Before, we begin I am proud to announce that I will be joining the Place To Be family to write wrestling columns at placetobenation.com. The column will focus on analyze past feuds and providing insight on what worked and how they are entertaining. More information as it come available. Follow me on twitter @superstarsleeze to stay abreast of all updates.
Dustin Rhodes has been the talk of the wrestling world since reprising his role as Goldust in the WWE this past year aiding his half-brother, Cody Rhodes get his job back and winning and currently holding the Tag Team Championship with Cody. All the talk is just how good Dustin has been inside in the ring. We are not talking relatively good for his age. We are talking one of the best workers on the planet good since he has returned.
Dustin Rhodes has been the talk of the wrestling world since reprising his role as Goldust in the WWE this past year aiding his half-brother, Cody Rhodes get his job back and winning and currently holding the Tag Team Championship with Cody. All the talk is just how good Dustin has been inside in the ring. We are not talking relatively good for his age. We are talking one of the best workers on the planet good since he has returned.
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| They call him The Natural |
Dustin is someone who I had initially slept on because the bad rap he gets for being Dusty's son. There is a lot of negativity surrounding his initial run with WCW because his daddy was the booker. People cry nepotism in the same vein as Erik Watts too much, too soon. However, nothing could be further from the truth once you watch the footage for yourself. For his major championship, Dustin won the tag team titles with Ricky Steamboat against Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko in a match that many would consider a contender for the greatest match in WCW history. He followed that with great performances in the Dangerous Alliance feud: kickass match with Arn Anderson on Saturday Night, the Superbrawl Tag, the Wargames '92, which is another contender for greatest WCW match of all time. He finished out WCW in one of the best short-lived tag teams with Barry Windham with great matches against the Miracle Violence Connection and Steamboat & Shane Douglas, along with having great TV matches with Vader and Cactus Jack. He did not win his first single championship until early 1993 (having spent 2 years in WCW) in a tournament to crown the new US Heavyweight Champion after long-time champion Rick Rude was stripped due to injuries. Dustin earned that title by being one of the best workers in North America in 1992 both in tag and singles settings. Dustin's co-star in this blog was no slouch in 1992.
"Ravishing" Rick Rude is a part of the handful workers that was better handled by WCW than the WWF. After a disappointing main event level feud with the Ultimate Warrior in the Summer of 1990 (I would argue he was a victim of circumstances), he surprisingly joined WCW at Halloween Havoc 1991 kicking off one of WCW's most celebrated story arcs: The Dangerous Alliance. As the head of the Dangerous Alliance, he feuded mainly with Ricky Steamboat in one of the best feuds in WCW history which culminated in a tremendous 30 minute Iron Man match at Beach Blast 1992 for the US Title. His greatness was not contained to WCW, he had one of his best matches and one of the best matches of 1992 against Masa Chono at G-1 Climax 1992, which was also for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Unfortunately at the end of the year he suffered a legitimate injury and was forced to relinquish the US Title he had won back in November of 1991 (incidentally the same show that Dustin won his tag title). He was never the same after this injury (back injury, I will believe) and would retire in the spring of 1994.
"Ravishing" Rick Rude is a part of the handful workers that was better handled by WCW than the WWF. After a disappointing main event level feud with the Ultimate Warrior in the Summer of 1990 (I would argue he was a victim of circumstances), he surprisingly joined WCW at Halloween Havoc 1991 kicking off one of WCW's most celebrated story arcs: The Dangerous Alliance. As the head of the Dangerous Alliance, he feuded mainly with Ricky Steamboat in one of the best feuds in WCW history which culminated in a tremendous 30 minute Iron Man match at Beach Blast 1992 for the US Title. His greatness was not contained to WCW, he had one of his best matches and one of the best matches of 1992 against Masa Chono at G-1 Climax 1992, which was also for the vacant NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Unfortunately at the end of the year he suffered a legitimate injury and was forced to relinquish the US Title he had won back in November of 1991 (incidentally the same show that Dustin won his tag title). He was never the same after this injury (back injury, I will believe) and would retire in the spring of 1994.
