WCW/ECW Showdown in Charlotte PPV 9/8/96 Flair vs. Anderson!

[jackknight]

9/8/96 - Independence Arena Charlotte, NC





Welcome to Showdown in Charlotte everyone, all HELL IS BREAKING LOOSE!!!! Sting and Chris Benoit have locked horns and these bulls are not backing down, “whoa man they is getting funky like a monkey live and in color wight here wight now!” Sting and Benoit have a handful of each other’s hair in their left hand, and are trading knuckles to the nose with their rights! “It looks like a Hockey fight,” exclaims the Genius to which Tony and Gene agree, Dusty doesn’t have much to add to the hockey fight commentary department. Benoit must’ve taken one to the nose or throat because his wrestling instincts kicked in, he shot the double, and dumped the Stinger right on the top of his head, Benoit rises up and is firing haymakers from inside of Sting’s guard. Sting reverses and is now firing away from inside Benoit’s guard. They roll, and roll, and take a nasty spill out onto the floor. Neither man is deterred though; Sting fires Benoit into the steel steps, wait, NO reversal by Benoit! Sting is sent back of his head first into the side of the steps and they go flying!

That sick bastard, Benoit has a demented grin, and a bloody lip to boot, lays Sting face first on the bottom part of the steps, and STOMPS HIS FACE! Oh my! Benoit now goes after the top part of the steps, he raises it high above his head, “OH MY GOD, Get somebody out here now, he is going to end Sting’s career right here,” panics Schiavone. Sting rolls off the steps just in the nick of time, but he is clearly wounded, and trying to create some space, but Benoit is stalking his prey. Benoit charges, Sting steps to the side, and hip tosses Benoit back first into the steel barricade. The Stinger starts cleaning off the Time Keeper’s table, “now wait a second here, this is way out of hand, where is security?!” wonders Gene! Sting lets out a big howl as he obviously has something planned for the Crippler, he hooks Benoit’s legs, IS HE GOING FOR A POWERBOMB?

Benoit flips over Sting and out of harm’s way, SMACK! Like a shotgun just went off inside the Independence Arena, Benoit lights Sting up with knife edge chops after chop after chop. Sting answers back with knife edge strikes to the traps and the throat! This time it is Sting who fires Benoit into a set of steps and begins stomping a mud hole into the Crippler. But like a wounded wolverine Benoit keeps defending himself; from his ass he kicks the front of Sting’s knee caps. These two are lying in the aisle-way just scratching and clawing and scraping, and any little thing they can do as ECW head of security RUGGED RONNIE GARVIN and two well developed youngsters in Security polo’s come down. Each youngster has one man and Garvin is reading them the Riot act, but Benoit and Sting’s eyes are burning lasers into the other…



You guessed it, each youngster eats a right hand and Benoit and Sting meet in the middle and sandwich Garvin who is waist-locking anyone he can get his hands on! Garvin seems to finally be dragging Sting away, they are making their way up the ramp, FLYING TACKLE UP THE RAMP from Benoit, “throwing his body around like he was borrowing it,” says the Genius, indeed! Now all 3 men are down on the steel ramp, and now here comes WCW Head of Security Doug Dillinger with 2 more well developed youngsters. “Now we gots us 12 arms and 12 legs, maybe just maybe we can keep one dem hard headed mountain goats down long enough that they won’t butt heads no mo. This is clubberin’ on an entirely diffwent level than I’ve ever seen guys, know whattuhm talkin bout,” wonders the Dream. But the Dream is wrong as Sting comes flying off the stage at Benoit and takes down 5 men, “dropping like bowling pins, aye Gene?” asks Tony. Now finally some dust is settling, and post-adrenaline dump pains are setting in, Sting “OWWWWWWWW” and limps off to the back. Benoit finally gets to his feet, spits out a mouth full of blood, “possibly a tooth as well,” adds Gene, SLAPS THE TASTE OUT OF THE FIRST MAN TO PUT HIS HANDS ON THE CRIPPLER! Chris Benoit don’t need no damn help! While one of the other security guards is checking on his fallen compadre, the sinister Benoit kicks him in the back of the head for good measure, and finally the Ronnie Garvin/Doug Dillinger Justice League United has broken this thing up!
.
.
.


Holy Moses fans, we apologize for the impromptu beginning to this first ever joint PPV. “The hell you apologizing fo’, Gene? Dat is exactly what people are looking for when the two top wrestling promotions hook it up on PPV with pride on the line, temperatures are running hot, this bionic elbow just can’t keep still, Tone, it’s itchin’.” The Dream is obviously fired up. The Genius reminds Rhodes that, “tonight my only capacity is that of color commentator, you had your chance to unleash that elbow on me on ECW Weekend Warriors, and you lost, thanks to my wit and ingenuity might I add.” Gene settles things down and tries to get back to the program as he and the boys feel drained already!

Instrumental version of Master P’s “Bourbon’s and Lacs” blasts as the Camera pans across the jam-packed to the rafters Independence Arena where fans were turned away at the door by Fire Marshalls, and the annex had to be opened up to accommodate more on closed circuit feeds, this certainly is a happening!



Mauro Ranallo and The Honky Tonk Man join us once again from their interview area. Mauro reminds us to be sure and call the Hotline tonight for interviews from winners and losers all night long. Plus, immediately after we cut the PPV feed, Mauro will be handing out his star ratings to each and every match on the card, also Honky will have all the ECW scoops for us as well, kids be sure and get your parent’s permission, 1-900-909-9900! Honky says not to forget about calling 1-800-BUYECW for all your favorite ECW superstar’s merchandise, “and don’t forget to order your copy of Hunka, Hunka, Hunka, Honky Love on CD or Cassette right now, cause they are sellin’ fast.” Not to mention that ECW Greatest Hits Vol. 7 is still available, including:

7/6/94 - The New Orient Express defend the Tag-Team Titles against Deep South!

7/6/94 - "The Long Island Loud-Mouth Chris Jericho vs. "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin!

7/6/94 - Randy Savage & Arn Anderson team against The Dark Circle in the Main Event!

7/13/94 - Rick Rude vs. Buck Zumhoff in the Main Event! + a Savage Match is set!

7/20/94 - Eastern States Championship Match: "Mr. Wednesday Night" Rob Van Dam defends the Title against "Iron" Mike Sharpe! + Ricke Rude & Randy Savage
come face to face!

7/27/94 - Destruction Inc. defeats the New Orient Express for the Tag-Team Championships!

7/27/94 - "Rugged" Ronnie Garvin vs. Junkyard Dog + Jerichus Interruptus!

7/27/94 - "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson and "The Soul Stealer" Papa Shango battle it out in the Main Event!

Plus a Special Bonuse Match as "Mangler's Monster" The Blitzkrieg takes on Nailz on 7/27/94!
.
.
.
Team ECW vs. Team WCW eight-man elimination match. The Steiner Bros. and Dem Aloha Boys vs. Destruction Incorporated and The Hughes Bros.
Referee: Randy Anderson





The Steiners are coming off a near three month hiatus, and much needed break from the rigors of the years of hard fought battles. Competing in World Championship, #1 Contenders matches, or a prestigious tournament of some sort will certainly takes its toll on the body. But with battle lines drawn, the rejuvenated former All-Americans came to the defense of their home turf. Scotty returned absolutely massive and armed with a shorter yet more menacing mullet, was pumped up and on fire to start, but the “Machiavellian Mauler” could not care any less “watsoeva” about the Steiner’s return; nor the who the audience prefers seeing on the opposite end of an ass whoopin’. He was here to deliver one of his own as he put a screeching halt to Scotty’s early burst with a BIG boot to the side of his head straight out of Hell’s Kitchen, NYC. Intelligently the big man sticks has hand out, he needs a breather, Devon Hughes first one there, nice double team elbow, instant chemistry shown from the Hughes boys and Destruction Inc., systematic tag team 101 from the 4 men in Team ECW; quick tags, working on one body part, and all the action taking place in their half of the ring.

The crowd in Charlotte is getting more and more into the match, inspired no doubt by Ricky, Iaukea, and Rosey stomping on the steps, and pumping up Scotty as best they can. Now the blood gets flowing through those ridiculous “softballs he’s obviously sewn in there” like biceps, and he begins elbowing his way out of the “Man Beast’s” crossface chinlock, Scotty gets a bit of separation with a knee to the ribs, delivers a big Steinerline, and tags in Prince Iaukea who has a dropkick for Rhino, and the oncoming Spike Hughes, sending him straight back over the top rope, Mongo and Devon wisely avoided the streak of offense in their corner. Iaukea delivers a tornado DDT and tags in his big cousin Rosey, Gene points out that it might’ve been a mistake not to go for the pin and turned out to be correct as Rhino rolled out of
the way and the near 300 lbs. Rosey found nothing but canvas with his Superfly Splash.

