A PPV History of WCW with Ricky

[Steamboat Ricky]

After thinking and talking with KB and some other staff, I decided that I would begin reviewing some WCW PPVs. I'm hoping to do it as chronologically and in order as possible, but it will depend on my ability to access the material. Other staff members might be contributing, as well, but nothing is official. Just sit back and enjoy.

Bash at the Beach 1996

Announcers: Tony Schiavone, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Dusty Rhodes, Mike Tenay
Ocean Center-Daytona Beach, FL
Attendance: 8,300
July 7, 1996

​

We start off with a video package about the Hostile Takeover. It's VERY 1990s. They begin with discussing the Hostile Takeover, putting it over as the most important match in WCW history. I'm not exactly sure what about it makes it the biggest match in WCW history. It's a 3 on 2 handicap match with nothing on the line and a mystery guy coming to even the odds.


Rey Misterio, Jr. v. Psychosis

This is an early lucha libre match from Rey "Mysterious" Jr. and Psychosis, with a lot of mat work mixed with good high-flying moves in and out of the ring. Fast-paced with some false finishes. The ending is phenomenal, with the crucifix being reversed into a hurricanrana. There really isn't a whole lot to say about this match except that it is great. I'm saying that it's the best match on the card...definitely sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the show.

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Rating: A


Then we have an interview with Mean Gene and WZ's very own Konnan backstage. It's a solid interview on Konnan's part, and he does the best he can to try to get over against Flair.


Big Bubba w/ Jimmy Hart v. John Tenta - Carson City Silver Dollar Match

This match is decent until Bubba tapes Tenta to the ropes. Seriously? Taping him to the ropes? It's not like Bubba had to improvise and grab something from under the ring. It was planted in his pants prior to the match. Could they not have gotten some handcuffs or something? Athletic tape is not hard to break through if you are strong at all, much less a 500 lb. man. In the end, they had Jimmy Hart climb the pole to get the sock. I'm fairly certain this is because neither Bubba or Tenta could have climbed it. Tenta picks up the win.

Overall, not a horrible match. It was decently entertaining and not bad considering it followed a phenomenal opening bout.

Grade: B-


Announcers put over the Hostile Takeover match. What the heck happened to Bischoff? They are worried about why he isn't there.

Mean Gene is backstage with Macho, Sting, Luger...a lot of screaming going on. Sounds like they are ready for the Hostile Takeover match.


Diamond Dallas Page v. "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan - Taped Fist Match for Lord of the Ring

Duggan is great at working the crowd. Despite being a perpetual mid-carder, he is ridiculously over. This match showcases that. There's a fun spot where DDP gets caught in the ropes. However, this is a very uneventful match...VERY short and is serving as kind of a filler match. I see no reason why it needed to be a taped fist match, as that aspect really doesn't come into play. DDP wins via Diamond Cutter.

Grade: D+


Backstage interview with Mean Gene, Jimmy Hart, The Taskmaster, and The Giant. Gene calls Hart a "twerp" which is a good time. The Taskmaster is a scary looking/sounding fella...and The Giant puts out a really good interview here, as well. It's a shame, as I think that the Dungeon of Doom might be the most underrated stable ever. But good stick work, nonetheless.

Lee Marshall is out at the entrance interviewing Benoit and Arn. Arn gives a typical, classic Arn interview...but Benoit's segment is horrendous. I can understand why they turned Benoit into the kind of monotone, doesn't talk very much kind of guy. His stick work is painful right here.


The Nasty Boys v. Public Enemy - Four Man Dog Collar Match

I'm already not liking this because it's a split screen. And it's not just any split screen...it's two little screens in the middle of a large body of water and the Bash at the Beach logo at the top. Major point reduction for this.

There's just a lot of random stuff going on. It looks like a WWF Hardcore Title match. Hitting each other with inflatable sharks, cheesy commentary by Dusty...it's just a hodgepodge of craziness. Hitting each other with life preservers, surfboards, AND trashcans. This is just a massive nightmare.

Back in the ring...they can't get the table to break. Two spots off of the table and it won't break. That sucks for them. Overall...not a very good match.

Grade: C-


Mean Gene is backstage trying to talk to the Outsiders. They won't come out.


