May 26, 2007
Matt Peddycord

WCW Clash of the Champions XIV: Dixie Dynamite
January 30, 1991
Gainesville, GA
Georgia Mountains Center

The current NWA Champs were as follows:
World Champion: Ric Flair (1/11/1991)
U.S. Champion: Lex Luger (12/16/1990)
World Tag Team Champions: Doom (5/19/1990)
U.S. Tag Team Champions: Rick & Scott Steiner (8/24/1990)
World Television Champion: Arn Anderson (1/14/1991)

Your hosts are JR & Dusty Rhodes! He’s live and in public, if you will.

WCW World Tag Team Champions Doom vs. Sting & Lex Luger

Teddy Long isn’t alongside Doom tonight because he’s out buying condoms according to Dusty. Actually, I believe he meant condos to put over that the Doom camp is making money. No real backstory here for these two teams. They’re mainly putting Sting and Luger together here to help draw ratings. Sting and Luger start off with real basic arm-wrenching techniques. Reed tries to come back, but he telegraphs a backdrop and takes a swinging neckbreaker from Luger. Luger’s too busy posing to stop Reed from tagging though. They do a shoulderblock-off, so Simmons kicks Luger in the stomach and drops with a shoulderblock. Luger comes back with clotheslines and a suplex for two. Simmons reverses a whip and delivers a hotshot as we go to a commercial break. After the break, Simmons ducks low off a whip, but then catches Luger with a powerslam. Simmons ducks low again, but Reed gets a tag and grabs Luger. Luger attempts a comeback, but Reed hits him with a standing dropkick. Reed grabs a chinlock. Luger tries to punch out, but Simmons gets a tag. Man, Simmons telegraphs ANOTHER backdrop and takes a mistimed faceslam. Reed still manages to tag and comes off the top with a FLYING SHOULDERBLOCK. Reed gloats over what he’s done and doesn’t realize Luger is able to roll over and make the HOT TAG TO STING! Sting goes crazy on Doom! Meanwhile, Dan Spivey (Luger’s opponent at WrestleWar) comes in from seemingly nowhere and starts beating the crap out of Luger. The ref doesn’t see ANY of that and Spivey walks out scott-free. Heel miscommunication ensues in the ring causing the ref to get bumped. Ref Randy Anderson still manages to catch Reed giving Sting a backdrop over the top rope to draw the DQ win for the challengers. (10:34) The Luger heat segment was rather lame, which was basically the whole match. Reminded me of Sting and Luger’s matches with Harlem Heat in ’96. *½

Missy Hyatt announces the winner of the “Sexiest Wrestler” contest. It’s the Z-Man! Yeah, the WCW World TV champ, Tom Zenk! Moving on.

WCW World TV Champion Tom Zenk vs. Bobby Eaton

How great is that? Bobby’s entrance music was just people chanting, “Bobby”. Why hasn’t someone done that since then instead of all this generic rock stuff? Arn’s actually the real champion here, but the taping schedule is about three weeks behind. Bobby Eaton beat Tom Zenk at Starrcade and feels he should be the champ right now, so here’s his first big singles title match that he actually had a shot at winning. Shoving match leads into a headlock sequence. Zenk armdrags Bobby away. Eaton works an armbar, but Zenk breaks free. Eaton puts him down with a shoulderblock and heads up top, but Zenk dropkicks him down to the floor! Back in, Zenk applies a wristlock, but Bobby gets in the ropes. Test of strength follows. It would’ve been great if Zenk had walked up Eaton’s body like Ricky Morton used to do, but instead he lets Eaton go to the ropes and gets popped in the mouth! Eaton beats down Zenk and goes up top again, but Zenk is there to slam him down. Zenk hits a backdrop for two, but then charges into an elbow out of the corner. YES! Eaton hits a flying knee drop, but Zenk blocks a suplex and into an inside cradle for 1-2-NO! Zenk whips Bobby into the ropes for a backdrop, but Eaton sees it coming and delivers the Swinging Neckbreaker for 1-2-NO! Nevertheless, Zenk flips out of a suplex and rolls up Eaton for 1-2-NO! Eaton tries to hiptoss Zenk as he comes off the ropes, but Zenk counters into a backslide for 1-2-3! (7:08) Quite the controversial finish as Eaton appeared to have slipped out of the backslide at two. It started slow and finished kind of abruptly. Their Starrcade match was better. **

Now that Mike Rotundo has returned to McMahonLand, Alexandra York needs a new man to lead her York Foundation!

