wrestling / Video Reviews
Leighty’s Retro Review: WCW Spring Stampede ’94
Image Credit: WWE
Loading...-Written: 12.11.25
-Source: Peacock
-Run-Time: 2:50:15
-As mentioned in the last review, I am skipping anything I have a physical copy of so I can get as many shows from this year done before they leave Peacock. So I will get back to Mania X and SummerSlam ’94. Slamboree 94 was already done not long ago as I did the show in memory of Kevin Sullivan. Once the Peacock Era ends I will see what they have left and figure out where to continue. I know YouTube has some full shows and I still have a rather large DVD/VHS collection from where I can pull. I also realized some TNA shows are on Pluto and I can always go to AEW on Max. I worry I would be setting myself up for some interesting comments if I reviewed those shows. We will figure out, and at rate I am going these 1993-94 Retro Reviews will run well into 2026.
-We last left WCW with Flair retaining in Thunder Cage against Vader and they immediately set up that Ricky Steamboat (who has been kind of a dick and whiner) was next in line. Can they live up to their 89 series? Away we go!
-Announce Team: Tony Schiavone and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan
-April 17, 1994
-Rosemont Horizon, Rosemont, IL
-Attendance: 12,200
-PPV Buys: 115,000
-Aaron Neville sings The Star Spangled Banner!
Johnny B. Badd vs. Diamond Dallas Page (w/ Diamond Doll (Kimberly))
-These two had a bunch of matches together and this is before their longer run together over a year later. Kimberly gives Heenan a present and he kisser her hand. Badd hits a clothesline that sends Page to the floor. Heenan notes he received something with his initials in diamonds. Back in the ring Badd gets a hammerlock as Heenan starts openly cheering for Page. I mean, he did give him something, so it’s only fair. Page with a back elbow to break, but Badd kicks him away and gets an arm-drag into an armbar. Page gets a thumb to the eyes and gets a roll into a two count. Another one, but Badd bridges out and hits a snap mare. Dropkick gets a two count. If Badd had continued to float over that would have been a version of Sliced Bread. Page sends Badd into the corner and gets a belly-to-back suplex for two. Page really slimmed down once he started getting that push in 96 compared to what he looks like here. Page with a gut-buster and a kind of Jackhammer, but without the power and intensity of Goldberg. Badd throws some elbows and hits a belly-to-back suplex. Badd lands a shot to the gut and another. Inverted Atomic Drop followed by a clothesline. Backdrop and that looked like it took a lot to get Page up and over there. Badd with a head scissors and he lands The Kiss that Don’t Miss. That sends Page to the floor and Badd follows with a dive over the top. Sweet! Badd comes off the top with a sunset flip for the pin at 5:55.
Winner: Johnny B. Badd via pin at 5:55
-Solid opener as they got in and out before going too long. The crowd was behind Badd and Page was working hard to get better. They had better matches once Page improved, but this was decent. **1/2
-Gene plugs The Hotline and has Jesse Ventura with him as they were trying to find things for him to do since Heenan took his spot.
