WCW Halloween Havoc 10/27/93

[Deleted]

WCW Halloween Havoc




And because you can't improve upon perfection, the opening video ...







Live from The Lake Front Arena
October 27, 1993
7:00 pm eastern
New Orleans, Louisiana

Eric Bischoff: From the Lake Front Arena, this is WCW, and this is Halloween Havoc!

A shot panning an energized crowd turns to Eric Bischoff and Missy Hyatt in costume. Bischoff is dressed as a possibly gay Count Dracula, while Missy is dressed as a slut. Ok, make that a regular Count Dracula and a ... well ... not sure, but she always had a gold dress at the PPV as her costume that seemed to be excessively cleavage based.

Eric Bischoff: Hello wrestling fans, I'm Eric Bischoff joined by Missy Hyatt. And what a big night of wrestling action we have in store for you tonight.

Missy Hyatt: It's the biggest I've ever seen. What I'm looking forward to most though is the 24" pythons of Hulk Hogan!

Eric Bischoff: Both of which will be on display later tonight because we got confirmation on Monday's Nitro. Hulk Hogan to step into the ring tonight to finally give J.J. Dillon the answers we've been waiting for since his surprise arrival back on the Labor Day edition of Nitro.

Missy Hyatt: And what about Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal.

Eric Bischoff: 12 matches Missy. Each 1, dangerous in its own right.

A graphic displays the 12 options on the wheel:

1. I Quit
2. Dog Collar
3. Prince of Darkness
4. Barbed Wire
5. Lumberjacks with Straps
6. Chamber of Horrors
7. Stretcher
8. First Blood
9. Texas Death
10. Russian Chain
11. Coal Miner's Glove
12. Trick or Treat

Eric Bischoff: There you see it. Any 1 of them could be seen tonight.

Missy Hyatt: Is the Chamber of Horrors that match with the electric chair?

Eric Bischoff: Perhaps the most feared match in wrestling Missy, yes it is. And we could see it tonight. Right now though, let's send it over to Tony Schiavone and Jesse The Body Ventura, standing by at ringside.

At ringside Tony Schiavone is dressed as Jesse The Body Ventura, joined by Ventura with glasses and a wigged comb over.

Tony Schiavone: Alright, thanks Eric. We are here at ringside for what promises to be the biggest night of the year in WCW, but Jesse, have to ask first. What is that costume supposed to be?

Jesse Ventura: What? You mean you don't recognize the most horrifying costume of all?

Tony Schiavone: Can't say that I do.

Jesse Ventura: I'm former U.S. solicitor general of the Bush administration Ken Starr Tony. I know every time I saw him, he certainly gave me the creeps on Capitol Hill, ha!

Tony Schiavone: Ok, well, that aside. What a night of action we have tonight. You just heard it talked about, Hulk Hogan is here, and Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal. What about it though, Rowdy Roddy Piper returns to the ring tonight against Ravishing Rick Rude Jesse.

Jesse Ventura: And you gotta think that even the ghouls and goblins are gonna be watching this 1. Everybody wants to know if Piper can still go, and if Rude can back up his actions outside the ring, inside it too!

Tony Schiavone: All that, plus Sting to challenge Big Van Vader for the WCW title, and Ric Flair to meet Barry Windham tonight. What a night, it's WCW Halloween Havoc, and we send it up to David Penzer to introduce the first match.

WCW Tag Team Title match
vs

The WCW Tag Team title are on the line in the opener. Bobby Eaton and Chris Benoit won the titles from Ric Flair and Arn Anderson back on the September 30 Nitro, thanks to interference from Barry Windham and a distraction from who would end up being their new manager, Scotty Flamingo. With Flair focused on Windham, Anderson turned to Horseman in training Shane Douglas for a non title rematch. Anderson and Douglas won, leaving Anderson with a choice having beat TV champion Lord Steven Regal 2 nights earlier on Saturday Night. Douglas convinced Anderson to take the tag match, giving him a literally golden opportunity to prove himself Horseman worthy. The match gets good time with over 13 minutes of action. As with the non title match, Douglas seems oblivious to the concept of a tag team match, wanting to do everything himself. Perhaps thinking since he won the non title match he could handle it, he found himself in hot water before a hot tag to Anderson. The Enforcer cleaned house with Benoit sent out to the floor, and had Eaton right where he wanted him. Anderson was ready for the DDT but was close to the corner where Douglas tagged himself in. Looking to prove himself, he told Arn he would finish this for them. Arn was upset by that but could do nothing as Douglas went at Eaton. Having him down, Arn told him to cover but Douglas instead went to the top rope. Benoit on the outside pulled Arn off the apron and started brawling, serving to distract the referee. This gave Flamingo the opportunity to shove Douglas off the top rope. Eaton covered as the referee turned, adding a handful of tights for good measure to pick up the 3 with Anderson coming in to break it up just a couple seconds too late. A disappointing turn of events for the challengers as they drop the match thanks to Douglas' inexperience. The commentators think that this has to be it for him with the Horseman with rumors that Flair and Anderson will announced an official third member tomorrow on Nitro. Anderson does however have a TV Title shot with Regal tomorrow as well, so he is only frustrated and mildly upset by the loss rather than being angry. Eaton and Benoit on the other hand will have to contend with the winner of a tag team battle royal later tonight as their next contenders.

vs

A surprisingly heated feud takes to the ring in this unadvertised bonus match. Brad Armstrong's attitude took a change after WCW opted to interrupt 1 of his matches to show a limo and then bring in 2 high flying, dare devil style light heavyweights. Feeling this was about wrestling, though perhaps fearing he would be replaced, Armstrong immediately took to defending his style and resorted to cheating in matches to win. After defeating Chris Adams, a confrontation the next week saw Adams superkick Armstrong while he was out doing forced commentary. The next week Armstrong trumped all by getting Adams' estranged wife Toni Adams to join him. Adams then took to masking himself to get at Armstrong, superkicking him before unmasking. Toni is out and in Armstrong's corner for this match. Adams and Armstrong only get about 5 minutes with Adams having Armstrong down when Toni enters the ring. Adams tells her to get out of the way as he readies to superkick Armstrong. She obliges, but as Armstrong gets up, he pulls her in front of him! The cowardly act works though as Adams stops himself. Armstrong then shoves Toni at him as he is catching his balance, and he struggles to stay upright. He ends up with his back turned to Armstrong, who quickly grabs Adams and hits a side Russian legsweep. Armstrong covers and wins the match, Toni Adams left not sure what to make of what just happened. Armstrong gets up and tells the referee to raise his arm in victory. Toni seems to want to check on Chris, but Armstrong grabs her by the arm and makes her leave the ring with him. Brad Armstrong seemingly ends this feud with a win over Chris Adams on PPV, but shows more of his true self in sacrificing a woman's well being to get the victory.

vs

A match setup when Diamond Dallas Page turned on the then Diamond Studd the night before Fall Brawl on WCW Saturday Night. Studd had went against DDP by signing Barry Windham's open contract when they had been hired by Windham as protection. This apparently cost DDP "many yen" and Studd had the Diamond taken from his name. The first attempt at revenge saw DDP fake injury and get Yoshi Kwan to replace him against The Studd. Commissioner J.J. Dillon would eventually step in and order DDP to wrestle The Studd tonight at the PPV. Much of the match sees DDP stalling and playing the coward. Studd dominates the action and shows DDP who is boss of the 2. After about 6 minutes of action, half of which is just stalling, the other half a 1 sided beat down - Studd lifts Page up and gives him The Diamond Death Drop, now known as simply The Double D (Death Drop, and we will see how long that sicks). Studd pins him for the 3 and wins the match. Revenge is sweet tonight as Studd can move on from this with recent speculation being that he is in line for a spot in the Horsemen after Arn Anderson came out to observe his performance several weeks back. The future looks bright for The Studd here in WCW.

vs

This match stems from both men's mutual dislike of the World champion as recognized by WCW International, Ravishing Rick Rude. Johnny B. Badd first tried to get revenge for friend Roddy Piper, and Dustin Rhodes failed at Fall Brawl thanks to interference from Alexandra York, but a no rematch for 50 days clause prevented him from another shot for now. J.J. Dillon's announcement of Piper's Halloween Havoc opponent was the first sign of trouble as Badd felt it should be him. Instead he would get an injury facing Rude, and then blame that on Rhodes "sticking his nose where it doesn't belong". Badd challenged Rhodes to this match with Rhodes' rematch at the title on the line, and Rhodes accepted because it was only fair. During the match, Rhodes would take a bad land on a leapfrog, appearing to injure his knee. Badd stopped for a minute as the referee wanted to stop the match, but Rhodes insisted it continue. Badd would control the next part, but Rhodes started to make a comeback against the odds. Rhodes readies for the bulldog, but Badd grabs the ropes to block it and leave Rhodes running off to mid ring. Badd then dove at the knee from behind to take it out. Tony Schiavone calls the move uncharacteristic of Badd but Jesse Ventura says that this is wrestling and you do what you have to in the ring to win. Rhodes is grabbing his knee as Badd quickly covers, hooking the good leg and is able to pick up the 3 count for the win at the 10 minute mark. A somewhat tainted win, but Badd in doing so, wins a future shot at Rude's big gold belt. Rhodes is left on the mat as the referee calls for help. Badd turns to being a good sport now and helps Rhodes up. He even raises his arm as if some consolation to the loss and has the fans applaud Rhodes' effort. Schiavone is not convinced by this and thinks Badd's intentions were just to win at all costs out here.

