World Championship Wrestling in 1991 was not a good place to be a wrestler. The inane booking was enough to kill even most over wrestler dead. With a couple key acquisitions (Rick Rude and Ricky Steamboat), leveraging some hot, young talent (Steve Austin, Dustin Rhodes) and yet another regime change (K. Allen Frye), WCW was able to salvage a company that looked like it was on its death bed after Ric Flair departed due to a contract/creative dispute with then head of WCW, Jim Herd. In what may have been the first crowd hijackings (topical given recent crowds penchant to chant for Daniel Bryan and CM Punk when they are not even in a segment/match), the Baltimore crowd revolted at Great American Bash 1991 demanding Ric Flair with chants of "We Want Flair". The point of all this is to demonstrate the dismal shape WCW was in at this time. Unfortunately for Brian Pillman, this is the year he peaked in terms of booking, which basically killed off any chance he ever had of being a top babyface.
Even though, Brian Pillman is known for his heel work in Hollywood Blondes (1993) and the Loose Canon (1995-97), I would argue that the highest point of his star power was in 1991 WCW when there actually looked there was a chance he could be a main event babyface against the Four Horsemen. He was brought into WCW (for simplicity's sake I am just calling it WCW) in 1989 and debuted with much fanfare against the red-hot US Champion Lex Luger in a pair of excellent matches and followed that up with one of the highest rated TV performances for WCW until the Monday Night War with an excellent match against Ric Flair in Feburary of 1990. In an astute move, they paired him with Zenk as a fun, pretty boy tag team against the likes of Midnight Express and Fabulous Freebirds allowing Pillman to establish himself and not receive too much, too fast.
By late 1990, with a booking regime change from Ole Anderson to Dusty Rhodes imminent, Pillman looked to be positioned as a major opponent for Ric Flair & the Four Horsemen. It was even announced that he would be facing Flair as the January 1991 Clash of the Champions, but he was eventually by Scott Steiner (a disappointing bout). He would eventually have an incredible match with Flair in April of 1991, but since these great Flair matches were on TV instead of Clashes or PPVs they are often forgotten. It is a shame that Flair and Pillman never got a big stage for their matches. Even though, he was snubbed for the Clash, Pillman was named for Sting's team to take on the Horsemen in Wargames. Before the match, the Horsemen jumped Pillman and injured his shoulder in an effort to take the "weakest" (Pillman is a lot smaller physically than Sting and Steiners). As Jim Ross always tells us, you can't measure the size of a man's heart and Pillman gave one of the most inspired performances of his career at Wargames. He was a red-hot, rabid dog in that cage destroying Barry Windham gnawing on his forehead smiling with glee as Windham's blood painted his mouth a crimson red. By the end of match, it was proven Pillman had bitten off more than he could chew and the injured Pillman succumbed to two nasty powerbombs from the gigantic Sid Vicious. The first powerbomb is infamous because Sid lifted Pillman up too fast and his head bounced off the cage ceiling and thus he could not protect himself on the way down making for a gnarly visual. Pillman never actually quit, but it was his friend, El Gigante that threw in the towel for this courageous wrestler.
Pillman was of course ripshit about all this and focused his attention on Barry Windham throughout the spring of 1991. In a series of good TV matches, Pillman was portrayed as a scrappy competitor outmatched due to the injury and size of Windham, but with a never say die attitude just kept coming at Windham and never letting up. In addition, Pillman wrestled World Champion Ric Flair and World TV Champion Arn Anderson (a match I couldnt find) in April in order to exact revenge from the Horsemen. The booking certainly seemed to indicate that Pillman was on the rise to being a main event babyface of the level of Sting & Luger and if you watch the performances you know he deserved it. At Superbrawl I, he had a violent taped fist match with Barry Windham and with a little more time could have gone down as an all-time classic. At the following Clash, WCW made the curious decision to have Pillman lose a Loser Leaves Town match against Anderson & Windham, but come back as the masked Yellow Dog.
I have found from my readings online that this angle is usually treated as wrestlecrap, but I would argue quite to contrary that this angle was the hottest angle WCW had in 1991 could have actually been used to cement Pillman as a main event player. Yellow Dog was introduced as Brian Pillman's number one fan who wanted to carry the torch for his favorite wrestler thus explaining why the "two wrestlers" had the same moveset. The reasons he was dubbed Yellow Dog was a play off a Florida angle where Windham lost a loser leaves town match and Windham returned as Yellow Dog. I believe both angle were booked by Dusty Rhodes. Everyone in WCW knew that the Yellow Dog was Pillman and it infuriated the Horsemen that Pillman was back even though he had lost. So they put a bounty on Yellow Dog's mask and voila you now had an interesting backstory to every Yellow Dog match and it gave something for midcard heels to do. It led to some pretty good matches against the Horsemen, Diamond Studd and Steve Austin. Unfortunately, external forces fucked up this angle, as Barry Windham was hastily turned babyface since Luger was being shifted into the number one heel role due to Flair's sudden departure. Secondly, WCW decided they were going to create a Light Heavyweight Division and wanted Pillman to be the star of the division so instead of letting the angle play out they just reinstated him and relegated him to a DOA division. The climax of the angle should have been a hair vs mask reinstatement match between Yellow Dog and Barry Windham with Pillman going over. Then on the next episode of Saturday Night, Pillman thanks the Yellow Dog for all the help while the Horsemen just seethe with rage. This shit writes itself, but it is WCW they could fuck up just about anything.
