Clash of the Champions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Clash of the Champions logo

The Clash of the Champions were a series of professional wrestling television specials aired by World Championship Wrestling. The specials were intended to feature pay-per-view caliber matches, similar to the World Wrestling Federation's Saturday Night's Main Event.

The first Clash of the Champions was held on March 27, 1988 by the National Wrestling Alliance member Jim Crockett Promotions and was entitled "NWA: Clash of Champions". Jim Crockett Promotions was sold to Ted Turner and renamed World Championship Wrestling in 1988, and 1993 World Championship Wrestling withdrew from the NWA, whereupon the Clash of Champions was renamed Clash of the Champions. WCW continued to air the events until 1997.

1 History
2 Results
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] History

In 1988, Jim Crockett, Jr. came up with an idea to gain viewers from the World Wrestling Federation's WrestleMania IV. He decided to air a PPV caliber event on the same night for free on TBS. On March 27, 1988 (the same night as Wrestlemania), the first Clash of Champions was aired. The first show was of PPV caliber and it made Sting a star after he wrestled NWA World Champion Ric Flair to a 45-minute draw. The cable companies forced the two sides to negotiate a truce, that, although primarily involving the imposition of PPV date monopolies, presumably had something to do with this subject. After that show, the PPV caliber went downhill fast and WCW aired the last (and 35th) Clash of Champions on August 21, 1997.

[edit] Results

[edit] Clash of the Champions IV: Season's Beatings

December 7, 1988 in Chattanooga, TN (UTC Arena)

The Fantastics def. Eddie Gilbert and Ron Simmons to win the NWA United States Tag Team Championship
Steve Williams def. The Italian Stallion
Ivan Koloff def. Paul Jones in a "Koloff Has One Arm Tied Behind His Back Match"
NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship
- Road Warrior Animal, also NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Road Warrior Hawk) def. Dusty Rhodes, with the stipulation that whoever wins the match gains possession of the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. If Rhodes won, he got to keep his share of the title and give the other shares of the title to other wrestlers; if Animal won, he and Hawk would retain their shares of the title and give Rhodes' share to another wrestler. On the following edition of NWA World Championship Wrestling on TBS, the Road Warriors formally announced that Rhodes' share of the title was going to Genichiro Tenryu.
Ric Flair (NWA World Heavyweight Champion) and Barry Windham (NWA United States Champion) def. The Midnight Express

[edit] Clash of the Champions V: St. Valentine's Day Massacre

February 15, 1989 in Cleveland, OH (CSU Convocation Center)

The Midnight Express def. The Russian Assassins
Butch Reed def. Steven Casey
Lex Luger def. The Blackmailer
NWA United States Tag Team Champions Mike Rotunda and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams def. The Fantastics
Ricky Steamboat def. Bob Bradley
Rick Steiner def. Rip Morgan
NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors and Genichiro Tenryu fought Mike Rotunda, Kevin Sullivan and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams to a double disqualification

[edit] Clash of the Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun

April 2, 1989 in New Orleans, LA (Louisiana Superdome)

The Samoan Swat Team (Samu and Fatu) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane)
The Great Muta def. Steven Casey
The Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed
Bob Orton def. Dick Murdoch
The Varsity Club (Mike Rotunda and Steve Williams) def. The Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk) to win the NWA World Tag Team Championship
Ranger Ross def. The Iron Sheik
Eddie Gilbert and Rick Steiner def. Dan Spivey and Kevin Sullivan to retain the NWA United States Tag Team Championship
Ricky Steamboat def. Ric Flair in a 60-minute time limit two out of three falls match to retain the NWA World Heavyweight Championship (55:49)
- Flair pinned Steamboat after reversing an inside cradle (19:33).
- Steamboat forced Flair to submit with a double chickenwing (34:14).
- Steamboat pinned Flair after a failed double chickenwing attempt. Flair fell on top of Steamboat, both men's shoulder were down, but Steamboat got his left shoulder up before the three count (55:49).
Sting def. Rip Morgan to retain the NWA World Television Championship
Lex Luger def. Jack Victory to retain the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship

[edit] Clash of the Champions VII: Guts and Glory

June 14, 1989 in Fort Bragg, NC (Ritz-Epps Fitness Center)

NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament Semi Final #1
- The Freebirds def. The Dynamic Dudes (Johnny Ace and Shane Douglas)
Ranger Ross def. Jack Victory
The Ding Dongs def. Cougar Jay and George South
NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament Semi Final #2
- The Midnight Express def. The Samoan Swat Team
Terry Gordy fought "Dr. Death" Steve Williams to a double disqualification
Norman the Lunatic def. Mike Justice
Mike Rotunda and Kevin Sullivan def. Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner
NWA World Television Champion Sting def. Bill Irwin
NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament Final
- The Freebirds def. The Midnight Express to win the vacant NWA World Tag Team Championship
Ricky Steamboat def. Terry Funk by disqualification