Tag Team Battle Royal

8 tag teams, 1 ring. The winning team in this battle royal to earn a future shot at the WCW Tag Team title, held by Bobby Eaton and Chris Benoit after their victory earlier tonight over Arn Anderson and Chris Benoit. Some stories to watch for in this match include the longstanding dispute with The Road Warriors and Harlem Heat. Far from finished, these 2 teams have been at each other's throats over the last month following Animal's return from an injury suffered at the hands of the Heat. The Hollywood Blonds have been having issues lately amidst a losing streak. Could tonight be the breaking point? Jumping to eliminations, the first sees Kent Cole going at it with Booker T. Booker ducks a clothesline from Cole and when he turns around, gives a side bicycle kick to the head that sends Cole over the top rope and to the floor. The Road Warriors waste little time going after the Heat and elimination #2 comes with Hawk clotheslinining Stevie Ray over the top rope and to the floor. Ever the sore losers, Harlem Heat regroup on the floor before coming up onto the apron as Animal is backed up by Steven Regal, and they pull him out to the floor for elimination #3. Hawk comes out and referees and security have to keep the 2 teams apart on the floor. Elimination #4 sees Johnny Gunn go for a dropkick on Regal, but the TV champion hold onto the ropes and Gunn miss. As Gunn gets up, Regal grabs him and sends him out to the floor. With 4 tag teams left, The Blonds have shown good teamwork here tonight, but end up battling with recent rivals The Nasty Boys. Steve Austin gets a huge elimination when he manages to duck a charging Saggs and pull down the top rope in the process, sending him flying over the top and to the floor for elimination #5. The Blonds, Regal and Jean Paul Levesque join together in a 4 on 2 against 2 Cold Scorpio and Marcus Alexander Bagwell. Regal holds Bagwell as Levesque charges with a high knee, but Bagwell moves. Levesque hits Regal and immediately starts apologizing for the mistake. When he turns, Bagwell hits a dropkick and Levesque goes out for elimination #6. 2 on 2! Bagwell comes to Scorpio's aid, but The Blonds have things in control here. Austin tells Pillman to go up top as he holds Bagwell. Scorpio manages to shake the ropes and Pillman drops, low blowing himself on the turnbuckle. Austin releases Bagwell and goes to check on Pillman, at which point Scorpio dropkicks Austin from behind to send him into the corner and knocking Pillman to the floor. Scorpio and Bagwell win! Scorpio and Bagwell win! Austin can not believe what just happened as Pillman lays on the floor, essentially eliminated by his own partner. The focus though for tonight is that Scorpio and Bagwell have earned the right to challenge Eaton and Benoit for the title, apparently happening tomorrow night on Nitro according to the commentators.

Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal

Cheatham is back once again while Eric Bischoff and Missy Hyatt play host and hostess to the wheel spin backstage. Cactus Jack is on the left side while Sid Vicious and Col. Robert Parker are to the right.

Eric Bischoff: Alright, this it. The moment that everybody has been waiting for. Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal. 12 matches and we are about to find out what match that Cactus Jack and Sid Vicious will have later tonight. Now as per a coin toss earlier, Sid has won the right to spin the wheel. I understand that the Colonel will be spinning the wheel.

Col. Robert Parker: That's right son and I think everybody out here needs to understand something, see. What this is about son, is this man right here, Sid Vicious, understand? What's going on here is Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal. Now if y'all will step out of the way. This leprechaun here, get outta my way.

Cheatham steps aside, overly giddy with excitement at the wheel about to be spun. He gets a little close to Missy, almost resembling a dog humping a person's leg.

Missy Hyatt: Ewww, get him away from me!

Eric Bischoff: That of course being Cheatham. Here to just observe the wheel.

Missy Hyatt: I think he's observing what color underwear I'm wearing!

Eric Bischoff: At least you're wearing some tonight.

Missy Hyatt (legit upset by the comment): What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Eric Bischoff: I didn't mean tonight as if you don't normally, just in general that it's better than if you hadn't been. I mean ... ALRIGHT! Let's spin the wheel! And make the deal.

Cheatham backs off during that awkward exchange while Parker steps up and spins the wheel.

Eric Bischoff: Around and around it goes. Where it stops? We're about to find out. Missy, you being our resident wheel expert, what do you think it will land on?

Missy Hyatt (still upset): Why am I the resident wheel expert? Cause everybody takes a spin?

Eric Bischoff: Ok, and you can see it's slowing down now. Let's see where it stops.

The wheel ends on the option "Trick or Treat".

Eric Bischoff: Ok, Trick or Treat. Now what that means Sid is you can choose a trick or a treat.

Sid Vicious: What the hell does that mean?!

Eric Bischoff: You're about to find out. Choose 1 or the other. Trick ... or treat. Missy, you seem like the type that would choose a trick rather than a treat.

Missy Hyatt: Oh, of course. Cause I love to turn tricks right? Is that it?

Eric Bischoff: No, no, I mean ... alright. Sid, which do you choose. Trick ... or treat. The option is yours.

Sid Vicious: TRICK! I want a trick for that piece of garbage Cactus Jack!

Col. Robert Parker: Now hold on here-

Sid Vicious: I WANT A FUCKING TRICK! Shit, sorry, let's do over.

Everybody's jaws drop as Sid apparently thinks this is a pre-tape and can be re-done.

Eric Bischoff (trying to recover): We are live. There are no do overs with the wheel. Once it has been spun, where it stops is final.

Col. Robert Parker: No. I'm stepping in here. Trust me Sid, you want the treat, see? It's trick or treat. Every kid wanted the candy, and that's what we want. The sweet, sweet treat. The bitter trick for you Cactus Jack.

Eric Bischoff: Alright, are you sure? Is that your final decision gentlemen?

Parker confers with a panicked Sid, probably thinking about the consequences of that 5 second slip up. The Colonel nods his head yes that they have chosen the option of "treat".

Eric Bischoff: Alright, well unfortunately for you, the treat is for Cactus Jack!

Sid Vicious: WHAT?!

Col. Robert Parker: Now hold on here, I say hold on.

Sid Vicious: Colonel, you stupid ... what the hell have you done?!

Eric Bischoff: Cactus Jack, this is your treat. You get to choose any of the 11 other options on the wheel. It is your choice.

Fans cheer as Cactus takes a look over the options before developing a smile on his face.

Sid Vicious: What is it, huh? WHAT IS IT?!? TELL ME! I WANNA KNOW NOW!!!

A brief pause before Cactus reveals his choice.

Cactus Jack: BARBED ... WIRE! BANG! BANG!

Sid loses it as Parker immediately tries calming him down.

Eric Bischoff: Whoa! Barbed wire! You've gotta be-

Sid shoves over the wheel before walking off pissed.

Eric Bischoff: Gotta be kidding me! Barbed wire! Tony, Jesse, back to you guys. Things have turned chaotic back here.

Maybe the most anticipated non wrestling segment in WCW history. It was September 2 on Nitro when Hulk Hogan shocked the wrestling world by interrupting a match to speak his mind. Not signed to WCW, commissioner J.J. Dillon worked to get Hogan back, but would only encounter his running buddy known as Brother Brutus. Using a Mr. Nanny trailer and a technicality, Brutus conned his way into a guaranteed contract and ability to name any match he wants at any time using Hogan's name, which WCW legal has been working on overturning. This past Monday on Nitro, Brutus would again promise Hogan for tonight, but this time said he had proof. The proof ended up being a video recorded by Hogan in which he did say he would appear. The commissioner heads down to the ring and takes a mic with a mixed reaction.

J.J. Dillon: Alright. Thank you. The last 2 months have been a very difficult time for me. Every move I make with WCW, it is done for all of you, the fans. On September 2, Hulk Hogan appeared as a free agent without notice, and ever since then fans have asked for it. They wanted it. Hulk Hogan in WCW. They wanted answers. Why WCW? Weeks turned into a month, and the time kept going. An invitation to Fall Brawl went unanswered by Hogan and his camp. An invitation to Nitro taken by this nuisance that calls himself Brother Brutus. A liar, a cheat, he got himself a contract. But maybe it was worth it. We'll see tonight because from the man's own mouth, Hulk Hogan is here tonight! (the fans cheer) Yeah. Now not being a WCW wrestler, I have no idea if he is here. I only hope though that he would not disappoint the fans ordering the PPV for him because we advertised him. There are people out there that ordered this to see Hulk Hogan. So Mr. Hogan, wherever you are, the time is now. Please come on down so we can have this discussion. Please.