Disco Inferno v. Dean Malenko (c) - WCW Cruiserweight Championship

WZ's very own Disco Inferno says that if he wins...we are invited to his disco dance party! I wonder if he'll be holding that in the Disco thread.

Well...this is primarily an all-Malenko-fest. There's a lot of mat wrestling going on, but I think the crowd is getting get of zoned out at this point. There have been 2 really poor matches in a row, and a chain-wrestling-fest being dominated by one guy is not a good way to keep the crowd interested.

Disco is coming back a bit, but this is nothing compared to the domination that Malenko has been putting on throughout the match. The announce team is trying to put over Disco...but the in-ring performance just isn't matching it...up to this point.

Then Disco begins to pick it up. Now is when the commentary should have been thrown out there, because Disco put in a good run there. I really like how he was selling the fact that he couldn't maintain focus and kept dancing. But Malenko hits him with a double underhook powerbomb followed by the Texas Cloverleaf. A good job of eventually making Disco look credible, but the commentators putting him over when he really wasn't worthy of it kind of hurt the match.

Grade: B


Steve "Mongo" McMichael v. Joe Gomez

I can tell right now before this even starts that this is going to be absolutely horrendous...but here we go.

What's with the weird crab camera view?

This match is soooooo boring. This match might be something worthy of being the opener on WCW Worldwide. Nobody is reacting to anything. McMichael, who is apparently a phenomenal athlete because he won a Super Bowl 10 years prior gets the win via Tombstone.

Match: D


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And now comes simply my favorite backstage interview of all-time. Mean Gene is classic, and Woman displays why she is one of the underrated valets (and easily one of my favorites) of all-time. Flair is in rare form, yet he calls Konnan "The Man with 1,000 Holds." I believe that is a title belonging to Malenko. Still...it takes nothing away from the interview. Gene and Woman make it what it is. I haven't graded interviews yet, but I will grade this one:

Grade: A+


Konnan (c) v. Ric Flair - United States Heavyweight Championship

Woman's screaming throughout the match is just great. Though, it looks as though Flair should have been DQed by Woman's interference while Konnan was on the top rope. She then kicks Konnan where it counts.

Woman is involved throughout the entire match, and I just can't express how awesome this makes the match. Without Woman...the match is lackluster...but she makes it worth it.

Grade: B


Gene is backstage still trying to figure out who the 3rd man is. He should probably try to talk to Woman again instead.


Chris Benoit/Arn Anderson v. The Giant/The Taskmaster

Sullivan looks incredibly sloppy in this bout. Botching a catapult and a backdrop...it's just not very entertaining. There's a big pop when he finally tags in The Giant, though.

Oh no...split screen again. I don't know if I can take anymore of this presentation. The Giant finally pins Arn...yet they continue with the split screen for a few. Anti-climatic ending. But Woman comes out to save the match.

Grade: C- (Woman helps this)


Hostile Takeover vignette with some great 90s music and production style.


Hostile Takeover Match: The Outsiders (Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Mystery Opponent) v. Macho Man Randy Savage, Sting, Lex Luger

Michael Buffer offers one of his worst introductions ever. He says "interlopers" though, which is a funny word. Then Gene tries to find out who the 3rd guy is one more time.

Well, Luger is "taken out" because he was accidentally knocked to the floor by a Stinger splash. Apparently Psychosis and Rey Mysterious are tougher than Luger, as they took similar bumps like 20 times apiece in the opening match.

Tony made a mistake and called him "Nash"...I'm not sure that they were actually introduced yet. Brain calls them both "Hall and Nash." Hmmmmm. I could be wrong, but I don't think their names were revealed yet.

"I don't even know if that's a helluva word or not...but I know it is." - Dusty Rhodes

This is a pretty decent match with good psychology on both sides. It might be the best match that Hall OR Nash put on in their entire time in WCW. Sting powers back and makes a GREAT tag to Macho. The crowd really reacts well, likely because Sting and Savage are so good at psychology.

Nash low-blows Savage, and out comes Hogan. Tony and Dusty are convinced that he's here to save the day. But not Heenan. And Heenan was right. Hogan tears off the shirt...then gives the leg drop heard round the world.

