lands a shot to the eyes somehow as the crowd starts a “Steamboat Sucks,: chant. Don’t hear that one often. Dragon plays possum and suckers Regal into another arm submission. Jesse points out who Tony gets angry when Pillman does it, when Dragon goes it’s all good. He has a point! Dragon with another hammerlock and he controls the other arm to force Regal down for a two count and then another one. Dragon gets a cross-body but it only gets two as the ribs took punishment there. Short arm scissors from Dragon and Regal has to fight off his shoulders to avoid being pinned. Regal shows the strength as he lifts Steamboat off the mat, but Dragon rolls back into the hold. Tony notes he has never seen that before, so he obviously never watched any Bob Backlund matches. Regal gets Dragon to the floor and then catches him coming back into the ring with a backdrop. Regal goes right after the ribs again with forearms and knees. He buries the point of his elbow into the ribs and grinds away. Standing Senton to the back continues the damage. Steamboat fights and gets Regal up for an Electric Chair Drop, but a splash gets blocked as Regal gets the knees up. Dragon has enough to fire off chops while selling the ribs. Regal gets a trip and right back to the taped ribs. Argentine Back Breaker which pops Jesse as that was his finisher. Steamboat slides out and gets a chop to the head, but Regal with a trip. He hooks a modified surfboard and then gets the move proper. They are just working here! Just such a simple story and Dragon is selling the ribs like only he can. Regal pulls the tape off the ribs and gets a butterfly suplex. Dragon blocks another one and sends Regal into the buckle with a catapult. He goes for a slam, but the ribs give out and Regal falls back on top for two. Back to ribs for Regal as this is a clinic on how to work a body part. Reverse chinlock but he makes sure to bury a knee in the bad. Jesse says Steamboat just needs to deck the ref and keep the title. Tombstone, but Steamboat fights into a reversal and drills Regal. He can’t follow up though as the ribs are hurt. Regal sends him into the corner and goes for a belly-to-back but Dragon flips out and gets a roll-up for two. Chops from Dragon get another two count. Small package gets two! CHOP! Suplex from Dragon and he is still selling the ribs. Wonderful! The delay means it only gets a two count. Dragon fires up and heads to the top. He connects with the cross-body, but again, the ribs delay the cover so it only gets two. Shoulder tackle gets two! Steamboat skins the cat, but Sir William drills him with the umbrella and Regal hits a German Suplex into a bridge for the pin and Title at 17:04.
Winner and New WCW World Television Champion: Lord Steven Regal via pin at 17:04
-No clue why this match doesn’t get love from others, but I thought it was a heck of a match. It flew by and Dragon sold the crap out of the ribs while Regal just attacked them all match. This was quality work and a pleasant surprise. ***3/4
Big Sky vs. Charlie Norris
-I assume Norris was WCW’s answer to Tatanka. Big Sky of course ended up being Sabretooth in the initial X-Men movie and returned for Deadpool and Wolverine. I love that movie! I am not well versed in comic book history so did we ever get Sabretooth and Thunderbird/Warpath battling it out? Just wondering? The crowd chants boring as Norris works the arm for the first three minutes or so. Sky drives Norris into the corner and hits a choke slam. That got a solid reaction. Slam from Sky and he drops a leg before going to a choke. Another slam and Sky comes off the middle ropes with a knee, but misses. Norris lands a chop to the chest and then a series to the head. War Dance time and another chop. Sky lands a boot in the corner but Norris comes out of the opposite corner with a Pump Kick (Brogue Kick) for the pin at 4:34.
Winner: Charlie Norris via pin at 4:34
-Not good but at least short. The final 90 seconds was okay. 1/2*
-Scott Dunlap interviews The Bulldog. This is notable as Dunlap had cerebral palsy and WCW gave him a chance as a backstage interviewer. Good for him and good on WCW.