Here comes Mongo now, on the attack, now that Rosey is vulnerable. Vyle delivers some strikes and a throw, followed by his signature Mongo Masher full-nelson super atomic drop, getting a near fall. Once again its Devon first to the tag and goes to work on Rosey, makes the tag to his little brother Spike who comes in and immediately goes for his Tornado Cutter, but Rosey reverses him in mid-air with a devastating Samoan Drop, he hooks the leg, 1…2……3! What a move from Rosey!


Spike Hughes Eliminated.

No rest for the weary as Rhino charges in at Rosey, and puts a stop to any momentum team WCW was trying to build. Rhino stretched Rosey in an abdominal stretch, and ground his elbow in best he could, following up on the missed splash earlier. Rhino throttles Rosey on the middle rope with a drop toe hold, steps out onto the apron, grabs him by the back of the neck and drops to the floor, snapping Rosey’s neck back. Rhino turns his attention to the fans at ringside, Mongo and Devon beg him to pay attention, but too little too late as, in a sudden burst of energy, the near 300 lbs. Samoan hit the rope, full speed ahead, and SUICIDE DIVE through the ropes and into Rhino, who crashes into the steel barricade, and the exhausted, beaten down Rosey tumbles onto the concrete. 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.10! Neither man was able to answer the count.

Rhino and Rosey eliminated

In comes Iaukea who is quickly met with a Hell’s Kitchen Kick to the face, and big elbow drop from the Machiavellian Mauler. Vyle and Devon Hughes operate like a well-oiled machine using tag team philosophy 101 in order to even up the odds. They have the youngest member of the opposing team hurt and cornered; they can’t afford to squander this opportunity. Rick and Scott are pacing along the apron like caged tigers, but all they can do is watch as Hughes connects with a massive diving headbutt with plenty of juice on it, he quickly makes the tag back to Mongo who squashes Iaukea with a Back Splash from the middle rope, 1…..2…..NO! The Prince kicks out, which thoroughly pisses big Mongo Vyle off as he begins to unleash hell on the young Samoan in the corner. Another Hell’s Kitchen Kick followed by another Back Splash ends the Prince’s night.

Prince Iaukea Eliminated

Finally after waiting impatiently Rick Steiner is in the ring throwing Steinerlines out like they were pins at a political rally. The dog faced gremlin lets out a few barks and the Independence Arena is rockin’. Randy Anderson gets Devon out of the ring, and we are back to one on one action. This time it’s the multiple time World Tag Team Champion Steiner Brothers putting the offense together. Big Mongo Vyle refuses to give up to Scotty’s patent Camel Clutch, and furthered his street cred. After kicking out of a mightily impressive Tilt-a-whirl back breaker from the powerful Scotty Steiner. Big Brother gets the tag, and another near fall after yet another vicious Steinerline, and then catches Mongo with a running bulldog, but Vyle rolled close too close to the ropes for Ricky to make the cover and Devon, ever aware, seemingly knew where Mongo would be, ran around the post, and somehow managed to reach and tag himself in, unbeknownst by Rick.

Big Devon Hughes avalanche’s Steiner from behind, and puts the boot to him, drops a couple of elbows, grabs him by the earguard, waves mockingly waves Ricky’s hand “bye” to his brother, and drags him to Team ECW’s corner. Devon delivers his flying back elbow, and diving headbutt from the top rope, but is unable to find that elusive third count. Devon and Mongo take full advantage of the referee’s count during their exchanges. This in turn ignites the short fuse of Scotty, making matters even worse for big brother Ricky, giving Hughes and Vyle that extra moment to double team. Finally, Scott blows past the referee and helps out his brother. Randy Anderson waistlocks Steiner, and finally convinces him to exit the ring, as Scotty turns his back to the action, Mongo kicks him in the middle of his back, sending him crashing to the floor, Vyle directs Devon into position, they fire Rick into the ropes, flapjack-cutter combo, 1…2……3! That is all she wrote!

Rick Steiner Eliminated

Scotty checks on his brother, and considers his situation, and it is dire. Two of ECW’s baddest young lions are ready to chew him up and spit him out. Scotty takes a breath, and does the smart thing, the one thing he is better at than most, he wrestles. Devon Hughes is ill-prepared for the grappling dominance displayed by Steiner, but the numbers advantage proves to be the difference maker as Scotty get lured into the wrong corner and is the recipient of a double team attack. Now here comes Mongo, opportunistically taking it to one of WCW’s all-time greats. The Mongo Masher full-nelson super atomic drop gains Vyle yet another near fall, he argues with Randy Anderson, SCHOOLBOY ROLL UP, 1…2……3, NO! Scotty almost stole one there, Vyle tags in Hughes who ascends the top rope, Vyle scoops up Steiner for a slam, but Scotty’s counters out, and flings Vyle into the ropes, sending Devon straddling the top turnbuckle!

A Steinerline sends Mongo over the top rope and crashing to the floor, Scotty climbs the top rope where Devon is still feeling rather tender, superplex from the top rope! 1…2…3! Scotty has evened things up!

Devon Hughes eliminated

Now it’s one on one and both Scott Steiner and Mongo Vyle are feeling the effects of this grueling encounter. They lock up, and Vyle takes the early advantage with a side-headlock. As Scotty tries to counter, Vyle releases, strikes, and goes to a different hold. “An excellent strategy,” points out Lanny. Powerslam from Bubba who then goes to the second rope on the inside, senton back splash connects! 1….2….NO! Scotty reverses it into a crucifix pin, 1….2…..NO! Mongo is too strong for that, he hops up, goes to deliver another boot from Hell’s Kitchen, but Scotty catches the leg, dragon screw leg-whip! Scotty holds on to the foot and wrenches at Vyle’s knee with a spinning toe hold. But Vyle refuses to give it up, and a few well placed boots to the head break the hold. Now Mongo pulls Scotty to the corner by the head of the hair, he takes a seat on the top turnbuckle, what is Mongo Vyle doing? HE IS GOING FOR A SUPERBOMB! “No way can he get Steiner up,” exclaims Gene, but he does! What strength exhibited by the Machiavellian Mauler, “it’s all over for Scotty here,” predicts the Dream, but at the last minute Scotty reverses, SUPER FRANKENSTEINER DELIVERED TO VYLE! O MY! 1…2…3! Scotty has done it!

Mongo Vyle eliminated.

Your winners: Team WCW, Dem Aloha Boys and The Steiner Brothers
.
.
.
.
.


After the match we're brought backstage where ECW Correspondent Terri Runnels is interviewing WCW's Television Champion Diamond Dallas Page and Kimberly. She asks and he tells her that it's been a wild ride since coming to WCW. It wasn't too long ago that he was running clubs all along the Jersey Shore and he came into this business. Some said he was too old, some said he wasn't big enough; but he proved them all wrong because here is the Television Champion in the most prestigious company in this business; WCW.

And tonight he faces a man he used to watch on TV, a man who was the coolest of the cool. A man who went into that ring and gave it his all, did whatever it took to win; and whether it was Magnum TA or DDP's good friend Dusty Rhodes; it didn't matter. Tully took his pound of flesh and earned Page's respect. Inspired him to get in that very ring and do the very same thing. And now today, he holds the Television Championship. And tonight he faces the greatest Television Champion of all time. It isn't about Titles though and it isn't personal. It's about respect.

As Page comes down to the ring Okerlund puts Page over as a class act and wishes that he were the man involved in the Loser Trades Promotion match later tonight. Chris Jericho has always made his skin crawl.

Match: Diamond Dallas Page vs. Tully Blanchard
Referee: Danny Davis



Before the match both Tully Blanchard and Diamond Dallas Page shake hands with the ref and with one another. From there the two men lock it up and DDP draws first blood throwing Blanchard down to the ground. Tully doesn't seem to have appreciated that however and goes right after Page, who scoops the Horseman off the ground! But Blanchard gets free drops behind Page and rolls him up for a quick two! The two men face off and Page seems a little bit wearier of Tully this time. The two men lock up and DDP grabs a quick arm wrench, punishing his opponent with several shoulder thrusts before trapping him in a chicken-wing which Blanchard quickly reverses; forcing Page down to the match! Dusty says that DDP should stick to clubberin' and should stay away from the wrestling game with an opponent like Tully. Blanchard has Page in an armbar for a good while before DDP manages to roll free, reverse the hold and roll Blanchard up for a quick 1!... 2!...