WCW World Television Title: Lord Steven Regal (w/ Sir William) vs. Brian Pillman
-This is a Title Match so it gets the Michael Buffer treatment and he notes Regal is a former European Tag and European Heavyweight Champion. Regal has held the TV for quite some time and has been running long match where he is just trying to get a draw to retain. Pillman attacks before the bell, which I would say is a dick move for a face, but he knows he needs to win this one as soon as possible before Regal puts it in the deep freeze. Pillman gets a one count and Regal begs off. Pillman with a fantastic SLAP to the face. He hits a Japanese arm-drag and Regal bails to the floor. Pillman chases and Regal catches him with a European Uppercut. Pillman runs Regal’s arm off the railing and then a second time. We have audio problems as commentary disappears and you can hear the tech people messing with Keenan’s (I assume) headset. Pillman wraps the arm around the ring post and then chases Sir William away. Heavy chop in the corner as I should mention this is the traditional WCW set-up for the time with the extended ramp going all the way down to the ring. Regal gets control with a wrist-lock and Heenan is back on commentary. Nice backdrop suplex from Regal gets two. He took too long to get that cover. Over the shoulder backbreaker from Regal, but Pillman kicks off and gets a small package for two. Regal snuffs out a rally and hooks The STF. We are five minutes into this one. Regal releases and fires off more European Uppercuts. Pillman ducks one and tries a backslide, but Regal powers out and bends Pillman back first over his knees. We take our normal pan of the crowd during a Regal match. Heavy chop again from Pillman and another. He sets too early on a backdrop and Regal blasts him. Pillman gets a rana to counter a suplex and that gets two. Regal Roll gets two! He goes back to the ground game as the crowd starts a USA chant. He continues to stretch Pillman, who just starts firing away with punches. He sets too early again though and Regal gets a trip into a half crab. Pillman looked stupid there. The time is right on as we hit 10 minutes. Regal continues with the mat game while Heenan checks with William to see how much time is left. Pillman gets a few strikes, but Regal uses the tights for a two count. Another USA chant and Regal just ignores and continues to grind Pillman into the mat. Pillman once again hits a few strikes, but Regal cuts him off. Pillman gets a desperation dropkick and both men are down as Patrick starts his count. Regal catches a jumping Pillman and tries a Boston Crab, but Pillman uses his length strength to kick Regal away. Regal goes for the leg, but Pillman hits an enziguiri. Pillman tries a monkey flip out of the corner, but Regal blocks. Regal heads up to the middle rope as we have 60 seconds left. Pillman catches him on the way down with a dropkick. Backdrop as the crowd is into the crazy drama due to the lock. Both men spill to the floor with 15 second left and this one is toast. Pillman decks Sir William and tries one last pin in the ring, but it’s a draw at 15:00.
Time Limit Draw at 15:00
-This was similar to a lot of Regal matches during his run as Champion. Mat based and drawn out because Regal is more worried about retaining that winning. Technically fine and the crowd was into it by the end, but kind of BLAH to sit through. **
Chicago Street Fight: The Nasty Boys vs. Maxx Payne and Cactus Jack
-This is non-title and they are finally ready to just let these two teams loose. LET’S GO! Cactus is wearing a SuperDad shirt which is cool. The Nasty Boys has pool sticks with them. The bells sounds and they immediately start brawling. Payne with a spinebuster on Sags in the ring while Knobbs hits Jack with a pool stick on the floor. Heenan freaks out and wants them away from him. Knobbs off the middle ropes, but Jack lands a punch to the gut and puts the broken pool stick to good use. Cactus clothesline sends both men to the floor. Sags with a NASTY shot to Payne with a chair that was still in the open position. He then HAMMER Jack in the head and beats him with a pool stick. Jack is professional enough to hit Sags in the back with a chair. Payne drops an elbow on Sags on the floor. Knobbs clothesline Jack back into the ring from the ramp. Sags in after and uses the pool stick on Jack. Knobbs dives off the ramp onto Payne and they start brawling towards the back. They smartly have a ref following each pair. Sags uses the stick to send Jack to the floor. A weirdly placed souvenir stand gets destroyed by Knobs and Payne in a tribute to Memphis. Jack takes another SICk chair shot to the head. He has had enough and blasts Sags in the head with a chair. About time! Payne slams Knobbs through the souvenir table and the crowd is just going crazy. I remember the day when wrestling shirts were only $20. Payne chokes Knobbs with a Nasty Boys shirt and gets a two count. Jack and Sags join the other two in the souvenir section. Jack gets tossed into the railing and takes the bump you would expect because he can’t help himself. Payne gets tossed into the souvenir stand as Tony wonders if they will be half price now. They are match used and probably worth more. Sags carries a table and makes sure to crack Jack in the head with it before sliding it onto the ramp. Jack hits a swinging neckbreaker on the ramp. JACK SUPLEXES THE TABLE ON SAGS! The place explodes and Tony is just stunned at what he is seeing. Knobbs comes into the picture and DRILLS Jack with a snow shovel. Max grabs the shovel and wears Knobbs out with it. Knobbs goes low as Jack and Sags fall through a table. The crowd doesn’t care if the spot was blown because this is all AWESOME! Jack hasn’t taken enough crazy bumps, so he goes back first off the ramp and splats on the floor. Sags then hits a SICKENING SHOVEL SHOT RIGHT TO THE FACE. That was brutal and gets the pin at 9:00.
