The current WCW Champs were as follows:
WCW World Champion: Hulk Hogan (7/17/1994)
WCW U.S. Champion: Steve Austin (12/27/1993)
WCW World Tag Team Champions: Pretty Wonderful (7/17/1994)
WCW World Television Champion: Lord Steven Regal (6/23/1994)

Your hosts are Tony Schiavone & Bobby Heenan.

• WCW World Tag Team Champions Pretty Wonderful vs. The Nasty Boys – non-title match
  

Since the last time we saw the Nasties, they have become lovable brawlers again after being WCW's top heel team for the last year while Pretty Wonderful captured the WCW tag belts from Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan at Bash at the Beach. Lots of CLUBBERIN in this match. The Nasties control the majority of the match until Sags gets drawn around the ring by Roma into an Orndorff clothesline. Roma poses and works the crowd while Orndorff smashes Sags' head into everything around ringside. Orndorff finally puts Sags back in the ring to play a little game of face-in-peril. Meanwhile in the front row, Blacktop Bully better known as Barry Darsow or Khrusher Khruschev or Demolition Ax or the Repo Man, gets all rowdy yelling at the Nasties with TV-Y7 insults. Sags finally backdrops out of an Orndorff PILEDRIVER and hot tags Knobbs. Roma saves his partner from a corner attack from Knobbs to set up the suplex/flying splash combo. From the other side, Sags drops a Flying Elbow and covers Orndorff for the non-title victory. (9:39) What a dumb finish to an otherwise decent match. Sags was clearly not even the legal man, but why let a silly thing like rules get in the way of a pinfall? This sets up a title match on the next episode of Saturday Night. **

Call the Hulk Hogan Hotline! He's runnin' wild on that thing, brother.

Speaking of Hogan, here he comes for an interview. Oh wait, there's a MASKED MAN behind dressed all in black. He WHACKS Hogan in the back of the leg with a lead pipe. Now we've got a Nancy Kerrigan angle on our hands. WHYYYYYYY?! WHYYYYYYY?! They should have booked Hulk Hogan vs. Shane Stant at Starrcade! That would've been money! Hogan does a stretcher job which eats up a good five minutes, leading us to believe that tonight's main event is in real jeopardy.

• WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion Steve Austin vs. Ricky Steamboat
  

The DQ rule has been waived for this match – meaning if Austin loses by disqualification, Steamboat wins the belt. They keep us tuned in to what is going on with Hogan in the back. He's heading to the hospital via ambulance. Now back to the ring for the more important stuff. Steamboat controls early with a headlock while a stage hand tells Bobby Heenan (what a great broadcast journalist!) that Hogan's injury may be fatal. Well, what does he know? He's not a doctor, he's just a stage hand. Steamboat changes over to an armbar. Austin shoves out and starts up a series of nearfalls between the two. Back to the armbar. Austin breaks free by throwing Steamboat out to the floor. Hey, that works. On the floor, Steamboat chases Austin around the ring for a double-chop. Back in, they exchange sleeper holds, but Austin gets the best of that with a jawbreaker. STUNNER! Nah, just kidding. Steamboat avoids a corner charge which causes Austin run his shoulder into the post. Steamboat walks the ropes and drops Austin's arm down hard across the top rope before nailing him with a Flying Judo Chop. That gets two. Blacktop Bully starts barking at Steamboat. Not sure what Austin did because the camera was on Darsow, but Austin breaks free from an armbar and starts slapping Steamboat around. Steamboat escapes a chinlock, but a splash off the ropes hits knees. Doesn't it always? Austin covers for two. He follows up with a vertical flying elbow drop for another nearfall. Steamboat puts the brakes on a suplex and decides to take it to that next level by placing Austin in the corner for a Superplex. Austin shoves him down awkwardly on his tailbone. This was just the beginning of the injury that kills Steamboat's career. Austin gets crotched all the same, but still manages to block the superplex! Now he gets caught coming down on Steamboat, but slams him down face-first during a FLYING BODYPRESS attempt. Nice. Austin starts slapping the challenger around. I'm not sure you want to do that, Dragon Slayer. Steamboat gets FIRED UP and double-chops the crap out of Austin. Steamboat just delivered an Arn Anderson Spinebuster! Awesome. Austin tries to leave by climbing the top rope apparently and gets taken down to the mat with an electric chair drop for 1-2-NO! Steamboat goes WrestleMania 3 on Austin with tons of rollups and nearfalls. Austin dumps Steamboat out to set him up to skin-the-cat, but the poor man needs a little assistance from Austin himself. Steamboat flips back in and rolls up Austin for 1-2-NO! Speaking of WrestleMania 3, Steamboat blocks a slam with a small package for 1-2-3. (16:08) We've got a NEW WCW U.S. Champion. The typical
great Steamboat/Austin match that we've come to expect over the last few years. Even with the injury that led to more back problems than Steamboat already possibly had, he still made it through a few more matches at house shows. Sad to know that this is his last live TV match, but still comforting to know that he didn't stick around past his welcome. His career ended on a high note in my book. ****

Eric Bischoff is standing outside the hospital as Hulk Hogan is carried in to be checked on. You'd think the President of the United States was just shot or something. Brother Bruti (Brutus Beefcake) is with Hogan and Jimmy Hart and that's all Bischoff really can tell us right now. I love how Heenan has a big goofy smile on his face the whole time.