A dozen seconds go by with nothing.

J.J. Dillon: Come on. We don't have all day. These fans came here for action. Sting and Vader, Flair and Windham. There's some big action coming up that we have to get to. Please Hulkster, let's hurry this up.

Another dozen seconds of nothing as fans are starting to get impatient.

J.J. Dillon: HOGAN! Come on! Let's go here.

The fans are now booing.

J.J. Dillon: Fine. You know what? I should've known better. I should've known better, this is just another lie. Just another hoax. Let's go. We got action to get to.

Dillon goes to leave the ring but as he is stepping through the ropes, music hits starting with a then unfamiliar opening "He's Ame-e-erica-annnnnn ... Ma-eh-aaaddddde!" before busting into a guitar riff. Fans sit, some cheering ...









... it's ...









... it's ...

The place explodes! No tease here, it is in fact HULK HOGAN! Riding a Harley out just like that appearance back on September 2 on Nitro, Hogan gets off and heads to the ring with a purpose. Despite WCW not being "Hogan country", and nobody stopping to wonder why somebody not under WCW contract has his own brand new theme music cued up and playing, these fans are going insane at the appearance of the man that defined wrestling the last 10 years and brought it to the mainstream. These fans know Hogan and they wanna know why he is here. Entering the ring, he teases just taking the mic, before going back mid ring and commences the trademark ripping of the shirt with the music still going. Dillon is off to a corner and Hogan starts busting out poses and going through the routine. After a good 90 seconds of this, audience reaction dies down a bit and the music stops. Hogan takes a mic with chants of "Hulk!, Hulk!, Hulk!" causing him to acknowledge the crowd.

J.J. Dillon: Alright, alright. Let's just get this going here.

This draws boos from the fans as it seems obvious that with this crowd, in this exchange, the face and heel roles have never been better defined in WCW than at this moment.

J.J. Dillon: Hey! I'm doing this for all of you. Please. Alright now Mr. Hogan. These people want to know, I want to know. Why-

Hulk Hogan: Wait 1 darn second brother! (big pop again that causes a brief pause so it can die out a bit) You've got Hulk Hogan in the WCW, Hulkamania running wild out here dude. This is what it's all about man! And you just wanna get right to business like this ain't about them? Like this isn't about all the Hulkamaniacs out here in the Big Easy brother?! Well I got a question for you man. I got a couple questions for you and the WCW because I wanna know. I wanna know just who-

J.J. Dillon: Now wait a minute.

The fans boo that big time. Nobody interrupts the Hulkster.

J.J. Dillon: Wait a minute. Before we get into why you're here, I wanna know why "he"'s here. You know who I'm talking about. The man with no name. Brother Brutus. Why did you send him to WCW? That's what I want to know, and these fans out here want to know as well.

Hulk Hogan: Don't worry about Brother Bruti man! You know I'll admit that when he used my trailed for Mr. Nanny to fool all these fans, that wasn't cool dude. That's not the Hulkster's way. I sent him to the WCW with 1 purpose man. That video weeks ago while I was off filming the Thunder In Paradise brother, and then he used it to take advantage of you and all my little Hulkamaniacs out there, he strung everybody along until the last second possible. I don't know what his deal is man, but you can rest assured that me and him are gonna have a little chat dude. We're gonna have a sit down and I'm gonna read Brother Bruti the riot act. See, he didn't just upset all of you, he upset the big man upstairs brother. I've seen him train, say his prayers, and take his vitamins man. I thought he was by the book out here, but now he's gotta answer not only to me, but he's gotta answer the big man too, if ya know what I mean brother.

J.J. Dillon: So you're telling me you have no association to Brother Brutus?

Hulk Hogan: What I'm telling you if you'll listen man. I gave him that video weeks ago to bring out here to Nitro. Me and him go way back, but he went into business for himself dude. He played you for the fool brother, but I gotta tell ya something man. It doesn't seem like that's all that hard to do from what I'm seeing tonight.

The fans laugh at that, but the comment frustrates Dillon.

J.J. Dillon: Who knows what to believe though? That could just be another lie and you fans are eating it up! You're all buying into this act hook, line, and sinker. He's playing you all for fools out here!

The fans boo that again more loudly than anything else so far tonight.

Hulk Hogan: Brother, the only fool out here that I see is you! (the fans again laugh at the easy comedy like this guy is the next coming of George Carlin or something, most of whom will probably rush out and see Mr. Nanny now) Now you wanna know what all this is about, right? That's the whole reason that I'm here, isn't it brother? The WCW universe man, they wanna know why the Hulkster left the sinking ship, the Titanic as I like to call it, and why I came to Nitro. I came here not just because this is where the big boys play dude. I came here not just because the WCW fans are the best anywhere around man. I came here because everywhere I've gone the last few years, fans wanna know 1 thing. They wanna know about 1 wrestler. And then I saw it man. I saw it like a sign sent from the big man upstairs himself. Eric Bischoff (the fans boo, apparently anybody gets boo'd in this segment that is not Hogan). Yeah, your little Nitro announcer, he brought out some magazine that had the Hulkster on the cover, and it had ... the Stinger on the cover!

At this point the fans cheer with a good idea where this is going.

J.J. Dillon: Wait a minute. You gotta tell me what you want here. I'm not a mind reader.

Hulk Hogan: Since you need it written out for you brother, I'll give it to ya in plain english man. These fans have it figured out, but what this is all about. What these fans wanna see is the biggest match in wrestling history dude. They wanna see it. Hulk Hogan ... Sting ... STARRCADE!

The fans cheers are off the charts again.

J.J. Dillon: Now hold on. Are you saying that you want a match with Sting at Starrcade?

Channeling his ultra stupid persona as his new gimmick in this storyline where week after week he would have no idea in real life that Sting wanted a match with Hogan at Starrcade 97 despite it being ridiculously obvious, Dillon keeps asking questions everybody else knows the answer to.

Hulk Hogan: What I'm saying is that if you want the Hulkster here in WCW, this ain't about money brother. This ain't about some Benjamin Franklins dude. This is about giving me what I want and these fans what they want. So you go back to Uncle Ted and you get the green light to make it happen man. And you let me know when it's ready because I'm telling you right from the horse's mouth, when you get me the match, I'll sign on the dotted line brother. I'll sign that contract and what are you gonna do man. Whatcha gonna do when the strongest force in the universe, Hulkamania, and all my little Hulksters, run wild on you!?

And with that, American Made starts up again and Hogan starts posing for a couple more minutes before leaving. Mid way through the act, this brilliant exchange takes place as Dillon briefly takes a headset to talk amongst the fan cheers.

Tony Schiavone: There you have it J.J. You got your answer, now what?!

J.J. Dillon: Hey, he's gotta tell me what he wants and I'll get it for him.

Jesse Ventura: What do you mean what he wants? You heard it!

J.J. Dillon: I don't know Jesse. I'm not a mind reader out here. He's gotta tell me what he wants before I can give it to him with a yes or no. Not this beat around the bush stuff to keep WCW guessing.

And with that Dillon leaves as the commentators continue with a discussion where Schiavone plays the fool role to go along with Dillon's as 2/3 of WCW's 3 Stooges (not hard to guess who will be the third), with Ventura saying that he is "pretty sure" what Hogan said was that he wanted a match with Sting at Starrcade, at least that was his take. At any rate, Hogan finishes up and ... sucks to be the participants in the next match.

WCW U.S. Title match
vs

This match for the U.S. title stems from a rare challenge by the champion to the challenger. Ice Train wanted to test himself against Ron Simmons, the first and to date only black man to ever hold the WCW title. Simmons accepted, even going a step further and telling the Harlem Heat to back out from his affairs for this match. This past Monday though, Thunderbolt Patterson, the man who trained Ice Train after his WCW Underdog Challenge win, was attacked backstage. Harlem Heat seemed to slip up and make it appear they were responsible, and if so, the question becomes was it at the order of Simmons? Ice Train seems to think so and now this match is extra personal, in addition to being for the title. Put in this PPV's ultra death spot for crowd reaction, few could care about this match. Despite having a storyline that had some heat for it, things like Train doing his "Choo! Choo!" bit just get boos. Mostly just no reaction though with a really dead spot coming from Train giving Simmons a bear hug. The challenger does manage to break free and gets the biggest pop of this match when he impressively lifts Train up to his shoulder for a modified version of his spinebuster slam. Simmons covers and almost gets the 3, but Train manages to get a shoulder up. Cue the comeback as Train starts his own version of "Hulking up", all of Simmons' offense becoming ineffective. Train would eventually hit the scoop powerslam off the ropes and cover, taking the 3 count at just past the 7 minute mark. Big win for Train on this night, but put in an impossible position with the crowd of a newcomer of 5 months having to follow that Hulk Hogan segment. Nevertheless, some revenge in his own mind for the attack on Thunderbolt Patterson. Whether Simmons did orchestrate it or not remains to be seen.

vs

It was a year ago at the 1992 Halloween Havoc that the 4 Horsemen's 1 night only reunion, ended with Barry Windham and co. jumping Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. The 2 sides fought in tag team matches, culminating in Thundercage at SuperBrawl, but bittersweet because Windham abandoned his partner. Months went by with the 2 having exchanges before things really heated up a month ago. Windham was thought to be in Japan when he made a surprise appearance to cost Flair the WCW Tag Team title. Flair's attempt at revenge led to Windham getting a restraining order against him for his own protection heading into the PPV. Flair broke it once and was almost arrested, and a second time was teased this past Monday but Flair held himself back. The time is now. The match 1 year in the making is ready as Flair and Windham battle for blood.