This has been one of my personal favorite blogs to do so far because outside of the Wargames match I had seen none of it and it is all really good, fun wrestling. Pillman was on such a hot streak there was no denying his babyface charisma and fire at this point. In the dark 1991, he was a beacon of light in his matches against the Horsemen and as the Yellow Dog. He was so adept at changing between high flying and firing up with his vicious chops. So many people including the announcers get stuck on the "Flyin'" moniker, but Pillman was even better on the ground going toe to toe, chop for chop with Flair. When Pillman wrestled it feels like a violent war given his level of intensity and passion. In this period between November of 1990 through July of 1991 I don't know if there was a better babyface on the planet given how well Pillman was wrestling. If you want to see what I mean just watch the first five minutes of Wargames '91. He is an avenging babyface that is out for blood and it is that violence that makes people believe and invest in your character. Brian Pillman combined fire, violence, and urgency to create a run that while unheralded is one of the best I have ever seen.
Choice cuts from Brian Pillman's 1991 run:
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Brian Pillman -
WCW Saturday Night 4/91
Brian Pillman vs Barry Windham - WCW SuperBrawl I Taped Fist Match
Brian Pillman vs Rip Rogers - NWA World Championship Wrestling 11/10/90
Some personal favorites:
Brian Pillman vs Barry Windham - WCW Pro 4/6/91
Brian Pillman vs Rip Rogers - NWA World Championship Wrestling 11/10/90 |
| Three shades of glorious 80s hair |
Even though, Brian Pillman is known for his heel work in Hollywood Blondes (1993) and the Loose Canon (1995-97), I would argue that the highest point of his star power was in 1991 WCW when there actually looked there was a chance he could be a main event babyface against the Four Horsemen. He was brought into WCW (for simplicity's sake I am just calling it WCW) in 1989 and debuted with much fanfare against the red-hot US Champion Lex Luger in a pair of excellent matches and followed that up with one of the highest rated TV performances for WCW until the Monday Night War with an excellent match against Ric Flair in Feburary of 1990. In an astute move, they paired him with Zenk as a fun, pretty boy tag team against the likes of Midnight Express and Fabulous Freebirds allowing Pillman to establish himself and not receive too much, too fast.
By late 1990, with a booking regime change from Ole Anderson to Dusty Rhodes imminent, Pillman looked to be positioned as a major opponent for Ric Flair & the Four Horsemen. It was even announced that he would be facing Flair as the January 1991 Clash of the Champions, but he was eventually by Scott Steiner (a disappointing bout). He would eventually have an incredible match with Flair in April of 1991, but since these great Flair matches were on TV instead of Clashes or PPVs they are often forgotten. It is a shame that Flair and Pillman never got a big stage for their matches. Even though, he was snubbed for the Clash, Pillman was named for Sting's team to take on the Horsemen in Wargames. Before the match, the Horsemen jumped Pillman and injured his shoulder in an effort to take the "weakest" (Pillman is a lot smaller physically than Sting and Steiners). As Jim Ross always tells us, you can't measure the size of a man's heart and Pillman gave one of the most inspired performances of his career at Wargames. He was a red-hot, rabid dog in that cage destroying Barry Windham gnawing on his forehead smiling with glee as Windham's blood painted his mouth a crimson red. By the end of match, it was proven Pillman had bitten off more than he could chew and the injured Pillman succumbed to two nasty powerbombs from the gigantic Sid Vicious. The first powerbomb is infamous because Sid lifted Pillman up too fast and his head bounced off the cage ceiling and thus he could not protect himself on the way down making for a gnarly visual. Pillman never actually quit, but it was his friend, El Gigante that threw in the towel for this courageous wrestler.
