Chairshot Classics: WCW WrestleWar ’90 – Wild Thing

The calendar has turned to a new decade as WCW presents its first pay-per-view of the 1990’s WrestleWar – Wild Thing! After Sting showed he would be a force in the 90’s by winning the tournament at Starrcade ’89, The Horsemen welcomed him into the group with open arms. However when The Stinger made it clear he wanted Ric Flair’s World Title, he was subsequently booted from the group at Clash Of The Champions on February 6th. Unfortunately, WCW’s rising star suffered a legitimate knee injury the same night and will be out of action for a few months, changing tonight’s main event. How will WCW recuperate less than three weeks later? Let’s find out!

Match #1: The Dynamic Dudes (Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace) vs. Kevin Sullivan & Buzz Sawyer
Ace and Sawyer get started with a collar and elbow tie up. Ace breaks it at the ropes. Ace gets the crowd going with some claps. Another tie up and a side headlock is grabbed by Sawyer. To the ropes and Sawyer takes Ace down with a shoulder tackle. Ace comes back with a monkey flip and Sawyer stumbles out to the floor. Ace with a flying plancha on top of Sawyer and a short brawl ensues on the outside. Things settle down and return to the ring. Arm bar by Ace and a tag is made to Shane.

Shane enters with an axe handle but Sawyer escapes enough to tag in Sullivan. Douglas with an arm drag take down, but Sullivan muscles him to the corner. Douglas reverses an Irish Whip and gets his boot up. Sullivan is sent for a ride in the corner and Douglas takes him over with a snapmare. A bit of chain wrestling and Ace is tagged back in. He continues the work on Sullivan’s left arm. Sullivan is able to walk them over and make a tag to Sawyer and Ace gets out of dodge. There is a bit of arguing between Sullivan and Sawyer and the two partners slap each other around. Sawyer and Douglas tie up.

Sawyer pushes Douglas to the corner and lands a chop. Irish Whip by Sawyer but he misses the shoulder to the mid section. Wristlock by Douglas but Sawyer breaks it and tags in Sullivan. Standing arm bar by Ace but Sullivan dumps him outside. Snap suplex on the floor by Sawyer while the referee is distracted in the ring. Sawyer laughs and Ace checks on his partner. Back in the ring, a belly to belly from Sawyer. Side salto suplex by Sawyer and can only get 2. Tag is made to Sullivan. Douglas leaps over him for a sunset flip but cannot hold him down. Sullivan holds Douglas in place and tags his partner back in.

Sawyer chews on Douglas’ side then lifts him back to his feet for a bear hug. They drop to their knees and onto the mat. He has to be careful that his shoulders don’t stay down for 3. Douglas slowly works his way back to his feet and lands rights. He attempts to scoop Sawyer but it’s foiled. Sullivan is tagged in. Sullivan gets his boot up after an Irish whip and he knocks Ace down to the floor. Douglas is dumped over the ropes and onto the floor as well. Nick Patrick is counting. Sawyer says he’s “here to help” and rolls Douglas back into the ring.

Douglas fights for the tag as Sullivan holds him in a bear hug. Sullivan strengths him to the corner and tags Sawyer back in. Douglas is fighting with right and finally escapes through his legs and makes the tag to Ace. Johnny fights off both opponents, landing rights and drop kicks. He cannot take Sawyer over with a head scissor and instead falls victim to a snap suplex. Sawyer goes to the top rope and lands a big splash and gets the pin.
Winners: Kevin Sullivan & Buzz Sawyer (Sawyer/Top Rope Splash)

• EA’s Take: I don’t understand this one. Even in retrospect, I can’t imagine where they were going with a Sullivan/Sawyer tag team vs. a pure team like The Dynamic Dudes and not only that, but The Dudes DON’T go over?

Backstage: Missy Hyatt is standing by with Norman The Lunatic. He says she looks like his sister and asks for a hug and a kiss on the cheek for luck.

Match #2: Norman The Lunatic vs. Cactus Jack Manson
Jack goes to work immediately with some right and wraps Norman’s face on the ropes. Cactus takes him over with a big elbow but flies to the outside when Norman kicks out. Jack’s back in the ring and they tie up briefly. Jack goes for the ride and receives a clothesline. Kicks to Norman’s midsection and Jack tries bashing his head on the turnbuckle. This doesn’t work and he comes back with a headbutt. Forearm to the back of Jack who is sent for an Irish Whip and a big elbow. Norman holds on for a big bear hug. Irish whip and a splash in the corner from Norman. Jack is sent for 3 more Irish whips and he tumbles over the top rope and to the floor on the last one.

Norman is in pursuit but Jack rakes the eyes and hits him into the railing. Jack moves in again but Norman executes a back body drop over the railing and onto the concrete. Norman won’t let Jack re-enter the ring and knocks him off the apron. Back on the floor, Jack throws Norman into the post and lands a drop kick from the apron. Norman is back on the apron and Jack delivers a right. He holds Norman for a forearm to the chest. Norman paces the floor and rolls back in. Jack bashes the big man’s face to the mat and then sits on his back and pulls back his head.

Some kicks from Jack followed by a big right. Jack bites Norman and the referee breaks it up. Lateral press by Jack for 2. Reverse chin lock by Cactus. Norman holds Jack’s hands and pulls them away but Cactus throws his knee into his back. On their feet, Norman delivers a series of head butts but he’s sent for the ride and a kick to the mid section. Jack holds onto to a double reverse chin lock. He moves it into a modified camel clutch. Norman gets underneath Jack and lifts him up on his shoulders and falls backwards to slam him onto the mat.

Norman misses his standing splash and Jack gets up and bites the bridge of the nose. He drapes Norman over the middle rope and comes in with a bronco buster. He attempts it again but Norman moves. Norman delivers a right from the apron and pulls him into the ring for more. Norman sends him for the ride and lands a back body drop. Foley breaks it up by raking the eyes. He attempts a piledriver but cannot get him up. Norman lifts him over with a back body drop. Manson tries to turn it into a sunset flip, but he is instead crushed with a seated senton. Norman gets the pin.
Winner: Norman The Lunatic (Trip To The Batcave)

• EA’s Take: Another young, future star arrives as Foley’s looking quite trim in his WCW/NWA PPV debut! Most of you know would better know Norman The Lunatic as Bastion Booger later on in the WWF, but due to Mike Shaw’s (Norman) limited physical ability, there was only so much you could do in this one. The fans enjoyed the gimmick so Norman picked up the win, but it was definitely an under-use of Foley who was putting his body at risk early and often already.

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