Then, one of the most famous interviews of all-time...Hogan tells the fans to shut up. Who would have ever thought? The fans were outraged, and the trash in the ring serves as evidence of that. Hogan botched the nWo as the New World Organization of wrestling a couple of times...but he got it right the first time...and that's the one that is heard repeatedly in nWo vignettes.

It was a historical match and a historical interview, and that by itself gives it good marks. The match was good in and of itself, but Hogan's botches can't be ignored.

Grade: A-


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Overall

It was a decent PPV that was definitely top and bottom heavy. The first match was epic, and it took the Flair/Mean Gene/Woman interview in the last 1/3rd of the show to have something of equal value to keep the fans into it. The last part is what the PPV is remembered for, but otherwise, it was just kind of lackluster.

Grade: B-


There it is folks. Sorry for the imprecise videos, but that's the best I could do. Look for more reviewing hopefully later this week.

 

[Thriller Ant]

I'm really glad you're doing this Ricky. I just started watching wrestling again about a year or so ago, but I grew up watching WCW during the Monday Night Wars. I will definitely be reading and chiming in when I can.

And that Mysterio/Psychosis was great, especially that finish.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

Yes, feel free to go through and watch the full event if you'd like...I just wanted to post notable clips. I will begin working on Hog Wild tonight, likely finishing it sometime tomorrow.

Bash at the Beach '96 really was a very historical PPV, and that is why I chose it as a starting point. I could have gone back further, but my Attitude Era markitude found this to be the best place to start. This will leave older PPVs to be reviewed by others who will appreciate them more.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

Part I

Hog Wild '96

Announcers: Tony Schiavone, Dusty Rhodes, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, Mike Tenay
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally - Sturgis, SD
Attendance: 5,000
August 10, 1996​

I just want to begin by saying how absolutely stupid this poster is. I'm hoping they released this WAY far in advance, otherwise, this is the most nonsensical advertising scheme of all-time. I'm thinking this is not the case...because the Fall Brawl poster for the next month features an nWo-clad Hogan. Here, we have Hulk Hogan wearing red and yellow, one month after he caused little kids to cry and thousands of fans to throw trash at him. So, what is the message that they are trying to promote here?

"Hey everybody...remember how this guy who was your hero for 10+ years suddenly turned his back on you and told you to stick it? Well...come on down to Sturgis or buy Hog Wild on PPV!!!!"

It just boggles my mind that they could not have done a re-release on this. Don't you think that this would have drawn better had the poster actually been relevant to the event itself? Red and Yellow Hogan IS NOT involved in the PPV. So please...re-issue a poster.

Another pre-event rant that I have is that a LARGE PPV-style event is being held in STURGIS, SD at a biker rally where admission to the event is NOT being collected. Sure, WCW is making most of its money from this through PPV buys (no thanks to the promotional poster), but WCW still missed out on a LOT of money here. We're talking AT LEAST $250,000. That could have paid an upper mid-carder's salary for a year. This event is just one of the many business practices that caused WCW to go down the tube (shameless plug for my Master Debator on the death of WCW...check it out in the columns lounge...which I think is in the archives).

Thirdly...they held this right after WCW Saturday Night, which is a two-hour telecast. They had 2 hours of decent matches on free TV right before a PPV. I can understand a one-hour show...or even doing some kind of Free Preview...but 2 hours? How does that encourage anyone to buy the PPV?

Man...I just watched 2 hours of wrestling...I don't need to pay for 3 more!

That's what I'd be saying, at least. Anyway...onto the action:

Rey Misterio, Jr. (c) v. Ultimate Dragon - WCW Cruiserweight Championship

-The attire in which Rey comes out is epic. I was first introduced to Rey through the game WCW v. nWo: World Tour on Nintendo 64...and this outfit was his default attire. I love it...and it's Rey's default attire in my mind, as well.

-2/3 of the way through the match...Dragon gives one of the absolute best spinwheel kicks I've ever seen. Then, a bunch of back-flipping starts to happen. I'm unsure as to how these naked flips have anything to do with besting one's opponent...but Rey and Dragon seem to think it's essential.

-Rey keeps attracting a "USA" chant. I know he's billed as from being from San Diego...but isn't he Mexican?