Pillman was of course ripshit about all this and focused his attention on Barry Windham throughout the spring of 1991. In a series of good TV matches, Pillman was portrayed as a scrappy competitor outmatched due to the injury and size of Windham, but with a never say die attitude just kept coming at Windham and never letting up. In addition, Pillman wrestled World Champion Ric Flair and World TV Champion Arn Anderson (a match I couldnt find) in April in order to exact revenge from the Horsemen. The booking certainly seemed to indicate that Pillman was on the rise to being a main event babyface of the level of Sting & Luger and if you watch the performances you know he deserved it. At Superbrawl I, he had a violent taped fist match with Barry Windham and with a little more time could have gone down as an all-time classic. At the following Clash, WCW made the curious decision to have Pillman lose a Loser Leaves Town match against Anderson & Windham, but come back as the masked Yellow Dog.
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| Wait! I thought you...isn't he...you..what...I'm so confused |
I have found from my readings online that this angle is usually treated as wrestlecrap, but I would argue quite to contrary that this angle was the hottest angle WCW had in 1991 could have actually been used to cement Pillman as a main event player. Yellow Dog was introduced as Brian Pillman's number one fan who wanted to carry the torch for his favorite wrestler thus explaining why the "two wrestlers" had the same moveset. The reasons he was dubbed Yellow Dog was a play off a Florida angle where Windham lost a loser leaves town match and Windham returned as Yellow Dog. I believe both angle were booked by Dusty Rhodes. Everyone in WCW knew that the Yellow Dog was Pillman and it infuriated the Horsemen that Pillman was back even though he had lost. So they put a bounty on Yellow Dog's mask and voila you now had an interesting backstory to every Yellow Dog match and it gave something for midcard heels to do. It led to some pretty good matches against the Horsemen, Diamond Studd and Steve Austin. Unfortunately, external forces fucked up this angle, as Barry Windham was hastily turned babyface since Luger was being shifted into the number one heel role due to Flair's sudden departure. Secondly, WCW decided they were going to create a Light Heavyweight Division and wanted Pillman to be the star of the division so instead of letting the angle play out they just reinstated him and relegated him to a DOA division. The climax of the angle should have been a hair vs mask reinstatement match between Yellow Dog and Barry Windham with Pillman going over. Then on the next episode of Saturday Night, Pillman thanks the Yellow Dog for all the help while the Horsemen just seethe with rage. This shit writes itself, but it is WCW they could fuck up just about anything.
This has been one of my personal favorite blogs to do so far because outside of the Wargames match I had seen none of it and it is all really good, fun wrestling. Pillman was on such a hot streak there was no denying his babyface charisma and fire at this point. In the dark 1991, he was a beacon of light in his matches against the Horsemen and as the Yellow Dog. He was so adept at changing between high flying and firing up with his vicious chops. So many people including the announcers get stuck on the "Flyin'" moniker, but Pillman was even better on the ground going toe to toe, chop for chop with Flair. When Pillman wrestled it feels like a violent war given his level of intensity and passion. In this period between November of 1990 through July of 1991 I don't know if there was a better babyface on the planet given how well Pillman was wrestling. If you want to see what I mean just watch the first five minutes of Wargames '91. He is an avenging babyface that is out for blood and it is that violence that makes people believe and invest in your character. Brian Pillman combined fire, violence, and urgency to create a run that while unheralded is one of the best I have ever seen.
Choice cuts from Brian Pillman's 1991 run:
Sting's Squadron (Sting, Brian Pillman, Steiners) vs
Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Barry Windham, Larry Zbyszko, Sid Vicious) -
WCW WrestleWar '91 WARGAMES
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Brian Pillman -
WCW Saturday Night 4/91
Brian Pillman vs Barry Windham - WCW SuperBrawl I Taped Fist Match
Brian Pillman vs Rip Rogers - NWA World Championship Wrestling 11/10/90
Some personal favorites:
Brian Pillman vs Barry Windham - WCW Pro 4/6/91
Brian Pillman vs Barry Windham - WCW Pro 4/27/91
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair & Diamond Studd w/DDP vs.
Yellow Dog/Bobby Eaton WCW 6/91
Yellow Dog, Bobby Eaton & Dustin Rhodes vs
Barry Windham, Arn Anderson & Diamond Studd w/DDP - WCW 07/21/91
Yellow Dog w/Zeman vs Diamond Studd w/DDP - WCW Saturday Night 7/27/91
Action! Brian Pillman's wrestling acumen is put to the test against the dastardly tactics of Rip Rogers and they cut a furious pace. Rip Rogers has a mean streak a mile wide, hot damn. He may have been yelping "Timeout" and "Shut Up", but don't let the George Washington hairstyling and razzmatazz tights fool you, he chops fuckin hard. Pillman gives as good as he gets. Pillman establishes himself as the better wrestler (armbar base) and the better fighter (winning an early violent chop exchanges). Rogers takes command with eye gouges, fishooks and wicked chops. I love a heel like Rogers he is a total roughhouser and makes Pillman that much better because he can prove that not only can he outwrestle Rogers, but he can be even more physical. Pillman uses his aerial tactics to keep Rogers at bay (headscissors out to the floor and beautiful cross body to the outside) and then lights him up with some brutal chops. Rogers regains control by throwing himself at the ropes to crotch Pillman. Everything Rogers does is underhanded and Pillman always looks better. Pillman blocks the superplex and hits a cross body to win. This is one of the best superstar vs JTTS matches I have ever seen. This had some of the most brutal chopfests you'll ever see. Rogers got enough offense to make it competitive, but it was all dirty tactics and mean. You knew in a fair fight Pillman would win, but this force Pillman to draw on different aspects of his arsenal: aerial and brutal strikes thus demonstrating the different aspects of Pillman. It is an absolutely great showcase for what makes both men incredible in both their roles. ***1/2
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Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Barry Windham, Sid Vicious & Larry Zbyszko) vs.