[edit] Clash of the Champions VIII: Fall Brawl

September 12, 1989 in Columbia, SC (Carolina Coliseum)

The Road Warriors def. The Samoan Swat Team
Tom Zenk def. The Cuban Assassin
Sid Vicious def. Ranger Ross
NWA World Tag Team Champions The Freebirds def. Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner
Brian Pillman def. Norman the Lunatic
"Dr. Death" Steve Williams def. Mike Rotunda
NWA United States Champion Lex Luger def. Tommy Rich
Ric Flair (NWA World Heavyweight Champion) and Sting def. Dick Slater and The Great Muta by disqualification
- Slater substituted for an injured Terry Funk; post-match, Funk tried to suffocate Flair by putting a plastic bag over his head.

[edit] Clash of the Champions IX: New York Knockout

November 15, 1989 in Troy, NY (Houston Field House)

The Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin and Michael Hayes) def. The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) by disqualification
Doom (Ron Simmons and Butch Reed) (with Woman) def. Eddie Gilbert and Tommy Rich
The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane) def. The Dynamic Dudes (Johnny Ace and Shane Douglas)
"Dr. Death" Steve Williams def. The Super Destroyer
The Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott Steiner) def. The Skyscrapers (Dan Spivey and Sid Vicious) by disqualification
Lex Luger def. Brian Pillman to retain the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship
NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair def. Terry Funk (with Gary Hart) in a non-title "I Quit" match

[edit] Clash of the Champions X: Texas Shootout

February 6, 1990 in Corpus Christi, TX (Memorial Coliseum)

"Dr. Death" Steve Williams def. Samoan Savage
Brian Pillman and Tom Zenk def. The MOD Squad
Mil Máscaras def. Cactus Jack
Norman the Lunatic def. Kevin Sullivan in a Falls Count Anywhere Match
The Skyscrapers (Dan Spivey and Mark Callous) def. The Road Warriors by disqualification
NWA World Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers def. Doom in a World Title vs. Masks Match
The Horsemen (Ric Flair, Ole Anderson and Arn Anderson) def. Gary Hart International (The Dragon Master, Buzz Sawyer and The Great Muta (with Gary Hart) in a Six Man Tag Team Steel Cage Match

[edit] Clash of the Champions XI: Coastal Crush

June 13, 1990 in Charleston, SC (McAlister Field House)

Steve Armstrong and Tracey Smothers def. The Freebirds
Tommy Rich def. Bam Bam Bigelow
Tom Zenk and Mike Rotunda def. Fatu and Samoan Savage
Mark Callous def. Brian Pillman
The Rock-n-Roll Express def. US Tag Team Champs The Midnight Express
Barry Windham def. Doug Furnas
Lex Luger def. Sid Vicious
Tag Team Champs Doom def. The Steiner Brothers
Paul Orndorff def. Arn Anderson
Junkyard Dog def. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair by disqualification

[edit] Clash of the Champions XII: Fall Brawl '90

September 5, 1990 in Asheville, NC (Asheville Civic Center)

Steve Armstrong and Tracey Smothers def. The Freebirds
Mike Rotunda def. Buddy Landell
Master Blasters def. Brad Armstrong and Tim Horner
The Nasty Boys def. Jackie Fulton and Terry Taylor
Tommy Rich def. Bill Irwin
Susan Sexton def. Bambi
Steiner Brothers def. Tim Hunt and Jeff Warner
Stan Hansen def. Tom Zenk
U.S. Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger def. Ric Flair
NWA World Heavyweight Champion Sting def. Al Perez

[edit] Clash of the Champions XIII: Thanksgiving Thunder

November 20, 1990 in Jacksonville, FL (Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum)

The Freebirds def. Tracey Smothers and Steve Armstrong
Brian Pillman def. Buddy Landell
Big Cat def. Brad Armstrong
Tom Zenk def. Brian Lee
Michael Wallstreet def. The Starblazer
Sgt. Krueger and Col. DeKlerk def. The Beast and Kaluha
Lex Luger def. The Motor City Madman
Chris Youngblood and Mark Youngblood def. The Nasty Boys
Sid Vicious def. The Nightstalker
US Tag Team Champs Steiner Brothers def. Magnum Force
Ric Flair def. Butch Reed

[edit] Clash of the Champions XIV: Dixie Dynamite

January 30, 1991 in Gainesville, GA (Georgia Mountains Center)