The match starts out with stalling by Windham. Finally ready to go, Flair fakes a lock up and instead strutting with a loud "WOOOOOOOOOOO!" coming at the end. This gets to Windham and causes him to go in for the early kill, but Flair is 1 step ahead and instead starts chopping away and backs Windham to a corner. Flair snapmares Windham over and positions him down, but he rolls out. Ok, Flair can do that as he follows Windham to the floor, and when The Lone Wolf turns to see him, he starts begging off. Flair shows no mercy though and starts landing right hands. They circle ringside with Windham trying to get away before the action gets back inside. Windham is in the ropes and Flair goes in, but the referee has to step in to back Flair off. He goes in again, and the ref is there again. A third time sees Windham use the referee and get a thumb to the eye. He kicks Flair and backs him to the corner, choking him up against the ropes. Flair gets sent across and clotheslined down to the mat with barely a 2 count following. Windham mounts Flair and pounds away, kicking him back down whenever he tries to get up. Flair gets up in the corner and Windham comes in to Irish whip him across to the turnbuckle. Flair reverses and Windham goes in. Flair charges as Windham gets a foot up, but Flair manages to duck and slide out to the floor, grabbing Windham's legs to trip him down. Flair slams the knee against the ring post. Twice for good measure. Flair grabs both legs, but Windham is instead able to pull Flair forward, shoulder first into the post. Windham gets up, hobbling now and reaches over the top rope to grab Flair and bring him up to the apron. Flair gets leaned back over the top rope for a big forearm shot from Windham. He goes for it again, but this time Flair instead grabs Windham and drops down, hanging him up on the top rope. Flair goes over and grabs a chair, sliding it in under the bottom rope. The referee is right there though and takes the chair away. Dirtiest player in the game comes through as Flair takes advantage of the distracted referee and gives Windham a low blow kick as he is getting up. Have to wonder if that was his plan the whole time? Flair covers and gets a 2 count, before starting to work away on the leg. Windham himself manages some dirty tricks, first kicking Flair off of him into the referee. With the referee momentarily distracted with getting his wits and back up, Windham takes out a the loaded black glove from his trunks and when Flair comes over to him, nails him in the face with it. Flair is down, the referee is up, and the foreign object is safe and sound. Windham is still hobbling a bit but immediately starts to work away on Flair. With some 2 counts thrown in, Windham eventually goes to Irish whip Flair across into the corner. Flair flips out to the outside and lands on the apron, racing over to near corner. Windham catches Flair though and knocks him down. Climbing up himself, Windham sets up for the superplex. If he hits it, this would have to be it! Flair fights backs though and instead knocks Windham down. As he recovers, Flair comes off the top rope with a flying ... whatever! Chop I guess as that is the part of him that connects with Windham, followed by a 2 count. Getting back up, Flair goes to send Windham into the ropes, he ducks and comes back with a huge lariat! Flair's head looks to be taken off with that move, but Windham himself is down. He is slow to get over and cover, but finally makes it ...






... 1






... 2






... NO!

Flair is able to just barely get a shoulder up off of that. Windham gets to his knees in disbelief before standing up and deciding that it is time for the iron claw. Windham rears the hand back and locks it in! Flair kicks and flails about as the referee checks on a submission or a pass out. Flair reaches for the ropes, but starts to pass out. Each attempt shows less strength than the 1 before and with his seemingly final opportunity, Flair gets there! Flair gets to the ropes and Windham gets the 5 count to break. He releases and stands up going back at Flair as he is getting up, but still being at the ropes, the referee separates them. Windham goes back in, but this time Flair scoops out the legs to land Windham on his back. Holding the leg, he pulls him out and quick as a cat, the Figure 4 Leglock is locked in! Windham is in pain! Flair has it firmly applied, and now it is Windham looking for ropes. Looking for a break. He is not far off though. Windham tries for the turn, but Flair rocks them back to his advantage. There is no escape but the ropes or submission here. Windham finally gets there! Flair gets the 5 count to break, but nothing. The referee gives him a second 5, and still nothing. Flair is not releasing the hold. The referee threatens Flair with a DQ and that gets him to release the hold. Flair gets up as the referee tells him he cannot do that. Flair nods before the referee turns away, only to grab the ref by the shoulder and turn him back into a stiff right hand. The referee goes down and the bell sounds at the 12 minute mark. Flair is not out for a win here, he is out to hurt Windham!

With the match over, Flair goes to the chair that he had previously tried to bring in and throws it in under the bottom rope. Windham is getting up at the ropes and Flair has the chair to hit him, but Windham instead punches the chair into Flair's face! Flair goes down and now Windham has his chance. The referee gets up and raises Windham's arm, signalling a DQ win for him. The Lone Wolf shows his appreciation when he pulls out the loaded black glove and puts it on, hammering the referee himself. This is about 2 men that hate each other, plain and simple. In all that melee, the cameras miss that Flair is now a crimson mask. Blood flows from that chair, but it won't stop Windham. Now with the glove, he puts the claw back on. He wrenches it in and now added help is out. Referees, WCW security. Windham will not break the hold though. Finally they manage to get him off. Windham wants to keep going as Flair is a bloody mess. He can maybe even finish him right here tonight! Flair gets helped up, but Windham shoves aside those keeping them apart. He rears back, but Flair blocks it and fires back. Several punches follow and Flair sends Windham to the mat. He goes down to 1 knee and continues hammering away, but there are too many people in the ring to separate them. Windham is able to get to the outside, checking if the blood on him is his or Flair's. Flair meanwhile yells for him to come back, but nothing. Windham is done for tonight, but the commentators assure that this will not be the last time that we see these 2. Windham in 1 last act, disgustingly wipes some of Flair's blood off his face and licks it off his finger tips. He starts laughing as Jesse Ventura says that now The Lone Wolf has tasted blood of his prey.

[Deleted]

WCW Heavyweight Title match
vs

This match marks the third time this year that Sting and Big Van Vader will collide on PPV. The first meeting saw Sting retain the WCW title over Vader thanks to outside interference from Ron Simmons at Slamboree. As we later found out, Simmons only did that to ensure Sting kept the title so he could take it himself, leading to a triangle match at Bash at the Beach. Sting first fought Simmons, but took a beating in between falls, leading to Vader winning the match and the title in the second fall. Sting earned himself a rematch here tonight, but would find himself coming up short to Vader in several attacks. This past Monday though, Sting finally pinned Vader clean in a tag team match on Nitro, the first man to cleanly pin Vader all year. Can history repeat tonight? And we found out earlier that Hulk Hogan wants Sting at Starrcade, at least everybody but J.J. Dillon did. A win by Sting sets that dream match up to be for the WCW title. Right now though, big match feel time ...

Michael Buffer: Tonight, all Hallow's eve. When the ghost! ... and the goblins, come out to play in the darkness of night. Halloween Havoc, 2 men look to claim the night as their own. 2 men, look to battle over the WCW championship. For 1, it is a chance to avenge a defeat. A chance to regain what he once held so highly in the name of his many fans. And for the other, a chance to solidify his reign at the top. Distance himself from the rest as he looks to prove that he is the best in the world today. New Orleans, Louisiana, are you ready?!? Wrestling fans, are, you, rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrready?!? Then for the thousands in attendance, and the millions watching around the world, from the Lake Front Arena here in the Big Easy, ladies and gentlemen, LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLET'S GET READY TO RUMBLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE!

Sting's music hits and from the back comes the challenger to a big pop. Vader follows with manager Harley Race at his side. Possibly a deciding factor in this match tonight. Race himself having been champion many times, for long reigns, he knows what it takes to not only get to where Vader is, but stay where Vader is. The commentators cannot help but talk about the challenge from Hulk Hogan towards Sting and if that serves as distraction, or motivation, with Tony Schiavone jumping on the Dillon bandwagon and clarifying that we still are not even sure that Hogan wants Sting, and a win tonight by Vader could change all of that. Both men are in the ring as the bell sounds to get the match underway.

