Welcome to the latest post in the UnWrest Focus series looking at WarGames. We are now in 1997, and we're looking at the continuing feud between WCW and the nWo. In particular, we're looking at the nWo's complete disdain for the older talent in WCW, in particular Arn Anderson and Ric Flair in this situation. Arn Anderson had to retire as an in-ring performer due to a surgery that forced his retirement. From one of the most underrated talkers in wrestling history, Arn's retirement speech bordered on reality as he offered his "spot" on the Four Horsemen to Curt Hennig (Mr. Perfect in WWF). Check this out: The Enforcer Retires; Long Live The Enforcer .
Great moment, right? Makes you feel good about watching wrestling? Well, never one to turn down an opportunity to mock something to get a cheap pop, Kevin Nash and the nWo went SNL on the whole situation the following week on Nitro. This again broke barriers as it introduced mock comedy into professional wrestling on a main stage, and it definitely bordered or crossed the line on inappropriate. Check this out: MY SPOT!
The next week, Ric Flair cut another great promo on the nWo and the realities of being an older wrestler: Ric Flair on the nWo and the realities of being an older wrestler.
So, this has definitely gone beyond just WCW vs. nWo. It now is a matter of pride and honor as Ric Flair and The Horsemen look to avenge the honor of their former Enforcer, Arn Anderson against the nWo's team of Kevin Nash, Syxx, Buff Bagwell, and Konnan.
LET THE WAR GAMES BEGIN!
Fall Brawl '97
September 14, 1997
WarGames
Team WCW/Horsemen (Flair, Hennig, Benoit, and Mongo) vs. Team nWo (Nash, Syxx, Bagwell, and Konnan)
Prior to the match, the nWo seemingly attacked Curt Hennig. And Hennig's ability to be in the match has been put into question.
Michael Buffer gives us the ring introductions for the match and goes over the rules. The nWo theme "Rockhouse" plays, and here they come. The Horsemen make their way out to a thunderous ovation for Ric Flair. Bagwell is starting us off as is Benoit.
The bell rings. Benoit gets into the ring with Buff. Buff spends time just mocking Benoit and posing. He slaps Benoit, and Benoit just unloads on him. Strikes in the corner, and Buff goes flying into the cage wall already. Big chop by Benoit. Buff hits the wall again. Slap and chop by Benoit. Benoit sends Buff back into the cage wall. Benoit SUPLEXES BUFF AGAINST THE CAGE WALL. Another chop. A flying headbutt off the top misses by Benoit. Bagwell with the stomps and choke on Benoit. Benoit gets introduced to the cage face first. "We Want Sting"- The crowd. (They're gonna be disappointed.) Dropkick by Buff. He continues to attack. BENOIT GETS BACK BODYDROPPED AGAINST THE CAGE! (So far in these last four minutes, they're taking more bumps against the cage than anyone else has in the past 2 years.) Buff chokes Benoit with his foot. The nWo won the coin toss. (Here's a strategy for WarGames: just turn into a jerk before the match. That way, you'll win the coin toss. You may not win the match, but you'll get the coin toss at least.) Buff goes back to work on Benoit by choking him. Benoit is fighting Buff with kicks and strikes.
Here comes Konnan! Benoit kicks him as he's going down the corner. Suplex to Konnan. Buff slammed on top of Konnan. Konnan thrown into the cage. Buff gets some of the cage as well. Buff kicks Benoit down low, and Konnan gets a DDT. Double-team stomp by Buff and Konnan. Benoit is thrown between the rings and is rolled into the other one. Konnan throws him into the cage.
HERE COMES MONGO!!!! Big clotheslines by Mongo! Slams for both of them! Football tackle takedown by Mongo. Mongo and Benoit whip Buff and Konnan. Konnan leapfrogs over Buff, but they both get attacked by Benoit and Mongo on the other side. Lol. Good spot there. Buff gets choked by a rope and Benoit's foot. Mongo chokes Konnan on the middle rope in one ring while Benoit follows Buff into the other ring. HUGE CHOP by Benoit in the corner. Mongo mounts Konnan and punches him.
HERE COMES SYXX! Benoit catches him coming in, and the crowd pops. Syxx gets thrown into the cage. (Benoit is wrestling like two men in this match.) Syxx gets thrown into Buff, and Benoit chops them both down. BIG Clothesline to Syxx by Benoit. MONGO THROWS SYXX UP AGAINST THE CAGE CEILING AND SENDS HIM CRASHING BACK DOWN TO THE MAT FOR A BIG POP FROM THE CROWD! Crossface is in, but Buff breaks it up. Mongo gets double-teamed by Konnan and Buff. Kicks by Syxx into the ribs of Mongo. This place is starting to get electric here for Flair's inevitable entry into this match. Syxx goes for the Bronco Buster, but Benoit just throws him into the cage in the corner! Here comes Hennig with a sling on. Syxx meets the cage again thanks to Benoit. Benoit has Syxx in the other ring and chops down Syxx.