The *NEW* Honky Tonk Man music video airs. It's the same old shtick – he drives a pink Cadillac with poodle skirt girls all around. The point is though that he's coming to WCW…soon!

Gene Okerlund interviews Nick Bockwinkel: If Hogan can't make the title match, Flair will win the WCW world title belt by forfeit. WOO!

• Dusty & Dustin Rhodes vs. Terry Funk & Bunkhouse Buck (w/Col. Robert Parker & Meng)
  

Dusty is tired of seeing his son being backstabbed seemingly every time he wants a tag partner, so now he's here to get revenge on the most recent offender: Arn Anderson. Plus, he just plain doesn't like Terry Funk for reasons that go WAY back to the '70s and Bunkhouse Buck is well…Bunkhouse Buck. It's a big brawl to start with the Rhodes boys ruling and cleaning house on the Stud Stable. Once the action settles down into a tag match, Dustin avoids a monkey flip from Buck and stomps him square on the face. Buck doesn't even look mobile enough to pull off a monkey flip. Dustin gets cornered by the Stud Stable, but he fights out and cleans house again. Now Dusty tags in and delivers Bionic Elbows to Buck and taunts Funk a little bit. Buck takes over on Dusty and whips him into the corner, but Dustin shoots up on the top turnbuckle to save his daddy from the impact. Bionic Elbow to Buck! Bionic Elbow to Funk! Double Bionic Elbows! He whips the Stud Stable into each other down in the corner for a good ol' time. Dustin tags back in and takes a cowboy boot to the head behind the ref's back. False tag spot comes about and the Stud Stable encounter some miscommunication problems as Buck nails Funk with a boot by accident. Dusty tags and goes to work on Buck as Arn Anderson comes down to ringside and posts Dustin. In the ring, Funk starts stomping Dusty's arm looking to possibly to break it. Dusty wises up and dives for a hot tag to Dustin. Lariat to Funk! Lariat to Buck! Dusty delivers a pair of Bionic Elbows to the heels as Dustin hits Buck with the BULLDOG! Now Arn is in the ring and on top of Dustin for the DQ. (7:19) Another excellent performance from everybody and the DQ finish makes a ton of sense considering there's a Wargames coming up. Arn gives Dustin another DDT just like at the Bash of the Beach. Dusty puts down Arn with a Bionic Elbow. Meng gets in the ring and he dares Dusty to take a shot at him. Dusty decides it's best to leave…and grab a wooden chair. Dusty busts the chair over Meng's head, but that has NO EFFECT. Meng kicks Dusty down and applies a NERVE HOLD! Security people finally break this up. **½

Back at the hospital, Eric Bischoff interviews Hulk Hogan's attorney. Bet he's a busy man these days. He tells us that Hogan is going against his advice and everyone else's advice and says that he will be at the Clash to face Ric Flair. Hulkamania is just too powerful to be persuaded by mere rubes like Jimmy Hart and Brother Bruti!

Gene Okerlund brings out Ric Flair and Sensuous Sherri. Wow, Sherri is wearing all black with a veil and everything. CREEPY! Hogan's mishaps are not his problem. No matter what, he wants Hogan to walk that aisle (WOO!) and hand him the WCW world title belt. Not just that, but Hogan also has to tell Flair that he is the greatest of all-time.

After the break, Gene Okerlund tells us that Bischoff says Hogan is on his way back to the Five Seasons Center. Heenan just cannot believe it.

• WCW World Television Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/Sir William) vs. Antonio Inoki – non-title match
  

This all started because Inoki received an award at the Bash at the Beach and Regal became jealous. They try for a pseudo-shoot fight, but it fails in my book. During the match, they cut to Hogan walking back into the building. He's had that belt wrapped around his waist the whole time? The crowd isn't really into it, but out of respect for Inoki they pop for the finish when he wins with the CHOKE SLEEPER. (8:41) No offense to Inoki, but I'm glad this was as far as this feud went. *½

• WCW World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Ric Flair (w/Sensuous Sherri)
  