The 2 wrestlers circle each other with Vader doing a lot of trash talking, but Sting is unmoved by it. Vader stalks his prey, slowly closing in and locking up with Sting backed into the corner. They turn and Vader shoves down Sting. Alright, take 2. They lockup again and Vader backs Sting to the corner, rearing back for a stiff forearm shot when Sting gets away. Vader is looking dominant tonight, and a third lockup finally sees the action get going when Vader breaks and slugs Sting. The ribs shots follow as Sting gets backed to the corner. Vader takes Sting and Irish whips him across, charging in, but Sting moves! Sting starts hammering away at Vader, but the shots have little to no effect. Vader reaches in and lifts Sting up, dropping him neck first on the top rope. Vader asks the fans "WHO'S THE MAN?", and if their response is any answer, a loud mixture of booing is. Sting gets up to his hands and knees, only to get kicked over. Back up, Vader fires Sting into the ropes, lunging with a clothesline that Sting ducks. He hits the ropes and connects with a clothesline of his own. Vader gets rocked. Sting keeps up the momentum as he hits again and delivers a second clothesline. A third attempt sees Vader recover and instead deliver a double sledge avalanche to a charging Sting that puts him down. Sting gets up and gets pulled in for a short arm clothesline. Vader gets the challenger back up and starts firing in right hands, but the effect weakens. Sting starts firing back shots of his own. Now it is Sting in control as Vader gets backed into the ropes. Sting backs up and charges, clothesline! Vader goes over the top rope and out to the floor. Race scurries to his man to help him up, but as he does, Sting pulls back on the top rope, slingshotting himself up and over to the outside onto Vader! Both men are down on the floor as the count starts. Sting gets in, but at about the 7 realizes what Jesse Ventura spouts on commentary, cannot win the title on a countout, and gets back out to the floor. Sting rolls Vader in under the bottom rope, but faces a distraction from Race. This well timed distraction gives Vader some recovery time as Sting goes after the manager on the outside. At about the 8, Sting gives up and goes to get back in, but Vader is up and catches him with a knee to the head. Sting collapses over as Vader covers ...






... 1






... 2




... kickout!

Vader continues with the onslaught, delivering several hard shots. Sting gets up in the corner, but meets Vader charging in with an avalanche. Sting uses the ropes to stay up as Vader grabs him and pulls him out for a back suplex. Vader sizes up the downed Sting and goes for a big splash, but Sting moves! Vader is down as Sting gets up first. Hammering away. Sting lands several big shots on the champion and goes for a DDT, but Vader backs him into the corner. Vader backs up a bit and charges back in, but Sting moves. Sting runs to the other corner and charges in, STINGER SPLASH! He connects, but 1 is not enough to down Vader. He backs up to charge again, but Race grabs at his leg. Sting turns his attention to the manager as Vader meanwhile charges in from the other corner, but Sting gets a boot up to catch Vader! The champion gets rocked as Sting grabs him and hits the DDT. He covers ...






... 1






... 2






... NO!

Vader kicks out just in time. Both men are spent, but still have a lot of fight left. Getting up, Vader sledges Sting first and goes to a headlock. The fans chant in unison trying to get the challenger back into this. Sting starts to show some life. Arms shaking. Sting gets to his feet. 1 elbow, a second elbow. Vader then grabs the hair and wrenches Sting back onto the mat. No follow up giving Sting time to get up, but take a chokeslam to put him back down to the mat. Vader pulls Sting to the corner and goes to the middle rope. Vader starts building momentum as the ropes go up and down, finally launching back with the Vader Bomb! He connects. This has to be it for Sting as Vader covers ...






... 1






... 2






... NO!

Foot on the bottom ropes saves the challenger. Vader can be heard saying "you gotta be fucking kidding me?", but goes right back to it. Race tells him to go for the powerbomb and finish him. Vader does not follow the advice though and instead goes for a second Vader Bomb. Or maybe not? Vader goes all the way to the top. What the hell is this? He has his back to the challenger when he leaps back ... MOONSAULT! Sting however moves and Vader crashes into the mat. Both wrestlers are down with the crowd in awe at that impressive show of agility, even if a failure. As they get up, Sting kicks. He punches. He fires away, hoping for something, anything, to get at the champion. Vader drops to 1 knee as fans cheer, before he gets back to both feet, albeit hunched over. Sting hits the ropes and as Vader lifts his head, grabs him from behind leaping in the air, driving him back down with a 1 handed bulldog. Sting covers ...






... 1






... 2






... NO!

Vader just barely gets out of that. Sting has all the momentum now. Vader gets up and Sting hooks him for a suplex. He can't! HE DOES! Fans pop as the massive frame of Vader gets taken over and crashes into the mat. That took a lot out of Sting though. He takes a while to get up, but when he does, Vader gets up and Sting goes in for a bodyslam! It quickly gets blocked by a hard shot to the ribs. Vader quickly readjusts and sets up Sting. He has him hunched over and lifts him up for the powerbomb! Sting though rolls over and somersaults back into a sunset flip attempt. Vader struggles to stay up and whe he catches his footing, instead leaps up to deliver a big seated splash, but Sting moves and Vader lands butt first on the mat. Sting quickly heads out to the top rope. Vader gets up and turns, looking for Sting. He sees him flying through the air, delivering a big flying clothesline. Sting covers ...






... 1






... 2






... NO!

Vader just gets a shoulder up. The champion is in serious trouble now. Sting gets up and brings Vader back up, reaching in, and BODYSLAM! Vader is down and Sting goes to the feet. He takes the legs, steps through, locks them, turns. SCORPION DEATHLOCK! Sting has it on! Vader is in no man's land right now. Manager Harley Race gets to the apron and steps in through the bottom rope, stumbling in the process. Not wanting the DQ, Sting releases the hold and catches Race when he gets up. Sting grabs him and shoves Race back into the corner, simultaneously backing up. Sting charges in and STINGER SPLASH! Race drops like a stack of bricks. Vader meanwhile rolls out to the floor as the referee checks on Race. Vader grabs his title belt, is he leaving? Jesse Ventura points it out again, the countout means Vader keeps the belt. Sting is on him though. Sting gets to him, but Vader shoves him back into the ring post. Vader charges, but Sting moves! Vader goes down. With the referee still busy with Race though, Sting gets hit from behind! Somebody has hit Sting from behind ...

... it can't be! The menacing hooded figure has Tony Schiavone asking if that is who he thinks it is, saying that it looks like The Black Scorpion?! The referee is still busy with Race and misses everything as the masked figure grabs Sting and starts choking him down. The referee almost turns back but Race keeps his attention, suddenly crying out in pain, clearly just having seen what is going on and wanting to hold him there. Sting goes down as the figure puts on a sleeper! Sting starts going out and the figure rolls him in under the bottom rope. Vader is already in, and just like that, they are gone like the darkness of the night. Sting is out, and Vader is not looking much better here. The champion does however get up and Sting starts to stir. Vader manages to position him and sets him up. He lifts Sting up and POWERBOMB! Vader instantaneously collapses into a cover ...






... 1






... 2






... 3!

Vader wins! Just past the 16 minute mark, Vader keeps his title, retaining over Sting. The bigger story here though just might be, well it has to be, this mysterious figure jumping Sting. Ventura points out that it is Halloween Havoc after all, could just be a resident monster. Schiavone very much doubts that and is certain that must have been somebody from the back. Somebody that did not want Sting to win the title just now, and it looked like The Black Scorpion from 3 years ago. Ventura is clueless on the Scorpion as he was not around then, but does add that there is no shortage of guys in the back right now that would love a piece of Sting, adding it could have even been Hulk Hogan! Schiavone says that anything is possible, but that seems very out of character to Hogan to do that at all, let alone under a mask to conceal his identity. More on it no doubt to come tomorrow on Nitro and in the coming weeks, but at the end of it, Vader, still WCW champion. The commentators wonder if he will still be champion come Starrcade in December on PPV, as a short generic hype commercial follows for the event. The push is that is the 10th anniversary of the first Starrcade event, and will come from Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday night, December 29.

vs

2 veterans of the ring go at it in a grudge match, stemming from a cowardly attack at the August Clash of Champions. Ravishing Rick Rude was a guest on Piper's Pit to settle the Bash at the Beach controversy. Rowdy Roddy Piper gave Rude some statements on the finish that did not sit well with Rude and at the first chance, he would attack Piper and lay him out with not 1, but 2 Rude Awakenings. Absent going forward, Piper would return a week after Fall Brawl as J.J. Dillon's surprise opponent for Rude tonight. The 2 have exchanged words, including a heated exchange this past Monday on Nitro. The talking though is now over. It is time for action and time for wrestling. Rude is out first, followed by Piper. The look on the Hot Rod's face says it all. Almost 3 months of waiting for him, finally coming to a head here tonight. He gets in and first takes off the shirt, making sure to pause just before he is about to pull it over his head so he can do that part fast, so Rude cannot try anything. The belt for the kilt comes off and Piper teases using it, whipping it into his hand to taunt as Rude tells the referee to get over there and get it away from him. Piper hands the belt off. Piper is taking off the kilt when Rude charges!

