Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2012 19:00:54 GMT -5
Taped from Center Stage
August 4, 1992
6:05 pm eastern
Atlanta, Georgia
Tony Schiavone: Welcome everyone to World Championship Wrestling, and this is Saturday Night! I'm Tony Schiavone, joined as I am every week by Jesse The Body Ventura. Jesse, big night tonight with the United States championship on the line.
Jesse Ventura: That's right. The champ Ravishing Rick Rude puts the title up against Flyin' Brian and I gotta be honest, I don't know if Pillman brings enough to the table but if he can, we may see a new champion tonight!
Tony Schiavone: And of course the tournament to crown a new TV champion continues as Johnny B. Badd battles Marty Jannetty, winner to meet Rick Martel in the finals.
Jesse Ventura: I'll tell you what, if I'm Martel I'm loving every minute of it. Johnny B. Badd, Marty Jannetty, they have to bring it, meanwhile Martel can just sit back and pick up the scraps, ha.
Tony Schiavone: And in our opener, third time Jesse. Robbie V against Chris Benoit, this time a 20 minute time limit. That kicks off the show when we return.
-- First commercial break --
Robbie V vs Chris Benoit
After two draws, first 10 minutes and then 15, the ante has been upped with a 20 minute time limit in place for this one. Robbie V is introduced first, but gets quickly attacked from behind by Chris Benoit. Benoit is kicking away at V, and brings him over to the mats outside the ring. He then locks in the full nelson before bridging back and hitting a Dragon Suplex on the floor. V is down as the referee backs Benoit off and calls to the back for help. Needless to say there won't be a match tonight as Benoit sends a strong message with a pre match attack. Jesse Ventura says through the commentary that this is the kind of mean streak that will help Benoit bring it to the next level, adding that if you can't beat V, take him out!
Jesse Ventura: I'm joined now by the WCW Heavyweight champion Ron Simmons. Lotta people talking Ron, they say you're afraid of Ravishing Rick.
Ron Simmons: Is that right? That's what the people are saying is it? Well let me put it to you this way. Rick Rude ain't nothing but a wannabe champion as best as I can tell. He's good and I'll give him credit, but he ain't Ron Simmons. Clash of Champions, that was my call to get that match going and if Rick Rude intends on leaving the WCW champion, he'd better think twice because it ain't gonna be that easy.
Jesse Ventura: And what about Ric Flair. He was out here three weeks ago, still no idea why. Tonight though we know that in two weeks time, he'll be here and he'll be moderating between you and Rude, A Flair For The Gold.
Ron Simmons: Well if this is the gold he has a flair for, I got news for the Nature Boy. Ain't nobody beating me. Not Rick Rude, not Ric Flair. Nobody. Anybody wants to try, just come on down.
Jesse Ventura: There you have it. Strong words from the WCW champion, no doubt ready to watch on as Ravishing Rick battles Flyin' Brian in the main event.
-- Second commercial break --
Joey Maggs vs Terra Ryzing
Having come up short in recent outings, newcomer Terra Ryzing has more of a showcase match this week against Jumping Joey Maggs. While Maggs is able to get more offense in than usual, he eventually falls short to Ryzing when Ryzing applies the inverted Indian Deathlock to draw a submission for the victory. Much needed win for Terra Ryzing this week on Saturday Night.
Tony Schiavone: Alright, I'm joined now by Arn Anderson. Arn, two weeks ago you lifted four fingers as a countdown, but last week no sign of you.
Arn Anderson: That's right. I know you're just an announcer, but four minus one is not the end of the countdown. Rest assured that this week I raise my hand and I raise only two fingers. It's only two more weeks before my purpose becomes known to all right here on Saturday Night.
Tony Schiavone: Two weeks, which happens to coincide with the return of Ric Flair to Saturday Night.
Arn Anderson: Purely a coincidence. You can speculate all you want, but I'm saying it on the record, the Four Horsemen are a thing of the past. It's time to look forward. Look forward to the destruction that awaits the ranks of WCW. You have two weeks, and you have all been warned.