Winners: The Nasty Boys via pin at 9:00
-This was just a wild, chaotic, fun filled brawl that was like nothing we had ever seen at the time. I love the match a month later more, but this was still fantastic. Just 9 minutes of four guys beating the crap out of each other in front of a crowd going crazy for them. Watching this match it is amazing that Mick Foley survived to have the career he did. ****1/2
-Sags runs what’s left of the table into Payne’s head for good measure. Have fun following this!
WCW United States Heavyweight Championship: “Stunning” Steve Austin (c) (w/ Colonel Parker) vs. The Great Muta
-You can hear the excitement in Heenan’s voice as he notes this is the first time he gets to watch Muta live. Slow start as they battle over a top wrist lock. Muta gets the advantage and transitions into a side headlock. The crowd with a Muta chant! They work on the mat off the side headlock as this keep this one in a lower gear. Tony talks about the time difference between Tokyo and Chicago and how it could bother Muta. Austin with a suplex for two, but Muta comes back with one of his own and it actually looked more like a brain buster. Power elbow and back to the side headlock. Muta with a shoulder tackle and hits a dropkick to a good pop, but then back to the side headlock. Austin counters into a head scissors. Muta just stands up out of it and Austin rolls to the floor. Weird! Austin tells Parker, “he’s got me completely flustered.” Austin tries a roll-up with the tights, but Muta counters with a hammerlock. Parker grabs Muta’s leg and that lets Austin bury a knee in the back. That sends Muta to the floor and Parker chokes with his handkerchief. Austin plays to the crowd and then comes off the apron with a clubbing blow. He sends Muta into the railing and he just seems more annoyed than selling the move. Back in the ring Austin drops a knee and gets a two count. Abdominal stretch because that’s what this match needs. No clue why they are keeping this one in first gear. Austin uses the ropes for leverage and even that doesn’t get much of a response from the crowd. Heenan asks Tony if he can powerbomb him and that would likely be more entertaining. The crowd rallies Muta and he escapes with a hip-toss. Austin holds the ropes to avoid a dropkick and comes off the middle ropes with a forearm for a two count. Austin keeps going for the pin, but Muta is out at two. Muta blocks a shot into the corner and hits a spin kick. The crowd is trying to get Muta going as they want to see The Muta from 1989, but we aren’t getting that tonight. Dropkick from Muta and he heads up, but misses a missile dropkick. Austin gets the Hollywood and Vine and it just looks messy and kind of dumb. Muta gets a stun-gun and that wakes up the crowd. Hand spring elbow and the place explodes. See, this is what the crowd has been wanting to see. He brings Austin off the top with a rana and again, the place explodes. Parker gets kicked in the face. Austin charges and Muta backdrops him over the top and that’s a DQ at 16:28.