The bell sounds as Piper twirls the kilt up and through the air with Rude missing. Piper wraps the kilt around Rude's head and just starts laying in. Shot after shot have Rude disoriented. He can't see anything and starts firing away punches to the air for some comedy, almost hitting the referee. Piper steps in and calls out, and like some loony version of Marco Polo, Rude fires back with Piper side stepping. He does it again with Jesse Ventura asking the obvious why doesn't Rude just take the time to get the kilt off his head first. Rude goes again, but Piper ducks and lifts Rude up, dropping him across the knee with an atomic drop. The kilt falls off his head and Rude sells the move like he just got finished with an audition to be an 80's enhancement talent in the WWF. Rude turns and Rude charges with a clothesline that sends Rude up and over the top rope to the outside. Rude takes some time before coming back in, with Piper holding the ropes open no less. Rude tells him to back away, the referee eventually stepping in to do just that. Piper backs off as Rude steps in, but charges and kicks the ropes. Rude falls to the mat, grabbing his crotch. Piper stalks him and as he gets to his hands and knees, gets on his back and starts mock riding him like a bull. Rude crawls around, before getting to the floor upset. Piper is having a great time here tonight, and why shouldn't he be? Rude is completely off his game as Piper dominates this early portion of the mat. Rude's fed up now though. He goes back in and now he means business. He tells the referee to back away, this is man vs man, this is a fight now. Rude cocks his fists and calls Piper mid ring. Piper comes and Rude swings with Piper dodging. Again, Piper ducking. Rude stops and Piper just casually pokes him in the eye. Fans laugh it up as Rude goes to the corner, blinded. Piper comes in and starts ramming Rude's head in. 1, 2, 3 ... 8, 9, 10! The fans chant along. Piper takes Rude and sends him to the ropes, looking for a haphazard dropkick attempt. Rude holds onto the ropes as Piper barely gets any air anyway and just crashes back first to the mat. Rude sizes up Piper and delivers a pointed elbow drop. Choking follows, breaking on 5, only to reapply. Rude gets up and drops a knee before covering ...






... 1






... 2




.. not even close!

Piper's a long way from being done, but Rude does seem firmly in control right now. As they get up, Rude starts delivering blows to the lower back, before turning Piper into forearm clubs. Piper is back in the corner and Rude starts driving shoulders to the midsection. Again and again. Once finished, Rude brings Piper out and fires him off into the opposite corner. Piper reverses though and charges in, only for Rude to get up a knee and connect. Piper falls back and drops to the mat. Rude drives knees into the back as Piper gets up, before another pointed elbow drop, this time to the back of the head. Piper goes down and Rude turns him to cover again ...






... 1






... 2






... kickout!

Still a long way from being finished, but Piper gets out earlier this time. Rude turns Piper and looks to a modified camel clutch. Piper fights, on his knees already. Rude releases and jumps up, driving his weight into Piper's back to put him down. Rude reapplies. Piper fights up, but Rude again just jumps up and puts him back down. This time Rude decides to instead taunt his opponent and put his hands behind his head and gyrate those hips. Rude is firmly in control of this match and it shows. Piper gets up and eats a couple forearms to the face. Rude sends him into the ropes, but Piper reverses. Rude comes off and Piper catches him with a big back body drop. That got the fans popping. Rude gets up and takes a high knee from Piper that puts him right back down. Piper is fired up and gets down and starts firing off right hands. Rude gets to the ropes to draw a break. The referee pulls Piper back as Rude is now on the apron. Piper comes back at him, but takes a shoulder to the gut. Rude then grabs Piper and runs him to drive him into the corner, but Piper blocks. Instead it is Rude that goes face first in. Piper grabs Rude, but the Ravishing 1 quickly drops down and hangs Piper up using the top rope. Piper drops back, selling the throat as Rude recovers and goes to the top rope. Piper gets up and turns to Rude coming at him with a forearm. Piper goes down and Rude covers ...






... 1






... 2






... NO!

Piper just gets out and is now is trouble. Rude decides from there to go back to the camel clutch. Piper is in a bad way here and this is certainly not the return to the ring he had envisioned. He fights to get up, but Rude again just leaps up and drives his weight in to bring Piper back down. Hard to get free when there is such an easy counter for Rude. Piper again starts fighting. He gets to his knees again. Rude releases and leaps up, seemingly extra high. Piper moves! Rude crashes into the mat, again looking like somebody that just spent the night at Liberace's. Rude gets up and Piper lands a short jab. A second follows. Third, fourth, and now Piper is letting it go! Piper hits the ropes, coming back with a clothesline. Rude goes down and pops up, walking into a belly to back suplex. Piper covers this time ...






... 1






... 2






... NO!

Rude kicks out just before the 3. Piper gets up and waits for Rude to get up, charging for another high knee, but this time Rude instead sweeps out the legs and sends Piper crashing to his back. Piper goes down and Rude uses some time to recover. Piper gets up and Rude kicks him in the gut. Forearm clubs follow before Rude again does the theatrical hip swivel taunt. He pulls him and it could be over. He is going for the Rude Awakening, but sure taking his sweet ass time. He slowly turns Piper, who when he gets all the way breaks free. Rude quickly turns and goes for a clothesline, but Piper ducks. Rude turns and Piper goes down, crawling through his legs! Rude turns to Piper coming off the ropes at him with a Hart Attack style clothesline. Rude is down and now it is Piper's turn. He mocks Rude with his own version of the hip swivel taunt! Fans eat it up and Rude is not looking good at this point. He gets up as Piper grabs him, but quickly gets a thumb to the eye. Rude sets up for the Rude Awakening again, this time going fast like his life depends on the completion of it, but maybe too fast as Piper breaks free and instead hooks the arms. Rude fights, but Piper brings him over into a backslide ...






... 1






... 2






... 3!

Piper wins! Huge win and Rude is beside himself. Rude has been pinned tonight by the Hot Rod, who is quickly out too the floor. The referee follows and raises Piper's arm in victory. Huge win for him just past the 14 minute mark and he gets his revenge from that cowardly attack 3 months ago. Rude can take some solace in that this match was non-title and so he still has his championship belt, recognized only by WCW International. If you are WCW International though, this win makes a pretty damn good case that Piper gets the next shot at Rude and that title. We know that Dustin Rhodes and Johnny B. Badd battled it out earlier for a shot that hanged in the balance there with Piper's friend Badd winning, but this win has to change all of that. Piper wins, and mark it on your calendars, Halloween Havoc, he is back with a vengeance here tonight.

Barbed Wire match
vs

This is it. The Halloween Havoc specialty that happens only once a year. Spin the Wheel, Make the Deal. Last year's event saw Sting spin to wrestle Cactus Jack, ending up in a Steel Cage with a spot that saw Cactus come off the top off the cage with a missed elbow drop onto Sting. This year Cactus Jack is back and looking for revenge against the man that put him out of action for almost 4 months with a powerbomb off the staging area through tables back at Slamboree, Sid Vicious. Since the return of Cactus just before Fall Brawl and War Games, a new element presents itself tonight in their feud with Col. Robert Parker in Sid's corner. Parker was put in place by Harley Race to pacify the relationship with Sid and Big Van Vader, and to guide Sid towards the right decisions en route to a possible title match in the future between the 2. Vader won earlier and should Sid win here, that should set the stage for a Sid vs Vader match for the WCW title. Cactus Jack tonight though could play spoiler. The spin was event filled earlier tonight, ending with a Barbed Wire match.

The ring crew sets up the barbed wire. Strands hang from the ropes and this could get ugly. Sid Vicious is out first, wearing jeans and cowboy boots for this 1 rather than his usual trunks. He is noticeably pissed off, arguing with Col. Robert Parker on their way out, no doubt still upset over what happened earlier. Parker can be heard as apologetic. Cactus Jack then heads out. Fans cheer at the barbaric, demonic, hell on earth they are about to experience (for 1993 WCW anyway). Before entering the ring, Parker distracts Cactus as Sid jumps him from behind. No bell yet as they are not in the ring and Sid intends to maybe wear down Cactus before they get into the barbed wire. He throws Cactus back first into the steel barricades surrounding the ring. Sid grabs Cactus and takes him to the aisle (no ramp setup tonight), and shoves him down. Cactus crawls away with Sid kicking him back down any chance he has to get up. Parker gets over to an area by the entrance and sets up a table, instructing Sid to powerbomb Cactus through it! Again, the match has yet to even start. Sid sets it up, but Cactus fights himself free. He fires away several rights before backing up. He charges but Sid ducks and backdrops Cactus up and he goes through the table! The match may not even happen, probably exactly what Sid wants as Cactus lays there in the broken table. Personnel come out to check on him as Sid goes to the ring. He gets in and the fans chant for Cactus, but it does not look good here. Sid tells the referee to ring the bell, yelling it a second time, and it gets done out of fear. Sid tells the referee to start counting. What a disappointment this could end up being! The referee starts a count, very slow, but if he reaches 10, that is it. The personnel have a stretcher out, but at 4, Cactus shoves it aside. Fans cheer as Sid tells the ref to hurry up. Cactus starts slowly fumbling to the ring. The count gets to 8, when Cactus makes it and gets in under the bottom rope!