Blanchard kicks out! Tully catches a breather and Page lets him have it as they stalk one another about the ring before locking it up. Page catches Tully in a quick headlock, but Blanchard pushes him into the ropes only to get taken down with a shoulder block on the rebound! Page runs the ropes, Tully hits the ground allowing him to pass over him; and Tully pops up and connects with a dropkick! DDP is right back up, Tully grabs him but Page connects with a knee and swinging neckbreaker! He gets a two, Tully gets back up and DDP goes for the Diamond Cutter; but Blanchard falls back into the corner. Page climbs up to the second rope and throws a punch but Tully pulls his legs out from under him and sends him face first into the corner turnbuckle! Blanchard is up and now in control grabbing the top rope and hops up for a stomp to Page's head! He grabs Page by the legs and stomps him low before wrapping his legs for the figure four! But Page kicks him away and stumbling up falls into the corner where Tully begins pounding on him! A heel to the throat of Page draws some boos from the fans, but Tully isn't looking to make any friends. He backs off when Davis interferes and using the ropes to kip-up from the corner; DDP grabs Blanchard and throws him into the corner! And Dusty says it's a clubberin' time! He whips Tully hard into the opposing corner, and charges in for the kill! But Blanchard gets his legs up cracking his opponent in the jaw and going upstairs he connects with a diving sunset flip off the top! 1!... 2!...

DDP gets the shoulder up! Tully looks a bit frustrated and grabs Page by the hair raking his face with his boot and as Page crawls to the second rope Blanchard chokes him out on it! Davis makes the count and Tully lets him go. Lanny says Page has nothing to complain about here, he was just slobbering on about how Blanchard did whatever it took to win moments ago. Dusty agrees as Tully stomps DDP out around the ring a bit before Page rolls clear and getting to one knee levels Blanchard with a shot to the gut! Tully however replies with a rake to the eyes and then grabs Page by the legs again wraps him up and goes for the figure four! And DDP is in trouble! He's clawing toward the ring, but he makes it to the ropes! Page is trying to get up now but his legs are smarting and Blanchard gives him a hand and delivers the Piledriver! He makes the cover! 1!... 2!...

Page kicks out right before the three! Blanchard grabs him in a rear chinlock and DDP plays face in peril for a bit. And as Page begins to fade the WCW side of the arena becomes deafening in their support of Page! Tully holds him down to the mat and even uses the ropes for leverage a bit until Davis sees it and begins arguing with him; but Page's arms begins moving and he's rallying back! He's up on his knee and now up on his feet with several elbows to Blanchard. Tully attempts to fight it, but Page is all fired up and delivers several chops and strikes driving Blanchard across the ring! He whips Tully into the ropes and drops him with a stiff clothesline! Page is definitely hurting as he hobbles toward Blanchard and scooping him up connects with the Diamond Clash belly to back inverted mat slam! But it only gets him a two! Page heads up top, but Tully sees him and running for the ropes hits them sending DDP crotch first into the top turnbuckle! Page is hung up and Tully begins unloading on him, he then mounts the second rope and hits a superplex off the top! Float over for the cover but DDP once again kicks free! Both men are down and the ref begins the count, getting to three before Blanchard is back up! He helps page to his feet and goes for the Slingshot suplex! But in mid-air Diamond Dallas Page reverses it into the Diamond Cutter! And Bang! It connects! He makes the cover! 1!... 2!...

3! Page has won it! He gets his hand raised by Davis and Kimberly enters the ring to celebrate when DDP stops and turns toward Tully Blanchard who's getting up on one knee. DDP offers him a hand and after a second he takes it. The two men shake hands and share a short hug before DDP raises Tully's hand and the fans cheer them both.
.
.
.
.
.



Honky Tonk Man and Mauro Ranallo are then given a segment to pimp ECW's fifth wave of exciting ECW Action Figures that can be bought at your local Kay Bee, Toys R Us or Caldor store! They the show them to us and new to the line are ECW Champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, Sir William Regal, "The Machiavellian Mauler" Mongo Vyle, "The Man-Beast" Rhino, the Junkyard Dog; and "Captain Redneck" Dick Murdoch which just proves to Honky Tonk Man that he apparently has to die before he gets a HTM figure. What too soon? Ranallo seems to think so.



Back to ringside the announcers put DDP and Tully over as a phenomenal match and Page in particular for his amazing sportsmanlike conduct. Okerlund says we shouldn't expect any shows of sportsmanship in our next match where the "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" Chris Jericho is set to face Sir William Regal in a match where the loser will have to trade promotions. Poffo says that he asked to be in this match and was just gonna lie down to get away from Gene.

Loser Trades Company Match: Chris Jericho vs. William Regal
Referee: Nick Patrick



Chris Jericho hits the ring and seems angry he doesn't have a microphone as he doesn't shut up, letting the fans and William Regal know how unhappy he is about being here. The two men square off and when the bell rings they charge in with Regal answering Jericho with a quick kick to the gut, gives him a couple right hands and whips him into the corner. But Chris explodes from the corner and takes William down with a clothesline! And as Regal gets back up; he lights him up with chops, driving him into the ropes; and goes for a whip that gets reversed! But as Chris springboards off the ropes, he takes his opponent down hard with a diving clothesline! He pounds William's head in on the floor, Regal pushes him off; but Chris keeps on coming and hammers him back into the ropes! He whips Regal across, William ducks an attempted clothesline; but on the second rebound Chris connects with the jumping corkscrew roundhouse kick! Regal rolls out of the ring catching a breather on the outside, but Jericho grabs the top rope and throws himself over to the outside connecting with a flying crossbody! Both men go down hard, but Chris is back up first and introduces Regal's face to the steel barricade! He rolls Regal back inside and climbing up top he comes down on his recovering opponent with a reverse elbow drop! And he makes the cover! 1!... 2!...

Regal kicks out! The announcers can't believe what they're seeing. "The Loud-Mouth" is clearly dominating his opponent here tonight and Regal has to get back in the game. Chris picks Regal up off the mat, whips him into the corner where Regal stops himself and charging back at a surprised Jericho catches him with a roll-up! But Chris reverses it, landing on William only to be caught in a body scissors; but Jericho rolls free; grabs his opponent's leg and goes for the Walls of Jericho! But William grabs him by the hair and lets him have it with several punches before taking him down with a toe hold and locks in the Regal Stretch arm-trap cross-legged STF! And Chris is in trouble! When from beneath the ring come...



The Highlight Express! It's Lenny Lane and Christian Cage! Jericho looks to be about to tap when the duo hits the ring! Chris is down as Regal is about to take a beating, but the man from Blackpool reaches into his tights and pulls out the Brass Knucks! And Cage learns the Power of the Punch! He rolls from the ring! And Lenny soon joins him after getting treated to the same! Chris has now stumbled up and his hanging out in the corner and Regal looks to be giving him the Punch as well but Nick Patrick stops him and William hands the ref the knucks. This distraction gives Jericho a breather however and as Regal joins him in the corner he lets him have it with a hard right. Regal fires back with one of his own before kicking Chris in the gut and throwing him shoulder first into the steel ringpost! He then pulls Jericho from the corner and does it again! "Mean" Gene and Dusty seem to think he deserves it for using the Express and so do the fans. William Regal is now in control as he pulls Jericho into the ring by his bad arm and throws him down to the mat on it. He works Jericho's shoulder arm and shoulder over for several minutes before "The Loud-Mouth" battles out and pushes Regal back into the ropes. And taking him down with an elbow smash, Jericho who's now nursing his arm runs the ropes and connects with the Lionsault springboard moonsault! Right into Regal's knees as he gets them up at the last possible second! And as Chris staggers up to his feet Regal rolls him up! But only gets a two! A release German Suplex from Regal sends Chris crashing back to the mat again and Regal makes with the cover! 1!... 2!..

Jericho kicks out! William lets Chris up and then lets him have it with several kicks to the shoulder! Chris fires back with a kick to the gut, but Regal catches it; only to be nailed hard by a step-up enziguiri! Regal staggers back and popping up to his feet "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" drops Regal with a dropkick! Chris is back up first and takes Regal down to the canvas again with a hard right. He then heads to the corner and climbing to the second rope nursing his shoulder lets Regal have it with another dropkick and the cover! But he only comes away with the two! Chris is frustrated and begins arguing with Patrick! He pushes the ref into the corner and he's reaching into his pocket?! He has the brass knuckles! And as Regal heads over to his opponent Chris Jericho swings! But Regal ducks it and pulling Jericho down to the floor he locks him into the Regal Stretch arm trapped cross-legged STF! Chris is screaming! But his injured shoulder seals his fate and "The Long Island Loud-Mouth" taps! William Regal has won it!

