The finest War Games match of all time, Pillman and The Steiners save the event from a terrible undercard.
Diamond Dallas Page and Thomas Rich defeated Bob Cook and Firebreaker Chip (Not on WWE Network).
*/***** The Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) defeated Terry Taylor and Greg Valentine (c) for the WCW United States Tag Team Championship **/***** Johnny B. Badd defeated Tracy Smothers */***** Scotty Flamingo defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell */***** Ron Simmons defeated Mr. Hughes (with Cactus Jack) /***** Super Invader (with Harley Race) defeated Todd Champion /***** Big Josh defeated Richard Morton ***/***** Brian Pillman (c) defeated Tom Zenk for the WCW Light Heavyweight Championship ****/***** The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated Takayuki Iizuka and Tatsumi Fujinami to determine #1 contenders for the IWGP Tag Team Championship *****/***** Sting's Squadron (Sting, Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, and Nikita Koloff) defeated The Dangerous Alliance (Steve Austin, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, and Larry Zbyszko) (with Madusa and Paul E. Dangerously)
The tag match for the useless US Tag titles is ponderous and by 1992 The Freebirds have no edge whatsoever, they look like your uncles dancing at a wedding. As Grunge is ready to take over the world Hayes is shouting about Skynard. It is kinda cool to see Precious in their post-match interview though, for old-time's sake.
Johnny B. Badd and Smother have a reasonable match but it has no heat, Ventura does a fantastic job adding interest, stating that Badd's finish is illegal.
Bagwell is the worst kind of white meat, waving babyface at this point. Who knew he had the late 90s version of his character in him? The only more incredible transformation is that of Flamingo into Raven, their match is not good.
Catcus injures JYD to turn a useless tag match into a useless singles match. Mr. Hughes' ability to gain employment for so long in wrestling is a mystery.
Super Invader, a masked Hercules Hernandez, squashes Todd Champion, something that shouldn't even be on free TV.
The indignity of Richard Morton having to job for 'Big' Josh requires no other comment.
Positive - Ventura is in fine form on color.
The Steiners batter Fujinami and Iizuka in a blindingly good match, eyes swell shut, blood dribbles from lips, and suplexes are thunderous. A Fantastic bout.
Pillman and Zenk tell a good story of former partners who read each other's intentions in their match, which benefits from a build-up package. Pillman's heel tendencies come to the fore, and what a heel he will become. The highlight for me is Ross claiming Minnesota native Zenk must be one of Ventura's sentimental favorites, Ventura responds "My favorite Minnesota wrestler is Arn Anderson!" And who can blame him?
The War Games match is so perfectly booked, everyone involved is part of inter-linking feuds. Sting and Koloff add intrigue because of their storied past and trust issues, which gets a great mid-match payoff. The match is violent and blood-soaked, dramatic, and has a great finish that leads to further storyline development, despite the arm-bar. Anderson, Windham, and Austin all bleed to the point of collapse, every entrant elicits a huge crowd reaction, the Dangerous Alliance really were exceptional antagonists. Rude and Steamboat batter each other, continuing their brilliant feud. War Games didn't see the likes of this until it was resurrected in NXT. AND it all ends with a story development that makes you wanna come right back...
Diamond Dallas Page and Thomas Rich defeated Bob Cook and Firebreaker Chip (Not on WWE Network).
*/***** The Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) defeated Terry Taylor and Greg Valentine (c) for the WCW United States Tag Team Championship **/***** Johnny B. Badd defeated Tracy Smothers */***** Scotty Flamingo defeated Marcus Alexander Bagwell */***** Ron Simmons defeated Mr. Hughes (with Cactus Jack) /***** Super Invader (with Harley Race) defeated Todd Champion /***** Big Josh defeated Richard Morton ***/***** Brian Pillman (c) defeated Tom Zenk for the WCW Light Heavyweight Championship ****/***** The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott) defeated Takayuki Iizuka and Tatsumi Fujinami to determine #1 contenders for the IWGP Tag Team Championship *****/***** Sting's Squadron (Sting, Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, and Nikita Koloff) defeated The Dangerous Alliance (Steve Austin, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, and Larry Zbyszko) (with Madusa and Paul E. Dangerously)
The tag match for the useless US Tag titles is ponderous and by 1992 The Freebirds have no edge whatsoever, they look like your uncles dancing at a wedding. As Grunge is ready to take over the world Hayes is shouting about Skynard. It is kinda cool to see Precious in their post-match interview though, for old-time's sake.
Johnny B. Badd and Smother have a reasonable match but it has no heat, Ventura does a fantastic job adding interest, stating that Badd's finish is illegal.
Bagwell is the worst kind of white meat, waving babyface at this point. Who knew he had the late 90s version of his character in him? The only more incredible transformation is that of Flamingo into Raven, their match is not good.
Catcus injures JYD to turn a useless tag match into a useless singles match. Mr. Hughes' ability to gain employment for so long in wrestling is a mystery.
Super Invader, a masked Hercules Hernandez, squashes Todd Champion, something that shouldn't even be on free TV.
The indignity of Richard Morton having to job for 'Big' Josh requires no other comment.
Positive - Ventura is in fine form on color.
The Steiners batter Fujinami and Iizuka in a blindingly good match, eyes swell shut, blood dribbles from lips, and suplexes are thunderous. A Fantastic bout.
Pillman and Zenk tell a good story of former partners who read each other's intentions in their match, which benefits from a build-up package. Pillman's heel tendencies come to the fore, and what a heel he will become. The highlight for me is Ross claiming Minnesota native Zenk must be one of Ventura's sentimental favorites, Ventura responds "My favorite Minnesota wrestler is Arn Anderson!" And who can blame him?
The War Games match is so perfectly booked, everyone involved is part of inter-linking feuds. Sting and Koloff add intrigue because of their storied past and trust issues, which gets a great mid-match payoff. The match is violent and blood-soaked, dramatic, and has a great finish that leads to further storyline development, despite the arm-bar. Anderson, Windham, and Austin all bleed to the point of collapse, every entrant elicits a huge crowd reaction, the Dangerous Alliance really were exceptional antagonists. Rude and Steamboat batter each other, continuing their brilliant feud. War Games didn't see the likes of this until it was resurrected in NXT. AND it all ends with a story development that makes you wanna come right back...