-I really dislike when heels are booked as being overly arrogant and unwilling to go for pinfalls in order to showboat and/or go for more devastating moves...particularly when the announcers put over the move that said arrogant star performed as being enough to end the match. What purpose does that serve? It does nothing for said arrogant superstar, and at the same time, it makes the babyface look weak because the arrogant heel just totally whipped him and should have taken the victory. This occurs in this match...and it really does nothing but make Rey look like a little boy.

-The match itself isn't nearly as good as Rey's bout with Psychosis one month prior. It is for the most part pretty sloppy on the part of Dragon, and it was obvious. There were a few good spots to the outside, which were particularly tricky because of the elevated ring.

-Overall, it's nothing to write home about, and being that the cruiserweight matches usually carry the shows...my hopes for the quality of the show are not very high.

Grade: B--

Special Challenge Match: Scott Norton v. Ice Train

Hold onto your butts. I do not have high hopes whatsoever for this match...but I'll try to keep an open mind.

-These guys are absolutely huge. We just don't see guys of this stature around anymore. It's like you have two guys who compete in World's Strongest Man competitions fighting each other (I believe that Norton actually used to do this).

-There isn't a lot to talk about here. There are two gargantuan dudes duking it out. There is a lot of punching...a lot of chopping. For what that is worth, they do a pretty decent job. Ice Train is apparently hurt so he can't do much. The match ends with an armbar...yes...and armbar. That's all you need to know.

Grade: C-

Madusa v. Bull Nakano - Battle of the Bikes

-I actually found this match to be one of the more entertaining women's matches that I've ever seen. Madusa and Nakano are very solid in terms of in ring work...Nakano the better. But obviously, Nakano, with her Bride of Frankenstein hair, does not have anywhere close to the appeal stateside that Madusa does. But jeez, Madusa was pulling off some pretty crazy holds. She does this sharpshooter kind of thing that looks just totally epic. I like the cycle spots at the end. It's kind of a fun thing.

Grade: B

Dean Malenko v. Chris Benoit

Immediately, I'm drooling. Just look at those two names. Yes.

Almost halfway through the match, Brain makes this comment about how he loves the crowd right now. How everyone on a bike is glued to the action in the ring, and that no one is leaving. Yet...in the background...LOTS of people are walking around, and perhaps...LEAVING. Crazy WCW commentating at its finest.

At one point Malenko had Benoit in an arm bar...but Benoit lifted him up and gave him a back suplex. That has to take incredible strength, because Benoit was basically lifting him up on his own volition.

The crowd is absolutely dead. Are these people even wrestling fans?

Woman is in the picture. They should really have her in every segment of the show.

WOAH...Benoit using the Lion Tamer! I marked out severely at the sight of this...he's got him pretty much standing on his head...so props to Malenko for taking the hold.

Well, they just keep doing a bunch of moves and then having near falls. That's seriously the tempo of this match. There is no real flow...it's just literally a bunch of moves and near falls. It's a technical clinic...but in terms of a well-worked match...horrendous.

And the match is called a draw after it reached time-limit...the people are ticked. They actually DO have pulses and are booing loudly. Woman gets up on the apron...and magically, the booing stops. BUTTTTT...apparently it is decided that there is going to be a 5 minute overtime period. And the people begin to boo again. This makes zero sense to me.

Now, Benoit puts Malenko in the Cloverleaf. I thought this was Hog Wild '96...not Wrestlemania X-7(hopefully this joke isn't falling on deaf ears). He has him in it for a REALLY long time. Malenko gets close to the ropes...and Benoit pulls him to the center. Malenko tries to fight some more...and BENOIT BREAKS THE HOLD. Why? Just because the guy won't give up immediately? This isn't a video game. Malenko would have eventually passed out or something. Mind-boggling.

Dusty Rhodes has said "WCW...Where the Big Boys Play" like [exaggeration]50 times[/exaggeration] in this telecast alone.

Speaking of great commentary.

They really went to the troft on this thing.

Ahhh, a troft. That thing out of which horses eat and in which humans urinate. That should be a well understood term amongst the majority of the viewing audience. However, they still are asking themselves one thing:

WHAT IN THE HECK DOES "GOING TO THE TROFT" HAVE TO DO WITH WRESTLING FOR 30 MINUTES AND HAVING GREAT ENDURANCE?????

If someone knows...please tell me.

Schiavone then has a brilliant revelation while Benoit has Malenko in a leg lock.