Flair starts out in the ring calling Hogan out to bring him the belt so he doesn't have get hurt anymore. He comes out late and limping, but he's here. Hogan lunges at Flair and beats him down to the mat. Hmm, guess that means he won't be forfeiting a title. Hogan NO-SELLS all of Flair's chops and sends him flying out to the floor with the Flair Flip. Hogan posts Flair down on the floor and throws him back in the ring only to choke Flair with some fan's jacket. What a jerk. Flair goes to the eyes, but gets slammed off the top. Flair gets punched out over the top rope and down on the ring steps! Ouch. They brawl in the aisle way with Hogan in total control. Flair gets posted again, but avoids a chair shot. Back in the ring, Flair takes advantage of being the first guy in and delivers a suplex. Hogan NO-SELLS, but remembers to limp. Geez, lead pipes must be the kryptonite to this guy. They head back to the floor again where Hogan chases Flair around the ring with the championship belt. Back in, Flair FINALLY goes for the knee. It's time to go to school, buddy. Hogan kicks away the FIGURE-FOUR, so Flair goes to work on the knee some more. Now it's FIGURE-FOUR time. Hogan sells and then doesn't sell as he powers out. He continues to walk around while Flair kicks him in his bad knee until he points the finger. Oh no he didn't. He punches and Big Boots Flair, but he can't stand up on his bad knee. With some help from the ropes, he's back on his feet. LEGDROP to Flair. No cover though because of the knee. Flair wakes up and grabs the FIGURE-FOUR again until Hogan reverses the hold. While the ref is talking to Jimmy Hart, Sherri runs over and WHACKS Hogan in the knee with the point of a high heel shoe. Hogan falls off the apron to the floor and then gets counted out! Flair wins! (14:26) Flair celebrates with the belt until Hogan beats him down and takes it back. Here comes Shane Stant again to work over Hogan's knee. He joins forces with Flair, but that doesn't mean they know each other. Well, it's pretty obvious that the masked man is Arn Anderson right now. But Flair is innocent until proven guilty! Flair applies the FIGURE-FOUR while Sherri kicks at Hulk and the masked man runs to the back. STING IS HERE! Did he not pass that masked fellow on the way to the ring? Now he makes the save for the Hulkster. It seems the tables have turned, my friend. Flair and Sherri get the heck out of Dodge and takes the belt with them. ***

Final Thoughts: This Clash did a good job of moving things forward even if the future did just lead to Hogan and friends being the central part of the company. But for now anyways, the Nasties are getting over as a face team again, the Steamboat/Austin feud is finally paid off with a deserved title switch, Wargames is basically set, and the Hogan/Flair feud is continued and given some fresh air thanks to the masked man. You've got one great match here and one that's kind of interesting considering the buildup throughout the whole night even if they did just rip off what they did with Sting years before. Hey, but that's the wrestling biz for ya. By the way, I believe the Hogan/Flair rematch received the highest cable rating ever at the time. I'll give Clash 28 a thumbs up.

The current WCW Champs were as follows:
WCW World Champion: Ric Flair (12/27/1993)
WCW U.S. Champion: Steve Austin (12/27/1993)
WCW World Tag Team Champions: Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan (5/22/1994)
WCW World Television Champion: Lord Steven Regal (6/23/1994)

Your hosts are Tony Schiavone & Bobby Heenan. At the time, this was the biggest PPV gate that WCW had ever generated with a crowd of 14,000. The previous record was the Great American Bash in 1988 with 13,000. Just a little bit of trivia there for you.

Country music's "flavor of the month" Daron Norwood sings the national anthem.

• WCW World Television Champion Lord Steven Regal (w/Sir William) vs. Johnny B. Badd
  

Sting was supposed to get the TV title shot here up until Sensuous Sherri dressed up like a man and clawed Sting's eyes out during a match with Ric Flair. As wacky and ridiculous as that sounds, she was in fact barred from the building. She doesn't usually do those sorts of things like cross-dressing. She really can't pull it off. In fact, Hulk Hogan made the save much like at the Clash and bing bam boom – Sting is off the card where the Hulkster makes his big WCW wrestling debut. Coincidence? I choose to think not. Badd gets the title shot and that's a-okay with me. The man continues to improve by leaps and bounds since his debut in 1991. Badd is FIRED UP tonight. Regal can't keep him down and begs off in the corner. They do a cool nearfall sequence from a knucklelock. Badd goes for the arm and Regal tries to wear him down with a headlock. Badd escapes the headlock and slams Regal's arm down on the mat to send him rolling out to the floor for a talk with Sir William. Back in, Badd does the same thing and grounds Regal with a hammerlock. Badd continues to crank on the arm while the director looks over at Hogan's "Thunder in Paradise" co-star who happens to be sitting beside Linda Hogan. She's all smiles tonight. Regal knees out, but Badd quickly delivers a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. He levels Regal with the KISS THAT DON'T MISS! Ahh, Regal rolls out. Here comes Badd with the plancha on both Regal AND Sir William. Badd sunset flips in and Sir William helps out his man with the umbrella, but the ref Nick Patrick kicks Regal's hands free and he falls back for 1-2-NO! Regal rolls through and cradles Badd up for 1-2-3. (10:45) Hey, I thought this was a really good opener even if the finish was kind of botchy. You get the feeling after this match that its only a matter of time before he dethrones Regal and that's exactly what happens. ***

Gene Okerlund awards Antonio Inoki for a lifetime of contributions to wrestling. Regal interrupts and asks why he hasn't received an award. He's in the House of Lords, you know! Regal calls himself far superior to Inoki, which leads to their match at the next Clash. The crowd responds when Inoki takes of his jacket, leaving me surprised that they remember who Inoki is. It's pretty cool because Regal has already disposed of one legend in Larry Zbyszko and now there's another one he seems to feel intimidated by. Regal ~ "I'm sick of these so-called bloody legends!"