Winner and Still WCW United States Heavyweight Champion: Steve Austin via DQ at 16:28
-Awful ending to a boring match. The final 60 seconds were what the fans wanted, but too late and coupled with the bad ending makes this very disappointing. *
WCW International World Heavyweight Championship: “Ravishing” Rick Rude (c) vs. Sting
-That is a really dumb name for The Championship. Rude’s opening spiel gets cut off by Harley Race who lets both men know Vader wants the winner. He then tries to deck Sting, but gets thrown to the floor. Rude tries to jump Sting and that doesn’t work out well for him. Clothesline sends Rude to the floor and that can kind of be looked at as intentional and should be a DQ based on what we saw the last match. Sting gets a suplex on the floor. Back in the ring Sting punches Rude out of his robe and sends him into the corner. Commissioner Nick has joined Tony and Bobby. Heenan tells Tony to ignore him or he won’t stop talking once he gets started. Sting hooks a front face lock for a bit and then gets a slam followed by a series of elbows. Sting flexes as the crowd pops! Back to the front face lock. Sting actually gives Rude a wedgie at one point. I know the Tag Match was a classic, but nobody is even trying to match them at this point. Rude breaks by sending Sting to the floor and runs him into the apron. He slams Sting’s head (well, hands) off the ramp and sends him back into the ring. Rude heads up, but Sting wanders away, so Rude has to get down and lands forearms to the back. Not sure who messed up there. Rude with a double bicep pose and then hooks a reverse chinlock. Ugh! So many rest holds the last two matches. We pan the crowd again as Rude drops his weight on Sting’s back. We get a hip swivel and then back to the reverse chinlock. Rude yells for Sting to give it up. The crowd is begging for anything to happen and nope, as Rude goes back to the reverse chinlock after a two count. Sting fights to his feet and has Rude on his shoulders, but Rude rolls forward into a roll-up for two. Sting rolls back for two and it seems they are about to go to the next gear, but Rude gets a sleeper and the crowd just dies. Rude breaks the hold as he wants to pound on Sting with right hands. He eats them and tells Rude to bring another one. Flex from Sting and Rude tries to bail. Sting grabs him by the tights so one side of the crowd can see his ass. Sting with three atomic drops which is Rude’s kryptonite. Backdrop and Rude nearly lands on his feet and he is lucky he didn’t blow out a knee. That looked rough! The ref gets stuck in the corner and Sting hits a Stinger Splash without knowing the ref was in the way. Scorpion Deathlock is applied and out comes Harley Race. Sting backdrops him into the ring and here’s Vader! Sting fights both of them off and sends them to the floor. Rude with a clip to Sting’s knee. He goes for the Rude Awakening, but has to drop it as he is waiting for Race to be in the right spot. He stalls for time until Race grabs a chair and he accidentally hits Rude with a weak chair shot. Sting covers for the pin at 13:06 to a big pop for the Title change.
Winner and New WCW International World Heavyweight Champion: Sting via pin at 13:06
-After Regal survived by draw and Austin by DQ, they had to give the fans something. Another match that should have been better, but was hurt by a bunch of rest holds. That ending was not good either as the timing was off and the chair shot was weak. **
-Tony and Bobby discuss how Flair left a ticket for Hulk Hogan to show up and watch him beat Steamboat. They have been teasing Hogan since January, but I read that Hogan didn’t sign the deal until June and WWF had the right to match the offer. Obviously, 1994 WWF wasn’t in the best financial shape to pay that big of a contract.