Since I realized how great Dustin was in 1992 and how great he was in 1994, I thought I would explore 1993 and in particular his feud with Rick Rude over the US Championship. This is NOT the feud to show people how Dustin is a superworker. I do think the criticism of the feud really stems from one very boring match at Beach Blast 1993 and if people watched the TV matches that may think more of it. However, WCW did not give that feud much spice. In May, they finally had the big showdown between the current US Champion and the one who never lost it. It is an easy and great storyline, WWF did a great job with Razor/Shawn for their first ladder match in a similar timeframe. The match ends with a controversial finish and the title is vacant. The new champion is not crowned until September. In the meantime, there are no storyline twists, it is just random tag matches that take up the space between the matches. By the finish of the feud, Rick Rude has already begun to move onto the WCW International Champion Ric Flair thus further undermining the feud.
Leaving the boring, tepid booking aside, the matches do leave a lot to be desired given how amazing Rude and Dustin were in 1992. Rick Rude was probably the best North American wrestler in 1992 and Dustin was not far behind. However, injuries crippled Rude and made him a shell of his former self. It was quite precipitous decline for the Ravishing One. The Natural did not far much better in this feud seeming lethargic and disinterested at times. They both knew how to have a great match because the layouts were there in each match. Even the panned Beach Blast Iron Man match has a great lay out, but the execution, heat, struggle and urgency were all lacking. That's what takes a great layout and makes a bitchin' match. It is clear to me that they both had it in them because in their very fun 10 minute second Saturday Night clash Rude's selling of the knee stole the show while Dustin was bringing that fire. In the tag match, Flair/Dustin vs Rude/Sid, Dustin puts one of the better dramatic face in peril segments for 16 minutes of 17 minute match. How many people can be asked to sell for that long and still make it interesting. Watching these sequences of greatness only makes it more disappointing that they never out together a true classic.
Recommended Matches (There are no choice cuts per se)
Dustin Rhodes , Sting & Davey Boy Smith vs Rick Rude, Vader & Sid Vicious - Clash XXIII
A really fun WCW six man that highlights how stacked WCW at this time.
Dustin Rhodes vs Rick Rude
WCW Saturday Night 08/28/93 Best of 3 Series VACANT US Champion
This was their best long match and should have been the match at Beach Blast
Dustin Rhodes vs Rick Rude
WCW Saturday Night 09/4/93 Best of 3 Series VACANT US Champion
This was their best match as Rick Rude steals the show with his knee selling.
Dustin Rhodes & Ric Flair vs. Rick Rude & Sid Vicious - WCW Saturday Night 09/18/93
Dustin just rocks it as a face in peril. It is really an incomplete match, but holy shit what a face in peril segment.
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| If I could have all you Boston Beanpoles shut up and pay attention to what a real sexy man looks like. Hit the music! |
WCW United States Champion Dustin Rhodes vs Rick Rude - Worldwide 05/15/93
From my understanding, Rude has been back for about 2 months claiming to still be the real US Champion since Dustin never beat him for the title. This is always a good angle to build to a hot match, but unfortunately it seemed like injuries prevented a good match. I loved that Rude had Capetta say his insults for him. Having dweeby Capetta call the crowd a bunch of "Montgomery Meatheads" was rich. The match begins with some dueling back psychology with Rude standing out in his selling as everytime he took a back bump into the turnbuckles he sold it like he was shot. Dustin bites out of a bearhug, which raises Jesse's dander. Neither one can pick the other up in a nice touch. I love Rude's top rope knee drop that should be a finisher for someone. They do a tombstone reversal spot to get a 2 for Dustin. I noticed too that Rude was starting to take bumps weird like the press slam off the top and back body drop. He was basically taking a header on both. Couldnt tell whose fault that was. The ref gets caught up in a Irish Whip and both get visual falls on the other. Before they do the double pin where both get their shoulders up, but the acting ref only sees Rude's shoulder up. I will say this match did display both men as equals to set up the rematch at a PPV for the vacant United States Championship. The match itself could have been a lot better, but it acted as a good set up for future matches. Hopefully, they will deliver in those matches.
