WCW Prime for October 23 featured one new match, with Chris Cruise and Dusty Rhodes calling the action.
–Prime “MOOOO” Match of the Week: The Man of Question (0-1) beats Barry Houston after No Laughing Matter at 4:11:
The Man of Question failed his mission of destroying Randy Savage on WCW Saturday Night, but he is not fleeing the promotion as a result. Cruise does his best to give the Question Man a backstory, saying he has his name because there are a lot of questions about his sanity. He also gives a hint that he might be a new member of the Dungeon of Doom because he appears to fit the craziness of the group. This is just a long, methodical squash that bores the crowd, although the moonsault is a great finisher choice for a man of Question’s size.
And now onto WCW Pro for October 28, with Cruise, Dusty, and Larry Zbyszko calling the action.
–Opening Contest: Chris Benoit (1-0) beat Mark Starr (2-15) after a dragon suplex at 3:18:
Starr gets a lot more offense than one would expect, scoring a near-fall from a German suplex and overcoming super-duper side suplex. However, Benoit outwrestles Starr from a standing position and hits the dragon suplex to maintain his undefeated mark. Sadly, the crowd did not care because Starr was a glorified jobber and Benoit was a new talent. Rating: **
–Arn Anderson & Brian Pillman (4-1) defeat Bart Sawyer & Chuck Williams when Anderson pins Sawyer after a DDT at 2:21:
Williams was another name for the Rockin’ Rebel, who wrestled in the early years of ECW. The heels have little problem with their opponents and Anderson whips Sawyer into the ropes, allowing Pillman to kick Sawyer in the back of the head, and Anderson spikes him with a DDT to help the team roll into Halloween Havoc with some positive momentum.
–During the Halloween Havoc Control Center, WCW Champion Hulk Hogan and Jimmy Hart do an interview. Hogan talks about what happened on Nitro even though he is sporting the neck brace he tore off on that same broadcast and said he did not need anymore. He says he is going to bring a black bag to the pay-per-view to deposit his black gear in after he vanquishes the Giant and the Dungeon of Doom. Gene Okerlund also says that the Master appearing in Detroit is a big deal because he will be seen for the first time live, but the Master already appeared live on the recent Nitro. Is it too much to ask for this company to keep its narrative straight between shows?
–Call 1-900-909-9900 to hear what major superstar was just released from his WCW contract! Also, get the exclusive scoop about event surrounding Halloween Havoc!
–The Disco Inferno (6-2) beat Joey Maggs after a swinging neckbreaker at 3:06:
These two faced off on the Fall Brawl pre-show last month, with Disco winning in less than three minutes. Just like the recent edition of WCW Saturday Night, Teddy Long appears in the aisle and Dusty says that he is interested in possibly managing Maggs. Zbyszko immediately questions how smart Long is if he wants to manage a jobber. Maggs scores a few roll ups and keeps Disco off balance but he misses a somersault splash off the ropes and Disco hits the neckbreaker for the victory. The camera pans to Long in the aisle, who shakes his head over the match result.
–Alex Wright & Eddy Guerrero defeat the Southern Posse when Wright pins Rick Thames after a missile dropkick-electric chair drop combination at 4:04:
The taping cycle rears its head again as Wright has a bum knee, not allowing him to wrestle on the recent Nitro. However, he shows up on this broadcast no worse for wear. Guerrero flattens Sonny Trout with a frog splash, but Rick Thames breaks up the pin, so the match goes on for several more minutes. In the end, an awkward transition into a four-way brawl sequence leads to Thames being put on Guerrero’s shoulders and Wright coming off the top rope with a dropkick, giving the babyfaces the win. On paper Guerrero and Wright make for a good team but their teamwork was choppy and unnatural.
–Lex Luger (2-2) beats the Zodiac (w/Kevin Sullivan) (2-0) after a schoolboy roll up at 2:43:
Lugers get the loudest reaction on the show, illustrating that he still had potential despite two years of bad booking in the WWF. Throughout the match the announcers speculate on whether Luger is a member of the Dungeon of Doom, a suggestion that appears to have some credence when Sullivan does not attack Luger on the arena floor. Randy Savage walks out halfway through the match, supposedly to keep Sullivan at bay and Luger healthy for Halloween Havoc. Luger goes over in a mere kick and punch fest.
–After the match, Savage and Luger get in each other’s face, with Luger saying that he did not need Savage’s help. He reiterates this when they get near Cruise, with Savage promising to help Luger beat Meng to guarantee that they will face off at the pay-per-view. It is really hard to see how Luger is the heel in this situation as Savage keep inserting himself into Luger’s business without being asked. Furthermore, Savage looks like a bully intruding on Luger’s interview time.
The Last Word: The action on this show was pedestrian but that was an upgrade over recent episodes. The Teddy Long-Joey Maggs storyline is somewhat interesting as Maggs does not appear to be a talent worth managing in WCW, especially with a new crop of talent in the promotion since Nitro made its debut.
Up Next: WCW Worldwide for October 28!