Sting and Lex Luger def. Doom
WCW World Television Champion Tom Zenk def. Bobby Eaton
The Freebirds def. Tommy Rich and Allen Iron Eagle
Sid Vicious def. Joey Maggs
Terry Taylor def. Ricky Morton
Ranger Ross def. El Cubano
Arn Anderson and Barry Windham def. Chris Youngblood and Mark Youngblood
Brian Pillman def. Buddy Lee Parker
Missy Hyatt def. Paul E. Dangerously
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair fought Scott Steiner to a draw

[edit] Clash of the Champions XV: Knocksville USA

June 14, 1991 in Knoxville, TN (James White Civic Coliseum)

Tracey Smothers, Steve Armstrong and Tom Zenk def. The Freebirds
Oz def. Johnny Rich
Danny Spivey def. Big Josh
Dustin Rhodes def. Terrance Taylor
Sting def. Nikita Koloff
Barry Windham and Arn Anderson def. Brian Pillman and El Gigante
IWGP World Tag Team Champions Steiner Brothers def. Masahiro Chono and Hiroshi Hase
The Diamond Studd def. Tommy Rich
Steve Austin def. Joey Maggs
WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger def. The Great Muta
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair def. Bobby Eaton

[edit] Clash of the Champions XVI: Fall Brawl

September 5, 1991 in Augusta, GA Augusta-Richmond County Civic Center)

El Gigante won a battle royal; other contestants included Z-Man, Thomas Rich, Bobby Eaton, Ranger Ross, Tracy Smothers, Oz, P.N. News, Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker, Steve Austin, Dustin Rhodes, Terrence Taylor, Big Josh, Barry Windham, and One Man Gang
Brian Pillman def. Badstreet
WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Sting def. Johnny B. Badd
Ricky Morton def. Mike Graham
The Freebirds def. Todd Champion and Firebreaker Chip
Ron Simmons def. The Diamond Studd
Van Hammer def. Terrance Taylor
WCW World Television Champion Steve Austin def. Tom Zenk
The Enforcers (Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko) def. Rick Steiner and Bill Kazmaier to win the vacant WCW World Tag Team Championship

The titles were vacated on July 18, 1991, when one half of the reigning WCW World Tag Team Champions The Steiner Brothers, Scott Steiner, was injured, this was a tournament final.

[edit] Clash of the Champions XVII

November 19, 1991 in Savannah, GA (Savannah Civic Center)

Big Josh def. Thomas Rich
Bobby Eaton def. Firebreaker Chip
Tom Zenk def. The Diamond Studd
WCW World Television Champion "Stunning" Steve Austin def. PN News
Cactus Jack def. Van Hammer
Dustin Rhodes and Ricky Steamboat (as a surprise replacement partner for Barry Windham) def. WCW World Tag Team Champions The Enforcers (Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko) to win the titles
WCW Light Heavyweight Champion Brian Pillman def. Johnny B. Badd
Rick Rude def. WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Sting to win the title
WCW World Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger def. Rick Steiner

[edit] Clash of the Champions XVIII

January 21, 1992 in Topeka, KS (Kansas Expo Center)

Steiner Brothers def. Big Van Vader and Mr. Hughes
Marcus Bagwell and Brian Pillman def. Terry Taylor and Tracey Smothers
Johnny B. Badd def. Richard Morton
PN News def. Diamond Dallas Page
Cactus Jack def. Van Hammer
The Freebirds def. Brad Armstrong and Big Josh
Vinnie Vegas def. Thomas Rich
Dustin Rhodes, Barry Windham and Ron Simmons def. The Dangerous Alliance (Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton (WCW World Tag Team Champions) and Larry Zbyszko) (with Paul E. Dangerously)
Sting and Ricky Steamboat def. "Stunning" Steve Austin (WCW World Television Champion) and Rick Rude (WCW United States Heavyweight Champion)

[edit] Clash of the Champions XIX

June 16, 1992 in Charleston, SC (McAlister Field House)

NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament

Round 1
Ricky Steamboat and Nikita Koloff def. Joe Malenko and Dean Malenko
Rick Rude (WCW United States Heavyweight Champion) and Steve Austin (WCW Television Champion) def. Marcus Bagwell and Tom Zenk
Terry Gordy and Steve Williams def. Larry O'Day and Jeff O'Day
Steiner Brothers (WCW World Tag Team Champions) def. Miguel Perez, Jr. and Ricky Santana via forfeit
Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes def. Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton
The Freebirds (WCW United States Tag Team Champions) def. El Texano and Silver King
Jushin Liger and Brian Pillman (WCW Light Heavyweight Champion) def. Chris Benoit and Beef Wellington
Akira Nogami and Hiroshi Hase def. Arn Anderson and Bob Cook
Round 2 - Quarter Final Match
Terry Gordy and Steve Williams def. Steiner Brothers (WCW World Tag Team Champions)

The final rounds of the tournament took place at The Great American Bash 1992

This was the last Clash of the Champions held at McAlister Field House; following the March 1993 opening of the North Charleston Coliseum, events in Charleston moved to the new arena.