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Dustin Rhodes & Kensuke Sasaki vs. Rick Rude & WCW World TV Champion Mr. Wonderful - Slamboree '93
Rhodes and Sasaki sure are weird team. Larry Z doubts their ability to communicate because of Sasaki's limited English. Heenan or Ventura would have pounced and said well I dont know how much English Dustin knows either. C'mon Larry Legend got to step up your game. Rude mocks Sasaki's stature and style. Sasaki wins a shoving contest and gets a big pop after Rude's sell into the turnbuckles. The babyface shine consists of arm wrenching on Rude and Orndorff. Rude and Rhodes finally square off and it is on like Donkey Kong! In the heat of the moment, Rhodes goes tumbling over the top to trigger the heat segment. Orndorff rams Rhodes head into railing as Tony reminds us that it is Dustin that brought back the "Paula" chants earlier in the year. The heat segment is good, but not great a bit by the numbers. They do the tombstone reversal spot to give Dustin a two. Sasaki is a pretty good hot tag as expected with his lariats, but is totally lost during the finish. The finish is a bit clunky as no one seems to be where they are supposed to be. Sasaki eventually gets pushed off the top. In a very funny visual, Sasaki is too short to take the Rude Awakening properly, but Rude eventually gets it off to win the match.
It was a perfectly fine tag team match, but I don't feel like it moved any issues forward or delivered a spectacular match so it feels like it did not accomplish much. It seems they wanted to get Rude/Rhodes to the next PPV and figured to just throw them into a midcard PPV tag match. Nothing you have to see, but not actively bad either.
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Dustin Rhodes , Sting & Davey Boy Smith vs Rick Rude, Vader & Sid Vicious - Clash XXIII
Dustin doing an impression of his father was not half bad. I would want him to find his own voice, but that was better than I expected. For all the business troubles WCW was having in 1993, you cant blame it on lack of talent. They have a far deeper talent pool than the WWE has right now in 2013. There top 12 at the time were these six plus Flair, Anderson, Steamboat, Austin, Pillman and Barry Windham. That's a murder's row.
As far as fun, popcorn WCW six-man tags go this was pretty good. Sting press slams Rude onto Vader & Sid early. Then Vader mistakenly splashes Rude. It is all good guys as Sid gets crotched by the middle rope. Dustin was on fire in this match and the best worker of the face team. He was really taking it to Vader early who was bumping all over for him. Vader comes away looking like a million bucks in this match. His run in 1993 is an all-time run in terms of quality work every time out. Dustin misses an elbow and eats a stiff clothesline. Dustin kicks out of a Vaderbomb, which was strange. Rude gets his licks in, but gets a gourdbuster for his troubles. However, Sid gets the tag, which was a great hope spot. Sid even works in his kip out of a headscissors. Vader goes for his corner punches, but takes his bodyslam from the middle rope, but still he is cut off. Rhodes/Rude work their tombstone reversal spot and finally Dustin tags out, but the ref does not see it! Melee ensues. Sting eats the railing on a Stinger Splash attempt that looked nasty. Vader clocks Dustin with Haliburton (holding the US Title) and Rude pins for the win.