Sting's Squadron (Sting, Brian Pillman & Steiner Brothers)
WCW Wrestlewar '91 Wargames
Watched this match last night and those first five minutes blew me away moreso than any watch I had had before. From the beginning, when the visibly injured Pillman (shoulder heavily taped) breaks from the pack to exact revenge from the Horsemen. I love how commentary puts that and all things Pillman over. I like how Pillman mixed athletic and violent spots to display both sides of his character. Sometimes, when people grab onto the ceiling of the cage and try to do a spot it comes off artificial. This looked Pillman was looking for that extra leverage to fuck up Barry Windham. Once Pillman busted Windham up, when he had Windham's blood smeared on his mouth that is one of the most feral, barbaric things you will ever see in a wrestling ring. Pillman was a man possessed in that segment.
Flair is in like a wild man and even with his mushroom cut can still go toe to toe with Pillman in a chopfest. Flair begs off and now finally Big, Bloodied Barry has recovered enough to break Pillman's momentum. Together the Horsemen friggin chuck Pillman as hard they can shoulder first into the cage. I said "Holy Shit!" audibly seeing that. Flair goes over and gives the Sting team a big 'ol hip thrust. I love it! Barry hoists Pillman onto his shoulder and drives him his shoulder into the cage. Then they throw Pillman across into the other ring (a wicked bump) in order to get him away from Sting's door. Holy shit, that's some sweet strategy. I know just realized Pillman did the same thing to Windham in the first segment. Even in the heat of the battle, these wrestlers are the ultimate tacticians. Both Horsemen meet Sting at the door, but Sting is hopped on on that sweet Phoneix noise!?!?!?!?! He hits a double clothesline to a big pop. It is bulldogs for everyone. Windham is resorting to eye-rakes to everyone, but Sting can't be denied. Larry Z in is so Sting just flies over both rings and clobbers Larry Z.
From this point on, I think this is where this Wargames loses the battle to other Wargames as just sort of settles into a blur of violence until the wicked ending. Now the four most interesting wrestlers were used right at the beginning so it sort of loses steam until the quadruple figure-4 spot. I like violence as much as next wrestling fan, but I thought the violence at the beginning of this match was a lot more noteworthy than the middle of the match. I thought it was interesting that Rick Steiner was the one that busted Flair open. I thought those honors would have gone to the Stinger. I swear everytime the camera was on Sid he was calling a spot. Ugh. I actually like how Larry Z threw Rick Steiner into the cage hard, but Steiner no-sold because "Muthafucka, I got no brains." Scotty Steiner is the bundle of energy you expect, but still nothing that really stuck out to me. Stinger Splash by Sting and locks the Scorpion Deathlock onto Flair. I agree that this some of the best Flair/Sting segments ever.
Now we hit the quadruple figure-4 and you can just smell the home stretch. I never been a big fan of the military press into the roof spot as it does not looks like it hurts. I LOVE that while a bunch of action is going on you can hear Larry Z's screams of agony in the background. Wargames is friggin' awesome. Sid gets a hold of Pillman and throws him up into the ceiling. Then he nearly kills Pillman dead with the first powerbomb and then does another one. El Gigante, the friendly giant, is out to surrender for his unconscious amigo.
This is an excellent violent affair. When you are picking the best Wargames of all time, you have to picks nits. I think it is the middle that lets this Wargames down. The beginning right through the Sting segment is friggin' awesome. That maybe the best opening 10 minutes in Wargames history. Pillman is an absolute beast throughout the match and the best violent performance of his career.