The Freebirds vs. Tommy Rich & Allen Iron Eagle

Never heard of Allen Iron Eagle, have you? This match is exactly why. The Freebirds are wanting some tag-team gold whether it be the US or the world belts, but they have to go through someone who hasn’t been relevant in ten years and a 20-year old jobber who can’t hit one spot correctly. It doesn’t make much sense to me either. The faces gain the advantage to start until Hayes gets a blind tag and hits Iron Eagle with the Bulldog. Instead of covering, he works the crowd. Big surprise there. Hayes grabs a chinlock on Eagle while Garvin taunts Rich on the apron. Eagle manages to escape and then doesn’t sell the famous left jab and gets dumped hard for it. He gets stiffed pretty good on the floor too while Garvin works the referee. Back in, Eagle screws up a corner charge by not moving out of the way. They try it a second time and he does finally move and let Garvin tie his leg up in the ropes. He stomps away on Garvin and then nails Hayes. Garvin takes a sunset flip, but Hayes saves with a kick to the back of the head. Eagle manages to block a suplex and hits one of his own before tagging out of there. The ref doesn’t see it though and Eagle takes a double-DDT from the ‘Birds to end this travesty. (5:53) Haha, JR ~ “The double-DDT turned out the lights in the tee-pee.” Would that statement be politically correct in 2007? Just a terrible match. CRAP

Dusty Rhodes hints from afar that Paul E might be a tad gay from the lack of working out in his workout videos. But Paul E has a dream to be free of the womenfolk!

Sid Vicious vs. Joey Maggs

Sid is so crazy at this point, that he’s hired his own EMT guys to be at his every match. Sid throws poor Joey Maggs around like a rag doll and POWERBOMBS him for the win. (1:11) The EMT guys assist Maggs at Sid’s beck and call.

After the break, Sid gets interviewed by Tony Schiavone. Sid ~ “Can you smell the fear that’s in everybody’s mind?” Sid’s goal for 1991 is to prove to everyone that he rules the world (wrestling federation).

Terry Taylor vs. Ricky Morton

Announcer Gary Michael Capetta gives away Alexandra York’s pick for her group ahead of time by calling Taylor “the computerized man of the ‘90s” during his entrance. You’ve only been an announcer for how long, Gary? Anyways, Taylor’s been pissed off that he hasn’t received a TV title shot and wonders why he’s having to wrestle Morton while Paul E stirs up trouble between them during their interviews. Morton stays one step ahead of Taylor to start with hammerlocks and armdrags. Taylor hits one hiptoss and then tries another, but Morton counters with armdrags. Morton grabs a headlock and goes to the mat with it to trade nearfalls. Taylor finally shoves out and runs the ropes, but Morton catches him with a crossbody for 1-2-NO! Commercial break time! We’re back with Taylor grinding on a hammerlock. Morton escapes with a jawbreaker. Taylor misses a clothesline and gets stuck in an armbar once again as the crowd can already sense the heel turn with the way this match is going. Taylor gets his foot on the bottom rope as Alexandra York is now at ringside. That distracts Morton a little too much wandering if it’s him that she wants, so Taylor BLASTS him with a clothesline from behind. During the match, they show us a pre-taped interview with Alexandra York, which she announces that Terry Taylor is the newest member of the York Foundation. Meanwhile in the ring, Taylor hits a butterfly suplex and a knee drop for two. Morton gets in a desperation inside cradle, but Taylor kicks out at two and rakes Morton’s face. Morton reverses a cross-corner whip, but Taylor sticks his foot up on the charge and delivers a bulldog for 1-2-NO! Taylor now tries a pump splash, but Morton gets his knees up. Morton wins a slugfest and follows up with a backdrop. He charges in the corner for a ten-count corner punch. Taylor brings him out for an inverted atomic drop, but it misses and Morton gives Taylor a suplex for two. Morton hits one standing dropkick and then tries another, but Taylor ducks and lets Morton hit the ropes and fall back on his neck! Cover, 1-2-3! (11:53) In the following weeks, Taylor would become Terrence Taylor and start dressing like a yuppie. Pretty decent match. ***

Next up, PWI founder Bill Apter awards Sting with the 1990’s Most Inspirational Wrestler and Wrestler of the Year awards.