• Vader (w/Harley Race) vs. The Guardian Angel
  

Jesse Ventura replaces Bobby Heenan for the next two matches while Bobby Heenan goes and checks on something in the back. Ventura just does not care at this stage in his WCW announcing career. Tony pretty much works alone here due to Ventura's apathy probably caused by Hogan's mere existence in the building. But I digress. This is a rematch from Spring Stampede where The Boss was stripped of his gimmick as a policeman. Now he's part of the Guardian Angel group. He does good things without a nightstick. Harley Race gets dumped immediately, allowing Vader to blast Angel from behind. Whoa, Vader connects with a spin kick. Didn't get much air, but still. Angel ducks a clothesline and drills Vader with a back suplex. He follows up with a slam and they go to the floor where Race gets decked again. Once again the distraction caused by Race allows Vader to attack from behind. Back in, they trade blows. Angel gets the best of Vader off that exchange, but Vader reverses a corner whip and splashes him down. Angel sits down on Vader when he tries a Flying Sunset Flip! Vader goes to the eyes and works over the leg by bending back the wrong way. VADER BOMB connects! Could it be time for the VADERSAULT? Yes it is. Vader hurts his ribs though. Race gets involved again and tries to come off the top rope, but Angel is there to slam him down. Vader takes a clothesline out to the floor, so Angel slides out to meet him with a right hand. Angel gives Vader a suplex back in, but Angel shoulderblocks Vader into the ref. More like brushed him up against the referee. Meanwhile, Race hands Vader a police baton. Vader doesn't get to use it though as Angel punches him down until he drops the baton. Now Angel picks up the baton and the ref can't help but see that. He calls for the bell and awards the match to Vader by DQ. (7:58) Another decent brawl from these two. They both seemed rather motivated and when that happens, I can't see these two having a bad match. Bad finish though. ***¼

Tony asks Jesse who he favors in the Hogan/Flair match. He quickly responds with an annoyed, "I've already made my pick – 'Nature Boy' Ric Flair."

• Dustin Rhodes & Arn Anderson vs. Terry Funk & Bunkhouse Buck (w/Col. Robert Parker & Meng)
  

We've got four of my faves in there right now. By the way, this was Meng's WCW PPV debut as Col. Parker's bodyguard. AA and Buck shrugs off a couple collar-and-elbow tie-ups to start. Now Rhodes comes in and starts CLUBBERIN on Buck. Funk tags, but Rhodes won't let him into the ring and punches him out to the floor. Funk goes crazy on the floor and swings at Meng and Parker. Back in, he backs Rhodes into the ropes and fires away. The whole time Funk is mouthing off and belittling Rhodes for being a Rhodes. Funk runs into a slam and gets dumped over the top rope to the floor. The ref didn't see it though. Now Buck gets the same treatment on the other side with the ref looking at Funk. Back in again, Rhodes delivers a pair of atomic drops to the Stud Stable. Funk manages to back suplex out of a headlock and tags Buck. Rhodes whiffs on a crossbody and flies out to the floor. I love it when he does that. That allows Funk to do a little damage. He throws Rhodes back in for a chinlock. From there, Buck applies an ab stretch and gets leverage help from Funk. Tag to Funk, he delivers a reverse neckbreaker to set up the PILEDRIVER. They collide for a double-KO spot, but Funk lands in his corner and tags Buck. Rhodes gets double-teamed in the heel corner until AA has enough and comes over to help out. After the ref puts Arn back in his corner, Rhodes fights out with Bionic Elbows! He hits the Lariat on Funk and crotches Buck up on the top rope. Dustin throws Buck on top of Funk and finally makes a tag to AA! With Dustin dazed, Arn turns on Rhodes and drops him with a DDT! Meanwhile, the ref is with Meng. Anderson puts Funk on top as the ref counts three. (11:36) It's one of those turns that you're not surprised that it happened, but you're glad that it did happen. The Arn Anderson that we all know and love is back and as bad as ever. After the match, Arn Anderson tries to *break* Dustin's arm. That's some '80s goodness right there. Awesome performance from everybody here. I really enjoyed this match. ***½