Chris Jericho is headed back to ECW! And he's pissed as he throws a tantrum in the middle of the ring! Regal gets his hand raised and Jericho charges him from behind! But once again William sees it coming and stepping aside throws his opponent over the top rope and out of the ring! Chris Jericho is crazed on the outside screaming at Regal when Ronnie Garvin and his security team returned from removing Lenny and Christian from the ring; and now does the same with Jericho who kicks and screams the whole way to the back.
.
.
.
.
.
After the match we're brought to a teaser promo for WCW Fall Brawl '96. No matches are announced, but highlights are shown of past Fall Brawls, featuring Wargames: The Match Beyond!

Immediately after, we’re brought backstage where the announcers inform us of some disturbing news. We're shown a medical room where everything is thrown around and WCW head of security Doug Dillinger and several security members are checking on members of the Independence Arena's EMT staff who're lying on the floor moaning. We're told that the damage was done by "The Canadian Crippler" Chris Benoit who is once again loose in the building and apparently on the hunt for Sting.
.
.
.
They call Benoit's actions disturbing before hyping the next match of the night and play a highlight reel of the havoc caused by both the Dark Circle and the Dungeon of Doom in ECW and WCW respectively. The video continues on to Rude's feud with the Circle leading to him gaining the aide of his longtime friend; WCW World Champion Curt Hennig! They then talk about Rude and Hennig's team tonight of Buff Bagwell, Scott Norton, Rob Van Dam; and possibly Ron Simmons. Dusty says he's known Ron for years and can almost guarantee after “gettin' hit by that voodoo powda last week he'll be here tonight.” They then explain the rules of tonight's match which will be an over the top rope team battle royal. The match will continue until all six members of either team are eliminated!
The entire Dark Circle come down to ringside for the match and the announcers remind us that "The Dark Prophet" Brimstone, Destruction Inc., Pogo the Clown; and Luna Vachon are not in the match in any official capacity; but it just goes to show how large and dominant the group is. They express concern for the lovely Miss Elizabeth who is also at ringside.

Tag-Team Rumble Match: Curt Hennig, Buff Bagwell, Scott Norton, Rick Rude, Rob Van Dam, Ron Simmons vs. Papa Shango, Barry Windham, Matt Borne, Kevin Sullivan, Meng, Hugh Morrus
Referees: S.D. Jones & Randy Anderson





The refs are outside the ringside with all twelve competitors starting things out inside the ring. The bell rings and as would be expected with the Dark Circle and Dungeon of Doom in the ring together; all hell breaks loose! There's no room or need for actual wrestling in the ring as the men just begin beating the crap out of one another. Buff Bagwell is nearly eliminated early on by the tandem of Meng and the Laughing Man, Hugh Morrus, but Rob Van Dam comes to his aid with a several kicks to Meng and a spinning wheel kick that sends him over the top rope! But the big man lands on the apron and fights his way back inside. Buff and RVD however form an alliance amidst the chaos that saves their hides more than once. Barry Windham meanwhile is slugging it out with the WCW World Champ Curt Hennig and Scott Norton is putting a beating on Matt Borne while Ron Simmons goes toe to toe with Kevin Sullivan and Rick Rude hits a picture perfect standing dropkick that dumps "The Soul Stealer" Papa Shango to the outside! The audience is shocked as are the participants momentarily when we see that...

Destruction Inc. has caught him on the outside! Papa Shango's feet haven't hit the floor meaning he hasn't been eliminated! This pisses Rude off and he begins yelling at the cackling Dark Circle members on the floor when he is attacked from behind by Hugh Morrus! Meng is busy rocking RVD and Bagwell with a pair of well placed headbutts and Barry Windham has Hennig locked in a pretty brutal looking headlock when the fans begin to boo and we see the first real elimination has taken place as Matt Borne and Kevin Sullivan hit a double clothesline on Kevin Sullivan which sends him spilling to the floor below where the Dark Circle members on the outside begin beating the hell out of him! This distracts Ron Simmons who also gets dumped over by Matt Borne, but he lands on the apron and getting up begins fighting "The Ring Master" over the top rope! Destruction Inc. meanwhile have finally carried "The Soul Stealer" back to the ring and he climbs up to the top turn buckle and lets Rick Rude have it with a missile dropkick to the back of the head while he is busy fighting Meng. And while Ron Simmons is busy reeling out on the apron, clinging to the top rope for dear life while he kicks away Brimstone on the outside and tries to avoid punches leveled at him from Borne on the inside; he receives help from Buff Bagwell who with help from Rob Van Dam suplexes "The Ring Master" clear out of the ring sending him flying into the monstrous Pogo the Clown!

The two young grapplers exchange a high five before being attacked from behind by Meng and Hugh! The two men stomp them out, Meng locking in the Tongan Death Grip on "Mr. Wednesday Night" while Morrus shows Bagwell he "has the stuff" as he bodyslams him out of the ring, eliminating him from the match. But it’s no laughing matter when he turns to help Meng he walks right into a dropkick from WCW Champ Curt Hennig that sends him over the top rope and to the floor below! Just then however Barry Windham runs in and levels Curt with a lariat and attempts to dump him over the side, but Hennig wraps himself around the top rope avoiding elimination.

Rob Van Dam hits the floor, hurled out by Meng and Kevin Sullivan and the Dark Circle beat him down the same as they did Norton and Bagwell before him! As they return to the match however Rick Rude has whipped Papa Shango across the ring and using him as a bowling pin sends him smashing into the duo and Meng takes a tumble over the top rope to the floor below! Windham meanwhile is still busy fighting it out with Curt Hennig who is perilously close to being eliminated when "The Ravishing One" comes to his aide! Barry gets nailed by punches on both sides of the ropes while Papa Shango consults with Brimstone and Destruction Inc. on the outside and Kevin Sullivan is busy battling Ron Simmons whom he is stomping a mudhole into in the corner! And letting loose a war cry, Papa Shango charges across the ring and hits a huge crossbody on Rick Rude and Barry Windham while on the other side Brimstone and Destruction Inc. pull down the ring ropes! Rude and "Blackjack" crash into Hennig and all three men fall out of the ring together! "The Soul Stealer" has eliminated Hennig, Rude; and his own man Windham! He lets out another sinister war cry. Rick and Curt are shocked and angry on the outside, but they don't have too much time to worry about it as they too are attacked by the Dark Circle on the outside! They don't go down however and the troops rally as they take the fight to the Dark Circle and Dungeon of Doom members on the floor with help from Norton, Bagwell; and RVD.

Inside the ring Ron Simmons is now facing a two on one battle with Papa Shango and Kevin Sullivan working together well as they dominate Simmons. They try to eliminate him several times with little success; even after hitting him with Shango's patented Death Valley Driver. On the outside however The Steiners and the Aloha Boys have both run down to the ring along with William Regal, Diamond Dallas Page, Tully Blanchard; and Scott Taylor to even the odds! Before running off the Dark Circle and Dungeon of Doom, DDP and Tully nail Mongo with a double spike piledriver on the concrete busting him open!



Their troops fleeing the arena any which way they can throws Sullivan and Shango off their game leading to Ron Simmons breaking free with a football tackle to Sullivan knocking him off balance enough that Simmons is able to drive him into the ropes and knock him out of the ring! He is immediately aware of the danger he is in without the DoD or Dark Circle at ringside and takes off up the ramp! Papa Shango attack Ron from behind and works him over a bit, hitting a swinging neckbreaker and looking defiantly at the faces outside lets out another voodoo cry. He then pulls Simmons up to his feet and forces him toward the ropes, but Ron refuses to go over! But "The Soul Stealer" has had enough and let’s loose with a face full of voodoo mist! But Simmons catches most of it with his hand and turns away to avoid the rest! And taking his mist covered hand he rubs it into Shango's eyes! Papa screams in pain as Ron Simmons scoops him into the air and hurls him to the floor below! Team Rude and Hennig have won it! The men on the outside enter the ring and celebrate with Ron Simmons while on the outside Papa Shango slithers away.
.
.
.
.
.
INTERMISSION



Former Eastern States Heavyweight Champion, Charlotte native, and all-time grappling great, the Junkyard Dog and the current Generation neXt Champion Lance Storm are at ringside handing out ECW’s and WCW’s brand new FALL CATALOGUES! Get all your favorite WCW and ECW merchandise from one convenient place. They also announce that to all the fans watching on PPV that anyone who calls into the Hotline at 1-900-909-9900 and can name the wrestlers currently in either promotion that has held championships in either promotion, will get a free copy mailed to them!