Dusty goes on a freakin’ rant about how great our armed forces are for kicking some funky monkey booty in the Gulf War.

Ranger Ross vs. El Cubano

Of course, Dusty’s spill had to come right before former Army guy Ranger Ross makes his entrance. I’m sure he was a great soldier, but I haven’t heard one good thing about this guy – spending time in jail for armed robbery and various other charges. El Cubano is the Cuban Assassin under a mask with white lightning bolts on his tights. Ross works an armbar, but Cubano fights out and tries a splash. Nobody home! Ross tosses Cubano and screws up the only cool thing I ever saw him do and that’s leap over the top rope and land on his feet down on the floor. Back in, Ross gets a sunset flip for 1-2-3. (3:05) That was terrible. See you later, Mr. Ranger sir. CRAP

Arn Anderson & Barry Windham vs. The Renegade Warriors

Chris & Mark Youngblood try and play the Horsemen like they da niggaz to steal one. The Warriors clear the ring to start with their tandem double-chops. Once it turns into an actual match, Mark beats Windham into the Warriors corner, but Windham begs off and tags in Arn. Mark chops Arn around, but then Chris tags in and makes a mistake. Not for long though, as Chris kicks Arn away into the corner for 1-2-NO! Windham tags, but he eats a dropkick. Mark tags in again and falls for the test of strength trick and gets stuck in the Horsemen corner. He still manages to fight out and chop Arn into his corner to tag in Mark for a double-team chop. Mark goes over and nails Windham, but turns around into a headbutt from Arn. Arn sets him up for the spinebuster and delivers before tagging in Windham. Suplex gets two. DDT gets two. Arn tags and grabs a front headlock. Mark tries to inch his way to his partner, so Arn pops Chris once Mark gets too close. It happens again, but this time Chris chops back and Arn hits heads with Mark. Mark gets up first and tries to leap over Arn to make the tag, but Arn catches him and delivers the inverted atomic drop. Arn tries his pump splash, but Mark doesn’t get his knees up like he’s supposed to and screws up the spot. Has Arn ever NOT hit knees on that spot? Seriously, Mark. Chris gets the hot tag and chops everything that bah gawd moves. Windham dumps Mark and surprises Chris with a Lariat. SUPERPLEX by Windham gives Arn the easy pin. (7:30) So much for that Renegade Warriors push. The Horsemen did the best they could with what they were handed. *½

Tony Schiavone stands by as Stan Hansen hypes his rematch with Vader from a New Japan show at WrestleWar as only Hansen can.

Brian Pillman vs. Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker Pillman looks to finish his minor issues with the State Patrol in this match. Pillman punishes Parker to start with armdrags and dropkicks. Parker fights out, but falls into a crucifix for two. Pillman delivers a headscissors out of the corner to send Parker to the floor and then flips Parker back in from the apron. Parker pounds Pillman out onto the apron and tries to flip Pillman in, but he lands on his feet. Parker goes back to ground and pound and then heads up top, but comes down and walks up the runway to yell at the crowd. Next thing he knows, Pillman is leaping off the top on him! Pillman brings Parker back in the ring. Parker backdrops Pillman out to the apron and turns around into a Flying Crossbody from Pillman for the win. (3:17) The State Patrol would become syndication jobbers for the rest of their on-screen WCW careers. Not as good as the setup match with Lt. James Earl Wright, but Pillman looked awesome as always. *

Paul E. Dangerously vs. Missy Hyatt – Arm Wrestling Match

Haha, Dangerously comes out with knee pads. How silly. Paul E’s ready to go until Missy unveils A LOT of cleavage and puts down Paul E’s hand while he’s caught staring. Missy Hyatt wasn’t such an ugly skank back then as she is today, so this wasn’t as nauseating to witness as one would imagine in 2007.

They show a clip of Ric Flair, Kevin Sullivan, Woman, Barry Windham, Mike Rotundo and Alexandra York hanging and banging with Lawrence Taylor in his very own sports bar after Flair’s title win up in Jersey.