Now...Benoit, doing something...you know this may be a little strategy that no one has employed yet. And that strategy...they have never worked on one part of the body, and that is what's happening here.

Tony...Benoit had Malenko in a Lion Tamer and then in a Texas Cloverleaf for a really long time. Unless I'm missing something...that seems to me like Benoit was working on the back...i.e. one part of the body. The commentary is ruining this.

And overtime runs out. And just as you guessed...Nick Patrick calls for a second overtime. And the people, at this point, are livid. They obviously know that this match is bollocks.

Woman interferes...but it ends up giving Benoit a cheap rollup win. And the people have a mixed reaction. They probably hate that it ended so stupidly...but they have to be glad that it is over.

Overall: This match is plain awful. The worst thing about it is that it has two of the most solid in-ring guys ever, but it just fails to deliver anything but a huge let down. There was NO story-telling whatsoever, and it was booked wretchedly. Why not just have it go until there is a winner from the outset? Doesn't a time limit mean that after time has expired...the match is over? Makes NO sense to me. The commentary is brutal. Stay away from this match.

Grade: D- (only because I can't fail any segment containing Woman)

(Part II will be coming soon)

 

[NSL]

Bash at the Beach '96 really was a very historical PPV, and that is why I chose it as a starting point. I could have gone back further, but my Attitude Era markitude found this to be the best place to start. This will leave older PPVs to be reviewed by others who will appreciate them more.

This PPV was basically the starting point of the war between WCW and WWF. Nitro may not have started yet, but this put them on the map as a real threat, in my opinion. All the PPV's before this were good, but they weren't anything worth including in the battle for ratings/buyrates. Before this, the only ones including in reviews, would be Starrcade.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

Hog Wild...Part II


For one...I am NOT "Hog Wild" about this PPV. If the first half is any sign of things to come...I may want to just load up my ear canals with hand moisturizer instead of continuing the review. But...for the sake of all that is good...I will press on.


Harlem Heat v. The Steiner Brothers

-This match is atrocious. I had some stuff written out for it...but it got deleted. Anyway...I'm not sure why Harlem Heat is getting booed this badly. I think MAYBE they were supposed to be heels at the time?

-Two of the best tag teams ever shouldn't stink it up this bad.

Grade: N/A...because I didn't want to finish watching it.


I can't help but feel like I'm actually watching an episode of Little House on the Prairie with a big wrestling ring in the middle of the prairie.


Ric Flair (c) v. Eddie Guerrero - U.S. Heavyweight Championship

-Eddie is getting cheered...likely because of the mullet. Definitely not because of his entrance music. Seeing as Eddie is Latino and uses that gimmick...shouldn't they give him Latin music instead of classic rock?

-Woman is out...oh man this segment got good.

-The lights went out at around 9:00 into the match.

-Eddie just pulled down Flair's trunks and Dream said that Eddie had him "by a crack."


A good match overall. Far better than its predecessors. Woman helps Flair get the W by using her for leverage. That makes this match a good one.

Grade: B


The Outsiders v. Sting and Lex Luger


-Brain oversells some fireworks. I guess they are pretty cool for the time. But you might as well just watch the 4th of July.

-This doesn't make sense. It's a return match from BATB...but even more to the advantage of the Outsiders. Why would they lose if they already beat Luger and Sting with Macho Man on their team as well? Not understanding this one bit.

-Dusty said "Where the Big Boys Play" again. That needs to stop.

-Dusty is now explaining to everyone that Sting is in a bad spot because he's in the Outsiders' corner. Thanks, Dream.

-Cool momentum shift when Sting reverses the Outsider Edge.

-Nick Patrick appears to take out Luger's knee after getting "hit in the eye" by Luger's clumsy Torture Rack. This allows Hall to get the 1-2-3 on a fast-count.

Overall: Decent match. About as good as could be having both Nash and Luger involved. The utter dominance of the nWo continues.

Grade: C+


The Giant (c) v. Hollywood Hulk Hogan - WCW World Heavyweight Championship

-Jimmy Hart is involved...this already instantly improves the match (not like Woman does, however).

-The Giant is Hulking up...kinda corny.

-Nash and Hall come out to the ring...not sure why this doesn't end in a DQ. The ref was very aware of what was occurring...and it was clearly interference.