The Equalizer and “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff vs. 2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell
-Bagwell and Equalizer start. Bagwell uses his quickness early, but gets caught and Equalizer lands some clubbing blows. Shoulder tackle and that doesn’t work. Bagwell tries again and ends up on his ass. Bagwell tries an enziguiri, but Equalizer ducks. He misses an elbow however and 2 Cold Buff start with their double team offense. A double dropkick sends Equalizer to the floor. We hear a cameraman on the floor tell Bagwell to move as he is blocking the camera. Equal Parts Wonderful with a double backdrop to Scorpio. Wonderful drops a series of elbows and then lays in the boots. Scorpio flips over the ropes to the apron in the corner and springs up to the top where he comes off with a twisting cross-body. Wonderful rolls with it and gets a two count. Double hip-toss from 2 Buff 2 Cold and double elbow gets a two count. Equalizer pulls down the ropes which causes Bagwell to spill to the floor. Equalizer gets a slam out there. Equalizer runs Bagwell back first into the apron as I am just not feeling this one. Back in the ring Bagwell tries a sunset flip, but Wonderful blocks with a right hand. They sucker Scorpio into the ring and we get cheating by Wonderlizer. Reverse chinlock gives the fans a chance to rag on Wonderful with “Paula” chants. Bagwell fights his way to a backslide for a one count, but can’t follow up. Equalizer runs Bagwell over for a two count. Wonderful in off the top and he hooks a bear-hug. UGH! Bagwell fights out and gets a belly-to-back suplex to leave both men down. Equalizer in first, but Bagwell gets he hots tag to Scorpio. Spinning Heel Kick to Equalizer. Dropkick to Wonderful! Cross-body from the top gets two on Equalizer. Everyone in the ring and Wonderful drops Scorpio with a clothesline. Double clothesline to Bagwell and they send Scorpio to the floor. Scorpio is the legal man and after Wonderful accidentally decks The Equalizer, Scorpio comes off the top with a 450 for the pin at 10:46.
Winners: Marcus Alexander Bagwell and 2 Cold Scorpio via pin at 10:46
-Just not a fan of this one. Disjointed and boring. The finisher is worth a star though. *
-Wonderful and Equalizer beat the crap out of Bagwell and Scorpio after the match to get their heat back.
Shanghi Pierce (w/ Tex Slazenger) vs. Ice Train
-I went back and listened about a dozen times and I swear he was announced as “Ice Cream.” Pierce is Henry Godwin under a mask when he was a Texan before becoming a pig farmer in Arkansas. Lockup and Pierce complains about a mask pull. Train with a shoulder tackle. Pierce converses with Tex and I guess they came up with the idea of having a Test of Strength. Here I though he was telling him becoming friends with that Undertaker guy up North, will do wonders for your career. Pierce drops an elbow, but gets a suplex blocked. Train throws some blows and gets a backdrop. The Cowboys try to use their bull rope, but Train runs through it and gets a powerslam for the pin at 3:27.
Winner: Ice Train via pin at 3:27
-It was short! Today, these two never get on PPV at this point in their careers and instead are working in Evolve or Level Up. 1/4*
WCW World Tag Team Championship: The Horsemen (Arn Anderson and Paul Roma) (c) The Nasty Boys (w/ Miss Hyatt)
-They cut to a guy with a sign that reads, “Hey Missy Did You Buy Those?” That gets a chuckle from Tony and Jesse thinks the sign was about her shoes, but then notes Missy could have a double impact on this match. So, Missy was supposed to be a surprise, but she was taped with them in all the shows done in Orlando, so the fans already have signs. Knobbs and Roma start and again, Roma as a face is just weird. They both play to the crowd and Knobbs tries to attack from behind, but Roma avoids and lands a right hand. Knobbs yells at the crowd to kill more time as this one is going long whether we like it or not. Knobbs sends Roma into the corner and fires away with more right hands. Shoulder tackle and another by Knobbs. Roma back with a powerslam and one for Sags as well. Dropkick sends Sags to the floor and The Horsemen rule the ring as the Nasty Boys bail to the floor. The crowd starts a “fat boy” chant at Knobbs. Sags in and he wants Arn Anderson. They milk that for a bit before Roma makes the tag. Arn is rocking the white out look tonight. He lands a back elbow and wraps the leg around the post. Arn stomps the shin and tags Roma back in, who drops his weight on the damaged shin. Leg kicks and Roma follows with a series of elbows to the knee and shin. He hooks a standing ankle lock as the crowd chant “take it off,” at Missy. A few fans have dollar bills and things get classy as they chant “crack whore.” When did