WCW Starrcade 1996 12-23-96 Hennig vs Flair for the title!
Jan 20, 2014 1:35:08 GMT
Post by Chitohausen on Jan 20, 2014 1:35:08 GMT
WCW STARRCADE: HOMECOMING
MONDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1996
FROM THE GREENSBORO COLISEUM IN GREENSBORO, NC
LIVE AND ONLY ON PAY-PER-VIEW!
Tony Schiavone, “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and “The Living Legend” Larry Zbyszko welcome everyone to the GRANDADDY OF THEM ALL . . . STARRCADE!!!
The Greensboro Coliseum is packed to capacity, and ahead, a pay-per-view spectacular, as only World Championship Wrestling can bring you! To kick off this extravaganza the guys welcome in Mauro Ranallo who gives a bit of history about the legend of Tiger Mask in Japan and some of the classic battles of the 80’s. That same tradition carries through Tiger Mask IV here tonight, and awaiting him is perhaps the biggest Lucha star to come out of Mexico, Rey Mysterio, Jr! The guys are pumped, the crowd is pumped, so without further adieu, “DAVID PENZER TAKE IT AWAY!”
The opening contest of Starrcade is set for one fall… Introducing first from Monterrey, Mexico, REY MYSTERIO, JR!
And his opponent comes to us from the Land of the Rising Sun, this is TIGER MASK!
Rey and Tiger Mask get off to a cautious start, obviously feeling some jitters. That doesn’t last for long though as TM hits a flying arm drag into a deep armbar, and begins showing off some of that famous Japanese dojo mat work. Quite the surprise from Tiger Mask but certainly an effective tactic. Mysterio tries to pick up the pace countering out of each hold, but Mask wrestles him back to the mat, and is really wearing Rey out at this point. Mysterio ducks under a round kick, catches a spinning side kick, and takes Mask down with a dragon screw leg whip! To the outside goes Mysterio, slingshot senton connects! Rey rolls across the ring to the opposite apron. Tiger Mask is disoriented, and spins right into a springboard hurracanrana off the middle of the top rope! Mysterio hooks him up tight and gets the pinfall in a fantastic opening contest to Starrcade
Tony, Dusty and Larry discuss the surprising return to WCW of Kevin Sullivan, this time as “the Gamesmaster” along with his dreaded Varsity Club. What a dominant group they are, and have made their intentions clear, they are after Ricky Steamboat and the United States Heavyweight Championship. Thankfully Samu and dem Aloha Boys were around, because there is no telling what would’ve happened to the Dragon two weeks ago on Nitro!
The following contest is scheduled for one fall…
Introducing first, from Badstreet, USA TERRY “BAM BAM” GORDY; from Syracuse, NY “CAPTAIN” MIKE ROTUNDO; and from Tampa, FL, “THE GAMESMASTER” KEVIN SULLIVAN!
And their opponents, from the Isle of Samoa he is the ‘Godfather’ SAMU; and his partners from the Islands, DEM ALOHA BOYS, ROSEY and IAUKEAU!
The Varsity Club uses their collective experience advantage to keep both Iaukea and Rosey at the disadvantage in the early going. Samu was able to avoid being caught in the wrong part of town, but couldn’t stay in the ring forever. Rotundo gets caught with a Super Kick by Iaukea that allows him to tag in the Godfather, and Samu is fist and fire on all three members. He is joined by Rosey and they deliver some double team moves on Gordy and Sullivan. Samu tags out to Rosey who turns right into a hotshot from Rotundo. Bam Bam Gordy comes in and bullies Rosey around before planting him with a piledriver before tagging in the Gamesmaster. Sullivan delivers his brutal double stomp from the ropes to pick up the victory!
Tony, Dusty and Larry talk about the issues involving Col. Robert Parker, former Stud Stable members Bobby Eaton and Bubba Rogers, and Parker’s new team, Barry and Kendall Windham.
The following contest is scheduled for one fall…
Introducing first, led to the ring by their manager, COL. ROBERT PARKER, from Sweetwater, TX, BARRY and KENDALL, THE WINDHAM BROTHERS!
And their opponents, from Macon, GA, BIG BUBBA ROGERS; and from Huntsville, AL, “BEAUTIFUL” BOBBY EATON!