-Hogan wins the belt using a belt shot to the face...which Giant then sells for over 5 minutes (thanks Botchamania). Hogan turns on the Bootyman...and it's clear that the nWo isn't screwing around. They mean business in WCW.

Overall: Decent storytelling...but still too much "meh."

Grade: C


Overall Show: This show is just soooooooo bad. I'm so glad it is over. I seriously never want to have to watch this again. It was the definition of laborious. Please...try not to ever watch this.

Grade: D

 

[NSL]

Looking at the card, you'd expect great things. It's a shame that they couldn't rebound a little better from Bash At The Beach, and give us something worthy of remembering.

Misterio v. Dragon could've been a match of the night, as could Benoit v. Malenko. Too bad we got typical stuff from that time. The only thing worth noting of the whole night, was the nWo spray painting the belt.

 

[Steamboat Ricky]

I gave Harthan the honor of reviewing Fall Brawl '96...so he will be serving as the special guest reviewer. I expect you to treat him with the same courtesy that you would treat me. I want a good report when I get back.

But seriously...Hog Wild was so laborious...I just gave it to Harthan. I was scarred by that pay-per-view. Woman was all that saved it. And Giant's selling of the belt shot.

 

[joejoe]

I'm really enjoying the WCW PPV reveiws so keep them up! As far as Hog Wild good god what a bad idea. What's funny is Eric Bischoff in his book talks about how proud he was of this event.

Why?? He didn't even charge admission. When I think of WCW PPVs and Nitros during this time for some reason I remember WCW being awesome and had to watch TV with great matches but whenever I go on youtube and check out and old PPV or Nitro I can't help but think how bad and lame WCW was. With a few exceptions it was pretty bad.

 

[Harthan]

Alright, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a PPV History of WZCW with Ricky, now featuring Harthan.

Today's PPV is Fall Brawl 1996. This PPV is right in the middle of the rise of the nWo, and they are, of course, the entire focus of the show. Tonight's got two big stories - the first is WarGames, and the second is Sting. They're a bit interrelated. The nWo has laid out a series of demands if they win WarGames tonight, and acquiescing to these demands would mean them becoming the top dogs in WCW, which no one wants. Except for half the audience that thinks the nWo is cool and great. But hey, Sting. Sting was WCW's stalwart against the nWo, but just a little while ago he was seen attacking none other than Lex Luger, also a stout defended of WCW. Oh, woe betide us! Sting has joined the nWo. Or has he? This is the big story of WarGames tonight - each team has three members announced, you see. For the nWo, it's Hall, Nash, and Hogan. For WCW, it's Luger, Flair, and Arn Anderson. The fourth man for each team is a mystery. Sting is a suspect for both teams. The nWo might also be bringing in the Giant, and WCW might be using Steve McMichael or Chris Benoit. Whoever knows? Anyway, we'll get there in good time, there's a whole undercard to get to. Not that that the announcer's show it, considering they spend 50% of every match talking about the nWo. Goodness. Anyway, let's get to our opening contest.

Special Grudge Match - Diamond Dallas Page vs Chavo Guerrero

Now, I haven't got a damn clue why this is so special, but hey, we'll roll with it. DDP makes his way out looking pretty cool, and the announcer's make note that DDP has been harassing the Guerreros lately. Chavo makes his way out looking like the consummate jobber, but he's young. Chavo gets the offense going early with a nice dropkick that sends DDP out of the ring. Chavo follows this up by stomping him so much I had to make sure Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase weren't about to join him. They brawl on the outside and then get back in the ring, where Chavo hits a rather sloppy crossbody for a two count. Chavo starts focusing on the arm and locks in an armbar for several minutes. Eventually DDP gets up on the apron, and Chavo hits, literally, the exact same dropkick he hit at the beginning of the match. It's total deja vu. Chavo then misses a move and sends himself over the ropes, which is DDP's cue to go into basic heel mode and beat the hell out of Chavo. Slowly. He pretty much beats on Chavo for a while and is doesn't get much better, but DDP hits a few nice moves that keep the sequence watchable. Chavo gets the advantage back and hits your typical Mexican fare of springboard moves and hurricanranas. DDP eventually gets the advantage back, nails a powerbomb and the Diamond Cutter for the 1, 2, 3.