HERE COMES FLAIR! BIG POP! PUNCHES TO SYXX! CHOPS FOR ALL 3 NWO GUYS! A WOOO!!!! The crowd is popping well for this. Syxx gets thrown into the cage, and Flair rakes his face against it. Backbreaker by Mongo on Konnan. Flair takes Syxx into the other ring and again throws him into the cage. BIG CHOP to Syxx. Nash is just waiting...
HERE COMES KEVIN NASH!!!! SIDEWALK SLAM BY NASH TO FLAIR! Benoit goes after Nash with venom, but Nash catches Benoit and slams him up against the cage. Nash goes back into the other ring to help beat up Mongo. "WE WANT STING!" chant from the crowd. Flair's face gets raked up against the cage by Syxx, but Flair answers back with an elbow. nWo is using their 4-3 advantage well. Benoit continues to shine in this match attacking Konnan.
HERE COMES HENNIG, sling and all. Hennig takes his sling off. He's got handcuffs. AND HE DECKS MONGO WITH A FIST FULL OF HANDCUFFS! IT WAS A SWERVE! BY GOD! BY GOD! IT WAS A SWERVE! CURT HENNIG IS nWo!!!! He attacks Benoit and attacks Flair violently. 3-1 attack on Flair. The Horsemen are being cuffed to the cage. Flair is rolled into the ring with the handcuffed Horsemen. Hennig puts his boot on top of Flair's head. This isn't a match. It's just more storyline garbage now. Nash asks Benoit if he surrenders. He spits on Nash. Mongo refuses to surrender either. He asks Flair. He gives Flair an elbow to the head. Buff asks Benoit. He gets some spit. JACKKNIFE TO FLAIR. Benoit refuses to quit. Mongo refuses as well. Benoit tells them to "Bite Me." Flair is a heap in the center of the ring. Hennig goes outside the cage. They drag Flair to where his head is in the doorway, and Hennig has the door ready to crush Flair's head. Mongo says "Stop it." The Horsemen surrender. And Hennig crushes Flair's head against the cage anyways. Nash: "DEATH OF THE HORSEMEN RIGHT IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD."
Winners: Team nWo
Match Grade: D. And now, they just officially killed the town and WarGames once and for all. Well, there's more WarGames matches, but this is where WarGames just lost any and all meaning. The only reason I'm not calling this a complete and utter failure was the performance of Chris Benoit here. Benoit was the star of this match with the type of performance that WCW should have used to promote him more. Of course, this would be forgotten the next night as Benoit didn't have nWo on his chest nor was one of Hogan's real-life running buddies. But that performance and Syxx's bumps (which also deserve some praise) saved this from being a complete utter dud. This is the upteenth time they basically sacrificed Ric Flair and The Horsemen for the sake of the nWo, and in the process this time, they actually killed any of the spirit that WarGames had left. Unfortunately, the next year's match put more dirt on that grave.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
WarGames Ranked (Thus Far)1. WarGames (1992)- The Dangerous Alliance vs. Sting's Squadron
2. WarGames (1988)- Horsemen vs. Dusty's Team
3. WarGames (1991)- The Horsemen/Zbyzsko vs. Sting, The Steiners, and Pillman
4. WarGames I (1987)- The Four Horsemen vs. The Dream Team
5. WarGames (1994)- The Rhodes and The Nastys vs. The Stud Stable
6. WarGames (1989) - Road Warriors/ Midnight Express/Dr.Death vs. Freebirds/Samoans
7. WarGames (1996)- Team nWo vs. Team WCW
8. WarGames II (1987)- The Four Horsemen vs. The Superpowers
9. WarGames (1997)- Team WCW/Horsemen vs. Team nWo
10. WarGames (1993)- Sid, Vader, Harlem Heat vs. Sting, Bulldog, Dustin Rhodes, and Shockmaster
11. WarGames (1995)- Hulkamaniacs vs. The Dungeon of Doom
_ _ _ _
Next time on UnWrest Focus WARGAMES, we finish off the Fall Brawl WarGames with the stupidest WarGames match perhaps ever. Can this overtake the 1995 WarGames as the worst ever? How much further can WarGames sink? What kind of trap doors and smoke and mirrors do we need to sink to in order for this to get any worse? Enter Warrior.
Well, I signed up for this mess. I might as well finish it off folks. See you next time. Until then, take care of yourselves, spread some awesomeness, and be prepared for a Mystery Science Theater 3000-type post next time.
Great moment, right? Makes you feel good about watching wrestling? Well, never one to turn down an opportunity to mock something to get a cheap pop, Kevin Nash and the nWo went SNL on the whole situation the following week on Nitro. This again broke barriers as it introduced mock comedy into professional wrestling on a main stage, and it definitely bordered or crossed the line on inappropriate. Check this out: MY SPOT!
The next week, Ric Flair cut another great promo on the nWo and the realities of being an older wrestler: Ric Flair on the nWo and the realities of being an older wrestler.
So, this has definitely gone beyond just WCW vs. nWo. It now is a matter of pride and honor as Ric Flair and The Horsemen look to avenge the honor of their former Enforcer, Arn Anderson against the nWo's team of Kevin Nash, Syxx, Buff Bagwell, and Konnan.