There’s nothing pretty about this one, as these four tough, rugged individuals tear into each other the second the opening bell sounds. Col. Parker has no problems interfering on behalf of his men, but he pays for it late in the match when, after Parker shoved Eaton off the top rope, Bubba runs around the ring and batters Parker with rights and lefts. Kendall Windham becomes distracted by what’s going on outside the ring, and he turns his attention away from Bobby Eaton. That proves to be a costly mistake, as Eaton schoolboys Kendall, and rolls him up. Barry tries to climb into the ring to break it up, but Bubba grabs him from the floor, and pulls Barry out of the ring as Eaton gets the 3-count on Kendall.
After the match, Parker’s bodyguard MENG hits the ring and hits Bubba Rogers with the Tongan Spike.
Suddenly, DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE who will defend the TV title against Meng, charges to ringside, pulls Meng off of Bobby Eaton, and starts throwing punches at Meng with reckless abandon!
The referee in the ring calls for the bell, and our World Television title match is underway!!
Even though both men are already brawling in the ring, David Penzer makes the ring introductions from the floor.
The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the WCW World Television Championship…
Introducing first, the challenger, from Tonga, MENG!
And the champion, from the Jersey Shore, DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE!
Champion and challenger go toe to toe in the middle of the ring. Meng gets the upperhand as he seems to shake off Page’s offence, but DDP shows he’s not above the occasional cheapshot, as he delivers a low blow, and that stops Meng in his tracks. Page drops the challenger with a clothesline, but Meng is back up almost immediately. Page seems to be wondering what he’s going to have to do to put Meng away. Meng hits a thrust kick out of nowhere, and that puts Page flat on his back on the mat. Meng stomps the champion, then goes to the top rope and leaps off with a diving headbutt that will surely spell the end for DDP . . . but Page rolls out of the way!!
Meng crashes head-first into the mat, and that seems to knock the challenger senseless, at least momentarily. Page takes full advantage, and works Meng over. When Page goes for the Diamond Cutter, though, Meng is able to shove him off. Meng, standing behind Page, sets him up for a German suplex, but out of nowhere, Page hits THE DIAMOND CUTTER!!!!
DDP covers Meng, and gets the 1, 2, 3!! The Greensboro Coliseum errupts as the referee hands Page the TV title, and DDP celebrates in the ring!
As Page celebrates, someone makes their way down the aisle and climbs up onto the ring . . .
CHRIS CANDIDO grabs the mic from Penzer, and confronts Page. Candido claps mockingly, and says that Page has held the title for a while now, he’s beaten a bunch of stiffs, including this clown (he points at Meng), who used to walk around wearing a crown and calling himself a king.
Candido says that if Page wants to prove he’s a REAL champion, there’s only one way to do it, put that title on the line against New Jersey’s favourite son, CHRIS CANDIDO!!
Candido turns his attention to Kimberly, who’s celebrating with her man, and says that if she ever wants to find out what it’s like to be with a real man, she knows where to find him.
That pisses DDP off, and he lunges at Candido, but Chris quickly slips through the ropes and taunts Page from the floor before heading back down the aisle.
The following contest is scheduled for one fall to a finish, and can only end by pinfall, submission or knock-out; the match is for the WCW Cruiserweight Championship…
Introducing first, the challenger, from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, LANCE STORM!
And the champion, from Tampa, FL, “THE MAN OF 1,000 HOLDS” DEAN MALENKO!
Malenko and Storm put on a wrestling clinic, and for the next 30+ minutes, they trade holds and counterholds. Storm gets the advantage early on, and gets several nearfalls, but can’t put the champion away. Malenko eventually takes over, and starts softening Storm up for the Texas Cloverleaf. Malenko attempts the Cloverleaf, but Storm is close enough that he can reach the ropes. Malenko goes to pull Storm up off the mat, but Storm grabs Malenko’s head and rolls him up for a VERY close nearfall. Malenko, getting frustrated, proceeds to kick Storm’s leg out from under him, and continues to soften up Storm’s leg. Storm keeps fighting back, but every time he starts to get something going, Malenko goes back to the leg and puts the challenger back on the mat. Malenko starts to apply the Cloverleaf again, but Storm is ready, and showing great strength in his legs, he flips over, flipping Malenko over as well, and transitions right into the Sharpshooter! Malenko tries desperately to reach the ropes, but he’s too far away. Storm cinches the hold in tighter. Malenko fights it as long as he can . . . but finally has no choice and submits!
