WCW Starrcade 1995: The World Cup of Wrestling - Nashville Municipal Auditorium, Nashville Tennessee, December 27th 1995

Tonight’s focus is a Best of Seven Series between WCW and New Japan Pro Wrestling. The opening video does a better job of hyping it up than I can! The WCW Championship will also be on the line later tonight.

Joining the normal PPV duo of Tony Schiavone and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan is “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. He calls the magnitude of Starrcade immeasurable and promises we’ll see some clubbering tonight. I love Dusty, but not on commentary. I’ll give him a chance.

Chris Benoit (WCW) vs. Jushin Thunder Liger (NJPW) (w/Sonny Onoo)

The opening match is a member of the Four Horsemen vs. one of the all time great New Japan performers. I’m a little familiar with NJPW but not so much this era. Jushin Thunder Liger wrestled for so long I did get to see him in the late 2010s and I’m a big fan. Normally he’d be a super babyface but tonight in this America vs. Japan setting, he’s booed by the fans in Tennessee. There’s a funny moment as Liger’s theme song is clearly too short and ends abruptly while he’s still walking to the ring. There’s a few moments of silence before its fired back up from the start again. 

I have yet to see Benoit actually interact with the rest of the Four Horsemen but I’m sure he will overtime. Maybe it’s because he’s mostly a babyface at this point and the rest of the group are heels so they keep him away when Flair, Arn and Pillman are doing dastardly deeds. 

Liger has a Saturday morning cartoon series based on him in Japan, so says Tony. That’s awesome! 

The action here is crisp as the two trade suplexes and slams and submission holds. I’m distracted listening to Dusty who is good at telling us the importance of this match and this night, but he calls everything “a situation”. I did enjoy his analysis that this version of the Horsemen is the most dangerous with the youth and speed mixed with the experience of Flair and Anderson. 

There’s a nice superplex, sitdown powerbomb and a string of German suplexes on route to the finish. Benoit is setting up his Dragon suplex finisher until The Taskmaster comes down, held back by Jimmy Hart. Kevin Sullivan is still upset with the Horsemen over what Flyin’ Brian said about them a couple of weeks ago. He distracts Benoit until Liger can score with a hurricanrana into a roll up, grabbing the legs and getting the three count! New Japan goes ahead 1 - 0 in this series.

Backstage, Mean Gene interviews one of the WCW team members in Eddy Guerrero. Eddy became one of the all time great promos but he didn’t have it yet, tripping over his words and coming across as very boring. He’s just happy to be here - that's actually what he said. He has the dullest of all the gimmicks “hardworking babyface”. 

Alex Wright (WCW) vs. IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Keji Kanemoto (w/Sonny Onoo) (NJPW)

Pretty cool to see the IWJP Junior Heavyweight belt - when I watched NJPW, the Junior Heavyweights were always my favourite. I’m excited for WCW to establish its Cruiserweight title in the next couple of months. 

Alex backflips off the top into the ring which gets a nice cheer from the fans in attendance. There’s a pretty woman shown checking out Wright - I only really noticed her because they’ve also shown her in Nitro a couple of times checking out different wrestlers. It’s not a storyline or a character; she's a plant who works for WCW. They always liked having good looking people in the front row of their shows.

There’s a little bit of history here as these two met in Japan in a tournament for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight title in July (a tournament which was won by Chris Benoit). Alex has a little bit of a mean streak here with uppercuts and a well placed dropkick. The commentators have a little fun during this match, mocking people who wrestle “in the Smokey Mountains” which is a dig at Jim Cornette’s Smokey Mountain Wrestling who had a long term working relationship with Vince McMahon and the WWF. They can’t help themselves. 

This was another good match with a nice series of moves off the top including a flipping senton by Kanemoto and a gorgeous missile dropkick from Wright. The finish comes out of nowhere, much like the first match, with a rollup. Kanemoto turns Alex over into a jackknife cover and gets the three count. New Japan leads the series 2 - 0. 

Backstage, Mean Gene speaks to Sonny Onoo who is jubilant that New Japan is ahead by two points. He says he might buy WCW and when Gene says that the company isn’t for sale Onoo has a good line “This is America - everything is for sale!”

Lex Lugar (WCW) (w/Jimmy Hart) vs. Masahiro Chono (NJPW) (w/Sonny Onoo)

Chono is a former NWA World Champion and wrestled in WCW many times back in the pre-Nitro era. He comes out to the same theme music that Bull Nakano used last month because WCW only has so many Japanese-sounding songs I guess.

Lex gets a big babyface reaction; fans are kind of into him anyway but on this night representing America against “the Japs” he’s a hero. 