I do not think that I have to tell anyone that 1991 WCW booking sucked the meat missile. I will say that I think the first half of the year actually sucked worst than the second half. I think the uncertainty of whether Flair would leave or not hurt more than Flair actually hurt the company more than his outright leaving. I went through the results for '91 and Flair basically wrestled only Sting and Gigante on the house show loop. I was trying to read WCW TV recaps where I could, but I could not glean any reason to believe they were building towards Luger/Flair in the same way as in '90 when Flair/Sting was being built. Late WCW '91 sucked because of lack of talent and a huge void. Early WCW '91 sucked because Flair was on top and no one was building towards anything. Luger and Sting were stuck in a malaise and a returning Nikita Koloff was not the solution. Also, how come Pillman got bumped from Jan Clash spot that Scotty Steiner got? I read that Pillman was announced on TV as having that match. Early '91 WCW was devoid of angles and direction. I love Pillman, but the fuckin Yellow Dog angle was the hottest angle of the Summer of '91. You need a hotter main event angle than that. ****1/2
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Brain Pillman vs Barry Windham - WCW 3/21/91
WCW's TV schedule is so confusing, but I don't think this match made the yearbook, but the subsequent matches did. I think this is the perfect first match in a series. You don't want to blow your wad all at once. They did some nice heated work, but left themselves plenty of room to build on this. Pillman goes right after the arm early, but Pillman counteracts that with athletic pinfall attempts (crucifix and sunset flip). We get some nice Pillman overhand chops, before working Windham's leg. To Windham's he sells Pillman's leg work for a while when it really felt perfunctory so Windham saved that portion. Pillman shoulder ends up getting rammed into the turnbuckle and the rest of it writes itself as Windham beats on the arm and eye-rakes whenever Pillman tries to rally. Eventually Pillman hits a clothesline and they brawl onto the outside before AA comes to attack Pillman. The whole thing gets thrown out and the Steiners save. Like, I said a really good first match in a series, but I kinda remember my problem with this series is that there is no progression from here. Let us see...
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Brian Pillman vs Barry Windham - WCW Pro 4/6/91
Tony and Larry Z are excellent on commentary what the hell happened during the Nitro Era. Actually, there was some progression here, but given that they would still have another match before the Taped Fist match, this is another great addition to the series. Unlike the Wargames performance, Pillman is relying on speed rather than violence to keep Windham off balance and ultimately take the advantage by working Barry's arm in an eye for an eye type move. I liked Pillman's hammerlock work and his general ability to overcome Windham's tricks and cheat moves with speed and heart. Windham does a great job of putting over Pillman as he comes in wary and sells well for Pillman. We come back from commercial and finally Windham is able to hiptoss Pillman from the top rope thus gaining him the advantage. I thought this heat segment was even better and grittier with Windham really working Pillman's arm with holds, slams and ripping at the shoulder brace. I love a good fish hook and Windham using that 'ol hook in the mouth to stymie Pillman was great. Just when Pillman looks to mount a comeback, Windham rolls through and grabs the tights with both hands to secure the victory. As B-Dub is gloating with Larry Z, Pillman leaps onto Windham and it is on like Donkey Kong. Windham gains the advantage again hitting a bulldog structured so that it would look like he is trying to separate the shoulder. Larry Z thinks Pillman has a death wish and like the Creature from the Black Lagoon, Pillman claws his way over and grabs Windham's hair. Once again, Windham quashes Pillman by attacking the shoulder. After Big Barry goes back to talk to the Living Legend, here comes EL Gigante and now Windham heads for the hills. They did a really good job of putting over Pillman's never say die attitude. You are just waiting for Pillman to really erupt as he has just been using speed and guts so far, which should come eventually. This would have been enhanced if JR was on commentary in terms of getting that aspect over, but Tony and Larry did a great job breaking down the match. They have not had that break out match that you know they can have. ***
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| Yellow Dog Meet Black Cat |
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WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Brian Pillman - WCW 4/91
Holy fuck, what a war! I have seen this match before and I made the case for the '90 match being better, but I am having a hard time believing that after watching this one again. I don't mean this as a slight to the Windham series, but this match blows those TV matches out of the water. This was a gritty, nasty match. Flair's chest is bleeding within the first five minutes from Pillman's overhand chops. I love how when Flair chops Pillmain in the corner he immediately ties him up to prevent another Pillman chop. Pillman can not be denied early on as he is looking for vengeance for what the Horsemen did to him. Pillman looks to take an eye for an eye by wrapping Flair's leg around the post. Pillman applies a half-crab, but cant hold on. Flair hits a reverse atomic drop out of the corner and he takes over. This part of the match veers from brutal brawl to putting over Pillman's heart as he is just withstanding the relentless onslaught of Flair's cheating. He put his feet on the ropes multiple times, a low blow and eye-rakes. He was really pouring it on. Pillman just kept coming. Paul E. keeps bringing up Flair/Pillman's teacher/student relationship, which is a nice work to put over how personal this rivalry is. Pillman press slams Flair, who keeps jawing with the crowd. However, Pillman crashes and burns on the missile dropkick. Still, Pillman chops his way out of trouble and Flair flops and flips for him, but Flair catches Pillman on the outside. Still, Pillman just keeps coming back with chops, but then he dropkicks the ref by accident. Flair is able to slap on the figure-4 and AA is out to give him extra leverage. Pillman keeps kicking out even in these dire circumstances, until El Gigante arrives on the scene to attack the Horsemen triggering the DQ.
