“The Sixer” is a thing I kept meaning to add into the mix but work schedule stuff, blah blah. The basic idea is six match reviews on a certain subject — probably usually an individual wrestler or tag team, maybe a stable, maybe a company in a particular year, or matches from a certain month in time, like this one!
Specifically, we’ll look back at six matches from August editions of WCW’s Clash of the Champions, a series that ran from 1988-97, with an annual August edition starting in ‘93.
One quick rule: Only one match involving any individual wrestler. That way I have to mix it up. So in this set:
Paul Orndorff vs Ricky Steamboat, 8-18-1993
Big Van Vader vs Davey Boy Smith, 8-18-1993
Antonio Inoki vs Lord Steven Regal, 8-24-1994
Sting & Road Warrior Hawk vs Meng & Kurasawa, 8-6-1995
Rey Mysterio Jr vs Dean Malenko, 8-16-1996
Steve McMichael vs Jeff Jarrett, 8-21-1997
Paul Orndorff vs Ricky Steamboat
WCW Clash of the Champions
Aug. 18, 1993 - Daytona Beach, FL
A match of historical significance, as this is what follows the infamous Shockmaster debut. This is for Orndorff’s TV title. Tony Schiavone and Jesse Ventura come back from break knowing there is just no saving the Shockmaster thing, and now they have a match to call.
The amount of money they paid Michael Buffer for shows like this is absurd. Orndorff is someone we passively allowed to become underrated over the years, like many of his era because so much focus in “remember when?” discussion went to the Attitude Era.
Steamer takes a bump out to the entrance ramp when Orndorff avoids a shoulderblock, and that gives Paul the chance to take the momentum of the match. Marvel as Paul locks in a tight pin, locking hands with the shoulder and leg of Steamboat and holding him down for a couple of of near falls, then into a side headlock before a scoop slam and that same tight cover getting several more two counts. Orndorff wants to keep this grounded, exhaust Steamboat’s energy. It’s very basic, logical and tactically sound if not exactly an exciting approach, as Steamboat is basically doing ‘95 Saturday Night Randy Savage here, staying on the defensive and selling.
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