Bunkhouse Match: Bunkhouse Buck (w/ Colonel Parker) vs. Dustin Rhodes
-As Nirvana once sang this is “come as you are.” Dustin sprints down the ramp and leaps over the top with and hits a sweet clothesline. That was pretty cool! Dustin slaps Buck in the face and hits another clothesline. Dustin is rocking a Texas (University) shirt and Buck is from Tennessee. Try explaining to someone in 1994 that Texas and Tennessee are both in The SEC today. Right hand sends Buck to the floor and Parker uses his hat to fan him. They trade blows on the floor and Buck gets the worst of this exchange. Dustin drops an elbow around the groin area and sends Buck into the ring. Tony mentions that Dustin said there is a big different between Texas and Tennessee. Heenan: “yeah, there are more letters in Tennessee.” That’s amazing and made me laugh and I am telling my son that joke. Buck ducks a Rhodes dive and he spills to the floor. Parker gets in a cheap shot before Buck splits him open with a 1×2 board. Now we see why Dustin is rocking a white shirt as the blood is flowing. Buck uses his suspenders to choke and sends Dustin back into the ring. Dustin throws wild punches as he is suffering from blood loss. Buck puts his cowboy boots to use and stomps Dustin in the head. Dustin has a heck of a crimson mask flowing. I doubt we ever see someone bleed more than that in this building. Better yet, I would say it’s a Stone Cold lock it never happens. Dustin pulls out a piece of paper from his pocket and throws dirt (or maybe gold dust?) in Buck’s face. It only slows Buck down for a second as he starts whipping the piss out of Dustin with a belt. Low blow from Buck as he just punts Dustin in the golden globes. Buck continues to beat on Dustin in the corner but he misses a running boot as he tried one too many. He gets stuck on the ropes and Dustin starts firing off rights and kicks. He punts Buck in the back and then drops an elbow on his face. Now Dustin takes his belt off and he drills Buck in the head with the buckle. The crowd has been waiting since the Tag Match to get into a match like this again. More shots with the belt buckle! Dustin comes off the middle ropes with his cowboy boot and he catches Buck in the face. Dustin rips Buck’s shirt off and starts whipping him with a belt. This is great! Dusty elbow! Tony: “This is Blood and Guts, old time stuff.” Huh! A clothesline sends Buck to the floor where he digs something out of his pocket, but he misses a right hand. Dustin rains down elbows in the corner and hits one last one after grabbing his crotch. Bulldog connects but Parker is on the apron and Dustin is dumb and pulls off the cover. Suplex brings Colonel into the ring and he takes some lashes from the belt. Colonel gets dumped to the floor and Bucks gets a roll-up for two. Weird time for a roll-up. They start trading blows and Buck drops to his knees. Dustin gets a one count off a right hand. Reversal in the corner, but Dustin gets a boot up. Parker slips Buck a pair of knuckle dusters and he drills Rhodes for the pin at 14:15.
Winner: Bunkhouse Buck via pin at 14:15
-Fun brawl that probably went a little too long, but still the best thing on the show since the Tag Match. Just two dudes that were angry at each other and settled things with a bloody brawl. Sometimes wrestling is just that simple. ***3/4
-Jesse is backstage and is with a ticked off Rick Rude. He is bleeding from the nose and screams about not needing any help. Vader comes in and they nearly come to blows, but are separated by Austin, Regal and The Nasty Boys. I like the intensity!
Grudge Match: The Boss vs. Big Van Vader (w/ Harley Race)
-Last month The Boss was the ref for Flair/Vader in Thunder Cage and got into it with Vader. Vader charges up the ramp and attacks The Boss. Race holds The Boss for Vader, but ends up getting knocked down. A clothesline sends Vader off the ramp and back into the ring. They are only there for a few seconds as they start trading blows on the ramp again. Short-arm clothesline from Vader! The Boss gets sent back into the ring and Vader runs the ramp and dives over the top with a splash, but Boss gets the knees up. That didn’t look as clean as they probably planned, but it was still impressive. Clothesline sends Vader to the floor and again, that should be a DQ because, as Heenan noted, The Boss drove Vader to the floor. Boss throws Vader into the railing and he spills over the top into the front row. Power from The Boss as he drops Vader throat first on the railing. This is a Big E special as we have BIG MEATY MEN SLAPPING MEAT! Vader is bleeding from the mouth! I would pop if Heenan would break out a joke about The Boss’ mom. Another slam from The Boss as Vader is bumping all over for him. Vader responds with rights and lefts. Boss cuts him off with a head-butt and then backdrops Boss to the floor. That nearly went awful as they were far away and Boss had to grab the top rope to get over safely without falling on his head. Oh, and that’s the same thing Muta did that and was disqualified. Vader brings Boss back into the ring with a suplex and hits a splash for two. They trade blows again and Boss gets a belly-to-back suplex. Vader actually looks like he is bleeding from around the eye. That happens a lot to him. HEAVY clothesline from Vader, and yes, his eye is a mess. Not Final Four 97 bad, but still bad. Vader Bomb, but Boss just grabs him and slams him down on this shoulders. Ouch! This just a hard hitting, sometimes ugly fight. Boss with a kind of DDT from the middle ropes for two. Boss off the top with a splash, but I think Vader was supposed to catch him. Boss just covers for a one count and yep, they try a second time and Vader catches him with a powerslam. Vader Bomb connects this time, but only gets two. Vader heads all the way up for the moosault, and IT HITS. Obviously that’s enough for the pin at 9:18.