• WCW U.S. Heavyweight Champion Steve Austin vs. Ricky Steamboat
  

Austin has his awesome "Dragon Slayer" tights on. He Pearl Harbors Steamboat and goes after the knee, but Steamboat chops back and hits Old School. Yes-the Undertaker ropewalk. He dropkicks Austin into a tree of woe position, leaving him wide open for Steamboat. Steamboat stays on the arm until Austin plays 'possum when his knee "gives out". Steamboat refuses to fall for that trick and stomps Austin in the corner. Austin rolls out and yanks Steamboat out, but gets chased around ringside and back in the ring. Steamboat grabs a sleeper and shoves Austin off into the corner for a rollup that gets two. Back to the arm. Austin's trick knee acts up right into Steamboat's balls. Austin takes over on Steamboat with clotheslines and such. Steamboat tries to rope-a-dope and winds up stumbling out to the floor. Austin brings him in with a nice suplex for two. Steamboat gets angry and grabs a choke lift before going back to the arm. Austin comes back with an Alabama Slam. Austin drops a flying knee and pounds on him into the corner until Steamboat trips him up and catapults Austin into the top of the ringpost. That gets two. Austin quickly reverses a whip for a backdrop and regains control. During a chinlock, he manages to block an electric chair drop. He tries to get a pinfall during a knucklelock, but Steamboat won't stay down. Austin tries to splash him, but hits knees. He's still able to keep control of the match and hits a Bossman straddle. Austin lowers his left knee pad and charges at Steamboat, but gets caught with a STUNGUN. Austin rolls out to the apron and shoves Steamboat down onto the guardrail. Steamboat returns the favor by shoving Austin off into the ringpost. Back in, Steamboat connects with the Flying Judo Chop. Austin tries to get intentionally DQ'ed a couple times by throwing Steamboat over the top rope, but Steamboat skins-the-cat both times. D'oh! They go through a tombstone piledriver reversal sequence that takes both men from corner to corner until Steamboat delivers one to Austin! Steamboat goes for it all with the FLYING BODYPRESS, but Austin yanks the ref in harm's way. Lucky for him, Steamboat lands on his feet. Ref Randy Anderson threatens to call for the bell, but Steamboat begs him to not do that. Austin rolls through a Steamboat crossbody block and gets two. Now he puts his feet on the ropes and gets 1-2-3. (20:16) Ha! I don't mind the finish here because it shows Austin's desperation after trying to get intentionally disqualified earlier. This was probably the best match they had had up to this point. ***¾

In the back, Gene Okerlund crashes the Stud Stable party. Apparently, AA double-crossed Rhodes for the chicks. He's sitting on the couch with a handful of ladies. Funk is on his knees babbling on about hating Dusty Rhodes. Col. Parker leads his boys in a toast for the most honorable man he knows, Arn Anderson. That sets up a great promo from Arn. He told Dustin he would get the old Arn Anderson, and that's exactly what he got. Awesome.

• WCW World Tag Team Champions Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan (w/Dave Sullivan) vs. Pretty Wonderful
  

Well this looks to be the absolute low point of the evening. Lots of posing and stalling from the challengers to start. The tag champs actually incorporate some team work much to Heenan's surprise. Cactus does that body block in the corner when Sullivan gets whipped in to cushion the blow. The heels try the same thing, but that always backfires. Cactus and Orndorff brawl to the floor, which is what those two are good at. See Superbrawl 3 if you're confused. The champs work on Orndorff's arm for a while. That is until Orndorff backs Cactus into the corner and buries some knees. Roma tags in and does more of the same. Cactus counters a suplex on Orndorff and tags Sullivan. He grabs both Roma and Orndorff for turnbuckle smashes. Now the champs revert back to the arm while the crowd amuses themselves up by doing the wave! Heenan says they're only fourteen years behind by starting that up. Roma finally gets a tag and fires away on Sullivan in the corner. During a pier-six brawl that follows, Orndorff delivers a PILEDRIVER to Sullivan for 1-2-NO! Dave slips his brother Kevin's foot on the bottom rope. Roma hits a Flying Elbow Drop for 1-2-NO! Orndorff hits the Shaky Elbow Drop and applies a chinlock. More basic face-in-peril stuff follows until Roma misses a FLYING SPLASH. Hot tag to Cactus, he hits the Bossman straddle on Orndorff. Sullivan gets rid of Roma while Cactus delivers the DOUBLE-ARM DDT to Orndorff. He covers, but the ref is busy with the Sullivan brothers. What the…? Roma trips up Cactus as he comes off the ropes and holds his feet down as Orndorff jumps on top of Cactus for 1-2-3. (20:13) We've got NEW WCW world tag team champions. What a retarded finish with WAY too much time given to this match. *

In case you haven't been keeping count, it's Heels – 5, Babyfaces – 0.

• WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair (w/Sensuous Sherri) vs. Hulk Hogan (w/Jimmy Hart)
  