-This is a pretty solid opener. Chavo looked really good and except for a sloppy move or two was spot on with everything. DDP was boring at times, but for working heel, it was alright. The crowd was pretty into this and it got them warmed up nicely for the show. Overall, a 6/10.

Submission Match - Scott Norton vs Ice Train

Goodness me. You should be able to tell how good this match is from reading those names. The story here is that these two big guys were tag team partners and Norton turned on Ice. Okay, great. Teddy Long is out with Ice Train. Dusty Rhodes then spends a while admiring (in detail) these two guys' bodies, and it really makes you wonder about those polka dots. Now, I could give you the play by play, but I won't. All these two do is hit random slams on each other and then lock in elementary submission holds. The problem is, there's absolutely no working over of a body part, which seems to me like a key aspect of a submission match. They go from armbar to abdominal stretch...back to armbar. That's really like, all they do. Ugh. Ice Train eventually locks in a full nelson which Norton submits to.

-Don't ever watch this match. Please. It's really quite atrocious. You want to complain about Big Show vs Cena in a submission match, then take a look at what these two offered up and you'll soon admire that match as a technical classic. The only redeeming factor of these match is that at the very least these two guys sell decently. 2/10

Mexican Heavyweight Championship - Konnan (c) vs Juventud Guerrera

So, this is is billed as the "Mexican Heavyweight Championship". It's really the AAA Heavyweight Championship, you think they could have just said that. Anyway. Mike Tenay is on the announce team now, making this a ridiculous four man announce team. Juvi is out first and Dusty remarks that he's just a little man. I guess he's not allowed to play in WCW, then. See what I did there? Because it's "Where the big boys play"...okay, yeah. Moving on. Konnan is out with Jimmy Hart which is hilarious, because Jimmy keeps trying to act Mexican and it's just funny as hell. Konnan starts it off with a very nice German suplex. Now, something weird happens. What you first need to know if because of the WarGames, there's two rings side by side out here. Now, Juvi goes outside, and Konnan is standing, just standing, looking at him. He didn't get hit by anything, he's just watching. Now, Juvi jumps on one rope, to another, to another, then hits a move on Konnan...this takes like 20 seconds, and Konnan just stands there. Like, duck or something. Goodness. It just looks so terrible. Juvi hits a suicide dive that looks poor. Konnan is hitting a lot of powerbombs that look really good. Konnan hits a somersault clothesline in which there was no reason to add a somersault. Juvi hits a lot of spots that are just plain bad. They're slow and poorly executed. I guess, he's young here, so maybe he gets better in time. I'll spare you the rest, it's pretty much the same thing, for about 10 more minutes or so. Konnan hits a Muscle Buster-esque move called the Powerdrop to end it.

-I'm a little confused, because all I've read about Mexican wrestling says Juventud is great and Konnan is bad, but it's totally the opposite here. Konnan looked fantastic and Juvi looked terrible. Fortunately, Konnan did most of the work, so this match scores a 5/10.

Chris Benoit vs Chris Jericho

Alright, I'm expecting a lot here. My money''s on Chris. So what is King already made the joke, damn it, it's funny. There's like no story here other than Jericho being a rookie (this is his first WCW PPV) and Benoit being something of a veteran, so what the hell, they's gonna wrassle'. Benoit gets the early advantage and is kicking Jericho's ass, with emphasis on the back, which is very intelligent wrestling. I like it. He has kind of a crab move with a knee to the back which is a very nice submission. Anyway, Jericho gets out and hits this cool roll-up that's like half spear, half roll up. Fancy. There's some slugfest action, back and forth. They're going hard and fast here, and it's great. Jericho hits a springboard dropkick and then hits a topei type move on Benoit. Jericho hits a lot of moves to the head which I assume is lead up to the Liontamer, but he never actually uses it. They get into a chop fest that looks pretty stiff. Jericho hits a really nice double arm suplex. They hit a suplex to the outside that looks dangerous, but cool. Benoit takes the advantage and kicks Jericho's ass before going into an abdominal stretch. It's at about this time I realized the announcer's don't care at all about this match, because they're talking nonstop about the nWo. Really, can't you do that some other time? Like...during the nWo match? Anyway. Some time goes by, Jericho evens it up and then hits a Tombstone Piledriver on Benoit that made me cringe. Jericho hits a Frankensteiner, very nice. After this Jericho goes up to the top, then Benoit crotches him and hits a back superplex for the win.