ECW move to Houston? Knobbs is back in the ring and Arn ties his legs up. The crowd continues to chant at Missy. Roma back in and he hooks another standing leg lock. Jesse and Tony discuss Beavis and Butthead to fill time as this match is just dragging. The Nasty Boys are great at short, weapons filled brawls. This is not that. Roma gets caught in the wrong corner and after 10 minutes The Nasty Boys finally take control. Suplex on Roma gets a two count. Tony questions what Missy knows about “this sport and the holds.” Jesse feels Missy could put Tony in some holds. Now a Porky Pig chant and I think that one is directed at Knobbs. Tony notes they are passionate fans. Tony brings up The Oilers and Jesse notes they blew the biggest lead in football history last year. Oh man, Frank Reich and that epic comeback. So bad for Oilers they left the state and changed their name just to make people forget. There is a match happening as Roma gets an Electric Chair Drop. Roma makes the tag to Arn and that wakes the crowd up a little. He fires off elbows and left hands to both Nasty Boys. He hooks a sleeper and runs Sags into the corner. Arn tries a Vader bomb, but Sags gets the knees up. Knobbs runs in with a clothesline that sends Arn to the floor. Back in and Sags sends Arn to the floor on the other side. Knobbs with a slam to Arn out there. Sags with a solid chair shot to the back as Knobbs had the ref. That only gets two. Just so long! Arn gets beat down in the corner as the crowd goes back to a “take it off” chant. Abdominal stretch with some cheating from the apron by The Nasty Boys. Arn goes to the eyes to reverse the hold, but Sags rushes in and lands a right hand. Sags back into the match and he drops a leg. Front facelock because that’s what this match needs. Tag to Roma, but the ref didn’t see it. Double clothesline by The Nasty Boys gets two. Oh man, now a bear-hug. More class from the fans in the front row as they want Missy to “show her tits.” Arn bites to break the hold but Sags cuts off the tag. Suplex gets two. Tony notes this has been a grueling match. Is that code for boring? Another bear-hug. Double back elbows and Knobbs decks Roma off the apron. He sets too early on a backdrop though and Arn clubs him down. No tag though as Sags once again cuts it off. Arn ducks a double clothesline and plants both Nasty Boys on their face. Hot tag to Roma and he goes crazy with right hands. Clothesline to Knobs. Dropkick to Sags! He runs Knobbs and Sags into each other. Dropkick off the top gets two as Sags makes the save. Arn pushes Sags off the top and he falls into Knobbs which lets Roma get a two count. Spinebuster from Arm and a Splash from the top from Roma, but Sags makes the save by coming off the top. Arn somehow misses all this and Knobbs rolls on top for the pin at 23:57.
Winners and New WCW World Tag Team Champions: The Nasty Boys via pin at 23:57
-They gave a Nasty Boys Match 24 minutes without it being a street fight! The crowd gave me something to work with here as the match was just way too long for what they needed. I didn’t need extended heart periods on each Horseman. I love wrestling and any wrestling is better than no wrestling, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be boring. This was boring. 1/2*
-Recap of Cactus Jack being Lost in Cleveland after being dropped on his head by Vader. My man was shaved, homeless, and thought he was a sailor. After four months away he made his return at The Clash and attacked Vader to a big pop. Race put a bounty of Jack’s head and Yoshi Kwan gets the first crack. Jack admits to not losing his memory, and says that was not his family, but he needed Vader and Race to believe it. That’s one way to explain it all away I guess.
Yoshi Kwan (w/ Harley Race) vs. Cactus Jack
-Kwan is Chris Champion with makeup and a Fu Manchu to make him look Asian. Yep! Cactus attacks at the bell and dominates early. Cactus clothesline sends them both to the floor. Jack goes after Race, which lets Yoshi land a kick to the back. Nice enziguiri on the ramp which already makes this match better than the last one. Kwan lays in the boots before they head back through one ring and into the legal one. Kwan lands a side kick and bows to Race. Well, he was a King once. Spinning heel kick from Yoshi! He throws more kicks to the head and tries a Pump Kick, but Jack catches him. He runs Yoshi’s face across the top rope and then hits an reverse atomic drop. Clothesline from Jack! He goes to drop a leg, but Harley trips him. Yoshi accidentally hits Race and Cactus finishes with the single arm DDT at 3:38.
Winner: Cactus Jack via pin at 3:38
-It was short and I will take that after the last match. *
-Jack suplexes Race into the ring and gets back his bag. I forget what that bag was about.