SHAQ IS HERE! It's cool because we're in Orlando. He'll award the winner with the strap. The crowd is split right down the middle I'd say. Maybe 60 Hogan/40 Flair at best. They get in each others faces until Flair shoves Hogan back. Hogan shoulderblocks Flair down a bunch. Flair dodges a tie-up and struts, so Hogan does the same. Of course in Hogan's case, he looks a lot dumber doing it. Flair grabs an arm wringer until Hogan reverses into a cross armbreaker. Flair stomps on Hogan's face and retreats to the floor to stand behind Sherri. She doesn't care though. Sherri DARES Hogan to take a swing at her. Back in, Hogan gets Flair up against the ropes and paintbrushes the back of his head. Hogan hits the corner clothesline and goes for the Big Boot, but Flair sneaks out to the floor and hides behind Sherri again. Back in again, Flair's catches Hogan with a knee and takes over with chops. Flair hits the Rolling Knee Drop, but Hogan NO-SELLS. A ten-count corner punch is followed by a clothesline. Sherri grabs Hulk's leg, which allows an opening for Flair to chop block him. Flair chops him out to the floor for Sherri to bash Hogan with a chair, but Jimmy Hart makes the save. Back in, Flair drops a single sledge and another Rolling Knee Drop. This time Hogan sells the knee drop, but comes right back with chops out of the corner. Flair goes low with a rabbit punch and snapmares Hulk over for a chinlock. Eventually, Hogan elbows out and delivers a pair of shoulderblocks. Hogan unloads and whips Flair into the corner for the Flair Flip out to the apron where Hogan floors him with a clothesline. On the floor, Hogan delivers a back suplex and then gives Flair a suplex back in, but misses the LEG DROP. He shouldn't have been cupping his ears for the humanoids. Flair tries twice for the FIGURE-FOUR, but Hogan kicks him off. Hogan NO-SELLS a perfect vertical suplex. Oh geez. Hogan hits the Big Boot and covers for 1-2-NO! Sherri pulls ref Randy Anderson out and slings him into the guardrail. Jimmy Hart takes a shoe to the face! Hogan looks over at Sherri and takes another chop block to the back of his knee. Sherri splashes Hogan before Flair locks in the FIGURE-FOUR. Now we have ref Nick Patrick officiating. Hogan makes the ropes, but gets choked with Sherri's hose. Flair stays on Hulk's knee and starts chopping until he begins to no longer sell. Hogan runs into a back elbow from Flair. Sherri and Flair both head up top. Hogan rolls away from another Sherri splash while Flair is slammed down to the mat. Sherri's back up on the apron and right before Mr. T runs down and carries her out, she slips some knux to Flair. WHAM! Hogan gets nailed as Flair covers for 1-2-NO! It's HULK UP time. One punch, two punch, three punch. Big Boot. LEG DROP. (21:56) We've got a NEW WCW world champion. Afterwards, Hogan celebrates with his two black friends Shaq and Mr. T before posing for several more minutes with Jimmy Hart jumping around like an idiot. It's Hogan/Flair. What more do I need to say? Who hasn't seen this match? ***¼

As Hogan goes to the back for a post-match interview, he runs into his cronies Brutus Beefcake and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. What's Brian Pillman doing there?

Final Thoughts: Isn't it amazing how much WCW kissed Hogan's rear end for this entire PPV? All heel victories before this match. Not just heel victories, but cheap wins, a swerve, and a referee who made a completely wrong decision based in favor of a heel. It's really unbelievable how WCW does this considering they had been doing very well in 1994 up to this point booking-wise. While there is some stupid booking on WCW's behalf, the talent still managed to put together a very solid card. There's every reason for me to give this show a thumbs up. First of all, how to NOT book a PPV. Secondly, for historical reasons because of the changing times in WCW. And third, there is a lot of good wrestling here. The best way to enjoy this six-match card though is probably to just turn it off after Steamboat/Austin and think about what might could have been. Like I said, thumbs up for Bash at the Beach.

And now for a special bonus match!

• Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair (w/Sensuous Sherri) – (Main Event 7/24/94)
  

This aired on the Sunday after Bash at the Beach where Flair lost the WCW world title to Hogan and Steamboat failed to capture the WCW U.S. title from Steve Austin. No titles on the line – only pride. Pretty cool seeing these two at the absolute top of the company wrestling on the C-level show. They exchange hammerlocks to start. Flair gets in some cheap shots to take over and dumps Steamboat over the top rope to Sherri. She works her magic down on the floor. Steamboat wants to beat her up SO bad, but you can't do that on television! Flair nails Steamboat from behind and wildly chokes him on the apron. Some chops wake up Steamboat as he mounts his comeback. Steamboat delivers the ten-count corner comeback and then chops Flair out to the floor. Steamboat gives chase and throws Flair back in the ring. Steamboat hits a backdrop and a dropkick. Flair begs off and goes to the eyes. He suckers Steamboat into the corner for his infamous corner pin using the ropes, but Steamboat will not stay down for three. Flair gets shoved down by the ref and takes a press slam from Steamboat. Flair Flips out onto the apron and takes a double-chop to the floor. He pulls Sherri in front of him and pops Steamboat, but gets chopped anyway. Back in, Flair blocks the Flying Judo Chop with a right hand to the gut. Ref gets bumped and Steamboat rolls up Flair for a few irritating pin attempts. Steamboat slams Flair off the top and hooks on the Figure-Four. Sherri gets involved and brings Steamboat over to her for an atomic drop that puts her back on the floor. With the ref still down, Steamboat heads up top for the FLYING BODYPRESS and connects! Wait a second, Steve Austin runs in to beat down Steamboat as the ref regroups and DQ's Flair. (12:04) This was more like sports entertainment BS than a proper finale for the greatest rivalry of all time. **¾

Bizarre boxer vs. wrestler match from 1976- not really mixed martial arts nor boxing nor wrestling. Just kicking;).

Footnotes:

^[1]: Gene & Ole Anderson were announced on television as having won a tournament in California to become the NWA World tag team champions.

^[2]: Ric Flair & Greg Valentine were stripped of the belts for continually ending their matches via disqualification.

^[3]: This was a tournament final.

^[4]: In December 1981, Gene Anderson was legitimately injured. Therefore, the titles were vacated.