It is an absolute shame Pillman did not get the spot on the January Clash as announced on the TV, which went instead to Scotty Steiner. These matches with Flair are reminiscent of Flair's brutal battles with Ronnie Garvin, which were absolute wars. The first five minutes of this were stiff as all hell. After that, transitioned nicely into a gritty contest with Flair doing everything he could to win the match to get the hell out of dodge so he no longer had to withstand the wrath of Flair. Pillman was that pitbull just like JR said who did not say die. It is a gripping contest that would be a MOTY in WWF, but with Wargames '91 and Steamboat/Rhodes vs Enforcers match, this is in the next class down. Pillman should have been a huge babyface star in 1991 WCW and the more I watch. The more I grow disappointed with my beloved WCW ****
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Brian Pillman vs Barry Windham - WCW 4/27/91
They still had to save something in the tank for Superbrawl I, but this was getting closer to that grudge match type atmosphere as Pillman was more violent than athletic in this match. You really had JR harping on the grudge match feeling in the match. Pillman no longer has the shoulder brace so this should be more about the feud than the shoulder injury. They sort of had a false start as there was a botched back body drop and they kind of lost their place. Then they reset did the back body drop and Pillman came on strong with some wicked chops. He dropkicked Windham off the the top rope and hit a double axe-handle off the top rope onto the floor. Things definitely feel more heated from Pillman's side. Pillman should never do leapfrogs maybe he got better at them, but in 1991 he did this sort of one legged deal and it looked awful. Windham threw him up in the air and he belly flopped. Windham dropped him with nasty brainbuster. Windham was excellent as a prick heel with tons of eye-rakes to stymie Pillman and a nice fish hook. A lariat only gets two for Windham. Pillman is bleeding and it may be from Windham digging his nails in his eyes because I can't tell when he would have bladed. Pillman mounts a comeback with a spinning heel kick and missile dropkick. He gets an inside cradle on a bodyslam and AA interferes. They beat him down before Eaton makes a save to add heat to his SuperBrawl encounter with AA. It was not all-time classic as it was still missing that level of heat. I like how they have built on each match as they are finally getting into the fight portion of the feud, but still saving something for the taped fist match. Pillman wrestled a totally different match and he did as equally well as in the above matches. Windham is great at walking a fine line between giving Pillman too much and still protecting himself. It was another good match, but hoping that the Taped Fist match is that all-time classic. ***
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Brian Pillman vs Barry Windham - Superbrawl I Taped Fist Match
The problem with this match is that it felt too abrupt. I do not think we saw as many fist fight exchanges as I wanted to see. For what we got, it was a vicious match with plenty of bleeding and some nice highspots. Also, felt bad that Pillman still got the screws put to him. Windham is such a great performer and throughout this series he has played bully and coward both convincingly. Pillman has played the plucky underdog with a heart three sizes too big so well. I just feel the booking was not there for them to make this all-time series. The Yellow Dog angle could have gone somewhere, but external forces (as always in WCW) were against them. However, this series bookend by two great performances at Wargames and Superbrawl. I would say this is pretty easily 1991 WCW's feud of the year. ***3/4
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Brian Pillman & Bobby Eaton vs. WCW World Champion Ric Flair & Arn Anderson
WCW Main Event 6/6/91
Pillman looks like an absolute cant miss star to me in this. I love Eaton as much as the next Southern wrestling mark, but the way Pillman is fired up for this match and Eaton is just kinda there juxtaposed tells me all I need to know. Pillman should have been headlining with Flair and should have been pushed in the midcard singles title scene. Flair was surely an eager beaver in this match as he Flair Flops over nothing early. The beginning brawl seemed a little lukewarm to me. The first Flair/Eaton ratcheted up the heat as that was some really good exchanges. Now the Flair Flop off a railing shot seems much more apropos. The Horsemen work a nice heat segment with Pillman;s leg being worked on before Pillman's big retirement match against the Horsemen with Gigante. Eaton is in and gets a piece of Flair. Given how Flair took that back body drop and Flair Flip and then multiply that by 300 and then again by like 35 it is amazing he is still standing. The heels bail after this overwhelming babyface offense and they go off the air with the babyfaces chasing them to the back.
This match is action-packed, but really the only things that stuck out to me are the Flair/Eaton exchanges and how much Pillman felt like a total star in this. You could say it was a big responsibility that he was chosen to basically create a whole division from scratch. I think we all agree that division was DOA. I wanted to see Pillman/Luger touring around the fall '91 for the belt.