LANCE STORM IS THE NEW WCW CRUISERWEIGHT CHAMPION!!!
Tony, Dusty and Larry talk about the rocky relationship recently between Sting and Lex Luger, but Tony notes that they seem to be on the same page now. The trio then discuss the recent issues that Sting and Luger have had with Harlem Heat.
The following contest is scheduled for one fall…
Introducing first, from Harlem, NY, BOOKER T and STEVIE RAY, HARLEM HEAT!
And their opponents, from Chicago, IL, “THE TOTAL PACKAGE” LEX LUGER; and from Venice Beach, CA, this is STIIIIIIIIIIING!
These two teams waste no time, as they tear into each other. Harlem Heat takes control early, as they isolate Sting in their corner of the ring, constantly double-teaming him. Sting keeps trying to come in and help, but all that does is distract the referee and allow Booker T and Stevie Ray to continue to double-team Luger. With Luger in a bad way, Sting comes in again, and this time, he gets his hands on Booker T, but he’s quickly double-teamed as well, and Booker throws him over the top rope and to the floor. Luger gets his second wind, he explodes off the mat, and drops Booker T with a lariat before collapsing back to the mat. Luger crawls to his corner to make the tag . . . but Sting is still down on the floor! As Luger tries to figure out where Sting is, Booker T rolls him up for a VERY close nearfall.
At this point, Sting slowly climbs back up onto the apron, as Luger hits Booker T with a powerslam as Booker rebounds off the ropes. Luger goes over to Sting, but instead of tagging, he yells at him, asking him where he was a second ago? Sting says he had been thrown to the floor. Luger tags him in, and as Sting climbs into the ring, and Luger climbs out, Booker T charges at Sting. Sting ducks, and Booker hits Luger in the back, knocking him through the ropes and to the floor. When Luger gets back up onto the ring, apron, he sees Sting pummeling Booker T, and assuming it was Sting who hit him . . . LUGER JUMPS DOWN OFF THE APRON AND STARTS WALKING TO THE BACK!!!
Sting manages to get the win, dropping Stevie Ray with the Scorpion Deathdrop, and then looks around for Luger, and sees him in the aisle, halfway to the locker room. Sting yells at Luger, asking him what he’s doing, but while that’s going on, Booker T and Stevie Ray jump Sting from behind.
Luger watches what’s going on in the ring, and doesn’t seem sure what to do, but as Booker and Stevie hit Sting with the Heat Seeker, Luger makes up his mind, and rushes back to the ring. Luger grabs a chair, and jumps into the ring, clearing Harlem Heat from the ring with the chair.
Luger grabs Sting and pulls him roughly to his feet, and faces Sting, still holding the chair. There’s a tense moment, no one is sure what Luger’s going to do, but he eventually drops the chair, and offers Sting his hand!
Sting and Luger shake hands, then hug in the ring as the fans cheer.
Tony, Dusty and Larry talk about Ricky Steamboat’s WCW U.S. title reign.
Footage is shown of Steamboat winning the title, as well as clips from several of his title defences.
The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the WCW United States Championship…
Introducing first, led to the ring by “THE GAMESMASTER" KEVIN SULLIVAN, the challenger, from Norman, OK, “DR. DEATH” STEVE WILLIAMS!
And the champion, from Charlotte, NC, RICKY “THE DRAGON” STEAMBOAT!
Williams uses his power to gain the upper hand early in the match, and he keeps Steamboat on the mat. Whenever Steamboat tries to make a comeback, Sullivan interjects himself, finally leading to the referee sending Sullivan to the back! Williams is livid, and he starts arguing with the ref, which allows Steamboat to shake off the cobwebs. Steamboat goes on the offensive, hitting Williams with several knife-edged chops. Williams eventually takes control of the match again, but this is not his night, as Steamboat turns things around, eventually catching Williams with a crossbody off the top rope for the 1, 2, 3!