^[5]: This was a tournament final. Ole Anderson & Stan Hansen would be stripped of the belts in September 1982.

^[6]: This was a tournament final.

^[7]: The titles were vacated once Ricky Steamboat announced his retirement from wrestling. Therefore, a tournament was started.

^[8]: This was a tournament final.

^[9]: The "Freebird" rule was put into effect where fellow Russian comrade Krusher Khrushchev could also defend the titles along with either Ivan or Nikita.

^[10]: After attacking NWA referee Nikita Koloff at Wrestle War in May, Rotunda and Williams were stripped of the belts and a tournament was started.

^[11]: This was a tournament final.

^[12]: The NWA world tag titles were reinstated. Therefore, a tournament was started and this match was the finals. At the time, Williams and Gordy were also the WCW world tag team champions, which merged the two together.

^[13]: Lord Steven Regal was allowed to substitute for the injured Brian Pillman.

^[14]: This was a tournament final.

^[15]: The titles were held up in a RNR Express vs. PG-13 match on June 26, 1995. This was the rematch to settle the dispute. Later on between September and October, the titles were once again vacated.

^[16]: This was a tournament final.

^[17]: This was a match held to crown new champions after Gannosuke & Goto vacated the title a month earlier. The title was vacated again in August 1997.

^[18]: The Rock N Roll Express were awarded the titles on WWF Raw is War.

^[19]: This was the first time a rival NWA title changed hands on a WWF program.

^[20]: This was a four-way match which also included Kit Carson & Khris Germany and Tully Blanchard & Tom Pritchard.The titles were held up on March 3, 1999 when they no-showed a title defense due to inclement weather.

^[21]: This was a match to decide new NWA world tag team champions.

^[22]: Jackie Fulton substituted for an injured Reno Riggins.

^[23]: Jeff Justice was substituting for Drake Dawson.

^[24]: When the NWA and TNA joined together, the titles were vacated on June 28, 2002.

^[25]: This was a tournament final. The belts were vacated on August 14, 2002 after double-pin situation in a match against Jeff Jarrett & Ron Killings.

^[26]: Chris Harris and Brian Lee were the last two men in the ring at the end of a 20-man 'Gauntlet for the Gold' match, which meant their respective teams would square off for the vacant tag titles later that same night.

^[27]: Triple X took advantage of the "Freebird" rule where Christopher Daniels, Elix Skipper or Low-Ki could defend the titles along with another member of their team.

^[28]: 3 Live Kru also took advantage of the "Freebird" rule where BG James, Konnan or Ron Killings could defend the titles along with another member of their team.

^[29]: Vince Russo stripped AJ Styles and Abyss of the titles on March 3, 2004 for failure to defend the titles.

^[30]: This was a tournament final.

^[31]: Match aired on TV June 4, 2004.

^[32]: Match aired on TV September 24, 2004.

^[33]: Match aired on TV October 15, 2004.

^[34]: With the 3 Live Kru's title victory, the "Freebird" Rule for the team goes back into effect for them.

^[35]: Match aired on TV April 29, 2005. The title was held up on October 5, 2005 after a match against Eric Young and Cassidy Riley at the NWA 57th Anniversary show in Springfield, TN.

^[36]: This was the rematch to settle the dispute.

^[37]: Match aired on TV October 22, 2005.

^[38]: Match aired on TV August 24, 2006.

^[39]: This match also included Incognito and Sicodelico Jr. to determine who would capture the vacated NWA world tag team titles.

Credit goes to: PWI Almanac, wrestling-titles.com, and ProWrestlingHistory.com

Cronaca: Antonio Inoki (L'Uomo Tigre)
Commento tecnico: Sloth il prete (Piers Plowman)

Angolo bianco: Raoul (Ken il guerriero)
Angolo nero: Robin Hood (Leggende popolari inglesi)

Arbitro: sir Walter Scott

- Salve e benvenuti al quarto incontro del Budokai Royale da Antonio Inoki e Sloth il prete!
- Aye, aye!
- All'angolo bianco abbiamo un nero cavaliere di tremenda fama: Raoul, noto anche come "Re di Hokuto" e "Grande Re"...
[si odono urla strazianti e grida di aiuto]
- ...Cosa sono queste urla, Sloth?
- He doth ryseth up wit' evil deeds! Il palazzetto si è riempito di sgherraglia crestata del Re di Hokuto! Stanno marchiando a fuoco tutti gli spettatori con il suo simbolo! Per chi rifiuta c'è la morte!
- Un'entrata in scena degna della sua fama...
[si ode un lieto cantare]
- ... Ma laddove un nero tiranno opprime le brava gente, al grido di "tally-ho, tally tally, tally ho" apparirà sempre lui! Nell'angolo nero sono felice di presentare il gaio fuorilegge Robin di Loxley, noto anche come Robin Goodfellow, ma celebre col nome di Robin Hood!
- I ken rimes of Robyne Hude!
- Sai dirci qualcosa di più, Sloth?

