WCW: Saturday Night
December 19, 1992
Atlanta, GA
Center Stage Theatre

The current WCW and NWA champs are as follows:
WCW World Champion: Ron Simmons (8/2/1992)
NWA World Champion: Masahiro Chono (8/12/1992)
WCW U.S. Champion: Rick Rude (11/19/1991)
WCW/NWA World Tag Team Champions: Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas (11/18/1992)
WCW World Television Champion: Vacant (11/1/1992)

Your hosts are Jim Ross and Larry Zbyszko. Check out the “King of Cable” trophy behind Ross and Zbyszko! They take us back to last week when Barry Windham and Ricky Steamboat arm themselves with chairs. Nobody gets whacked as DUSTIN RHODES shows up behind Windham, steals his chair away, and misses a big swing up against the ringpost. Rhodes and Windham get into a fist fight while Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas cheer on Dustin from ringside. They brawl back to the locker room. IT’S SO CHAOTIC!

• Ricky Steamboat vs. Flyin’ Brian

Man, I feel bad for Steamboat with his “Family Man” theme song. Pillman catches Steamboat with an elbow shot when he wasn’t looking and follows up with chops. They go to the floor for more chops. Brian rams Steamboat into the edge of the ring and brings him back into the ring with a vertical suplex. Steamboat looks to chop some more, but Pillman yanks him out to the floor to put a stop to it. Back in, Pillman fakes a crossbody out of the corner and still gets caught in the gut in mid-air by Steamboat. Pillman begs off, but Steamboat grabs him for a vertical suplex of his own. More begging off by Pillman. He goes to poke Steamboat’s eyes, but Steamboat sees it coming and jabs him in the eyes instead. Pillman wants to retreat, but Steamboat won’t allow it. After a floatover in the corner, Pillman fakes a knee injury and while Steamboat yells at the ref about it, we see AIR PILLMAN to turn the tide. Cover, 1-2-NO! Pillman chokes Steamboat in the ropes and slams him before going up top. Steamboat is there to slam him down and puts his hands around Pillman’s neck. He hits a swinging neckbreaker and keeps Pillman down with a series of knee drops. There’s a backslide for two. Steamboat misses a corner charge and gets his leg wrapped up in the ropes. Time to take Steamboat to school. WOO! He rips and tears at Steamboat’s knee. The figure-four gets applied and Pillman uses the ropes for leverage until he gets caught and forced to release the hold. Pillman cuts off a flurry of offense by Steamboat with a shinbreaker and tries another figure-four leg lock, but the classic Steamboat counter into an inside cradle gets the three-count. (8:28) Such simple babyface and heel psychology and it ruled. ***¼

Get your SLAM JAM #1 album today!

Promotional Consideration paid for by the following: Battleship by Milton-Bradley, Double Dragon III for Game Boy, and Armitron sports watches!

TONIGHT on TBS: The Orlando Magic versus the Atlanta Hawks. It’s Shaq’s rookie year!

OTHER ADS: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins for Game Boy, Nordic Flex Gold, Selsun Blue, Alka-Seltzer Plus, Noxzema, and Head & Shoulders.

TBS SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE: “Sam Whiskey” (1969) starring Burt Reynolds and Angie Dickinson.

Back to the show, Ross and Zbyszko set up a video package featuring Masahiro Chono and the Great Muta who will battle over the NWA world title at Starrcade on December 28.

• 2 Cold Scorpio vs. Danny Deese

More like Danny DEEZNUTS, amirite? The young ATL crowd is SUPER into Scorpio as he does a little dance routine before the match gets started. What a missed opportunity there WCW had with Scorpio. He’s just awesome. Deese looks like a Buddy Landel lookalike in case you were wondering. With Deese on the floor, Scorpio shows off with a moonsault press off the apron. Back inside, Scorpio lands a 450 SPLASH for the win. (2:12) The dude is clearly ahead of his time.

They run down all the live WCW shows coming up for the week after Christmas.

OTHER ADS: NFL Preview on CNN, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts for SNES, Jordache jeans, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for Sega Genesis, Alka-Seltzer, Selsun Blue, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York for all Nintendo Game Systems, and Ren & Stimpy: Space Cadet Adventures for Gameboy.

TBS HOLIDAY SPECIAL: “A Christmas Story” (1983) starring Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, and Darren McGavin. This was long before it was showed for 24 hours straight on Christmas Day on TBS.

When we return, Ross and Zbyszko set up a video package highlighting the rivalry between Sting and Big Van Vader as they prepare for their next matchup at Starrcade on December 28 to settle the “King of Cable” tournament.

TOMORROW NIGHT ON WCW MAIN EVENT at 6:05 PM EST: The WCW world champ Ron Simmons meets Van Hammer in the “Strongest Arm Finals”.

OTHER ADS: Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for Sega Genesis, WCW Starrcade ’92: Battlebowl on PPV, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts for SNES, and “Toys” (1992) starring Robin Williams now in theaters.