WCW President JJ DILLON comes to the ring, along with Mauro Ranallo. Dillon thanks the fans in attendance and those watching at home on PPV for spending the evening with them, and he hopes they’re enjoying the show.
Dillon says that the new year is almost upon them, and 1997 is going to be the biggest year yet for WCW, as they’ve got some big changes coming, and he’s currently in negotiations with some big names. He says that more information will be available in the coming weeks, and he hopes the fans will stay tuned to WCW programming to see what’s in store for 1997!
The following contest is scheduled for one fall and is for the WCW World Tag Team Championship…
Introducing first, led to the ring by CYRUS, the challengers, from Boston, MA, SATURN and KRONUS, THE ELIMINATORS!
And the champions, from Detroit, MI, RICK and SCOTT, THE STEINER BROTHERS!
The challengers give the Steiners a tough match, using their speed and, in Saturn’s case, high-flying ability, to keep the Steiners off their game. But in the end, the Steiners prove why they are considered the very best tag team in wrestling today, and one of the best of all-time, as they wear the Eliminators down, and Scott hits Kronus with the Frankensteiner for the 1, 2, 3!!
Tony, Dusty and Larry discuss the 15 month build up to the main event. From Ric Flair’s run as President of WCW, to JJ Dillon’s reinstatement, and the subsequent bringing in of Curt Hennig to purge Flair from WCW. Followed up by Curt Hennig’s year of dominance and, eventual, Flair-like madness. This saga has seen its share of ups and downs, but took a dramatic turn when Ric Flair returned to WCW back in September. Two Wargames matches and the return of Thunderdome haven’t been enough to temper this raging inferno.
The following contest is your main event of the evening, and it is for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship…
Introducing first, the challenger, he hails from Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the 10-time World Heavyweight Champion, he is the “NATURE BOY” RIC FLAIR!
And the reigning WCW World Heavyweight Champion, he hails from Minneapolis, MN, and is the only “Perfect” Champion in wrestling history, CURT HENNIG!
Surprisingly enough this starts out as a grappling contest. Hennig dominates from the onset, using the side headlock as his weapon of choice. Even when Flair reverses out, Hennig has a reversal of his own and regains the advantage. The champion is out to make a statement in the early going. He wipes his brow and flings it at Naitch, and Flair nods his head, goes for the lock up, pulls his hands back, WOOOOOO! The Nature Boy styles and profiles. There won’t be any mind games played on Ric Flair, not tonight, not any night. Now Flair has his legs under him and has a reversal for Hennig’s reversal to his reversal, and catches up on ‘points.’ Flair rides the champion, paint brushes the back of his head, and then SLAPS THE TASTE OUT HIS MOUTH! Hennig charges, Flair hits the low bridge sending the champ crashing to the floor and the challenger quickly follows. WHAM! Blistering chop from Flair raises Hennig to his toes. WHAM! Hennig thumbs Flair in the eye and heads for the center of the ring. Flair follows him in, but Hennig was ready with an elbow drop, but Flair was ready and rolled back out to the floor, and then wrenches Hennig’s knee down across the apron. Hennig sets up in pain, clutching at his knee, WHAM! Blistering chop to the chest sends Hennig crashing back down. Flair wrenches on the knee once again!
As Flair rolls back into the ring to break Nick Patrick’s count, Hennig scoots back into the corner, sticks his head between the ropes, and gets a moment. Flair is having none of it, and senior official Nick Patrick is trying to separate them out of the corner; HENNIG DELIVERS A CHEAP SHOT! Big elbow drop follows, and now Curt has Flair right where he wants him, on the mat, carrying the champion’s weight. Hennig begins striking at the core of Flair, softens him up, waist lock go-behind by Hennig, he pops the hips, block by Flair! Flair reverses the position, runs Hennig into the ropes, reverse Victory Roll,
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Flair grabs the tights!!
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NO! Hennig kicks out, and meets Flair with a big forearm smash. He hooks him up, Fisherman’s Buster? NO! Surprise inside cradle by Hennig,
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NO! Flair kicks out and hops to his feet, boot to the gut of Hennig, Flair hooks him up, BACKSLIDE!