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Brian Pillman & El Gigante vs Arn Anderson & Barry Windham -
WCW Clash of the Champions XV Loser of Fall Leaves Town
No 1991 Brian Pillman retrospective is complete without the sprint that triggered what should have been an awesome Yellow Dog angle. Clocking in under 4 minutes, this match was not given much time to develop, but still it was a real fun 4 minutes. Pillman, Anderson and Windham put over how important a loss here is by all going for pinfalls early so as to get this over with. Pillman would attack both Windham and Anderson with chops to set up an early pinning predicament. Windham got a huge right out of headscissors and a big DDT, but could not pin Pillman. Pillman dropkicked AA off the top rope sending him careening to the floor and follows that up with a springboard splash to the outside. AA is disoriented and ends up in the wrong corner and gets choked by Gigante. El Gigante is a BIG dude. Pillman with a rocket launcher off of Gigante's shoulders onto Windham and the crowd is rocking, The Enforcer breaks it up. Windham trips Pillman while he is top rope causing him to crash and burn. In typical WCW fashion, the camera is on EL Gigante putting AA in a head vice while Windham kicks Pillman in the head to send him home packing. WCW does have a replay to show us the finish so I can't complain too much. This was a fun sprint with plenty of action and put over the nature of the stakes. It just did not have time to develop
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| Ok so the costume kinda sucked, it was still a bitchin' angle |
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair & Diamond Studd w/DDP vs.
Yellow Dog/Bobby Eaton - WCW 6/91
I believe this Flair's last televised performance with WCW until his '93 return as GAB starts that week according to JR and I know he is gone before the Meadowlands show. I actually liked this match even more than the Flair/AA vs Eaton/Pillman as this match seemed more heated and had more of a focus. The focus was getting the Yellow Dog over like rover. JR aggravates Paul E. with obtuse references to Pillman while the Yellow Dog does moves and Paul E. flips his shit each time. Studd is a little clunky, but hell if he does not sell and bump for Pillman. Pillman does not give an all-time great offensive performance but they way Flair and Studd treat him makes you feel like Pillman is a star. I love the ending where the heels just jump Pillman and try to remove his mask. It puts over the mask and the angle over so much before Eaton makes the save. I would be remiss not to mention that Flair/Eaton segments are so fucking good even better than the last tag. Those strike exchanges are everything you would want out of Flair/Eaton. I would not say a much see match as Flair/Eaton had a better match in 01/90 and Pillman has had better performances. However, it did a really good job getting the bounty angle and making me a believer in the angle even if they ended up botching the end game.
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Yellow Dog, Bobby Eaton & Dustin Rhodes vs
Barry Windham, Arn Anderson & Diamond Studd w/DDP - WCW 07/21/91
Crazy to think out of these seven, it was DDP that got a run with the world title (when Barry won the title in '93, it was the second-class title). I would this at about same level as the above match nothing you have to see, but this a whole lot of fun. Plus the crowd is wicked into this match. I think the Yellow Dog angle was actually getting over until they had to abort it because Windham's face turn and the light heavyweight division. The beginning was definitely best part with Windham going right after the mask and Pillman showing up him and Arn. Holy shit, did we have some good worked punches in this match and Pillman's sweet overhand chop. Hell pretty much all Hall and Dustin could offer at this point was a sweet worked punch. Studd/Eaton and Studd/Rhodes was awkward. Dustin had some nice exchanges with Arn and Windham. Arn rolling to the outside to escape Dustin only to get clobbered by Eaton never gets old. Then we hit the triple figure-4 that gets the crowd pumped. Eaton falls prey to a Horsemen trap as he ducks an Arn punch on the outside only to be clobbered by B-Dub. The heat segment was pretty decent nothing to write home about except Eaton takes the Pillman chin first bump onto railing that always looks wicked painful. Pillman botches a leapfrog before getting the pin on Arn. They all go after the mask, but Dustin clears the ring with a chair.
The beginning of the match was the best part with Pillman really looking like a star. I think they should have been more unmasking attempts to really put over the angle. The match just settled into normal match mode after the heated beginning. It is too bad Windham had already cut his hair or they did not have another long-haired upper midcard heel. Yellow Dog in hair vs mask match would have been a sweet blowoff.
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Yellow Dog vs. Johnny B. Badd - WCW Great American Bash '91
What a difference four years make! This is nowhere near as good as their Fall Brawl classic from 1995. It is mechanical, emotionless, stiff and awkward. Badd is very unsure of himself in the ring. He has the athletic ability as shown by his sunset flip from the top, but he waits around too much for Pillman's offense. Pillman does not seem to give a fuck on what is generally considered the worst PPV in history. The character work was all great from Pillman chopping Badd and him retreating into Long's arm or using Long to distract Pillman to get the advantage, but the rest looked like green as grass. I liked the little touch from JR stating that the Yellow Dog is Brian Pilllman's number one fan that why he emulates him so well. The finish was pretty lame with Long saving Badd from his first loss to a Pillman cross body. Pillman was able to take out Long with a clothesline to get a pop, but fell prey to Badd's Tutti Frutti punch. It was lame 50/50 booking reminiscent of today's product. At least Badd's robe was bitchin' as all hell.