What a great performance from Dustin and Vader who just ran show in this match. There was no Davey Boy, which seemed odd, but hey more Dustin the better. I wish they ran Dustin/Vader on top in this part of '93 as opposed to Vader/Davey. This felt like it had a little more angle advancement as you want to see Dustin get his comeuppance against Rude and reclaim the US Title. The action was great and never really let up. ***1/4
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Dustin Rhodes vs Dick Slater - WCW Saturday Night 7/17/93
Dick Slater is a big blind spot for me. I really don't know much about his career arc. I just know him as the guy sells like Terry Funk. That being said, this was pretty good, but mostly Dustin carried things in this one. Slater is also rocking a ponytail that seems more appropriate for a 12 year old girl with short hair. O and the commentary for this is in German. The only English I can make out is "Tricky Dicky" or "Quicky Dicky", which got a chuckle from me. At first, they seem to be wrestling a respectful match, but things start to get heated as each gets a nearfall on the other. Dustin is a clubbering outside and it looks great. Dustin misses a dropkick and Slater immediately jumps on the leg. Dustin sells like a million bucks and really makes the match into something worthwhile. Slater goes for the figure-4 and it is immediately reversed. This affords Dustin the opportunity to attack Slater's leg and get his receipt. Slater tries a small package, but Dustin shifts his weight to win the match. It is a good TV match which allows to showcase Dustin's chops as a sympathetic face. **3/4
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| A little lower, a little lower, just right. Purrrrrfect. |
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Dustin Rhodes vs Rick Rude -
Beach Blast 1993 Vacant US Title 30 Minute Iron Man Match
In 1993, it is a sad truth, but Rick Rude had no business going 30 minutes anymore. It is an incredibly precipitous decline given how bitchin' his 1992 Beach Blast 30 minute Iron Man with Steamboat was. Rude was never going to make anyone's greatest offensive wrestlers list. He always his money stooging and bumping for babyfaces. However, his offense at this point has deteriorated to the point where I having issues suspending my disbelief. Dustin tried his damndest, but it basically looked like he was getting knocked over by a feather at some points. Then you add on top of this they forced to go 30 minutes and you have a recipe for disaster. It is actually a testament to both how good this ended up being. Yes, it is a mediocre match that you do not have tog o out of your way to see, but it should have sucked out loud. They cut a snail's pace, but they were very logical in how they built the match and used a lot of shtick to salvage what would otherwise tedious and boring stretches. They came off as two men who really hated each other with all the jawing, heated early tie-up (love that as a start to a match) taunting and spitting on each other, but unfortunately the action did not always follow suit. Rude took a big back body drop early and was just selling that back so well. We hit the reverse chinlock early on Rude, but Dustin provides a smattering of entertainment with pelvic gyrations mocking Rude. Dustin had kept jumping and landing with all his weight on Rude's back, but he went once to the well too often and ate some knees. The follow-up clothesline Rude hit is what I mean by business-exposing bad offense. You gotta love Rude selling the abs on the hip swivel.
( ASIDE: As a marathon dancer at the clubs of Boston Metro, that one is a particular favorite of mine after about an hour at the club. You go for the hip swivel, sell the back, go for the hip swivel make a half-rotation, sell the back, then you do a full rotation to a big pop. Ok, so one drunk guy popped for it, but I am working on trying to get on a bigger stage.)
Rude applies the bearhug and when Dustin tries to pry himself free, he eats a belly-to-belly. Dustin changes his strategy from the back to the leg, which sucks on two fronts. Rude is one of my favorite back sellers and his knee selling is just ok. Secondly, Dustin is not every good at working the knee in this match. His pathetic excuse for an Indian Deathlock is wrapping the legs up and bearhugging it. Rude says fuck this and hits his Rude Awakenin to go up 1-0.
The best part of this match is Dustin staggering all over the place whether after this Rude Awakening or after an eye rake later. In a rare show of wrestler patience, Rude waits for him to stagger near him and hits him with the weakest clothesline possible. At this point the heat segment starts to drag because Rude just has nothing to do. They do the tombstone reversal (always a great spot) and Dustin gets a 2. Dustin looks to be mountinga comeback, but he is a bit overszealous and he jumps over the top rope careening to the floor. See all the good spots are there and there are spurts of action, but so much deadtime. Rude gets in his two best offensive moves with a pair of snap suplexes. He goes to the well once too often and Dustin hits a suplex, which Tony sells as a great nearfall. Again, you think he is about to mount his comeback, but Rude pulls his tights so that Dustin takes a header into the top turnbuckle. I love that in this 30 minute match that you see both wrestlers going to the well once too often. They know they have to go 30 minutes no matter what so they keep trying to repeat moves that work to extend themselves to the 30 minutes, but this allows the other wrestler to anticipate the moves.