The Dog discusses living in Charlotte and how big a night this PPV is in the community, and how badly he wishes he would have been able to compete tonight, though it is great to just be here, “JYD sho’ do like throwin’ these here soupbones! Legally,” chuckles JYD. Lance Storm is very much in agreement though. Charlotte has long been a hotbed for professional wrestling, and that to be able to compete on a show this big, in a town this hot, well it sure would have been an honor. Lance says that a GenX title match on a show of this importance would have been great exposure for the the division, “and…..”
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
“Well champ, I don’t see anything except imagination and opportunity standing in between you and your little wish…”



The Light Heavyweight Champion of the World, ‘Lone Wolf’ Dean Malenko, emerges from the back with Dave Prazak at his side, and says that Storm and JYD aren’t the only ones disappointed with not having an opponent for tonight. Prazak goes on to say that it’s a slap in these two champion’s faces as he goes about trying to goad Storm into a match. The crowd wants it, so does Storm and Malenko! Prazak is holding out to make it worth his while, finally Malenko has had enough posturing, suggests that they make it “for all the marbles,” for both Championship Belts right here, right now. “Somebody get us a damn referee!”

ECW vs. WCW: Title vs. Title?!? ECW Lt. Heavyweight Champion Dean Malenko w/Dave Prazak vs. WCW GenX Champion Lance Storm
Referee: Danny Davis



This is as impromptu as it gets, and I wonder if JJ Dillon and Eric Bischoff are sweating right now. As two of the brightest young champions in all of wrestling are in the middle of the ring, tearing each other a new asshole, and have taken it upon themselves to make this thing interesting. This one is just a fist fight at the ringside area until Danny Davis comes sprinting down the aisle way, apparently we have the go ahead from the back! DING, DING, DING!

After some more brawling; each man takes an irishwhip into the barricade, and each is just able to get back into the ring before the referee counted both men out. “How disappointing would that have been?” Suggests Lanny, if all that hoopla would have resulted in a cheesy non-finish. Malenko, the ring general, was the first man back in the ring, and catches Storm on his return with double knees to the back of his shoulder blade; taking the early advantage. The Lone Wolf works on Storm’s shoulder relentlessly, diving shoulder breaker from the middle rope on the inside, gets the 1……. Gets the 2…… and NO! Storm kicks out. Malenko hits the ropes, he is measuring his man, but the Generation neXt champion hops to his feet, picture perfect dropsault delivered to the mouth of Malenko, 1….., and Dean kicks out even before 2. Malenko’s strategy pays off of as Storm is unable to execute his trademark corkscrew Brainbuster finisher, the ECW lt. heavyweight champion is able to reverse it into a devastating Brainbuster of his own, he floats over, 1……..2……

NO! Storm gets the shoulder up. Malenko puts Storm on his shoulders and climbs to the second rope, he appears to be setting Lance up for the super gutbuster
delivered from the top rope, but at just the last moment Storm is able to reverse it into a Huracanrana from the top rope, he dives into the cover, 1……2….NO! Storm is really starting to get his second wind now, and has kicked it into high gear, he fires Malenko into the ropes, jumping leg lariat drops the ECW champ, springboard twisting guillotine leg drop across the neck of Malenko, surely that’s it, 1……..2…..NO! “Malenko is a machine!” Corkscrew elbow from Storm, but he misses, Malenko rolls out of the way, and immediately locks in the crippler’s crossface on the bad shoulder! Will Storm give it up here? Malenko is yanking, cranking, and digging his wristbone into the cheekbone/eye socket of Storm, the Lone Wolf has his short, think ass legs figure four’d around the already hurting shoulder of Storm and he squeezes, “Quit Storm, QUIT,” the advice of the man of 1,000 holds. Lance Storm scratches, claws, and inches his way to the bottom rope, necessitating the break, and wisely Storm rolls to the outside.

Dean Malenko, refusing to let Lance have a moment to rest, slingshots himself over the top rope, but Storm avoids it and rolls back into the ring. Dean lands on his feet on the floor, Lance seizes the opportunity and delivers a diving dropkick through the bottom and middle ropes to the floor! Storm hops back onto the apron, running elbow drop, directly into the heart of Malenko! Oh my. Lance is rolling his man back into the ring, a feat in itself at this juncture in the contest. Storm finally gets Malenko’s lifeless body lifted up, and slid under the bottom rope to breaks the ref’s count, as Lance gets to his feet outside the ropes, preparing for a slingshot of some kind; Malenko pops up, both feet on the bottom rope, he hooks Storm, BRAINBUSTER with the added leverage! Unreal move from Malenko, but he is still hurting, and unable to capitalize. These champions haven’t quite made it back to their feet before they decided it was time to start fighting again. Chop, forearm, back elbow, low kick, chop, Malenko brings a halt to the exchange with a brutal roaring elbow smash to the temple of Storm that the Dream says “put a hitch in his giddyup, ya mean?” Storm has the presence of mind to hit Malenko’s kneecap with a basement dropkick, bringing him chin-first to the mat, allowing the leader of the neXt Generation to shake out some cobwebs.

Each man is groggy as they resort to wrestling, seeing Malenko establish more control, yet not having the ability to keep Storm in one hold for very long. Mean Gene points to each man’s training, “being brought into wrestling under Boris Malenko and Stu Hart is not the most delicate path one could take,” Schiavone adds to the point, “there is a long list of not only champions, but the toughest men in our sport, who survived those two trainers.” Back to the action sees Storm score the next high impact maneuver as he goes behind Malenko and delivers a beautiful German suplex, with the bridge, 1….2…NO! Malenko kicks out, Storm holds the waistlock, he runs Malenko chest first into the turnbuckle with great impact, Victory Roll, 1…..2……NO! Malenko rolls through, 1……2….. NO! Storm kicks out, both men back to their feet, Malenko ducks the lariat, he leaps onto the middle rope, Springboard Knee strike to the teeth of Storm, 1……2……….NO!

Big chops from Malenko backs Storm into the corner, he fires him across, follows him in with a dropkick, BOOM! Malenko doesn’t let Storm fall, he hooks him up, BRAINBUSTER from Malenko, Storm saves his title by dropping some Knee Strikes of his own down onto the top of Malenko’s head! Storm lifts Malenko, CORKSCREW BRAINBUSTER, 1………..2……..3NO! Malenko BARELY gets the shoulder up, Storm is incredulous! Now is not the time to panic, Storm sets the ECW Lt. Heavyweight Champ onto the top turnbuckle, we’ve seen this before, Lance has been using the Super Frankensteiner as of late, a big forearm shot across the chest, and another, Storm has Malenko ready now, he leaps, MALENKO CATCHES HIM and dives off the turnbuckle, SUPER GUTBUSTER, 1…..2……..3!!

Malenko has pinned Lance Storm, and leaves with both TITLES OVER HIS SHOULDER!!! Tony Schiavone and Dusty Rhodes wonder exactly what this means, but they certainly agree that there is no disputing Dean Malenko should be the rightful champion after winning a stellar contest. Mean Gene and The Genius completely agree, and also wonder what this means for their champion Dean Malenko, one can only speculate at this point, but rest assured fans, as soon as we have more information we will pass it along to you. Gene sends it Mauro and HTM, “guys take it away.”
.
.
.
.
“Thanks Gene,” Mauro Ranallo and the Honky Tonk Man comment on the spectacular, impromptu title vs. title match we just witnessed, and that Mauro might have to reconsider his star ratings at the end of the broadcast because Storm and Malenko might’ve set the bar. Honky says that the next match up is one that he has been especially looking forward to. That after he, Genius, and Buck beat up WCW’s announcers on ECW Weekend Warrior’s yesterday, he got to see firsthand just what the Col.’s Stud Stable was all about. And that he knows just how tough the ECW Tag Champs are and he had a feud with The American Dream himself, so he really expects this one to be a barn burner! “Fans we are getting word that a camera has caught up with Sting in the trainer’s room, let’s get an update on the Stinger!”…



Sting is sitting on the trainer’s table, and is giving the trainer ear service, but it’s pretty obvious that he is paying attention to something else entirely. Suddenly, Sting’s ears perk up, his attention intensifies, almost as if the Stinger senses something else going on. The trainer is mid-sentence giving Sting instructions concerning his knee and his ankle which apparently have both been damaged after the HELLA fight he had with….. “You hear that Doc?”

“No, Sting, I didn’t, but I certainly hope you heard me…”

“Yea yea Doc, for sure… Seen my bat?”