The action now in the ring, Sid catches Cactus and tries to keep him grounded. Cactus attempts to get up, but Sid kicks him down. Cactus gets to the ropes where he tries getting up when Sid pushes his face into the barbed wire. The jagged metal rips into the flesh of Cactus and the blood starts flowing maybe a minute to 90 seconds into this. Sid calls for the Colonel to do something and he follows instructions, getting a table from under the ring. He slides it in under the bottom rope. Cactus sells the pain he has taken and stays down in the corner as Sid sets up the table. Tries to anyway, clearly having no idea what he is doing and eventually the referee having to step in and do it for him. Sid then props the table up into the corner and goes to grab Cactus. He chokes him in the opposite corner before going to send him across, but Cactus stops short and reverses. Sid heads in, but stops himself just before the table. As he struggles to stay balanced, he turns into a stomp of the feet. Cactus then hooks it in, double underhook DDT! The playing field gets evened in a big way as Cactus hits his finishing move early here. Both men are down, before Cactus crawls into a cover ...






... 1






... 2



... kickout.

Sid has enough left, but both wrestlers are spent early in this match. As they get up Cactus has Sid backed into the corner when he then tries forcing his face into the barbed wire. Sid instead elbows Cactus. Shots fired in the corner before Sid backs up and charges with the big boot, but Cactus ducks. Sids leg goes over the top rope and he's crotched up on the top rope. Cactus starts shaking the top rope and builds some momentum before Sid falls in and on the mat. Instinct has him going to the ropes to get up, with Cactus in to try and use the barbed wire. Sid fights, and gets some help when from the outside Parker reaches up and pulls Cactus' face into it. Parker rubs it in as Cactus takes a second hit from it. He steps away and drops to a knee, fighting the effects as the blood continues. Sid gets up and requests a chair. Parker hands Sid the chair and he winds up, smacking Cactus across the back with it. Winds up and hits again. Nobody will mistake this for technical match of the year as Cactus gets up into the ropes, before Sid turns him and starts choking him. Cactus is back first on the barbed wire, although as Jesse Ventura points out, the attire probably helps a bit here for Cactus since it is at least not exposed flesh. Sid pulls Cactus out and lifts him, driving him to the mat with a side suplex. He covers ...






... 1






... 2






... NO!

Cactus gets a shoulder up. Sid goes over and readjusts the table in the corner, making sure it is ready. As Cactus gets up, Sid grabs him and readies to throw him into the table, but Cactus at the last minute blocks it and reverses to a hip toss attempt. Sid himself blocks that though, but Cactus steps on his foot. Cactus takes a few steps back and charges in with a spear that puts both wrestlers into the table. Sid goes back first, breaking the wood, but Cactus took a mean bump there too. Both wrestlers stay down in the corner as the Colonel panics on the outside. Cactus gets up first and backs up, charging in with a knee to the face of Sid as he lays seated against the broken table. He backs up to charge again when Parker decides to slide in and get in between! Has Parker lost his mind?! He is sweating something fierce as Cactus stops. The Colonel initially thanks him before realizing that is probably bad news for him. Cactus grabs The Colonel and points to the barbed wire strands, getting a huge pop from fans. Before he can though, from the back. It's ...

... YUP! I'm going there. Before he can get to the ring though, Sid is up and Cactus throws Parker into Sid. The big man stops Parker but before they go down, Cheatham is in the ring. Cactus picks him up and throws him at the 2 like a lawn dart and somehow both Sid and Parker go down from that. Cactus gives a "bang! bang!" as this appearance could be leading the match towards a future induction at a website years later, websites barely existing in 1993 as it was. Cheatham goes to the corner and cheers Cactus on as he goes to grab Sid, but instead Cactus just takes a headbutt to the midsection. Sid then gets up and quickly locks in a cobra clutch, lifting Cactus up and slamming him down to the mat. Rather than focus on Cactus, Sid turns. The once evil midget of WCW backs away. Parker is up too though! Cheatham runs and Parker starts chasing him like he's trying to catch a chicken. Some good laughs before Cheatham just runs square into the bottom of Sid's foot. He looks like he may be legitimately dead from that, if not at least knocked out. Sid grabs him, but Parker wants the honors. He goes outsde and lifts the apron, pulling out ...

... oooooooooooookaaaaay. Things are getting extreme out here now as Parker carefully slides in and readies the bat. 1 shot from that and Cheatham's toast. Literally done for. Sid meanwhile goes outside and preps a table on the floor and slides it in folded under the bottom rope, Parker seemingly having this in hand. Cheatham starts getting up when Parker rears back with the bat like he is Juan Gonzalez of the Texas Rangers, but Cactus is up too. He has the chair brought in earlier and brings it down across the back of Parker mid swing. He drops the bat. Cheatham picks it up and ... hands it to Cactus. The Louisville slugger is about to get taken for a home run swing as Cactus drives it into the midsection of Parker. Sid meanwhile slides in a board, just covered in barbed wire. Cactus pulls the bat backs, ripping at the clothing it caught, before driving it into the back. Sid gets back in, clearly not caring much to save The Colonel here as he sets up the table, again with help from the referee. Cactus turns and eats a big boot to the face, going down. The Colonel escapes to the outside. Meanwhile Sid eyes Cheatham, who tries to run. Sid grabs him though. What is going to happen here? Sid kicks him in the gut, picks him up and ...









... JESUS H CHRIST! ...







... he powerbombs Cheatham onto the table, clearly caring little for safety here. Possibly intended to go through, the midget just hits the table as hard as can be and the momentum causes him to fall off to the side, and thus probably ending his WCW career for good. Ever the compassionate 1, Sid then kicks Cheatham out of the ring like he is a piece of garbage when he could be seriously injured. Finally though, the match is back to Cactus and Sid. Oh, and there's a barbed wire covered board in the ring as well as the bat as mentioned earlier. Sid goes to Cactus, but he fires off a right from 1 knee. Cactus gets up and lands another. He ponders what to do, looking at the board and getting cheers from that. Sid meanwhile is able to grab the bat, unbeknownst to Cactus. Cactus brings Sid over, but before he can do anything, Sid drives the bat up with a hand on each side, low blowing Cactus. Sid grabs his hand as he looks to have suffered a small papercut like gash, accidentally doing that on the barbed wire on the bat. Probably his most serious injury from all these gimmicks. He then grabs Cactus and sets him up with a goozle. Positions him by the board. Sid lifts Cactus up and CHOKESLAM ONTO THE BARBED WIRE! Cactus screams in pain as Sid gauges the situation and how to cover. Cactus eventually realizes that Sid is a pussy that would not risk himself for anything here, biggest clue coming when Sid audibly complains to the referee that he can't cover him on that "shit" and will not even try, so Cactus casually rolls himself off the board into a more Sid friendly area for a cover as he sells the pain. Now Sid covers ...






... 1






... 2






... 3!

Sid Vicious wins! A very out of character match for WCW in this era comes to a close, like Joel Goodhart got a test run as agent or something for this. Barbed wire, baseball bats, tables ... midgets. This match saw it all, and at the end of it, Sid comes out on top. A big win for him and help is out for Cactus (Cheatham perhaps having been easily forgotten about). Sid stands and the commentators sell that he has literally went to hell and back here tonight on Halloween Havoc. Jesse Ventura then gets into it - Sid won here, Big Van Vader won earlier, that puts them in line for the match. He asks fans to imagine it, The Masters of The Power Bomb colliding, and we could see it very soon. Tony Schiavone meanwhile goes back to Hulk Hogan and whether or not he will get what he wants, and Sting apparently having a mystery enemy in the return of The Black Scorpion to deal with. Clash of the Champions is on Thanksgiving night on TBS, Starrcade is on December 29 live on PPV, and Monday Nitro is tomorrow on TNT with 2 big hours. For Eric Bischoff and Missy Hyatt, for Jesse The Body Ventura, Tony Schiavone thanks fans for watching and bids farewell for the night. Credits roll to end the show.

[Grape Ape]

Super, super card.

Digging how you have portrayed Douglas as the eager Horseman in Training, leading to the loss here as he tries just a little too hard to prove that he belongs.