Rude grabs a sleeper and Dustin almost passes out and his hand grazes the mat for a 3rd time, but ref does not call it. "THATS BULL!" - Jesse. Rude hits Dustin with a snot rocket and Dustin retaliates later on with some spit. Rude eye rakes Dustin, who staggers and falls over the top rope. Dustin sells cant seeing as well as Marty Jannetty at Wrestlemania VI (yeah I am single and watch too much wrestling, what of it. smile.gif ). Rude toys with him, but when he ducks Dustin goes behind and hits the bulldog. It is all knotted up. The race against the clock is on as there is under 5 minutes left. Dustin is clicking on all cylinders: flying elbow, piledriver, lariats. He even avoids Rude off the top and hits a DDT, but tit is too little too late for him to capture the vacant US Title. So after, 27 minutes of sluggish action and 3 minutes of fire, we are left with no US Champion. Hopefully the best of 3 match series will be shorter matches and more entertaining.
This match has rep as a total borefest and I don't think I would be quite that harsh. Actually, reading this review back it feels almost too positive that really focuses on the action and positives of the match. What can I say I just have a disposition of relentless optimism. There is a lot of downtime in the match and Rude just does not have enough at this point to carry heat segments. **3/4
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Dustin Rhodes & Hawk vs Rick Rude & Equalizer - Clash of the Champions XXIV
You have to watch the bad to appreciate the good. I wish Equalizer's name was The Great Equalizer. I had never seen the Equalizer/Evad Sullivan before he kinda looks like a fat Michael Hayes or a Moondog. The spot that best exemplifies the match is when Hawk goes a reverse neckbreaker on Equalizer and Equalizer loses his balance and just falls. I have not had such a good laugh in awhile. The babyface team was perfectly fine and energetic. It was cool to see Dustin hit the Doomsday Device, but it was oddly used as a transition move. Rude was great at stooging, but it was all over, but the crying for him. The heat segment was pathetic with a clueless Equalizer and a decrepit Rude. Was Equalizer's gimmick was he was an absolute moron? Hawk just ignores the ref and fucks the heel team press slamming Rude onto Equalizer. Hawk shoulderblocks Dustin on top of Equalizer for the win. Why wasnt the Doomsday Device the finish? Bad, bad match.
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| I swear the 09/04 match is action-packed. :) |
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Dustin Rhodes vs Rick Rude
WCW Saturday Night 08/28/93 Best of 3 Series VACANT US Champion
After the draw at Beach Blast and another month in between, WCW declared the Vacant US Championship would be decided in a Best of 3 matches series. The title has been vacant since May. This is getting a little ridiculous to say the least. Plus it seems according to commentary and Rude's post-match promo that Rude is ready to move onto Flair and that Rhodes will be joining in Wargames against Vader. Of course, given all this heat dissipation, they go and have their best match yet in spite of it being 24 minutes. I would not call it a lost classic, but it is a very solid match and the most enjoyable thus far.
The beginning is the same as all their matches there is some jawing and a heated tie-up. At this point, I am just praying they do not outright re-hash the Beach Blast match. Rude grabs a headlock and talks some trash "Your father ain't nuthin. Your mama ain't nuthin", that's one underutilized way to make a headlock entertaining. I started digging the match during Dustin's arm work. I thought Rude's selling and Dustin keeping things moving was some of the best work from them yet. Rude powders selling his arm and gets back in and tries to goad him into a test of strength. Jesse puts over Rude hard here saying even though Rude is the one who is hurt, he is dictating the pace. Dustin ain't buying it and kicks him in the arm. WHAT?!?! The fans are chanting it "Break It" when Dustin has him in the armbar. That's awesome! I'll never forget the 4 year old that once yelled at Big Show to eat Jack Swagger's leg.