Tony Schiavone: Alright, looks like we won't get any answers, just more questions this week from the cryptic comments of Arn Anderson. Stay tuned.
-- Third commercial break --
Tournament Brackets
Robbie V
-------------------------Both Men Eliminated!
Chris Benoit
Steve Regal
-------------------------Rick Martel
Rick Martel
Johnny B. Badd
-------------------------Johnny B. Badd
Vince Torelli
Marty Jannetty
-------------------------Marty Jannetty
Johnny Ace
Johnny B. Badd vs Marty Jannetty
This match is the lone semi final match in the tournament to crown a new TV champion with Rick Martel having already advanced to the final by way of a bye to the double elimination of Robbie V and Chris Benoit. Despite both being fan favorites, Johnny B. Badd and Marty Jannetty hold nothing back in this encounter. As Badd starts to get the upper hand though, out comes an angry Vince Torelli from the back, having been DQd and eliminated last week against Badd in the first round. Badd accidentally ends up knocking down the referee temporarily when Jannetty moves. Jannetty then quickly takes Badd into the ropes with a go behind. Torelli takes a swing at Badd, but he ducks and he ends up nailing Jannetty with a hard right. Badd falls back into a cover as the referee recovers and scores a controversial win here. Badd moves on to the finals as Torelli can only watch his interference backfire. Badd helps up a groggy Jannetty, though in a show of good sportsmanship Jannetty raises Badd's arm in victory having Torelli to blame for this. The announcers ponder if Torelli's short temper could end up his own worst enemy.
-- Fourth commercial break --
The WCW Magazine with Eric Bischoff
The tournament final for the TV championship is now set with Johnny B. Badd to take on Rick The Model Martel at the next Clash of the Champions on Wednesday night August 22nd, live on TBS, thanks in large part to the interference of Vince Torelli backfiring and costing Marty Jannetty the match. A battle there could be brewing in itself. In addition to that, Flyin' Brian Pillman battles The Great Muta, the WCW Heavyweight champion Ron Simmons defends against the United States champion Ravishing Rick Rude, and as we learned last week it's title for title as the NWA Tag Team champions The Steiner Bros square off with the WCW Tag Team champions Sting and Lex Luger. More matches to be announced next week.
We also heard from Arn Anderson two weeks ago, holding up four fingers. He claimed this was not for the Four Horsemen, but rather a countdown of four weeks. What happens in two weeks time? We will soon find out. It just so happens to be the week that Nature Boy Ric Flair returns to Saturday Night.
Also set to return to WCW in the near future is the tag team duo of Cactus Jack and Abdullah The Butcher. We recently caught up with them for a word about their pending arrival:
Cactus Jack: I find myself to be overcome with emotion. After a long absence we are finally getting our chance to return to WCW, so for that I'm happy, but with pleasure comes pain, and Sting, you know you will be the recipient of the fruit that we bear. And when thou giveth, thou taketh away because we want those WCW Tag Team championship belts that you and Lex Luger carry, and we will stop at nothing to get them. BANG BANG!
It was last Fall that Cactus Jack and Abdullah The Butcher arrived targeting Sting, only to end up at odds. Evidently they have patched things up, but we will see what kind of partnership the two of them can sustain.
And now it's time for the weekly WCW rankings:
10 - Steve Regal
9 - Marty Jannetty
8 - Johnny B. Badd
7 - Rick The Model Martel
6 - The Great Muta
5 - Flyin' Brian Pillman
4 - Arn Anderson
3 - Lex Luger
2 - Sting
1 - Ravishing Rick Rude
WCW Heavyweight champion - Ron Simmons
-- Fifth commercial break --
Jesse Ventura: Alright, looks like we have a title match decided. In two and a half weeks at the August Clash, it's Johnny B. Badd against you Rick Martel for the TV championship.