- Lytil John and Robyne Hude wayth-men ware commendyd gude: In Yngil-wode and Barnysdale Thai oysyd all this tyme thare trawale!
- Capisco. Posso vedere Little John in prima fila, tra il pubblico. Sta accoppando dozzine di soldati del Grande Re col suo fido bastone! Ma ecco che i contendenti si sistemano all'angolo. L'arbitro ha qualcosa da ridire sul cavallo...
- Thou shalt... Ehm: puoi fidarti, Antonio. Sir Scott è un vero esperto di tenzoni... E questo non è un torneo! Ops, Raoul sfiora con un dito uno tsubo sulla tempia dell'arbitro! Sento odore di squalifica!
- Pare di no! Walter Scott morirà tra atroci sofferenze solo tra tre giorni, quindi tutto regolare! Inizia l'incontro! Robin Hood sale in equilibrio sulle corde e incocca una freccia! Si possono portare armi, Sloth?
- Non ci sono regole al Budokai Royale! Ma credo che il problema sia un altro! Raoul non è certo lo sceriffo di Nottingham!
- Puoi ben dirlo, Sloth! Usare una freccia contro un uomo di Hokuto, che errore! Tecnica del vuoto tra le due dita! Raoul prende al volo la freccia tra indice e medio e la scaglia indietro! E' già finita, Sloth?
- No! Robin incocca rapido e scaglia una freccia sulla freccia, fermandola! Una tecnica degna di lui! Subito si flette sulle corde e si lancia nel vuoto!
- Raoul risponde caricando l'aura! Il palazzetto si riempe di lingue di energia rossastra, ma... Dov'è Robin?
- E' appeso al lampadario! Si vede che ha in sé Errol Flynn e Douglas Fairbanks! Oscilla, estrae la spada e attacca Raoul dall'alto!
- Un errore fatale! Evidentemente non è conoscenza della fine che ha fatto Rey, l'uccello d'acqua di Nanto. Raoul si sgancia il mantello e lo lancia sopra di sé, avvolgendo l'avversario in picchiata! Sento odore di ATATATATATATAH!
- Dredefulle of sighte!
- Non voglio guardare.
[...]
- Come è finita, Sloth?
- Hear undernead dis laitl stean
Lais Robert Earl of Huntingtun
Near arcir der as hie sa geud
An pipl kauld im Robin Heud
Sic utlaws as hi an is men
Vil England nivr si agen.

[ IV - continua ]

There are allot of interesting facts about Wrestlemania III, it was held in the The Pontiac Silverdome no event to take place in the Silverdome was bigger than WrestleMania III, with 93,173 the WWE set a world indoor attendance record witch still stands today. Wrestlemania III was also the first of only a few Wrestlemania's not to feature a Tag Team Championship match and was the first Wrestlemania to feature a hair vs hair match when "Rowdy" Roddy Piper took on “Adorable” Adrian Adonis. The match was billed as Pipers "retirement" match but he went on to wrestle for over a decade after that. Wrestlemania III was also the first time the Intercontinental Championship changed hands at a Wrestlemania, as Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage for the title in a classic battle which was probably the best wrestled match on the card.

And of course Wrestlemania III saw one of the most memorable moments in wrestling history when Hulk Hogan body slammed Andre The Giant to retain the WWF Title, the WWE would like you to believe this was the first time Andre The Giant had been body slammed but the truth is Japaneses wrestling legend Antonio Inoki was the first to body slam Andre in Japan a few years before Wrestlemania III. If you don't know anything about Antonio Inoki look him up he maybe the most accomplished man in both pro-wrestling and MMA history and it's unbelievable he isn't in the WWE Hall of Fame.

The Date:

• March 29, 1987

The Card:

• Can Am Connection def. Cowboy Bob Orton & Magnificent Muraco
• Full Nelson Challenge
  Billy Jack Haynes vs. Hercules went to a double count-out
• Hillbilly Jim, Little Beaver & The Haiti Kid def. King Kong Bundy, Lord Littlebrook & Little Tokyo by DQ when Bundy flattened Little Beaver
• Loser Bows Match
  King Harley Race w/ Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Fabulous Moolah def. Junkyard Dog
• The Dream Team, Brutus Beecake & Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, w/ Luscious Johnny Valiant and Dino Bravo def. The Rougeau Brothers
• “Rowdy” Roddy Piper def. “Adorable” Adrian Adonis w/ Jimmy Hart
• Hart Foundation & “Dangerous” Danny Davis w/ Jimmy Hart def. British Bulldogs & Tito Santana
• “The Natural” Butch Reed def. Koko B. Ware
• Intercontinental Championship
  Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat w/ George “The Animal” Steele def. Randy "Macho Man" Savage w/ Elizabeth to become new champion
• Honky Tonk Man w/ Jimmy Hart def. Jake “The Snake” Roberts w/ Alice Cooper
• Nikolai Volkoff & Iron Sheik def. Killer Bees by DQ
• Main Event for WWE Championship
  Hulk Hogan def. Andre the Giant w/ Bobby "The Brain" Heenan to retain

Celebrities In Attendance:

• Alice Cooper
• Bob Uecker
• Mary Hart
• Aretha Franklin

See the main event from Wrestlemania III Hulk Hogan vs Andre The Giant after the break..............

-sideshowRaheem