Winner: Big Van Vader via pin at 9:18
-Just a way where they went all out for 9 minutes with no resting. It was ugly at times, but some matches need to be that way. You noticed the best matches on the card tonight have been ones where the people are pissed off at each other. ***1/2
-Race tries to use the nightstick, but Boss grabs it and catches Vader in the head. He then just wears out Race with shot after shot until Bockwinkel is forced to run in and stop him.
-Jesse is backstage with The Commish and The Boss. He scolds The Boss and takes away the nightstick and handcuffs and says he is no longer The Boss. This was WCW writing the character out so the WWF legal would get off their back.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair (c) vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat
-Tony brings up that five years ago Flair walked into Chicago as Champion and lost to Ricky Steamboat. This is a Flair crowd tonight as they boo Steamboat when Buffer introduces him. Flair is wearing the famous Butterfly Robe! Behind Flair is a red and yellow sign that reads, “We Want Hogan.” Beth Flair is show sitting in the front row. They go right to the mat and Steamboat gets the first escape and gets to his feet. Another go and this time Flair gets the better of the exchange and Steamboat has to push Flair to the ropes to force a break. Heenan notes the fans in Chicago would be The Easter Bunny. He is mixing up cities. Steamboat with a side headlock and gets shoved off, so he runs Flair down with a shoulder tackle. Tony is all about the history and brings up Steamboat winning The TV Title from Flair. Heenan brings up working with the AWA when Steamboat started and Verne told everyone Dragon would be World Champion one day. Steamboat SLAPS Flair in the face which pops the crowd and now everyone is ready. Dragon with a Gorilla Press Slam and a flying head scissors. He hits a dropkick and Flair rolls to the floor, but Dragon is out after and throws him back in the ring. Steamboat off the top with a chop and that gets two, so Flair bails again. Back in the ring, Flair lands a LOUD chop and Dragon fires back. Things are getting tense between the two which is nice to see. Lockup and Dragon gets a side headlock. He runs the ropes and kicks off to take the headlock back to the mat. Heenan is claiming that is illegal and I am not sure why. He then mentions that Arn and Dragon are leeches that mooch off Flair when they go out for dinners and parties. Flair backs Dragon into the corner and lands a chop, but Dragon back with another flying head scissors and back to the side headlock. Steamboat with another series of shoulder tackles and Flair throws him over the top, but he skins the cat, so no DQ. Steamboat right back to the side headlock and gets a couple two counts off it. We pan the crowd as we reach 11 minutes into this one. The crowd is starting to get a little restless with the headlock. Flair gets a knee in to break and lands another chop. He can’t get on track though as Dragon gets a drop toehold and transitions to a front facelock. Flair backs Dragon into the corner and delivers a series of shoulders to the gut. Dragon catches Flair with a backdrop out of the corner, but misses on a dropkick. Flair moves the ref where he wants him and lands a punch to the face. Another one as he is trying to break Steamboat’s nose. Snap mare and Flair drops a knee to the face. CHOP! Another snap mare and another knee to the face for two. Another two. Another two. Another two. Another two. Another two. Heenan: “If he keeps kicking out, pick something up and knock him out. Simple! It’s the law of physics.” Flair keeps trying for a pin and is getting frustrated. CHOP! Dragon responds! CHOP! Dragon responds! Flair begs off but Dragon continues to light up his chest with chops. He misses one and Flair goes to a cross-body which sends both men crashing over the top and to the floor. Flair tries a piledriver out there, but Dragon backdrops out. Dragon takes play out of Sting’s book as he tries a Splash against the railing and