World Title: Ric Flair (c) (w/ Fifi) vs. ”Ravishing” Rick Rude
-So it’s The Big Gold Belt, but is no longer associated with the NWA. I don’t think it has been designated as the International Title yet. Buffer announces the match as being for the Wrestling Heavyweight Championship of the World. Rude tells Flair he is taking his reputation, his Championship, and his Woman as he unveils his tights that have Fifi airbrushed on him. Genius! I don’t like the white boots on Rude. Jesse says this match could go 59 minutes. Let’s hope not. Jesse goes on a rant about what normal women should be doing every day and says Rude will domesticate her. Rude with a shoulder tackle and he drops a series of forearms. He heads up top, but misses a knee. Flair goes for the figure four immediately and gets it to pop the crowd, but Rude gets to the ropes. Sigh of relief from Jesse. Flair gets thumbed in the eye and a clothesline sends him to the floor. Rude shows off to Fifi which lets Flair come off the top with a right hand. He fires off chops and goes to a wrist lock. Jesse keeps making friends as he notes women should be pregnant and barefoot. Tony notes Sara is going to cut him mic off and she actually does. That is kind of a fun joke that probably should have been saved for a match that wasn’t for the World Title. Jesse steals another head set to get back on the air as Tony says Jesse’s comments are his own and not those of WCW. Flair transitions to a hammerlock and stomps the arm for good measure. Rude back to the eyes and he lands a right hand that drops Flair. Rude misses a charge in the corner and Flair goes right back to the arm. Wristlock goes on for a bit. By a bit I mean several minutes. Flair backs Rude into the corner and snaps the arm off the top rope. Chops! Back to the arm with another wrist lock. Rude punches to get loose, but can’t get a slam as the arm is damaged. Flair with a trip and back to a hammerlock. He drives a knee to the arm and gives us a Wooo. Hey, the wrist lock again! Transitions to an arm-bar to switch things up a bit. They trade chops and punches and Rude gets clear. Hip-toss reversed by Flair into a backslide for two. Flair dives on Rude and then both spill over the top to the floor. Running clothesline from Rude with the good arm. He runs Flair back first into the apron and bring him back into the ring with a suplex for two. Slam by Rude and he drops a forearm for a two count. Rude sits down on Flair’s back as he hooks a reverse chinlock. Flair tries to get push up, but Rude jumps on his back and then swivels the hips. Back to the reverse chinlock. That goes for several minutes before Flair finally escapes. Flair with right hands and chops followed by a shoulder tackle. Rude with a Gorilla Press and he drops Flair throat first on the top rope. Rude with a punch right to the gut. Whip to the corner and Flair up and over to the floor. Rude poses before breaking the count. Rude snaps Flair neck first on the top rope and talks some trash. Right hands from Rude as Flair is getting rocked. Too much action I guess as Rude hooks a bear hug. The hold gets take to the mat where Flair nearly gets pinned twice. The mic is way too close as we can hear Rude talking to Flair about what to do when they get away from this hold. Flair turns the hold over and goes to the eyes to escape. As they discussed, Flair dives at Rude, who drops backwards with a stun-gun. Rude up top and lands a right hand to the head. Rude up top again and another right hand. Rude up top for a third time and of course Flair catches him on the way down this time. Belly-to-back suplex followed a knee to the head from Flair. Butterfly suplex gets two! Man, these mics keep picking up what they are saying. Flair with right hands in the corner and then a Wooo. Rude gets a knee up to block a charge in the corner. Rude with a DDT for two. That was kind of an ugly one as it looked like Flair was ready to drop before Rude delivered the move. Knee to the ribs from Rude and another one. He goes for The Rude Awakening, but is way to close to the ropes. Flair bites the fingers to break and hits a Rude Awakening of his own to get one of the bigger pops of the night. Rude gets his foot on the ropes to break the count. Jesse notes it would be something to lose to your own finishing hold. Happened to Hogan a few months before this match and something something Bret Hart. Flair stretches out the hamstrings and has the ref check the time so he can deliver a low blow. Funny! Figure-Four is countered with a small package for two. Flair back to the knee and he sends Rude through the ropes to the floor. This match has picked up the last seven minutes. Just took them 20 minutes to get there. Flair drops Rude on the railing and lands another chop. He breaks the count and heads up top. He comes off to the floor with a right hand to the head. Flair struts in the ring and this crowd is into this one now. Back in the ring Flair throws chops and right hands in the corner. Flair into the corner and over to the apron where he sprints to the top, but Rude catches him with a clothesline on the way down. Rude off the top with a knee drop for two. He sends Flair to the floor in frustration. He swivels the hips at Fifi, who slaps him in the face, so Rude gives him a kiss and brings her into the ring. Flair with a right hand and a backdrop. Inverted atomic drop and he drops Rude face first on the mat. Figure-Four, but Rude finds brass knuckles in his trunks and decks Flair as the ref was getting Fifi out of the ring. That gets Rude the pin and World Title at 30:48.