Rude gets a right hand to get out of it. He slams Dustin's head into the mat breaking only to sell his arm and talk trash. Rude is the man, baby! Rude tries to hip swivel, but cant and we go to commercial. Apparently, during the commercial Dustin broke the Rude Awakening due to Rude's weaken arm and hit his own. However, he did a little bump 'n' grind before the pin, which Jesse mocks the "Stupid Texican" relentlessly. "You know Tony, thats what happened at the Alamo. Crockett was too busy swiveling his hips instead of firing his canon." Jesse was on top of his game that night for sure. Rude starts to work the back in earnest and this where the match starts to drag with Rude hitting his camel clutch and bearhug. There is one really good hope spot: Dustin's electric chair drop, but he ends up sailing over the top rope to the floor when Rude ducks, which is such a great bump. Rude does the most entertaining ab stretch ever as he gives Dustin a wicked wedgie when the ref is not working. I got a good laugh out of that. Rude goes back to the camel clutch and when he jumps to land on Dustin's back instead the Rude jewels crash against Dustin's need. I can still picture Rude's double over sell now. He probably has the best double over sell ever. Arguments against?
Dustin hits some bionic elbows and string together an inverted atomic drop (Have Mercy!) and bulldog, but Rude's foot finds the bottom rope. Rude grabs a desperation sleeper so Dustin backs him into the corner. Then Rude jumps over Dustin so that Dustin can grab a sleeper? (That was weird) Rude pushes off the turnbuckles to land on top to pick up the victory. It is a less well-executed version of the Hart/Austin Survivor Series '96 finish.
Finish execution problems aside, this was an enjoyable match and really surprising given that it goes 24 mins (22 mins aired). I did not think they had it them to pull this match out given their previous performances. Who am I to doubt Dustin Rhodes and Rick Rude? When Rude stays away from offense, he is still really friggin' good and even during the heat segment he used more of his tricks to keep it entertaining. I am still waiting for Dustin to open a can of whoop ass, but this was his best performance by far. Whereas Rude had always been doing stuff he does well well, Dustin seemed to be lacking energy and interest in this feud. He woke up for this match. Lets hope thats the case for the last three matches of the feud. ***1/4
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Dustin Rhodes vs Rick Rude
WCW Saturday Night 09/4/93 Best of 3 Series VACANT US Champion
I am sorry, Mr. Rude, for doubting your offensive ability. For one night, Rick Rude looked like the Rick Rude of 1992 and just kicked all sorts of ass. Dustin was there every step of the way. They start off more tentative in this match. Dustin has everything to lose in this one. "Is he playing to win or not to lose?" asks Jesse. Rude takes the offense early as he is up 1-0 with a headlock, but Dustin gets a kneecrusher and just fucks up that knee. He wrenches and tortures it. Rude is giving Savage and Kawada a run for their money in the knee selling game. Rude forces separation by axe kicking Dustin in the head. He then hits a DDT, a backbreaker and a gourbuster all while selling his knee like it has been shot. On the second gordbuster, his knee gives way, but he still crawls to the camera to give the viewing public a kiss to say it is over. Rude limps back and Dustin punches his knee. Rude stymies Dustin with an eye-rake, but Rude goes to well once to often and Dustin hits a gordbuster. Dustin eats knees on his splash attempt. During a criss cross, Dustin grabs a backslide for a flash victory. This match was well on its way to "Lost Classic" status before the abrupt finish. The finish makes sense because you don't want the decisive one until the big finale next week, but it does not give this match that extra boost. Rick Rude wrestled for two in this one as he was clicking on all cylinders and made this match one worth watching. Dustin is very capable, but this is the Rude show. There ain't no shame in that, kid. ***1/2
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Dustin Rhodes vs Rick Rude
WCW Saturday Night 09/11/93 Best of 3 Series VACANT US Champion