misses. Flair pulls him out of the crowd and sends him back in the ring. Flair goes up top and that goes as well as it always does. Dragon with a superplex for two. Whip to the corner and Flair goes up and over and tries to run the apron, but a chop sends him to the floor. Dragon off the ropes with another chop to the head. Flair begs off in the ring as we hit 20 minutes. Dragon mounts Flair in the corner and fires away with punches. Tony asks Bobby if he has anything to do if that one runs long. Heenan: “I’ve got a lot to do, but you don’t know her.” Dragon tries for a sunset flip, but Flair punches him in the face to block. He goes for another knee, but Dragon catches the leg and gets a figure-four. Heenan: “Imagine being beaten with your own hold.” Sorry Bret! Flair is screaming in pain and Heenan channels Rumble 92 as he is nearly crying and starts cursing. Flair can’t get to the ropes, but is close enough to catch Dragon in the eye to force a break. Flair tries to suplex Dragon from the ramp back in, but the leg is gone and Dragon falls on top for two. They go through their reversal sequence and Dragon gets a bridge up and they battle over a backslide. Dragon wins the battle, but Flair is out at two. Small package gets two! Flair begs off in the corner and uses that as a chance to sucker Dragon in and throw more chops. Dragon fires back because that’s what these two do against each other. Double chop from Dragon and Flair stumbles out of the ring and onto the ramp. They fight over a suplex and Dragon lands on the ramp where he chops Flair back into the ring. Flair Flip again in the corner and this time he crashes to the floor. Dragon off the apron, but Flair gets a boot up to block. Steamboat stumbles around the ring as Flair keeps breaking the ref’s count. Dragon of the top with a cross-body for two. Flair back with a clothesline and the crowd roars. Flair up top and again, this won’t end well. Dragon slams him down and comes off the top with a splash ¾ of the way across the ring, but Flair moves. He goes right after the knee and tries the figure-four, but Steamboat blocks with his hand. He can’t hold it off for long though and Flair gets the hold in tight. Dragon fights off his back to keep from getting pinned. Flair slaps Dragon in the face for good measure as the Old Nature Boy has started to creep in here and there during this match. Dragon fights enough to get to the ropes which forces a break. Flair goes back to the leg, but Dragon gets a small package for two. Backslide by Dragon gets two! We have hit 30 minutes as Dragon puts Flair on the top rope. Top Rope Superplex and Flair is twitching on the mat. Dragon can’t cover though as he cracked his head, so the ref starts a double count. The crowd is freaking out as they don’t want either man counted out. Dragon crawls and puts an arm on Flair, but it only gets two. Dragon with a roll-up for tow, but the ref slipped to the floor which delayed the count. Steamboat flips out of a suplex and gets the Double Arm Chicken Wing. Flair falls back and we get a pin at 32:20, but we don’t know who the winner is. -A second ref comes down and Commissioner Nick is in to hear the decision. Patrick tells Nick that both men’s shoulders were down. The crowd chants for Flair and Patrick raises his arm. Steamboat is pissed, but the crowd is just happy that Flair is leaving with the Championship.
Double Pin at 32:20
-The first 10 minutes was a feeling out process and Steamboat flustering Flair with a side headlock. Things picked up after that and they had the crowd rocking the final third of the match. This wasn’t their 1989 series, but it was still really good. The ending played off their history, but I am not a fan of double pins. They had nice call backs to other matches and it was just a really good match between two guys that could do this in their sleep. ****
-Nick explains the decision to Heenan and Tony as it was Steamboat’s job to beat Flair and he didn’t, but he will speak to the board. It makes me smile hearing Nick call Heenan, “Sir Robert.”
-Thanks for reading!