Back to the show, Tony Schiavone meets with Paul Orndorff, Rick Rude, and Madusa in the locker room to talk about tonight’s main event as Orndorff and Rude meets Ron Simmons and Dustin Rhodes. Orndorff says he and Rude aren’t afraid to cross the line to hurt people and hopes Simmons won’t make it to Starrcade. Rude disagrees and thinks Simmons will be “easy pickings” at Starrcade due to his bad shoulder. As we will find out at Starrcade, Rick Rude is not able to appear due to a neck injury as he was planned to face Simmons over the WCW world title. He was “replaced at the last minute” by Dr. Death Steve Williams. By all accounts, it does not seem as though there were plans to put the WCW world title on Rude.

• Johnny B. Badd & Marcus Alexander Bagwell vs. Chris Sullivan & Mike Thor

Badd is still doing his Little Richard wrestler gimmick. It seems weird he’s teaming with Bagwell, but anyways. They actually work together okay, but the team makes no sense. Lots of arm work from Bagwell to start. He and Badd deliver a DOUBLE DROPKICK to Thor. Ross and Zbyszko mention Badd will be teaming with Cactus Jack in the Lethal Lottery at Starrcade. It takes a while for Sullivan to get a tag, but he’s pulled right into a headlock from Bagwell. Tag to Badd, Thor trips him up to cause some trouble for Badd. It’s short lived as Badd fires back with a clothesline. Hot tag to Bagwell, he goes DROPKICK CRAZY. He hits a jumping back elbow on Sullivan for two. The match breaks down while Bagwell delivers the FISHERMAN’S SUPLEX on Sullivan for the win. (5:50) Afterwards, CACTUS JACK interrupts Johnny B. Badd’s interview time and lets Badd know he wants them to team up before Starrcade so they can “iron out the wrinkles”. He’s going to go see if they can have a tag team match because Badd’s “glass jaw” concerns him. Bang, bang. Badd tells Cactus Jack not to worry about a glass jaw, just worry about his iron fist because he’ll kick his booty with his tooty frooty – because he’s a BAAAAD MAN.

Get your SLAM JAM #1 album today!

TBS SUNDAY NIGHT MOVIE: “Sam Whiskey” (1969) starring Burt Reynolds and Angie Dickinson.

OTHER ADS: Battle Clash for SNES (Super Scope sold separately), “Toys” (1992) starring Robin Williams now in theaters, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York for all Nintendo Game Systems, Ren & Stimpy: Space Cadet Adventures for Gameboy, Alka-Seltzer Plus, Selsun Blue, and Vise-Grip’s Quick-Grip bar clamp.

STARRCADE 1992 BATTLEBOWL CONTROL CENTER with Jim Ross: Rick Rude lets Ron Simmons know he’s coming after the WCW world title. We hear from Sting who will be battling Vader in PPV match number two. He’s in for the fight of his life! Ross asks Vader how important it is for him to win the “King of Cable” tournament. More importantly, Vader wants to end Sting’s career. Five championships will be decided – LIVE on PPV on Monday, December 28.

They run down all the live WCW shows coming up for the week after Christmas.

TONIGHT on TBS: The Orlando Magic versus the Atlanta Hawks. The Magic win 125 to 84.

OTHER ADS: Jordache jeans, Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on SNES, WCW Magazine, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992) now in theaters everywhere, Selsun Blue, and Ghouls ‘n Ghosts for SNES.

Back to the show, Teddy Long interviews Barry Windham and Flyin’ Brian in the locker room. Tonight, Windham faces off against Shane Douglas. Windham says he can count on Pillman to back him up and lets Shane Douglas know he’s going to feel tonight what’s coming for him at Starrcade.

• Cactus Jack vs. Scott Allen

Allen tries to get cute going toe-to-toe with Cactus. They go to the floor where Cactus gives him a running legdrop on the bare concrete. Back in, Cactus lands a DOUBLE ARM DDT for the win in 1:37.

OTHER ADS: Battle Clash for SNES (Super Scope sold separately), Jordache jeans, Official WCW Stuff, Sega Genesis Game System, Clearasil, and 1-800-FLOWERS.

WCW UP-CLOSE: This week, Tony Schiavone sits in with the WCW world champ Ron Simmons. What’s up with the hat here? Schiavone shows clips of Rick Rude giving Ron Simmons a PILEDRIVER on the concrete three weeks ago on WCW Saturday Night, two weeks ago Rude scored a “controversial” pinfall on Simmons by coming off the top rope, and then last week Rude brings x-rays to the show proving that Simmons now has a shoulder injury. Simmons says there’s no way Rude can claim victory over him because he went against the rules. While Simmons admits he felt the effect of the Rude Awakening, he doesn’t plan on getting in that situation at Starrcade. This match will be totally different because it will be 1-on-1. Schiavone asks why Simmons didn’t come out publicly and mention his shoulder injury. WHY WOULD HE DO THAT? Simmons has always rolled with the punches throughout his life and continues to do so. He will defend his WCW world title against Rick Rude at Starrcade and this match will put an end to their feud once and for all. A cool build to get some sympathy for Simmons, but he just became completely overshadowed as a babyface in this promotion with guys like Sting, Steamboat, and even Rhodes around. He’s also just a natural heel.

