Match #4: Ron Simmons vs. Mr. Hughes w/Cactus Jack
Prematch: Cactus Jack and Mr. Hughes are introduced for what was supposed to be a tag team match. When opponents Ron Simmons and Junkyard Dog make their entrance, Jack viciously attacks JYD. Simmons and Hughes do battle in the ring, while Jack tosses Dog into the ramp and hits him with an elbow. Simmons rushes over to his partners aid and hits Jack with a backbody drop. He checks on his partner, who is not good enough to go and requires medical attention in the back so we’ll have a singles match between Simmons and Hughes instead. Both big men exchange rights, Jack climbs up to the apron. Irish whip by Hughes but a big clothesline from Simmons off the turn buckle. Ron reverses the hip toss and Hughes rolls out of the ring.

Jack checks in with Hughes who is slowly back to the ring. Hughes requests a test of strength and cheap shots him instead. Simmons is thrown to the ropes for a clothesline followed with an elbow. Lateral press gets two count. Scoop slam by Hughes, he hits the ropes and drops a knee across the face, Simmons kicks out at two. A big headbutt by Hughes followed by a straight right. Hughes with the Irish whip and Simmons gets an elbow up, but he’s still reeling. Hughes drapes him on the top rope for a choke and kicks him around the ring. Blatant choke by Hughes and he uses the ropes some more. Simmons is thrown to the ropes but he comes back with a sunset flip for two.

Hughes is still in control of the momentum and Jack taunts him from the outside. Hughes runs a distraction so Cactus can toss a cheap right. Simmons reverses the whip to the ropes and tosses the enormous man with a hip toss. Hughes tries to tag in Jack but the referee disallows it saying this is not a handicap match. Hughes throws down some forearms, he goes for a bronco buster and Simmons moves. Lariat and high elevation back body drop by Simmons, Hughes slows it down with an eye rake.

Simmons reverses the Irish whip and lifts Hughes for a patented spinebuster. Cactus Jack rushes the ring but he’s taken out with a shoulder block. Simmons gets down into the three point stance and clips Hughes at the knees, picking up the W.
Winner: Ron Simmons (Football Tackle)

• EA’s Take: Junkyard Dog was legitimately injured not long before the scheduled tag team match, so they had to find a way to get out of it. Simmons is just months away from becoming WCW’s first African American World Heavyweight Champion and I think you could have made him look stronger if he had to fend off Jack’s disruptions more or if he won a handicap match. Not to mention, Mr. Hughes is just bad in the ring. Simmons really had to try and carry it here.

Match #5: Todd Champion vs. The Super Invader w/Harley Race
Invader goes to work quickly on Champion, big clothesline off the ropes followed by an elbow drop. Champion meets the turnbuckle and is whipped to the opposite corner. Invader locks hands but Champion fights back with strength. Invader stops that momentum with rights to the head and neck. Side slam from Invader and another big right. Referee breaks a blatant choke hold and Champion can’t fight out of it. Belly to back suplex by Invader followed by a snapmare/reverse chinlock combo. Champion fights back up to a vertical base and hits some elbows. High impact clothesline by Invader and Champion is dumped to the floor and into the security railing.

Single axe handle from the apron by Invader and Champion is given a scoop slam. A scoop slam by Invader and he goes to the top rope. Champion gets his boot up and he’s finally able to fight back with rights. Invader reverses the whip but Champion takes him down with an elbow. He goes for another but Invader slingshots him on the top rope. Champion is lifted and powerbombed and the match is over.
Winner: The Super Invader (Powerbomb)

• EA’s Take: This was a total squash, only thing of note is that The Super Invader is Hercules from the WWF. It makes no sense to me why anybody would think this gimmick is going to work. I can KIND OF understand why they want to cover his face with the mask, but boy, just brutal.

Match #6: Big Josh vs. Richard Morton
Morton gets out of the way of a charging Josh off the bat. A shoving match ensues and Josh gets the advantage. He runs through him with a clothesline and then a huge scoop slam. Josh stands on Morton for the log roll who then escapes to the corner. Collar and elbow tie up, it’s broken on the ropes and Morton takes advantage with a cheap shot. He rips the flannel shirt off the back of Big Josh, but now Josh is fired up with heavy strikes. Morton is whipped to the corner and he catches a big forearm. Big Josh delivers shots in the corner, Irish whip but Morton moves out of the way and lands a belly to back suplex.

Josh is sent to the ropes for an inverted atomic drop, and Morton keeps up the offense. Reversal of the Irish whip, Morton slips under Josh’s legs, he can’t get the victory roll and then moves out of the way of Josh’s elbow. They exchange rights, Morton with the snapmare and a knee to the face. Josh powers out of the pin and Morton grabs the arm bar. Back to vertical and Josh breaks free, they hit the ropes, Morton goes for a monkey flip but he’s kicked in the face. Powerful scoop slam and an elbow from Josh gets a two count. Morton with some strikes off a whip to the ropes and he goes back to submission work on the mat.

Up to their feet and Morton headbutts Josh’s chin. Josh blocks a snapmare, he’s whipped to the ropes and he kicks Morton in the face. Powerful belly to belly suplex but he’s slow to get up. Chops and forearms come from Josh, he hooks Morton’s arms for a double underhook suplex and Morton kicks out. Morton tries going to the second rope and but he’s caught out of the air and feels an inverted atomic drop. Big Josh lands a double axe handle, he follows it with Northern Exposure and gets the 1-2-3.
Winner: Big Josh (Northern Exposure)

• EA’s Take: You know the expression that something can be “nothing to write home about”? Well, this match is the embodiment of the card so far: nothing much to react to. Most of the show feels like a bunch of thrown together matches with little heat or story telling, which is a shame because the last couple of PPVs were solid. I’m looking at the card for the final three matches with higher expectations, so hopefully they save the day.

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