WCW Saturday Night - Saturday, May 4th, 1996
- Slamboree is just two weeks away... well, two weeks and one day.
- I've stated before, and I will continue to say, that I am NOT a fan of Battle Bowl. At least not this edition.
- This year's Battle Bowl/Lethal Lottery tournament mainly consists of lower midcard to midcard wrestlers. With the exception of Flair, Savage and Anderson.
- I do not consider Guerrero, Road Warriors, Harlem Heat, Benoit, or Sullivan to be upper midcard because they a.) haven't competed for the US Title, or b.) are in a tag team.
- Though I am not saying none of the men above have talent, they just haven't been pushed to that level. If they were at that level, then this tournament would be a lot better.
- My next issue with the tournament is this...
- The "drawing" for partners is suppose to be "random" which is fine and dandy.
- But what are the odds of having Savage/Flair team up when they just happened to be in the midst of a feud. The same can go for Sullivan/Benoit.
- WCW might as well just had said, "can men coexist to possibly get a title shot". That way we know that they purposely did this, instead of sugar coating it with some bogus "random" crap.
- That parking lot brawl last Nitro was fun, but how do you have Bruiser lose? The guy loves to fight, and then he loses in basically his type of match. I don't get it.
- Also, I am not looking forward to reviewing that PPV. Just for the simple fact that there is literally going to be at least a dozen matches, with minimal importance, referring to the lethal lottery matches.
- Before I forget, I do like the title switch with Giant. I just wish he would have defeated Hulk Hogan, who has vanished from TV, since he never technically lost the strap.
- Now with Flair losing the strap, I wonder if this will take away from his feud with Savage. Sure Savage still hates Flair and Elizabeth. But, what does he left to wrestle for? Revenge, sure. But, their isn't anything he can take away from Flair. That is why the World Title was such a key asset to the feud.
- If the feud hadn't began with the title being involved, then I would understand. But, Savage got screwed out of the title, and now cannot get it back, at least not from Flair.
- Time for a few cheap plugs, http://bigelow34.proboards99.com/index.cgi great forum.
- http://colling1989.proboards41.com/index.cgi? Wrestling recaps from a lot of promotions and independent promotions ranging from the eighties to present day.
- www.2cwwrestling.com a local wrestling promotion that is very, very entertaining. I suggest checking them out. If you live in the northeast area, their shows are really fun.
- On with the show, shall we?
- WCW Saturday Night opening video
- Obviously we get footage from Nitro where Giant pinned Flair CLEANLY to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title.
- Tony and Dusty welcome everyone to the show. Tony hypes up Giant's title win.
- Dusty rambles.
- Tony announces that Lex Luger will be competing against Giant for the World Title, tonight.
- Marcus Bagwell comes over and wishes Luger luck in his match tonight.
- Bagwell says that he had dinner with Sting and Luger last night.
- Bagwell believes Luger is going to win the World Title tonight.
- That was completely odd. Bagwell hasn't had any association with Sting in several years.
- The Barbarian Vs Chris Benoit
- Brawling early on. Benoit chokes Barbarian on the floor with a camera cord.
- I don't remember seeing Barbarian getting this dominated. Well, sure when he faces someone like Hogan, but you get my point.
- Benoit with a few suplexes and he looks pretty good tonight.
- Barbarian with a nice power bomb on Benoit for a two count.
- Barbarian gets his foot stuck in the corner, which allows Benoit to gain control.
- Benoit continues to deliver boots, and apparently Barbarian has injured himself in the corner.
- Benoit wins by stoppage.
- Your Winner: Chris Benoit via referee stoppage
- Lee Marshall is standing with Chris Benoit and Arn Anderson.
- Benoit says that what everyone just saw is a small example. Then he proceeds to abruptly stops talking.
- Anderson is about talk. Benoit asks Anderson why he wasn't there when Flair lost the title.
- Benoit mentions that Dungeon of Doom. Kevin Sullivan comes over and gets in Benoit's face.
- Commercials
- Video package hyping up Konnan, the WCW US Champion.
- You know, for being a US Champion, he rarely is on television.