Rick Martel: That's right Jesse. Personally I cannot believe that I have to soil my hands on that disgusting Johnny B. Badd. He calls himself the prettiest man in WCW, but he is not a model like myself. He doesn't understand the TV championship belt like I do.
Jesse Ventura: That kiss that don't miss though, it's a knockout punch!
Rick Martel: Well with me, it's a kiss that will miss because I know how to beat chumps like Johnny B. Badd. He thinks he's pretty, but he needs to take a look in the mirror. Or better yet, take a look at his reflection in the TV championship belt that I'll be sure to hold over him as he lays on the mat when I beat him haha.
Jesse Ventura: It sure sounds to me that this one could be The Model's to lose. Confidence, or you could even say arrogance, ha!
Lex Luger vs Mark Starr
After last week's challenge by Lex Luger and Sting to the Steiner Brothers was accepted for the August Clash in two and a half weeks, this week Luger finds himself in singles action against Mark Starr. Luger doesn't take long before he's able to get Starr up and lock in the torture rack for a submission victory. The commentary, Jesse Ventura more specifically, is quick to point out though that Mark Starr is not the Steiner Brothers.
-- Sixth commercial break --
Tony Schiavone: Welcome back, and before we get to the main event, I'm joined now by Jim Cornette. Been a few weeks.
Jim Cornette: You could say that it's been a few weeks, and you could also say that I miss these great fans in Georgia, but nothing there is the truth. I don't miss anybody here, nor are the fans great. I haven't been out here for months now and I get no explanation as to why. I call up the office, they won't even return my call so I figured no better way to get their attention than to just show up, so that's what I did. You see, there's a lot of talk lately. Ron Simmons this, Rick Rude that, Ric Flair is back, Bill Clinton's dodging drafts, and the Atlanta Braves are still in first place. So all's well that ends well, except one thing. One thing everybody's forgetting about and that thing is the man known as Big Van Vader.
Tony Schiavone: I thought he was finished after Simmons beat him for the title.
Jim Cornette: Yeah and you also thought Boy George looked good in the 80s, but I won't hold either against you. You see, Big Van Vader never got a rematch. He never got a rematch because WCW is afraid of him. They don't want to see Big Van Vader as champion because they can't march out Hank Aaron to celebrate with him. They can't throw a big parade. All they can do is sit back and watch the havoc.
Tony Schiavone: What does any of this have to do with you?
Jim Cornette: Well if it wasn't blatantly obvious, I'm now managing Vader. And with me at the helm, it's only a matter of time before WCW has no choice but to acknowledge him. They might be able to stop him from being the WCW champion, but they can't stop him from becoming the NWA champion. And when he's the NWA champion, nobody's barring that door shut to Vader, or to myself. The time for fun is over. Next week Saturday Night doesn't start at 6:05 eastern time, it starts at 6:05 Vader time. And on Vader time, nobody's safe!
Tony Schiavone: Alright, apparently next week we could see Vader here. Who knows? Right now it's time for tonight's main event.
Brian Pillman vs Rick Rude
The United States championship is on the line here with both men having matches lined up for the Clash of the Champions, Rude challenging Ron Simmons for the WCW Heavyweight Title and Pillman going for revenge against The Great Muta. Here tonight though Pillman puts up a good fight against the Ravishing One. Rude though is able to turn it on and when it looks to be over as he goes for the Rude Awakening, Pillman is able to get out of it. He manages a kick to the midsection, and heads up top. Ready for a flying bodypress, Muta is out and shoves him off the top rope. The match ends in an unfortunate DQ as both men are kicking away on Pillman until Simmons emerges for the save. Simmons goes after Rude and clothesline him out as Pillman is able to send Muta from the ring. A lot of hostility in the air only two and a half weeks until the big matches.
With that, the show goes off the air with the Saturday Night logo, and the announcers reminding viewers to come back for more next week at 6:05 eastern on TBS.