The Stinger eases off the trainer’s table, his trusty bat is sitting just outside the door. Sting almost sniffs the air and gets a devious grin on his face. The camera man follows Sting around a dark corner, up a flight of temporary steps, and into a dark room. Sting, gingerly, makes his way inside a window ledge about 5 or 6 feet off the ground, looks at the camera man and gives him the shhh face. You can hear cameraman Jackie Crockett’s breathing pick up as he mutters something to himself. The Stinger starts twirling his bat and whistling a catchy little turn, when we hear it. Pit, pat, pit, pat; there are definitely some feet approaching, drapes rustling, ITS CHRIS BENOIT!!!! WTF? How did Sting know that… Oh never mind…



Benoit comes around the corner, Sting starts whistling again and tapping his bat against a nearby pipe. Benoit smiles before he turns around, he knows who is there. Sting is perched as Benoit cracks his knuckles, the Stinger looks back at the camera one more time, almost as if to offer a fair warning. “ITS SHOWTIME!!!” And….
The cameraman slams the door shut and is getting the hell out of dodge, but there is certainly mayhem occurring in whatever crevice of the building the Stinger and the Crippler are in! Tony says not even the “World’s Toughest Cameraman” Jackie Crockett was going to be stuck in a room alone with those two animals. Lanny wonders if even the Ronnie Garvin/Doug Dillinger “League of Super-Friends” are enough to end that war!
.
.
.
Six Man Tag Team Match: The American Dream Dusty Rhodes and the ECW Tag Team Champions Tommy Dreamer and the American Nightmare Dustin Rhodes vs. Col. Robert Parker’s Stud Stable: Beautiful Bobby, Big Bubba Rogers, and Tony Anthony
Referee: Randy Anderson





The Rhodes’ and Tommy Dreamer, whom the Genius affectionately refers to as “The Sandmen, Dreamer, Dream, and Nightmare, get it?,” oy vei, have come out in jeans and sleeveless tee’s, reminding Tony of one of Dusty’s favorite adages, “come dressed as you are” and this one well-resembled those streetfights because this one was a pure, unadulterated “Donny Brook,” suggested Okerlund. When Pee-Wee finally regained control and had only one man from each side in the ring; Beautiful Bobby Eaton and Dustin Rhodes went back and forth, hot and heavy. Eaton still delivers one of the best punches in the business, and has affection for back-breakers, which really put Rhodes in an early disadvantage. Dustin nearly made the tag on several occasions only to see the Stud Stable nail Dreamer or Dusty, or yank Dustin back into their corner.

Well there was only so much of that The American Dream could take and when he charged Tommy followed right with him, Bionic Elbow to Eaton, one to Bubba, one to Anthony, one more for everyone around the horn! Parker hops on the apron with steam coming out his ears, and BOOM! Bionic elbow for him as well. Dusty and Tommy get Dustin to their corner, and make the tag! Dreamer comes in a house of fire! His momentum can only last for so long though as Col. Parker’s men know how to cut the ring off, and before long Dreamer is in a similar spot as his partner was just minutes earlier. Beautiful Bobby goes to the top rope, ALABAMA JAM, NO! The Innovator of Violence barely rolls out of the way, he hits the ropes, basement dropkick to the mush of Eaton, and he tags in big Dust!

Dusty Rhodes has the Independence Arena crowd going bonkers as he delivers elbows and right hands to anyone who gets in his way, only to have his momentum halted by that no good Col. Parker’s shoe delivered by Dusty’s familiar foe, Big Bubba Rogers. Now it’s Dusty’s turn to take some offense, and Bubba gets a near fall after a side-Russian leg sweep, and he tags in his Southern Justice partner, Tony Anthony who goes to work on the bad wheels of the Dream before tagging in Bobby. Eaton toys with Rhodes a bit, calling him boy and smacking him around, but this proved to be a mistake as it only served to motivate Big Dust whose Bionic Elbow has proven to be the single most effective weapon in the bout buys him some separation once again, and Dusty TAGS IN BOTH DUSTIN AND DREAMER?!

Right hand for Bobby, reverse atomic drop for Anthony, clothesline for Bubba, BOOM! Dreamer catches Eaton with a DDT, 1…..2…….NO! Anthony makes the save, and here comes Dustin, RUNNING BULLDOG! This contest can’t stay legal for more than a few minutes at a time, and Randy Anderson looks ready to have a stroke! Col. Parker hops up onto apron and proceeds to tell Pee-Wee how his job should be done, and he gets double hip tossed by the ECW Tag Team Champions into the ring for his troubles. Dustin and Tommy hit the far ropes, they sprint across the ring, DOUBLE BASEBALL SLIDE takes out all 3 members of the Stud Stable; Rhodes and Dreamer are knocking knots on the Stable’s head faster than they can rub them, and oh lawdy naw! Col. Parker is in the corner begging off as The American Dream prances and struts across the ring, as only he can, Tony can’t help but get a chuckle out of his partner as he calls it, “jab by Dusty, jab by Dusty, straight right from the Dream, SALUTE, and the bionic elbow, the FLIP FLOP FLY as only delivered by the American Dream!”

Dusty hits the ropes, he drops another elbow across the Col.’s chest for good measure! 1……2……… what is Randy Anderson doing?....3! That’s it! Dusty, Dustin, and Dreamer are declared the winners, and that will teach Rob Parker to try and tell Randy Anderson how to do his job!
.
.
.
.
.
The announcers talk about how well their broadcast partner Dusty Rhodes was in the action-packed bout we just witnessed and assure us he'll return momentarily before they begin to hype the next huge bout; a match nearly 10 years in the making when, “wait, what exactly are you saying? Tony did you catch what the producers were saying?” “Not really Gene, but there's definitely quite a raucous occurring backstage!”



And as they cut to the back the fight is on! Sting is busy wailing Chris in the back with his bat. "The Canadian Crippler" is down on one knee as Sting helps him up to his feet and throws him over a concession stand! The stunned workers get out of dodge as popcorn and soda goes everywhere! Sting is right after him; but when he peers over the counter he gets nailed with an uppercut! Benoit then takes Sting by the head and slams him face first into the counter before attempting to put him face first through the popcorn machine! But Sting blocks it, escapes with a quick back elbow; and slams Chris' head threw it instead! Benoit pulls his head out, his face a bloodied mask of rage and Sting steps back realizing he may have gone too far. He says Chris' name looking to calm him down...

But Chris explodes on his opponent! He hammers him with a left, then a right as Sting reels back through and entranceway where the cameras pick them back up in the stands! Fans are stepping aside as Chris hammers away at Sting, driving him into a guardrail where he clotheslines him over the top! And Sting goes crashing on a stair landing! Okerlund is calling for someone to stop this. These two men are going to kill one another! Chris drops down from the railing and rolling Sting over places the bat over his neck. And he stomps it! He does it again! But the third time Sting grabs his leg throws Chris off balance and tosses him over a couple seats! Benoit is hung up on the seats as Sting perches on top of a higher row and launching himself off connects with a double axe handle! Sting is now on top of Benoit and it's hard to see what's going on as they brawl on the floor, but when Sting gets up looking pretty stunned, his forehead is bleeding causing his paint to run down his face. Benoit is now back up on his feet while he shrugs off security and lays into Sting once more! Sting hammers back, but on the third exchange Chris grabs him and suplexes him onto the landing! He hits the stairs hard himself and both men are lying in pain. Security is looking to help them, but "The Canadian Crippler" is back up and making the throat slashing motion!

What the hell is he up to?! He kicks Sting over and he's climbing back up to the railing he clotheslined Sting off of earlier! He's not gonna?! No he is! Benoit has climbed up onto the railing and he looks a little wobbly as he perches and rises to his feet! Meanwhile Sting has clawed his way back up to his feet, but Chris doesn't care! He drops off the railing! It must be 10 feet in the air! Sting does his best to get out of the way, but the flying headbutt connects! And both men fall in a tangled heap! They aren't moving! Security is already on the scene, but soon EMTs are as well. They seem reluctant to help Benoit, but neither man is moving and the announcers can't believe the brutality we just witnessed as we're brought back to ringside.
.
.
.
.
.
WCW vs. ECW Dream Match: United States Champion Ricky ‘the Dragon’ Steamboat vs. Eastern States Champion ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage II
Referee: Nick Patrick