They run down all the live WCW shows coming up for the week after Christmas.

TBS HOLIDAY SPECIAL: “A Christmas Story” (1983) starring Peter Billingsley, Melinda Dillon, and Darren McGavin. This was long before it was showed for 24 hours straight on Christmas Day on TBS.

OTHER ADS: Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins for Game Boy, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992) now in theaters everywhere, Noxzema, Street Fighter 2 for SNES, Soloflex, NBA Tuesday on TNT: Warriors at Suns at 8PM EST,

• Shane Douglas vs. Barry Windham

Cool to see Douglas carrying his half of the two tag belts with him to the ring. Ross talks about Sting being one of the most sought after athletes in the eyes of the fans and the media. He’s doing TV interviews over in the United Kingdom. Windham forces Douglas in a corner and pounds away. Douglas heats up with a backdrop and a few clotheslines. Here comes Flyin’ Brian Pillman to ringside to get in Shane’s head. The crowd really wants Steamboat – and here he comes. Douglas corners Windham and delivers a vertical suplex. Windham cowers to a corner, but then headbutts Douglas in the groin. Douglas fires back with a powerslam and hammers away as Windham rolls out. Back in, Douglas winds up on a wristlock and then kicks at Windham’s thigh. Windham is on the move and uses Shane’s own momentum to send him to the apron, but Windham doesn’t see Douglas coming off the top with a double sledge to turn the tide. Douglas continues to work the arm on the mat, but again Windham finds a way out by yanking Douglas into the top buckle. With Douglas staggered, Windham nails him with a DDT. Big hard slam by Windham, but Douglas punches back. Windham hits a BEAUTIFUL back suplex and follows up with a knee drop. He then throws Douglas out to Pillman, but Steamboat makes sure his partner makes it back inside the ring without any more harm. Douglas avoids a DDT with a backdrop and hits a vertical suplex for a one-count. He clotheslines down Windham and comes off the ropes, but Pillman hooks the leg. That brings Steamboat over to jump Pillman. Meanwhile, Windham throws Douglas OVER the top rope to the floor behind the ref’s back and stomps him in the head from the apron on the concrete floor. OUCH. DOUGLAS IS OUT. While Steamboat chases away Pillman, Windham rolls Douglas back inside and delivers a Bionic Elbow for the win. (6:45) Steamboat runs back out armed with a chair to get rid of Windham. Pillman reappears to celebrate with Barry. Douglas still looks rather green here, but Windham is just on another level of greatness. I’m a huge Windham fan. **½

Larry Zbyszko talks with Barry Windham and Brian Pillman over by the entrance way. They are very confident about becoming the next unified tag team champions – as if it’s a done deal.

TOMORROW NIGHT ON WCW MAIN EVENT at 6:05 PM EST: The WCW world champ Ron Simmons meets Van Hammer in the “Strongest Arm Finals”.

PROMOTIONAL CONSIDERATION PAID FOR BY THE FOLLOWING: Stetson cologne and Spider-Man games on Nintendo Game Systems.

OTHER ADS: Blistex, Goody’s Headache Powder (still a southern promotion, folks), WCW Wrestling Hotline, Jordache jeans, Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on SNES, and Ginsu knives.

• Ron Simmons & Dustin Rhodes vs. Paul Orndorff & Rick Rude (w/Madusa)

The Slam Jam album is hit or miss for sure, but Rick Rude’s theme is still a banger and Rude’s best theme song. They replay Rude dropping Ron Simmons on his head for a piledriver on the concrete from three weeks ago. Rhodes and Orndorff start the match. Orndorff sends Rhodes off into the ropes to escape a headlock and gets caught with a crossbody block for two. Rhodes tags in Simmons who beats on Orndorff’s left arm. Orndorff slams out of an armbar, but misses an elbow drop. He tags in Rude and we might get a showdown here. Rude takes his time circling Simmons. AWESOME. They tie-up and Simmons launches Rude into the corner. Rude continues to take his time getting to Simmons. He grabs a wristlock and pumps on the arm working the bad shoulder. Simmons clotheslines Rude with his good arm and slams him down. Tag to Rhodes, Ross and Zbyszko wonder if Simmons isn’t hurting bad now. Orndorff tags in and applies a headlock, but Rhodes headscissors out. Once Orndorff escapes, he starts hammering on Rhodes. A back suplex to Rhodes stuns him as Orndorff tags Rude. He runs Rhodes into the buckle and grabs a front headlock. Ross explains there’s about 30 seconds left in the show. They do a false tag spot and the match breaks down. As they run out of time, Ross explains you’ll have to tune into tomorrow’s Main Event show to see the conclusion of this match. (7:18 shown) Simmons and Rhodes will win via disqualification when Rude throws Simmons over the top rope because it’s WCW 1992! **

Still got another week to build to Starrcade, but I think this did a lot to get you there and was a fun and completely random episode of WCW Saturday Night for me – JUST BECAUSE I FELT LIKE IT.

That’s all for now. Until next time…