-A very nice match here. They go hard and fast nonstop. They both use a huge moveset, but it's not all random. Benoit works the back, and hits a lot of cool moves that hurt the back. Jericho does the same thing to the head. So, they use flashy moves, but they all make sense. The finish is great, and these guys really gave it their all. I give it a 7/10.

WCW Cruiserweight Championship - Rey Misterio, Jr. (c) vs Super Calo

Okay, first off, Calo is a fucking freak. I mean, honestly. Even for a luchador, he looks weird as hell. Who let him out of the house looking like that? Find a picture of this guy, it's just strange. Rey Rey comes out and his music is epic in WCW, damn. Calo starts the match and he's pretty slow. The crowd is so dead, it's not even funny. I mean, they could not care less. It's more dead than a Divas match. This is a long, painful match. The play by play is not necessary, because it goes like this for damn near 20 minutes. Calo does boring things to Rey, then hits a sloppy spot. Rey Rey hits a spot that's very well executed, then Calo kicks his ass some more. The match ends with a hurricanrana from Rey and him retaining.

-This is the inverse of the other luchador match. Rey looks good, Calo is shit. Unfortunately, Calo works the whole damn match. Rey hits a few moves but it's not nearly enough to save this match. It's just terrible. 3/10

WCW World Tag Team Championship - Harlem Heat (c) vs The Nasty Boys

There is absolutely no need to explain the play by play to you, because it's an all out brawl for 15 minutes or so. I mean, just nonstop. There's about five wrestling holds in this whole match. That's not a bad thing at all, because the crowd is so hot for this, it's not even funny. Every punch and stomp is exciting to them. Furthermore, it's the Nasty Boys, this is what they made their career on. Sherri and Parker interfere a lot, and they make this match even more fun. Like I said, this is no technical classic, but it's a fun as hell brawl, and it's enjoyable for what it is. The finish comes when Sherri interferes and gives Harlem Heat the victory to retain.

-For the reasons stated above, I give this a 6/10.

Randy Savage vs the Giant

Another one where there's no need to go over the play by play. It goes like this - Giant locks in a submission hold. Savage struggles, then gets out. He hits a few moves on Giant, then Giant gets him back in a hold. It goes like this for a while. About ten minutes later, Savage slams and elbow drops Giant, but Hogan interferes and Savage goes chasing him. When they get to the ramp, the nWo jumps him and Nick Patrick turns a blind eye. The nWo rolls him back in and Giant wins. Whee.

-A poor man's Andre vs Hogan, essentially. Except, it's not exciting at all. Don't watch this match. 3/10

WarGames - nWo vs WCW

Alright, I'm tired of play by play, so no soup for you. This goes back and forth in the predictable rhythm until the three known men for each team are in. It's fun, exciting, and the crowd is red hot. When the nWo brings out their fourth man, it's Sting (shocker) and all lament. When WCW brings out their fourth man it's...Sting? Goodness! For those that don't know, WCW Sting is the real Sting. nWo Sting is a fake Sting used to play mind games with WCW. So, real Sting kicks ass, yells at Luger, then leaves. He's angry that WCW thought he was a traitor. The match ends with nWo Sting putting Luger in a Scorpion Deathlock, and Hogan getting him in a headlock at the same time. The ref ends it and the nWo wins.

-Very fun matchup. It's nonstop action, it's a lot of big names, it's hardcore for '96, the Sting drama makes it very fun, and it has a great finish. I don't know what more you could want out of a match. The crowd is scorching hot for this one. Good for a 9/10.

So, Fall Brawl 1996. There's some great matches, there's some terrible matches, and there's some decent matches. It's a very middle of the road show. Chavo vs DDP, Konnan vs Juvi, Jericho vs Benoit, the tag match, and WarGames are all good to great. Norton vs Ice, Misterio vs Calo, and Savage vs Giant, however, are all atrocious.

My final verdict says that this PPV averages out to be respectable. There's more good than bad here, and as a whole, the bad matches can't drag down the good ones that far. I rank this PPV a final 7.5/10.