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Yellow Dog w/Zeman vs Diamond Studd w/DDP - WCW Saturday Night 7/27/91
Haters be damned, the Yellow Dog angle was a great mid-card angle. It gave all the mid-card heels something to do gunning for Pillman's mask and could have made Pillman into even a bigger star as he outwitted all these heels. Of course, the payoff would have been Yellow Dog beating Windham or AA to get his favorite wrestler, Brian Pillman reinstated. The promo with Brian Pillman thanking the "Yellow Dog" for always believing in him and getting him back in WCW would have been over like rover (pun fully intended). Not only did WCW miss this, but holy shit Diamond Studd and DDP were a great pairing. DDP is such a great carny on the mic and the whole bit with a woman coming to pull off the Studd's pants was gold. It would not be WCW without all these missed opportunities. As for the match, it is not anything awesome, but it showcases how great Pillman could be at selling and bumping as he made Studd look great. Hall has a great working punch, but outside of that did not have much, but Pillman led him through a pretty decent match. Pillman frustrates the Studd early with his quickness and getting in some disrespectful slaps to the face. Studd gets caught up in going for the mask and not focusing on the match, which he pays for. Diamond Studd composes himself and throws Pillman up in the air and lets him fall. Hall hits the bearhug and ab stretch, but he does his best to work it, but it is pretty tame. Pillman bumping like crazy for everything for Hall and he is really milking the heat for his comeback. Studd thinks he has thrown Pillman over the top, but Pillman skins the cat. He hits a missile dropkick on Studd and a dropkick for DDP. It is breaking loose in Tulsa! DDP trips Pillman and Studd with a Nodowa and HE TAKES OFF THE MASK~! I did not see that coming. Zeman is there to cover his face with his shirt and Studd takes exception to that because he wants them c-notes. Pillman rolls him up for the win and hightails it. It was a close shave for Pillman, but he was able to escape and Hall is left holding his dick in his hand. It really feels like they were building to something with great teases, but instead WCW just reinstated Pillman with limited fanfare to start the ill-fated Light Heavyweight division.
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WCW World TV Champion "Stunning" Steve Austin w/Lady Blossom vs Yellow Dog -
WCW Pro 7/27/91
The mask has forced Pillman to sell even better through body language I think it is a useful exercise for babyfaces to wrestle with masks on to improve their non-facial selling. Early on, we get a fun spot where Austin is in rhythm leapfrogging over Pillman and Pillman breaks that pattern with a dropkick. After kicking out, Austin dives to the outside to the very warm, very welcoming embrace of Lady Blossom. Lord Have Mercy! Back in, Austin had been complaining of Austin pulling the hair, but he pulls the mask to get Pillman down. The Dog is able to snap off a headscissors to send Austin to the floor. He chases Lady Blossom, but I can't blame him for chasing that skirt, Of course, he eats a clothesline. Austin hits a double axe handle off the top and whips him into railing. Lady Blossom gets in on the action going for the throat and the eyes. Pillman is selling pretty well and we have Capetta counting down the minutes before the time limit. I am usually a sucker for race against the clock gimmicks, but this was not too well executed. At about 4 minutes, we just get a lot of generic heel wasting offense from Austin like choking him on the top rope chinlocks and sleepers with a smattering of rollups. Pillman has some of the best babyface fire ever. Where are the chops and the cross bodies? With about a minute to go we finally get some chops, but it is too little too late. Lady Blossom trips Pillman and Austin drops down with elbow, which actually would not have been a bad finish. However, Pillman tries to get a crucifix pin, but time expires and Austin retains the title. Diamond Studd is out to take the mask of Yellow Dog, but Zeman is out to save. It is a pretty blase match outside of the cute leapfrog/dropkick spot and how foxy Lady Blossom looked there was not much that stood out. Just an average match.
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It is too bad we ended on such a dismal note, but in August WCW reinstate Pillman to lead their ill-fated Light Heavyweight Division, which did manage to put on a couple PPV classics, but he was never able to reach the heights he did against the Horsemen as he did in 1991. Next up, I have the Japanese Juniors from 2000-2002 pretty much all done and Minoru Tanaka has impressed and I am working on a Triple H project with the first installement covering 1999 up until his first World Title victory. Stay Frosty!
Nice blog
ReplyDeleteAmazang
Good work
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