WCW World Champion Ric Flair vs. Scott Steiner (w/Rick Steiner)

Scott won’t pay his respects to the champ, so now Flair has to teach him a lesson by also putting his title in jeopardy. Starts off strong as it appears Flair has his star-making boots on tonight. Steiner tries to go to the mat with Flair, so Flair goes low and takes Steiner into the corner. Steiner reverses a cross-corner whip and delivers a backdrop. Steiner can’t pull off the tilt-a-whirl slam on Flair, so he settles for the side slam instead. Marks would never know the difference, so it’s all good. That gets two, so Flair takes a walk down on the floor. Back in, Flair draws Steiner into the corner and fires away with chops. Steiner fights back with armdrags, but Flair reverts to the corner. They trade hammerlocks, but Flair has to flee once again. Back in, Flair relies on drawing Steiner in the corner, but then Steiner explodes out with a Steinerline. Again, Flair takes a breather. Steiner gives Flair a suplex back in for a one-count. Steiner backs Flair into the corner for a ten-count corner punch, but Flair brings him out for the inverted atomic drop. Flair delivers a second one and then dumps Steiner out to the floor. Steiner lands on his feet though and pops back up on the apron for a sunset flip, but Flair blocks it with a punch. Steiner reverses a cross-corner, but charges into Flair’s boot to set up the Flair pin. Rick pulls Flair’s feet off the ropes as we go to a commercial break. We come back to see Steiner hooking on the Figure-Four. It was inevitable. Flair grabs the bottom rope for the break. Steiner misses a Steinerline as Flair comes off the ropes and the Flair crossbody block sends them both crashing out to the floor. Famous Flair spot, but Steiner didn’t execute it correctly as he didn’t fall out until after the impact occurred. On the floor, Flair delivers a shin breaker as Capetta announces there is only ten minutes remaining. Back in, Flair goes to work on the leg like only he can. This leads to the FIGURE-FOUR, as Flair grabs the middle rope for leverage while Rick Steiner is being detained by the ref. Flair finally gets caught and releases the hold. Flair delivers a back suplex in the middle of the ring and reapplies the FIGURE-FOUR. Steiner reverses it and comes up fighting, but Flair goes low and kicks Steiner to the mat to sell the effects of the Figure-Four. Steiner punches back and hits a reverse neckbreaker. Steiner whips Flair across for the Flair Flip, which lands Flair down on the floor. Steiner follows him out and Steinerlines him into the guardrail for the Flair Flop. Back in, ref Nick Patrick blocks one of Scott’s punches in the corner to allow Flair to go low. Flair goes for the FIGURE-FOUR again, but Steiner counters into an inside cradle for 1-2-NO! Four minutes left to go in this match! Flair walks into a sleeper hold and then walks into the ropes for the break. Steiner comes off the ropes and Steinerlines Flair out to the floor. Three minutes left! Back in, Flair slows down the pace and hits his rolling knee drop. He tries to pin Steiner using the ropes, but big brother Rick is looking out for Scott and knocks Flair’s feet off the ropes. Two minutes left! Flair goes to the mat with a headlock, which Scott bridges out of into a tiger driver. Flair wisely does the fish sell and ends up on the floor. One minute left! Why isn’t Scott bringing Flair back in the ring? Rick has to toss him in the ring instead. Flair draws Steiner into the corner once more, but gets nailed with a Steinerline. The ten-count corner punches start up with 30 seconds left to go! Flair flips out of the corner off a whip and runs down the apron, but comes down off the top into a clothesline with 15 seconds left! Scott delivers a Spinning Belly-to-Belly Suplex out of the corner and covers, but the TV time-limit expires at the two-count. (24:25) Probably as good as it could be, as I couldn’t really see Flair taking Scott’s major moves besides the tiger driver. Even that didn’t look real smooth. A little below average for Scott at that time, but a typical Flair match is still better than any of the other matches on this card. ***¼

Final Thoughts: Get WrestleWar ’91 instead. Flair/Steiner is pretty good, but it’s not required viewing by any means. This show wasn’t that great and knowing that 1991 only gets worse from here scares me since I have TONS of stuff to review from this year. Oh well. I’ll be turning 21 on 5/28, so there’s never been a better time for me to start drinking than now that I’m heading into ’91 WCW. Thumbs down for CotC 14.