Back to our regularly scheduled boring programming. Flair is out to do guest commentary, but it is babyface Flair so it is a bit more serious. Dustin extends Rude his hand, I guess he respects him after this last week's badass performance. Rude comes outta the gates early with a bearhug. Dustin with bionic elbows and slaps on a camel clutch like chinlock. Dustin goes to jump on Rude's back, but his balls get busted. Rude follows this up with an atomic drop, which is just awesome and Dustin falls to the outside. We go to commercial and during the commercial Rude got a nearfall off a DDT. Rude works the chinlock...a lot. Dustin gets a back drop, but eats knees again on the splash, nice callback. After some more chinlocking, we get a nice little slugfest and Dustin starts to fire up and grabs a backslide, another nice callback. Dustin gets an O'Connor Roll. He is feeling it and goes for the bulldog, but Rude throws him into the ref. Rude is headed for the chair, but the Dirtiest Player in the Game aint having none of that. Rhodes wins off a rollup via distraction from Flair. Ugh, what a shitty finish. That was very disappointing that after 4 months of feuding and the two previous matches that grand finale ends up being the backdrop for the Flair/Rude feud. It was a pretty blase match outside Dustin's great bump off the atomic drop. **
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Dustin Rhodes & Ric Flair vs. Rick Rude & Sid Vicious - WCW Saturday Night 09/18/93
Ric Flair better have bought Dustin a drink after that performance. It is often said that Flair takes up too much of his tag match as he is afraid to rely on someone else to get over his match. Flair trusted Dustin to get this match over as Dustin wrestled 99% of this match as a face in peril and did an exceptional job. At the beginning of the show, Dustin attempted to save his Wargames partner, Sting from a Harlem Heat beatdown, but ended up having his back injured in the process.
Sid attacked Dustin early and the heels never let up. Flair hemmed and hawed on the apron. He tried to get a chair to save Dustin and he tried to mess with Rude's mind by thrusting his hips at him, but nothing could save Dustin from this torture, but Dustin. After an extended Rude chinlock and plenty of hip swiveling, Dustin claws at Sid's eyes and hits a cross body on Side, but he gets flung to the outside on the kickout. Tony puts this over huge. Rude slams Dustin's back into apron while Flair inadvertently detains the ref. Back from the commercial, Sid misses a leg drop, but has the presence of mind to cut off Dustin and tags Rude. Ruge bearhugs Dustin and what is making all this is Dustin's great selling. He seems more into this then any of the previous matches as he really is the star of this match. He hits some bionic elbows, but takes the belly to belly for 2. Sid drops Dustin gut first across the railing. I am thinking the roof is going to blow off this place when Flair gets the tag. Flair gives Dustin a pep talk and sends him back into ring. He must really want Rude. Dustin reverses the tombstone and I really thought this was going to be it, but Sid cuts him off. Now, I am excited for the hot tag! Dustin hits out of a nerve hold and hits a lariat, but just collapses. Sid blocks him again and Rude is in and just taunting Flair by taking his time with Dustin. Dustin tries to go through the legs and eventually fights to make it, but ref misses. Tony does a great call of this as he was so excited to see Flair, but when the ref sends him back he is very disappointed. Dustin hits the bulldog on Sid! TAG TO FLAIR! He atomic drops Rude so hard he forgot to stick his knee out. He is hitting everything that moves. Flair gets the sleeper and here comes Harlem Heat. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! They throw it out. Sting is in to save and here comes the Shockmaster as he trips over the guardrail and the bottom rope. Sometimes you just have to embrace it.
We get a kickass front half of a match. The drama of that FIP should have belonged in a lost classic, but then it just ended. Dustin put in his best performance of '93 summer here. Rude is such a dick and Sid does what he does best look big. You have Flair cheerleading and being a mad man on the apron. It is Dustin that makes it all special. The way he times his hope spots and how he sells the desperation. The hook of the match is to get the hot tag, but then it just ends. Very disappointing finish to a great Dustin performance. ***
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| Whatta man! Whatta man! Whatta mighty good man! -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
While this feud is not a shining moment for either Dustin or Rude, it did show that both men were capable of high-end performances even if they were not able to bring it all together for a classic. Next time, we will definitely be looking at the meteoric rise of Jun Akiyama from 2000-2002 and also will be working on a Brian Pillman in early 1991 retrospective.
Keep it sleezy. |
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