[edit] Clash of the Champions XX: 20th Anniversary

September 2, 1992 in Atlanta, GA (Center Stage Theater)

This show commemorated the twentieth anniversary of professional wrestling broadcasts on WTBS.

Ricky Steamboat def. Steve Austin to win the TV Title
Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton def. Dick Slater and Greg Valentine
World Champ Ron Simmons def. Cactus Jack
The Barbarian and Butch Reed def. Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes
Rick Rude, Jake Roberts, Super Invader and Big Van Vader def. Sting, Nikita Koloff and Steiner Brothers
André the Giant did an interview at the event. This was his last U.S television appearance.

[edit] Clash of the Champions XXI

November 18, 1992 in Macon, GA (Macon Coliseum)

Brian Pillman def. Brad Armstrong
Scotty Flamingo def. Johnny B. Badd
Erik Watts and Kensuke Sasaki def. Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton
Ron Simmons and Too Cold Scorpio def. Tony Atlas, The Barbarian and Cactus Jack
Madusa fought Paul E. Dangerously to a draw
Sting fought Rick Rude to a draw
Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas def. Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes to win the Tag Team Titles

[edit] Clash of the Champions XXII

January 13, 1993 in Milwaukee, WI (The Mecca)

Cactus Jack def. Johnny B. Badd
Too Cold Scorpio def. Scotty Flamingo
Chris Benoit def. Brad Armstrong
Vinnie Vegas def. Tony Atlas
Wrecking Crew def. Johnny Gunn and Tom Zenk
Tag Team Champs Shane Douglas and Ricky Steamboat def. Brian Pillman and Steve Austin
Dustin Rhodes, Sting and Cactus Jack def. Big Van Vader, Paul Orndorff and Barry Windham inside a thundercage

[edit] Clash of the Champions XXIII

June 16, 1993 in Norfolk, VA (Norfolk Scope)

Ron Simmons def. Dick Slater
Steven Regal def. Marcus Bagwell
Maxx Payne def. Johnny B. Badd
World Champ Barry Windham def. Too Cold Scorpio
Big Van Vader, Sid Vicious and Rick Rude def. Dustin Rhodes, Sting and Davey Boy Smith
Ric Flair and Arn Anderson def. Brian Pillman and Steve Austin

[edit] Clash of the Champions XXIV

August 18, 1993 in Daytona Beach, FL (Ocean Center)

Arn Anderson and Paul Roma def. Steve Austin and Steven Regal to win the WCW Tag Team Titles
Too Cold Scorpio def. Bobby Eaton
Johnny B. Badd def. Maxx Payne
Ricky Steamboat def. Paul Orndorff to win the TV Title
Sting and Ric Flair def. Awesome Kong and King Kong
Road Warrior Hawk and Dustin Rhodes def. The Equalizer and Rick Rude
World Champ Big Van Vader def. Davey Boy Smith

[edit] Clash of the Champions XXV

November 10, 1993 in St. Petersburg, FL (Bayfront Arena)

Rick Rude fought Road Warrior Hawk to a double count out
The Shockmaster def. The Equalizer
TV Champ Steven Regal def. Johnny B. Badd
Steve Austin def. Brian Pillman
US Champ Dustin Rhodes def. Paul Orndorff
The Nasty Boys def. Sting and Davey Boy Smith
Ric Flair def. Big Van Vader

[edit] Clash of the Champions XXVI

January 27, 1994 in Baton Rouge, LA (Riverside Centroplex)

Marcus Bagwell and Too Cold Scorpio def. Paul Roma and Paul Orndorff
Ron Simmons def. Ice Train
Brian Pillman def. Robert Parker
Maxx Payne and Cactus Jack def. The Nasty Boys
Steven Regal fought Dustin Rhodes to a draw
Sting and Ric Flair def. Big Van Vader and Rick Rude

[edit] Clash of the Champions XXVII

June 23, 1994 in North Charleston, SC (North Charleston Coliseum)

Tag Team Champs Cactus Jack and Kevin Sullivan def. The Nasty Boys
The Guardian Angel def. Tex Slazenger
Steven Regal def. Larry Zbyszko to win the TV Title
Johnny B. Badd def. Steve Austin
World Champ Ric Flair def. Sting to win the International World Heavyweight Title and unify it with his own title, bringing an end to the existence of the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship, although the belt itself would now represent the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.