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Not even two! Hennig puts a sudden stop to the action with a huge Lariat that sends Flair down like a ton of bricks. The self-proclaimed ‘Perfect’ Heavyweight Champion of the World is feeling confident now. He assists Naitch to his feet, reverse Atomic Drop! Hennig hits the far turnbuckle, he sprints across the ring, and he flips over Flair and SNAPS his head back! Now Nature Boy is in bad shape, and Hennig zeros in on the once broken neck of the Nature Boy! Now Curt drops a big knee across the side of the head of his fallen challenger, he posts his knee at the base of the brainstem, rear chin locks the Nature Boy and wrenches away. Moving Flair’s head in a circular motion, digging the neck across his knee bone, Hennig begins mocking Flair, releases the chin lock just long enough to slap Flair across the face!
The Nature Boy finally scoots to the bottom rope and gets the break, Nick Patrick is forced to step in as Hennig refuses to break the hold. Patrick sternly admonishes Hennig about releasing the hold on time, Naitch spins Nick around, and behind his back GRABS THE TESTICULAR CLAW!! Hennig is squealing and hopping around. Flair lets go and falls back into the turnbuckle. Hennig is selling it like he has been electrocuted, and the Nature Boy drops his knee across the forehead of Hennig, WOOOOOOO! NOWWWWW, we go to school.
Flair drags Hennig by the ankle and drapes it across the bottom rope. He leaps and crashes down across the knee. Curt is writhing in pain as Flair does it once again, and struts to the center of the ring! He helps Hennig up once again, drops him down across Flair’s own knee, he yanks the leg once, he yanks it twice, FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK! IN THE CENTER OF THE RING! Hennig is biting the palm of his hand, he is refusing to give it up, the Naitch grabs the ropes! Hennig’s shoulder’s are down,
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3, NO!
Hennig sits up and thumbs Flair in the eye and then reverses the Figure Four! Now the pressure is all on Flair, will he give it up? They roll again into the ropes and Patrick is forced to break the hold. Both men are noticeably the worse for wear now. WHAM! Chop by Nature Boy. BAM! Forearm shot by Hennig. WHAM! Chop by Flair. BAM! European Uppercut by the Champ. WHAM! BAM! WHAM! BAM! Flair stomps the knee of Hennig, but Curt holds himself up by the top rope! Back elbow to the nose of Flair, and both men hit the canvas! Flair is the first to his feet and grabs a leg of Hennig’s. The Champ bounces around on his other foot, he won’t go down! Leaping Enziguiri! Curt lifts the limp shell of Flair, he cinches him up, FISHERMAN’S BUSTER, perfectly executed. He bridges . . .
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NO! Flair gets out! Hennig is incredulous! He stomps away at Flair’s knee and then drapes his ankle across the bottom rope, Hennig leaps and crashes down across the knee! He hoists the Nature Boy up and smashes his shin down across Hennig’s own knee! Down goes Flair as Hennig yanks on the knee, and again, he lets out a pathetic woo, SPINNING TOE HOLD! Hennig spins around and around, Flair is howling in pain with each twist and wrench at his knee! ‘NOWWWW WE GO TO SCHOOL!’ screams Hennig?! BUT WAIT, inside cradle from Flair!
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3! NO! Curt barely escapes. Boot to the gut from Flair, attempts the backslide, but Hennig blocks it! They spin around, Flair ducks a clothesline and catches Hennig with a chop that drops Hennig! Curt hops straight to his feet, he leaps, PERFECT dropkick! Flair hops right to his feet, Hennig leaps, FLAIR SIDESTEPS THE DROPKICK, HE HOOKS HIM UP!
FIGURE FOUR! FIGURE FOUR! Flair has him locked up! But wait, Hennig strains and strains, and is able to reverse the pressure on Flair once again! Flair rolls right on through, Naitch hammers his top leg down across the exposed ankle of Hennig, and cinches down tight . . . HENNIG SUBMITS! HENNIG SUBMITS! HENNIG SUBMITS!!!
At an official time of 26:14 we have a winner, and NEEEEEEEEEW HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD, NATURE BOY RIC FLAIR!
Dave Penzer thanks everyone for joining them for Starrcade: Homecoming, and reminds us to tune in next Monday night for a special 1996 “Year in Review” episode of WCW Monday Nitro!
Working on it now.