This is a slow big man vs. big man match with Chono hitting his classic Mafia kick. Dusty and Heenan have some fun making fun of Tony for calling moves the Mafia Kick and the German suplex. “He kicked him in the face, Schiavone - what’s it got to do with the Mafia! There’s a Sicilian elbow! He kicked him in his Bosnian butt!” and both corpse. I enjoyed that. The finish comes out of no where as Lugar ends a pretty dull match with the Torture Rack out of no where for the submission. The score is now 2 - 1 with New Japan still in the lead.

Backstage, Mean Gene interviews Sting who is fired up and says that Johnny B Badd will even things up for WCW in the next match and says that while Sasuke’s US title isn’t on the line tonight, seeing as he took the belt from Sting the match is about pride! Sting has a big match tonight with two matches tonight and if he wins the Triangle match, he’ll get a WCW World title match. The way the card is laid out, he’ll be wrestling three matches in a row if he’s “lucky”

WCW World Television Champion Johnny B Badd (WCW) (w/The Diamond Doll) vs. Masa Saito (NJPW) (w/Sonny Onoo)

Kimberly Page has ditched the sequinned ballgowns for a cheerleader look, embracing being by Johnny B Badd’s side. She goes a big flipping cartwheel during her entrance and has her own Badd blaster to fire confetti into the crowd. This match is the first mismatch of the night as Badd is a high flyer but Saito is more of a thick power wrestler. Heenan mentions that he used to manage this man back in the AWA which is a cool thing to bring up - I like a bit of history. 

Before the match, Sonny Onoo gets on the mic and says that Kimberly is an American Geisha and should be doing the dishes! She grabs the mic and says this is no Japanese bath house, calls him hop-sign and a woman. The crowd cheered - I guess people were more easily pleased in 1995.

This match sees the first interference of the night by Onoo as Badd is worked over and while Saito distracts the referee, he chokes Badd with the Japanese flag. Johnny keeps fighting up and hits a big diving sunset flip off the top and rocks him with left hands. He makes the mistake of going after Onoo but when Saito dumps him over the top rope…the bell rings. See in WCW, it’s a disqualification to throw your opponent intentionally over the top rope. That rule doesn’t come up so much these days but it means that Johnny B Badd wins by disqualification, making the series 2 - 2. This match was kind of a dud. 

The pattern tonight has been match - Mean Gene - match - Mean Gene so guess what’s next?

Mean Gene speaks to Lex Lugar and Jimmy Hart. He asks Jimmy to explain what's going on with Kevin Sullivan and his beef with the Four Horsemen. Jimmy says that the Taskmaster has a short fuse and the Horsemen better watch themselves. Lex cuts the same promo he’s cut a few times now - he’s the uncrowned champion, he’s focused and is going to be victorious tonight. He’s beat Macho Man before, he’ll beat him again. He calls him a pathetic one-armed champion. He tells Jimmy Hart that tonight he needs to do this by himself and that he doesn’t want him at ringside during the Triangle match. That’s a big deal.

Eddy Guerrero (WCW) vs. Shinjiro Otani (NJPW) 

These are two more guys who know each other well having feuded in Japan before Eddy signed with WCW. Dusty on commentary goes OFF on one today, wittering on for minutes and making very little sense. I think he’s a fan of both guys, and thinks that winning is important. Well duh. 

They start out with some fast paced mat wrestling going counter for counter. Eddy comes out on top with chops and strikes and takes control with a slingshot senton over the top from the apron and then a deep Boston crab. Otani makes it to the ropes to break that hold. Otani must have been very new to New Japan at the time as he’s still wrestled like one of their Young Lions with the basic black trunks. Eddy drills him with a powerbomb for a close near fall. Otani avoids a corner charge and quickly hits a beautiful springboard dropkick and then a springboard crossbody from the ring all the way to the concrete floor. Very nice. 

Otani fights back and goes to the top rope but he’s brought down with a top rope hurricanrana. Eddy follows up with a crucifix sit-down powerbomb and both get close, close nearfalls. Otani locks in a desperate heel hook submission but Guerrero makes it to the ropes. This is a very even match. Outside the ring, Eddy slams Otani on the concrete and then hits a gorgeous springboard twisting crossbody. This is probably the best match of the night so far, and there’s been a couple of good ones! Otani with a bloody nose hits a springboard dropkick right to the back of Eddy’s head but his attempted powerbomb is turned into a roll up. They go back and forth with rollups and it's Otani who comes out on top, putting New Japan ahead 3 - 2. It's funny that the three New Japan victories have been the three best matches. 