The two professional wrestling legends begin the contest grappling. Neither man able to establish dominance over the other as Savage works his offense off of a headlock while Steamboat bases his counter based offense off of his famous armdrags and then armbars. Savage reverses with a head-scissors, Randy presses his palms into the mat, and is really digging his knees into the ears of the Dragon, and finally Steamboat is able to hop over, jackknife cover, 1……. Savage bridges up, he spins around, backslide; he’s on his toes, 1……2….. Steamboat rolls out, maintaining control of Savage’s arm, and back to the armbar we go! The Dragon is the one digging his knee into the side of Macho’s head now. Savage makes it back to his feet and backs Steamboat into the corner, Nick Patrick steps between the men, clean break. Savage slaps his shoulder, and they lock up again, Savage takes the headlock once again and is fired into the farside ropes, shoulder tackle from Steamboat, Savage avoids a legdrop, Steamboat avoids an elbow drop and meets Savage in the nose with a dropkick! Randy rolls under the bottom rope and takes a moment.
Savage slaps the mat in frustration, and takes a stroll around the ring before collecting himself and heading back into the ring. Steamboat approaches looking for the collar-and-elbow tie up, but Savage dots him between the eyes with an elbow. Randy circles to his left, jab, jab, cross drops Steamboat! Now the confidence is building in the Macho Man as he takes control of the contest. Back to the headlock he goes. Foot to the back of the knee drops Steamboat, Randy measures him one, two, three elbows right between the eyes once again. Savage sends the Dragon to the corner, delivers a back elbow to the nose, and catches him with a diving bulldog headlock takedown, 1…….2……..NO! Savage viciously delivers a couple of crossfaces before locking the headlock back on Steamboat. The Dragon works back to his feet only to get fired into the ropes, Steamboat ducks a clothesline, but is unable to avoid Savage flying onto his back SLEEPERHOLD! Steamboat is fighting it but can’t make it to the ropes; he drops to his knees! Randy cinches up, crimps the neck, and Steamboat is fading! Nick Patrick is checking the arm, if drops once. It drops twice. It drops the thri… NO! Steamboat waves his finger and is rallying!

The Dragon fires Savage into the ropes and misses the Macho Man wildly swinging, but is able to duck under Savage’s return, Macho Man leapfrogs Steamboat who hits the far ropes chest first, and he bounces off as Savage turns around WHAM! The back of Steamboat’s head smashes into Randy’s face and both men are down! They finally begin to stir around the 7 or 8 count, knife edge chop from Steamboat lights up Savage! Right hand from the Macho Man. Chop, right, chop, right, they blast away at one another and end up in the corner where Steamboat delivers a knee to the bread basket, grabs Savage by the arm and jumps over the top rope and then down to the floor, what a leverage move! To the same shoulder that the Dragon has been working on, and Savage is feeling the effects now. The Dragon locks in a hammerlock and is really cinching up on Savage who is trying desperately to find Steamboat’s nose with the back of his elbow, but is unsuccessful. The Dragon backs into the corner and gets on the second rope.

FLYING HAMMERCLOCK! Steamboat goes in for the kill now and lifts Savage up, drops him across his knee with a devastating shoulderbreaker! 1…..2……NO! Savage gets just enough space to kick out. The Macho Man is a wounded animal, he thumbs Ricky in the eye, he holds his shoulder tight to his body with his arm just kind of dangling there Savage hits the ropes, armdrag from Steamboat sends Savage across the ring. Like a bull, the Macho Man charges again, complete powerslam from Steamboat, he hooks the leg and locks his hands, 1…..2……3 NO! Savage kicks out again! Now it’s the Dragon who knows what he must do. He ascends to the top rope, the Dragon flies!

NOBODY HOME! Savage collapsed out of the way and just lays back-first over Steamboat as he is still clutching his shoulder. 1…….2……NO! Steamboat gets the shoulder up! Savage can’t believe it, as Steamboat gets to his feet Randy hooks him in an inside cradle, 1…2………NO! Savage pops right up and behind Steamboat, but can’t control the waistlock because of his shoulder, Steamboat reverses position, Savage blocks the attempted German Suplex by grabbing the ropes, as Patrick comes in for the break Savage slides to the apron and catches Steamboat with a quick jab, he hooks the back of his head and hops down to the floor, HOTSHOT sends Steamboat flying to the center of the ring. Now it’s the Macho Man going to the top rope, he can’t even point both fingers to the sky before flying off! Savage LANDS HIS ELBOW BUT IT’S WITH HIS BAD ARM!

Randy can’t even make the cover as he writhes in pain! Finally Savage gathers himself and drags over to Steamboat, but the Dragon is starting to stir and chops Savage across the chest! Randy backs up to the ropes and plants his boot right into the gut of the Dragon! Million Dollar Knee Lift sends the Dragon flat on the mat once again Savage grabs a handful of hair, and quickly Steamboat takes Savage down FUJIWARA ARMBAR! Savage is in agony, biting his free hand, he still says no! Steamboat cinches up, but somehow someway, Randy Savage is able to make it to the ropes! Steamboat doesn’t let Savage breathe though and plants him with a backbreaker, now Ricky goes back to the top rope, the Dragon Flies! And this time he hits the cross body! SAVAGE ROLLS THROUGH! SAVAGE ROLLS THROUGH!

1………..2………3 NO! Steamboat reverses the pin, 1……….2………..NO! Savage gets the shoulder up, backslide from Steamboat, 1……….2………..NO! Savage is out again and hops to his feet, Steamboat ducks Savage’s lariat attempt, he hooks across the bad shoulder of the Macho Man, CRUCIFIX BOMB! He hooks the pin, 1………..2…………3!!!

Randy just didn’t have the strength left to get his bad shoulder out of another pinning combination. Gene, Tony, Dusty, and Lanny all compliment the efforts of both athletes as the capacity crowd gives each man a standing ovation, Randy Savage and Ricky Steamboat exit the ring together…

 

After the match a video package begins to play of both Arn Anderson and Ric Flair, from their beginnings in AWA and the NWA to their time together in the Four Horsemen. It then shifts to Flair making his debut in ECW where he helped the Four Horsemen defeat the Omega Horsemen at Wrestle Annual II on to "The Nature Boy" defeating Rick Rude for the ECW Title at Hardcore Heaven '96. It then shows the descent of Arn and Ric's friendship including Benoit's beatdown of Scott Taylor at the behest of Flair and "Naitch's" own beatdown of Tully Blanchard; leading to Arn Anderson and Ric Flair facing one another for the ECW Title here tonight!
Lanny calls Arn a traitor, saying he should've never taken ECW President Eric Bischoff up on his offer to face Flair tonight. That it was none of "The Enforcer's" business whether Flair no-showed his matches in Eastern Championship or made his presence felt on a rival network. That Arn is just jealous of Flair's success. Always has been, always will be. The other announcers strongly disagree with this standpoint, calling Flair's conduct of late unprofessional at the least. And that his actions of late are the reason Arn Anderson took the match, that between what he did to Scott Taylor and Tully Blanchard he went too far. And as a result tonight he's got a date with "The Enforcer."

Penzer: The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the Eastern Heavyweight Championship! Introducing first from Rome, Georgia the challenger weighing in at 255 lbs.; he is "The Enforcer" Arn Anderson!

Arn comes down to the ring alone as the fans cheer. Once inside the ring he shakes hands with referee S.D. Jones. He stalks about the ring until "Also Sprach Zarathustra" hits and out from the back comes...

Penzer: And now introducing at this time from Charlotte, Nort Carolina weighing 243 lbs.; he is the ECW Heavyweight Champion; "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair!

ECW Title Match: Ric Flair (c) vs. Arn Anderson
Referee: S.D. Jones

 

Ric Flair comes down to the ring in his robe with the ECW Championship about his waist. He unhooks it and hands it to the ref who raises it in the air. Flair throws his robe out and extends his hand to his opponent Arn Anderson. When Anderson goes to take it with his bandaged right however, Ric pulls hit back and runs it through his hair instead! He then begins strutting about the ring and getting in Arn's face lets out a Wooo! "The Enforcer" smacks him! Ric turns crimson while Arn trash talks him; and Jones starts the match. Arn and Flair are tentative to lock up circling about the ring. Charging in, they lock up but Arn pushes Flair away. This pisses Ric off and he comes after Arn. Anderson side-steps him however and whollops him with an elbow to the back before catching him in a side headlock. Ric however pushes him into the ropes, but on the rebound Arn blocks an attempted arm drag and counters with a hammerlock! Quick back elbow and Flair has reversed there positions. Headbutting Flair with the back of his head, Arn takes Flair up and over with a snapmare and transitions a quick headlock into another hammerlock pushing Ric face first into the mat where he circles about him and smacks him in the head! Arn is back up on his feet and lets out a Wooo! Flair beats the canvas as he rolls back up to his feet. After some smack talk on both sides they lock up again, this time Flair grabs grabs him by the arm, arm wrench dragged down to the floor and locks in the hammerlock. Arn however fightes to his feet, piggy-backs Ric and tries to slam him; but "Naitch" nimbly rolls off him still holds Arn by the arm, grabs him by the waist and hits a gutwrench suplex! Arn hits the mat hard and still holding "The Enforcer" by the bad hand begins spreading his fingers!