- Steiner Brothers Vs State Patrol
- Scott is briefly double teamed by State Patrol, Rick Steiner helps with a clothesline.
- Scott Steiner with the dangerous looking Steiner Screwdriver to pick up the win.
- Just an extended squash match.
- Your Winners: Steiner Brothers via pinfall
- Gene is standing with the Steiner Brothers.
- Rick is angry that Gene picked Rick to oppose Scott. Gene tells Rick it wasn't his fault.
- WCW appears to be really hyping up these two going at it.
- I remember when the Steiner Brothers refused to fight in that other company.
- Footage of Hulk Hogan beating up Vader, now in that other company. I'm still surprised Vader never defeated Hogan, cleanly.
- Commercials
- Gene plugs his hotline. This week on the Main Event is a submission match between VK Wallstreet and Jim Duggan.
- Billy Kidman Vs Alex Wright
- Kidman looks like he is about nineteen years old. This might be a first, Alex Wright looks older than his opponent.
- Both men are trading arm bars and arm locks early on.
- Kidman does not look like he could realistically hold Wright down with a simple arm lock.
- Nice overhead belly-to-belly suplex by Wright.
- Holy smokes, Kidman connects with the shooting star press, but "hurts" himself not allowing him to make the pin.
- Moments later, Wright connects with a German suplex to pick up the win.
- Your Winner: Alex Wright via pinfall
- Kidman looked promising in this match.
- Commercials
- A promo "Blood Runs Cold" is shown. I have no idea what the heck that is about.
- Some more footage of Giant pinning Flair to win the WCW World Heavyweight Title.
- Sting/Regal, Savage/Morrus, Liger/Malenko, all this week on Nitro.
- Liger is Jushin "Thunder" Liger, a impressive Japanese wrestler.
- Commercials
- Ugh, time for the WCW Slamboree control center.
- Gene says that the winner of the Lord of the Ring Battle Royal will get a World Title shot at Great American Bash.
- Gene runs down everything we already know.
- I will spare you the details. Well, other than Regal has knocked his partner, Belfast Bruiser out of the tournament and will instead team with Dave Taylor.
- Commercials
- Lex Luger's music hits, but MARCUS BAGWELL comes out.
- Bagwell doesn't know where Luger is, but he isn't here.
- Maybe Bagwell slashed Luger's tires of his car, like Page did to Johnny B. Badd circa 1995.
- I knew it!
- For the WCW World Heavyweight Title: ŠThe Giant Vs Marcus Bagwell
- Before the match, Giant continues to challenge Bagwell. Bagwell, in street clothes, accepts finally.
- So, Bagwell gets a title shot. What a great way to give some creditability to the World Title.
- Bagwell goes for a cross body off the ropes, Giant absorbs it.
- Giant with the choke slam, twice. Giant picks up a really easy win.
- Your Winner: And still WCW World Heavyweight Champion, The Giant via pinfall.
- After the match, Giant goes to choke slam Bagwell a third time, but Luger just happens to run down and save Bagwell, by just looking at Giant.
- Gene is standing with Lex Luger.
- Gene mentions a charity golf tournament. Luger says he is a victim of circumstances.
- Luger doesn't care if he has to beg or plead, he wants Giant on Nitro for the WCW World Title.
- Gene just happens to know that there is a WCW official in the building and HE will huddle with the official.
- Gene, you don't have that much stroke.
- Commercials
- Gary Juster is with Luger and Gene. Gene asks if Luger can get a title shot against Giant.
- Gary announces that Luger will get a title shot against Giant on Nitro.
- That was really stupid.
- I would think there wouldn't be any title shots until after the tournament. Because Lex Luger IS IN THE TOURNAMENT.
- He should be taken out of the tournament now.
- Gene calls this a miracle that Luger has gotten a title shot.
- What a joke.
- End of show.
- The Good: Kidman and Benoit looked pretty good.
- The Bad: Bagwell randomly getting a title shot.
- The Ugly: Why would Luger get a title shot, when he is in a tournament to become the number one contender? You would think Luger would now be taken out of the tournament. Lazy booking WCW...very, very lazy.