Mean Gene time - he’s standing by with World Heavyweight Champion Randy Savage. He’s up next against Tenzan and then later tonight, he has to defend the gold against the winner of the Triangle match - Macho Man cuts him off. It's one match at a time and right now he’s focused on the New Japan match. He says “To Infinity and Beyond” twice. Toy Story was released about four weeks before this event. Gene says he’s been on the phone to Hulk Hogan who wished him luck. Hogan is “suspended” because I assume in real life, he just didn’t want to work over Christmas.

WCW World Heavyweight Champion Randy Savage (WCW) vs. Hiroyoshi Tenzan (NJPW) (with Sonny Onoo)

It’s weird to see Tenzan looking so young! He was near retirement when I watched New Japan 25 years later and while here he’s called “the next big thing in Japan”, I know him as a former IWGP World Champion and confirmed “big thing”.

The story of this match is Savage’s ongoing injuries and intense schedule taking it out of him. He’s beaten up and sore and struggling to keep pushing himself. Tenzan is fresh as a daisy and hammers on him with kicks and punches and a nice spinning heel kick. Tony is great here, putting over Savage; people keep saying he should quit and that he can’t keep pushing himself and yet he keeps winning! He’s the World Champion! Savage is as good as he says he is, basically. 

Finally, Savage avoids a moonsault, puts Tenzan down with a suplex and follows up with his awesome diving elbow to pick up the win! That evens things up at 3-3 so the winner of the next match wins the whole series for their promotion. 

Between matches, Tony and Dusty have turned around to face the camera and have to nudge Bobby to do the same. He does some excellent comedy, dropping his notes and knocking his chair over, messing up his headset and struggling to get turned around. Tony and Dusty both lose it and when they cut to Mean Gene he’s having a good chuckle at The Brain’s antics too. Gene is interviewing Nature Boy Ric Flair who has a big advantage tonight; he’s the only man in the Triangle match who won’t have already wrestled tonight, and Sting is going to have to wrestle two matches back to back! Even Macho Man has already wrestled tonight and will still need to come back out for the title match main event. This is a real endurance test to see who will be World Champion. Flair promises to win the title tonight while stylin’ and profilin’ as only he can. Wooooo! 

Sting (WCW) vs. WCW United States Champion Kensuke Sasaki (NJPW) (with Sonny Onoo)

This match is even and Sting is all fired up; he and Sasaki have history of course. It’s difficult to talk about this match as the commentary is really distracting - I find Dusty and Heenan’s bickering really funny. 

Sting takes control with Kensuke going outside to regroup and get some motivation from Onoo. Sting is taken off balance by that and Sasaki gets control, locking Sting in his own hold - the Scorpion Death Lock - in the ring. Sting fights to the ropes and mounts a comeback with a string of clotheslines and a big bulldog headlock. He locks in the Scorpion Death Lock and drags him back to the middle of the ring for a submission victory! WCW wins the World Cup of wrestling 4 - 3. The crowd loved it.

Randy Savage, Eddy Guerrero and the rest of Team WCW come down to the ring to celebrate with him and they all hug, high five and celebrate with the trophy. The crowd is led in a USA chant and Mean Gene handles the official presentation of the trophy. I personally wasn’t that invested in the tournament or its outcome but the match quality ranged from good to great and the fans were into it so I’m happy enough. I like that everyone is in a Team USA t-shirt except Benoit, who’s in a Four Horsemen t-shirt. It's in Sting’s best interest to drag out this presentation and give himself more rest time before the next match! 

I'll take this chance to talk about Kensuke Sasaki and the United States Championship as this is his last appearance for WCW. Sasazki refused to lose the US title, which seems bizarre but is the kind of thing that used to happen in wrestling and WCW, not wanting to upset New Japan, allowed him to refuse. On the same night as this PPV in a dark match after the show ended, he defended the title against the One Man Gang. That make ended with OMG winning, but then the match being restarted and Sasaki "retaining" the title but instead, WCW only acknowledged the first half and so One Man Gang from the Dungeon of Doom is the new WCW United States Champion!Triangle match

Ric Flair vs. Lex Lugar vs. Sting

There’s a video package for this match which focuses mostly on Luger and Sting’s friendship and how their unique heel/face loyalties are causing more and more issues for the people around them. Ric Flair has plenty of history with Sting but he does with Lugar too - he was a member of the Four Horsemen once upon a time! 

This match isn’t a classic triple threat as two men will stay in the ring with the third on the apron to be tagged in and out. I don’t really like that. The two men are decided by a coin flip so Flair and Sting start in the ring with Lugar on the outside. The fans are electric in the early going. 