Winner and New Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion: Rick Rude via pin at 30:48
-Good for Rude as they had been building to him winning a World Title for over a year and injuries kept delaying it. The match was a chore for the first 20 minutes, but picked up in the final 11 minutes. The Big Gold Belt had a series of bad matches on PPV and this was looking like one of them, but was saved by the final third. **3/4
War Games: Sid Vicious, Big Van Vader, and Harlem Heat (w/ Harley Race and Colonel Parker) vs. Sting, The British Bulldog, Dustin Rhodes, and The Shockmaster (w/ Animal)
-This is the PPV debut for Harlem Heat and they are in the Main Event. They are also known as Kane and Kole at this point. Shockmaster has lost the stormtrooper helmet and is just a construction worker. Dustin Rhodes is beat up from the previous night and he time wants him to stay back, but he rushes into the ring to face Vader. They ran the same story with Pillman in the 91 War Games. Dustin takes off his boot and drills Vader with it repeatedly. Tony trying to put over that Shockmaster was going to start for Sting’s Team is funny. No way Fred was working that long in this match. Vader boxes Dustin in the corner and delivers a head-butt. Dustin with a boot to the face and hits a jumping right hand to knock Vader on his ass. Vader lands a back fist punch and gets a slam. Vader Bomb! Dustin fights back and plants Vader with a DDT. We have 60 seconds left in this opening period. Dustin goes back to beating on Vader with the boot. The coin toss is held and shocking, Vader’s team wins. Vader gets caught coming off the ropes with a powerslam. Kane is in next and Dustin tackles him through the ropes. Vader with a body shot from behind and Dustin is screwed for the next two minutes. Kane “hits” Dustin with the boot. A second shot looks better. They are taking a lot of time between shots on Dustin. Jesse notes they should be taking advantage of this time better. Dustin is bleeding which, I mean, it’s a Rhodes in a cage. Water is wet! Sting is in for his side and hits a double clothesline. He throws rights and lefts to both men. Kane gets tossed into the cage. Stinger Splash to Vader! Samoan Drop on Vader into the cage. Cool! Sting knows what to do in this type of match. Sting beats Vader down in the corner. Dustin is back on his feet and takes a ball shot from Kane. Vader gets tossed into the cage and a second time. Sid is next in and that turns the tide rather quickly. Dustin is still down so it’s 3 against Sting. He does his best to fight back and plants Sid on his face. The numbers catch up again as Vader and Sid press Sting into the roof of the cage. Big boot from Sid to Dustin and another. Bulldog is the third man in for his team to even the odds. Clothesline to Sid followed by an elbow drop. Bulldog inside War Games looks weird for some reason. Dustin is still wrestling with one boot. Now Sting and Bulldog press Sid into the roof of the cage. Sting runs Sid and Kane into each other. Sid and Kane get sent into the cage right before Kole (Booker T) is the last one in for his team. He drops an elbow to the back of Dustin’s head. Jesse jokes about what kind of entrance The Shockmaster may make. Funny! Poor Fred! Harlem Heat double team Sting. Bulldog gets slammed from the top rope. Dustin is still the only one bleeding in the match. Kole leaps from one ring to the other as he shows off the crazy athleticism we all learned to appreciate. Shockmaster is the last one in as The Match Beyond begins. Submit or Surrender is the only way to win now. Master runs wild and throws heavy blows to Vader. Kole gets tossed into the cage and a second time. Dustin is still using his boot as a weapon. Master with a bearhug on Kole and he gives up at 16:37 to end this one in a rather weak manner.
Winners: Sting, The Shockmaster, The Bulldog, and Dustin Rhodes at 16:37
-That ending was just awful as the match beyond part only went a little over three minutes. The opening few minutes were fine but then all went down hill. Easily the weakest War Games up to this point. There was no real hatred and not much as far as violence either. Harlem Heat weren’t really known so kind of a weird spot to put them in at this point. Plus you had the announcers making fun of Shockmaster and then he dominates and wins the match in three minutes. **
-Thanks for reading.