The Armstrong angle is a lot of fun, giving someone on the lower end of things something to do which has been very entertaining. Bringing Toni Adams into his feud with Chris has made it even better. Where does it go from here with Toni now seeing Armstrong for what he is.

Hall gets his revenge on DDP for dumping him and moves on to bigger and better ... in Japan.

A look of things to come from Johnny B. with the (slightly) tainted win as called by Schiavone. Nice way to work the injury in to keep both guys looking good while being able to give one the guy win without burying the other or at the very least, knocking him down a peg. Looking forward to more of this between these two as I don't think we've seen the last of this.

Tag team battle royal ... a typo in who lost the previous tag match. Bagwell and Scorpio are a bit of a surprise with the talent of teams involved and not who I had pegged as the guys to win it but they will make for a good match up against Eaton and Benoit. Should make for a solid series of matches.

The Spin the Wheel exchange had me cracking up. That was funny all around from Bischoff's innuendos towards Missy, a flustered Sid blurting out a no-no and wanting a do-over and of course, Col. Parker's Foghorn Leghorn. Great bit of writing there.

Hogan ... Sting ... Starrcade. He's in WCW and we now know why, well us non-Stooges anyway. Big segment that has taken time to develop really nicely. What happens now to Brother Bruti?

Super Flair versus Windham match. Really got over the fact these two dislike one another in a feud I am guessing is far from over at this point.

Wow! Sting, Vader and a Black Scorpion. Great match before the interference by the Black Scorpion. I'm guessing even money says it was Hogan in the disguise but I am going with Brother Bruti.

Piper picks up a big win over Rude who retains his belt in the non-title tilt but how this all plays into Badd's win tonight and shot at Rude once again is the interesting development out of this. Rude's in a good place as the Champion as he might just see everyone else kill each other to get that shot at his title.

Fun match between Sid and Cactus. Cheatum is Murder-Death-Killed and is quickly forgotten and Cactus rolling himself into a Sid-Friendly pin area was great. Really nice work with this one, setting up a possible match for the Masters of the Powerbomb against one another.

Great work from top to bottom of Halloween Havoc which has to be one of if not your best card to date. Looking forward to all the fall out on TV that is sure to be a great read. While I may not say it often enough, you my friend are a top notch writer and we are very lucky to have you aboard.

[somethingsavage]

Amazing card. Phenomenal action throughout. And just pure fun all around. Excellent effort on your part, man. Felt like a HUGE show & then some.

I haven't been leaving a lot of feedback your way, but I'm keeping up with the shows. So many HIGHLY entertaining angles & programs going on at the moment. Can't say enough positive things to reflect how much I dig your work - and especially your attention to detail in terms of your approach with character development. It's crazy creative at times.

You're willing to craft & mold these guys, layer by layer. It's truckloads of fun to watch, frankly. Ya leave me guessing a lot of times as to what direction you'll take, and that's PRECISELY the type of thing that keeps people tuned in & always reeling back for more.

I dig the major dosage of cheese & camp we got here with this event. It absolutely fit the theme & genre of Halloween Havoc, for sure. Left me entirely satisfied as a 90's fan, but ya also worked in a lot of that keen creativity I was talking about. Ape pretty much nailed A LOT of my thoughts in his response, so I'll try and work around the stuff he already said that I definitely agree with...

I like a lot of the outcomes & results ya gave us here. Only one I could care to criticize would be the call on running with Bagwell & Scorpio, but hey. I see the value in pushing & utilizing them as a pair. It's not something I'm totally resistant to seeing, so I'll give it a chance. It's just that - on the surface, they certainly appear to be a weak link in an otherwise LOADED tag division. Even so, you did just enough right stuff around it (ESPECIALLY the teased tension between the Blondes) to make it enjoyable enough in the meantime.

You've put Hogan on the map here in a big, BIG way lately. Kudos. Nice touch in the method you've used to intro him in these parts. It's just enough fantasy to feel fresh & original, but it's not so much fantasy that it feels forced or contrived whatsoever. Fine line, but you've found that balance. Hulkster's segment here was a surefire win & then some for me. Big thumbs up to that.

Paha! Pretty sure the Sid flub was priceless. G'yeah. Pretty sure it was.

Heck, everything ya seem to do with Sid is classic. Your fingerprints are certainly all over his act here. Same goes for a lot of the other characters I'm seriously into at the moment.

To sum it up? The best compliment I can probably send your way is that you've somehow kept me INCREDIBLY intrigued & invested in characters like Brutus, Mero, a Windham that was wandering all over the place at this point in real life, an out-of-his-element Douglas that was clawing to find his niche, and now even the Black freaking Scorpion of all gimmicks. That's nuts.

Plus there's the always enjoyable acts you've got at play elsewhere. Personalities like Piper, Rude, Flair, Hogan, and others just LEAP off the screen at ya. The dialogue is top-notch. The action is descriptive and absolutely saturated with fine details.

Gotta love Dubbya-See-Dubbya, man. It's simply some of the BEST material I've read on any board, at any time. Congrats on your tenure here. And by all means, keep this coming.

[Deleted]

It may be a broken record at this point, but this PPV truly delivered from bell to bell. Starting with the real life cheese with the Tony Schiavone Ghoul video was a great choice. Hell the way you handled your annouce team by opening up with Bischoff and Missy and taking us to Tony & Jessie was a great touch. A small but effective little segment that got over the "Spin the Wheel Make the Deal" and really added to the "true to life" presentation your WCW often offers.

The story in the opener was great, with Douglas costing his team the match and perhaps costing himself a spot in the Horsemen. Curious as to where you go with Shane from here, and just where it is your headed with the "return of the Horsemen" angle you've been ALLUDING to. Eaton & Benoit are such a terrific team that never really got a chance to shine in real life, so I'm marking pretty hard each and every time they retain, and Scotty as the mouth piece is loads of freaking fun man.

Brad over Adams was a great call, solid mid card program that'll really help elevate Armstrong and his new heel persona going forward. Was also happy to see Studd going over Page (setting up the next night nicely) as I feel like this was something that had to happen after all the bouts Page cost Studd these past few months. Fitting stuff really.

Hmmph, heel Johnny B. Badd on the horizon? I'm on board. Badd's heel work as Mero was fun enough, he just couldn't go in the ring any more. BUT here, it's pre-injury so it could be a lot of fun when all is said and done.

Scorpio/Bagwell was the right call in the tag team battle royal. Perfect foils for your current champs, and you've furthered the Blondes self destruction angle quite nicely.

The wheel segment was freaking hilarious! Gold stuff with Sid flubbing his lines, cussing it up and asking for a do over. Home run right there, and a great choice with Cactus' choice being barbed wire.

Speaking of hilarious. MAN oh MAN, the Hogan/JJ segment was JUST as funny if not funnier than the Sid/Cactus segment. From your commentary on the crowd reaction, to well, JJ just being a damned fool.

J.J. Dillon: Wait a minute. You gotta tell me what you want here. I'm not a mind reader.

Did a spit take right then and there man! Haha.

Feel for Ron Simmons man, his fall from grace is pretty rough. But hey it helps get Ice Train over so...

Flair/Windham was awesome, a bull shit ending done RIGHT as you can feel the emotion when Flair sacrificed a potential win just to hurt Barry, and it cost him as in the end Windham was standing tall. Great to see this feud continuing as it's got legs for sure.

Sting and Vader lived up to the hype, despite the wonky finish with the Black Scorpion (LEGIT didn't see that one coming) returning and costing Sting the win. I really assumed Sting was taking the title here and heading into Starrcade Vs. Hogan as champ, but you swerved us real good with Scorpion returning and Vader leaving as champion. Curious if it's Brutus, or hell could be Flair behind the mask yet again. WHO KNOWS. A layer of intrigue was surely added to Sting's impending showdown with Hogan right here and now man!

A loaded show for sure, was surprise to see Piper/Rude go on after Sting/Vader but given that Sting didn't win the gold it made sense. And we had a feel good moment right Piper beating Rude non-title to surely set up a rematch where Rude's fake world title is on the line. As we approach the Ravishing One's final days as an active worker, it's great to see him and his "Fake world champion" storyline shining.

AND THE MAIN EVENT.. Sid.. Cactus... all these months FINALLY settle things... and it's barbed wire COMEDY... meh... nah.. JUST KIDDING the midget stuff was GREAT! Was surprised to see Sid coming out the winner, but Foley really got himself over in defeat and we had a touch of realism with Sid being afraid to cover on the barbed wire. Curious as to where you're headed with the big man, hell same can be said with Cactus too. Hogan is such a curve ball as Hulkster's basically waking in and taking SOMEONE's main event spot on the card no matter what. Sid HAS to be headed for a showdown with Vader, but there's no way that headlines over Sting/Hogan. The road to Starrcade has begun man, and I ALREADY can't wait.

A simple amazing read!