Flair is the fresh man and it works out for him, shutting down Sting with right hands and chops. Sting powers up and no-sells but Flair goes down low and starts to work over Sting’s leg. The match continues like that with Sting using his trademark chops and right hands and leg-work with Sting periodically no-selling and hitting a big move like a gorilla press or a big superplex. Lugar still hasn’t been legally in this match but does get in the ring to break up pins and there’s some tension between Sting and Lex when he breaks up his. Lugar finally tags himself in and intimidates Flair with big muscle poses, chasing him around the ring and to the outside. Lex physically carries Ric back to the ring to keep the match going. Flair uses an eye poke and some closed fists but then runs into Lex and bumps off his own shoulder tackle!

Lex just keeps roaring and flexing his muscles at Flair who backs off and begs until he can poke Lex in the eye. He works over Lugar’s leg now who sells like he’s being murdered and on the outside, uses a steel chair on Lex’ knee cap while the referee is busy with Sting. Flair has a chance to lock in the Figure Four but he stupidly stops to taunt Lugar. Actually, it was genius because it brings Sting into the ring and the distraction allows him to hit a brutal low blow before the Figure Four. Classic Ric Flair as he grabs the ropes for leverage as well.

He starts to slap Lex in the face which WAS a mistake because it just fires Lex up to reverse the hold. Lex literally cannot stop flexing his muscles and does it in between every move, dropping Flair with shoulder tackles until Ric finally tags out, forcing Sting and Lugar to wrestle each other! Neither of them look happy about it and take their time warming up to it. They battle back and forth and after a few minutes of slow action, Lex locks Sting in the Torture Rack! As he spins, the referee takes a foot to the head and goes down so Flair chop-blocks Lex and then throws both men out of the ring over the top rope! He revives the referee and encourages him to count both men out - Ric Flair wins via count out! There’s an interesting moment as it looks like Sting can get back in the ring in time but Lex grabs him by the hand to stop him/help himself up. Did Lex do it on purpose? 

Ric Flair wins - this was too slow to be good, but the story was definitely strong. Lex’ leg is hurt but Sting walks away without helping him. He’s clearly upset about losing this match. Lex and Sting have more stuff to talk about I’m sure but they’re done for the night and we now have a main event and a World Championship match.

WCW World Heavyweight Championship

Randy Savage © vs. Ric Flair (w/Jimmy Hart)

Ric Flair is chasing his 12th World title here. I’m not sure if that’s 11 WCW Championships or if they’re including his two WWF title wins. Either way, it's a LOT of World Championships isn’t it? 

Michael Buffer is on hand to perform the classic in-ring boxing style introductions. Jimmy Hart came out at the conclusion of the Triangle match and has decided to hang out and stay in Ric’s corner just like he did on Nitro. I thought it was interesting that Macho Man went over to talk to Flair and Jimmy while Buffer was doing the ring introductions and it didn’t seem like an in-character conversation so much as clarifying something for the match.

Despite his tough match earlier, Macho is more rested than Flair right now and goes on the attack early. Mr. Wonderful - who you’ll recall the Four Horsemen injured with a spike piledriver on the concrete floor a couple of weeks ago on Nitro - comes down wearing a neckbrace to watch this match up close. You would assume he’s here to cost Flair so head of security Doug Dillinger comes down to the ring to escort him to the back. Flair goes after Savage’s injured arm and slams him into the metal ring barrier and the ring post, hammering away at his body and midsection with chops and closed punches to the gut. Flair is battering Savage, working on his taped arm and knee in equal measure.

avage won’t give up and fights back with right hands. Jimmy Hart jumps on the apron to distract the referee and Flair tries to use Hart’s megaphone as a weapon. Savage blocks it and uses it instead, busting Flair open! Savage hits the elbow off the top and has the victory but Jimmy Hart keeps the referee distracted. Pillman and Benoit run down to try and help but Savage fights them both off too. It’s chaos and with the referee still tied up, Arn Anderson sneaks in the back door and clobbers Macho Man with a loaded punch knocking him out cold! Ric Flair gets the cover and with blood gushing from his head, Nature Boy Ric Flair becomes a 12 time World Champion thanks to Jimmy Hart and the other three Horsemen! In the closing moments, Pillman “went off script” and whipped Macho Man across the back with the WCW World title belt.

The show was supposed to end with Mean Gene speaking to the new Champion but he’s bleeding so heavily they don’t want to put him on TV! Instead, we get a gleeful Bobby Heenan and a more somber and respectful Schiavone and Dusty summing things up and wishing us a Happy New Year to end the PPV.