Arn howls in pain as Flair pulls his fingers apart on his bad hand and using the arm to wrench him down hard onto the floor he stomps the hand! And he stomps it again! Anderson is rolling on the floor clutching his hand while Ric throws the occasional stomp while egging on the booing crowd. Keeping on top of Anderson, he goes right back to work punishing his arm; concentrating on his hand which he grinds on the top rope before removing the bandage! Okerlund is disgusted as usual as Flair drags Arn to the corner, places the hands against the steel ringpost and stomps the hell out of it! He's reopened the wound and blood is oozing out of the hand while "The Enforcer" attempts to crawl away. Ric isn't cutting him any slack however and straddling Arn while he is on all fours, Ric jumps and lands on him several times. He then grabs Arn by the hand and locks in an armbar! Anderson is screaming in pain and reaches for the ropes in vain. Ric keeps up the pressure, digging his boots into Arn's head, but Anderson rolls into Flair's lap and strikes him in the face with a clubbing elbow! He's freed himself and he locks in a rear chinlock!

Arn is yelling at Ric while he pulls back on the chinlock, driving his knee into his back. Flair is bloody too now, but it's Arn's blood on his face as he fights to free himself. He manages to get up to his knees, then his feet but Arn throws him into the ropes and hitting the opposite side slams him hard with a shoulder tackle. Arn is favoring the injured hand as he pulls Flair up to his feet and whips him hard into the corner! Flair goes up and over landing on the apron while Arn follows him in and the two men begin pounding on one another with Flair getting the worse of it. He's reeling, barely clinging to the ropes when out of desperation he grabs Arn by the head and nails him with a hairpull hangman! Lanny says they should rename the move for Arn seeing as he's bald. Flair is unable to capitalize however as he catches a breather on the outside. Arn however rolls on out and gives chase to the ECW Champ! He gets a hold of Ric eventually and while Flair gets a few shots in, it's all Arn as he pounds Ric about the ring! He focuses his attack on Flair's right arm and shoulder, slamming him into the guardrail, the steps; and the apron before rolling him back into the ring just before the 10 count. Dusty says that Arn is lookin' fo' a little payback here. And inside the ring he continues working over Flair's arm, which he uses to hit a pumphandle slam before making the first cover of the night! He gets a two. He throws Flair back down to the mat for another. On the third, Flair smacks him away with an elbow to the eye and rolling to his feet takes a breather in the corner. "The Enforcer" however is right back up and heads right after his opponent!

But catches a boot to the eye! And Flair heads up top! But Anderson is already there and though Ric fights it, he gets thrown down to the canvas! He bounces up to his knees and begs Arn off, but as they get closer to the ropes he hits a shoulder thrust which looks sort of low driving Arn down to one knee! Ric is back up and begins pounding on Arn! Anderson looks to retreat across the ring, but Flair is going to work on Arn's legs now. Taylor says in order to win this, Anderson is going to have to keep "Naitch" away from the legs. And after several stomps, Indian deathlocks, and jumping knees to Arn's legs; Ric grabs them and it's figure four time! But Double A kicks Flair repeateadly and using his lower body strength he manages to toss Flair down to the mat! Arn is back up now and knees Flair in the head before picking him up by the hair and lets him have it with a hard right! He quickly regrets it and pulls back his hand in pain as Flair falls back into the ropes! AA is pissed now however and comes in with a clothesline! Flair dodges it however, pulls down the top rope and sends "The Enforcer" spilling out to the floor! Arn is in a daze as he stumbles up to his feet, but Flair is not as "The Nature Boy" climbs the top turnbuckle and leaping off nails the challenger with a diving knee on the outside! Both men hit the ground hard!

They both stay down for a bit while inside the ring Jones gives the count. Flair is up for and rolls into the ring. Poffo says that Ric is a "Genius" taking the Count Out win here. But Ric seems to have second thoughts and heads back out after Arn whom he rolls into the ring. Once back inside Flair begins pounding on Anderson who is back up on one knee and pulling him to his feet whips him into the ropes for a huge back body drop! Arn hits canvas, bounces up to his feet; and gets clobbered with a chop to the throat! Arn is down again, but Ric lets him stumble up to his feet so he can chop his ass into the corner! And the smacks are heard throughout the arena as he goes to town! Pulling Arn out of the corner he locks him up and hits a vertical suplex! And the quick cover! 1!... 2!... Anderson kicks out! Ric keeps right on him, hits the ropes and nails him with a jumping knee to the head! Arn nearly rolls out of the ring, but Flair stops him and makes the cover! With his feet on the ropes! 1!... 2!... Arn's shoulder is up! It's back down! 1!... 2!.... It's back up! It's back down! 1! Jones sees Flair's feet are on the ropes and begins arguing with him. Arn his back up on his feet. Flair pushes past S.D. goes for a clothesline and gets caught with the Double A spinning spinebuster! 1!... 2!...

Flair kicks out just before the 3! Ric is flat on his back while Arn crawls to the corner to help himself up. He pulls Flair up to his feet, but Ric goes for a low blow! Arn however catches it and wrenches the arm! Ric howls in pain as Anderson drags him to the corner and heading out to the apron slams "Naitch's" arm over the top rope as he drops to the ground. He then re-enters the ring while Flair nurses the arm and taking from behind hits a suplex! It gets him another two and this time Arn pulls Flair into the corner where he beats his head three times on the top turnbuckle while the fans chant along before climbing up to the second rope while holding his arm and lets the exposed limb have it with the elbow drop! He goes up again still holding the arm and hits a diving clothesline! Flair is down, Arn lays on him and hooks the leg! 1!... 2!....

Flair kicks out! Arn is back up, stomps and beats Flair down some more and hits him so hard Flair is seeing stars and his own blood as he busts open! Arn pulls the ECW Champ up to his feet and he hits the DDT! Only Flair isn't there because he's grabbed hold of the top rope! Arn hits the mat alone and he's down. But Flair is unable to capitalize as he fails to keep hold of the ropes and hits the ground himself! Ric is back up first however, but Arn isn't far behind! He charges in, but Flair is the one who connects with a short-arm clothesline! Double A is down and Ric grabs him by the legs! He's wrapping him up for the figure-four!
But Arn Anderson blocks it?! He's sitting up and holding Flair's legs from locking it in full! But Ric fights back and he gets it! Figure four! Figure four! Arn is screaming in pain and has nowhere to go! Ric works him over! The ref wants Anderson to give it up! But he's fighting it! Ric keeps him locked in though and Arn is beginning to waver! His hand is above the mat! He looks like he's going to tap! Ric begins punching Arn in the leg! Double A is refusing to submit! Flair is screaming at him to give it up! Telling Arn he's done! And now AA's trying to turn the Champ! It's slow going...

But he's got it! And now it's Flair's turn to scream! Anderson has reversed the figure four! But he's much too close to the ropes and Jones forces the break! Flair lies back on the ropes while Arn attempts to get to his feet. But he can't do it! His leg is too gone! Flair uses the ropes, but he's just as wobbly. And as Arn manages to get his footing; Flair strikes with a chop block to the back of the knee! Arn is back down clutching at his knee. Ric Flair is back up stumbling toward him and grabbing his legs he lets out a Wooo! before going for the figure four! But Arn Anderson grabs him by the head and rolls him up with an inside cradle! 1!... 2!...

3! Arn Anderson has done it! He's once again the ECW Champion! He's beaten Ric Flair! "The Nature Boy" stays down a look of shock etched across his face while S.D. Jones raises "The Enforcer's" hand in victory! He can barely stand however and is glad for the help as Tully Blanchard and Scott Taylor head down to the ring to help him up! He's soon joined by the rest of the ECW roster and now Flair looks pissed! Taylor and Blanchard have Arn up on their shoulders as he raises the Eastern Heavyweight Title over his head.



Lights Fade.

[thecommish]

Fantastic show guys! The Sting/Benoit runner throughout the night was probably the highlight, but there was a lot of great action.

I particularly enjoyed the main event. It was great to see Arn get the definitive win over Flair that we never go to see in real life.

[Chitohausen]

Awesome show! It certainly lived up to all the hype!

Some huge matches, like Savage - Steamboat II, which was every bit as exciting as the WM 3 match. The big 8-man elimination match at the beginning was fun too.

I kind of expected that we would see Jericho head back to ECW, but I was completely shocked by Dean Malenko taking the WCW GenX title from Lance Storm. I didn't see that coming.

Flair vs Arn was great, and I agree with Commish, it was nice to see Anderson get a clean win over the Nature Boy.

Great show guys!