LET THE WAR GAMES BEGIN!
Fall Brawl '97
September 14, 1997
WarGames
Team WCW/Horsemen (Flair, Hennig, Benoit, and Mongo) vs. Team nWo (Nash, Syxx, Bagwell, and Konnan)
Prior to the match, the nWo seemingly attacked Curt Hennig. And Hennig's ability to be in the match has been put into question.
Michael Buffer gives us the ring introductions for the match and goes over the rules. The nWo theme "Rockhouse" plays, and here they come. The Horsemen make their way out to a thunderous ovation for Ric Flair. Bagwell is starting us off as is Benoit.
The bell rings. Benoit gets into the ring with Buff. Buff spends time just mocking Benoit and posing. He slaps Benoit, and Benoit just unloads on him. Strikes in the corner, and Buff goes flying into the cage wall already. Big chop by Benoit. Buff hits the wall again. Slap and chop by Benoit. Benoit sends Buff back into the cage wall. Benoit SUPLEXES BUFF AGAINST THE CAGE WALL. Another chop. A flying headbutt off the top misses by Benoit. Bagwell with the stomps and choke on Benoit. Benoit gets introduced to the cage face first. "We Want Sting"- The crowd. (They're gonna be disappointed.) Dropkick by Buff. He continues to attack. BENOIT GETS BACK BODYDROPPED AGAINST THE CAGE! (So far in these last four minutes, they're taking more bumps against the cage than anyone else has in the past 2 years.) Buff chokes Benoit with his foot. The nWo won the coin toss. (Here's a strategy for WarGames: just turn into a jerk before the match. That way, you'll win the coin toss. You may not win the match, but you'll get the coin toss at least.) Buff goes back to work on Benoit by choking him. Benoit is fighting Buff with kicks and strikes.
Here comes Konnan! Benoit kicks him as he's going down the corner. Suplex to Konnan. Buff slammed on top of Konnan. Konnan thrown into the cage. Buff gets some of the cage as well. Buff kicks Benoit down low, and Konnan gets a DDT. Double-team stomp by Buff and Konnan. Benoit is thrown between the rings and is rolled into the other one. Konnan throws him into the cage.
HERE COMES MONGO!!!! Big clotheslines by Mongo! Slams for both of them! Football tackle takedown by Mongo. Mongo and Benoit whip Buff and Konnan. Konnan leapfrogs over Buff, but they both get attacked by Benoit and Mongo on the other side. Lol. Good spot there. Buff gets choked by a rope and Benoit's foot. Mongo chokes Konnan on the middle rope in one ring while Benoit follows Buff into the other ring. HUGE CHOP by Benoit in the corner. Mongo mounts Konnan and punches him.
HERE COMES SYXX! Benoit catches him coming in, and the crowd pops. Syxx gets thrown into the cage. (Benoit is wrestling like two men in this match.) Syxx gets thrown into Buff, and Benoit chops them both down. BIG Clothesline to Syxx by Benoit. MONGO THROWS SYXX UP AGAINST THE CAGE CEILING AND SENDS HIM CRASHING BACK DOWN TO THE MAT FOR A BIG POP FROM THE CROWD! Crossface is in, but Buff breaks it up. Mongo gets double-teamed by Konnan and Buff. Kicks by Syxx into the ribs of Mongo. This place is starting to get electric here for Flair's inevitable entry into this match. Syxx goes for the Bronco Buster, but Benoit just throws him into the cage in the corner! Here comes Hennig with a sling on. Syxx meets the cage again thanks to Benoit. Benoit has Syxx in the other ring and chops down Syxx.
HERE COMES FLAIR! BIG POP! PUNCHES TO SYXX! CHOPS FOR ALL 3 NWO GUYS! A WOOO!!!! The crowd is popping well for this. Syxx gets thrown into the cage, and Flair rakes his face against it. Backbreaker by Mongo on Konnan. Flair takes Syxx into the other ring and again throws him into the cage. BIG CHOP to Syxx. Nash is just waiting...
HERE COMES KEVIN NASH!!!! SIDEWALK SLAM BY NASH TO FLAIR! Benoit goes after Nash with venom, but Nash catches Benoit and slams him up against the cage. Nash goes back into the other ring to help beat up Mongo. "WE WANT STING!" chant from the crowd. Flair's face gets raked up against the cage by Syxx, but Flair answers back with an elbow. nWo is using their 4-3 advantage well. Benoit continues to shine in this match attacking Konnan.
HERE COMES HENNIG, sling and all. Hennig takes his sling off. He's got handcuffs. AND HE DECKS MONGO WITH A FIST FULL OF HANDCUFFS! IT WAS A SWERVE! BY GOD! BY GOD! IT WAS A SWERVE! CURT HENNIG IS nWo!!!! He attacks Benoit and attacks Flair violently. 3-1 attack on Flair. The Horsemen are being cuffed to the cage. Flair is rolled into the ring with the handcuffed Horsemen. Hennig puts his boot on top of Flair's head. This isn't a match. It's just more storyline garbage now. Nash asks Benoit if he surrenders. He spits on Nash. Mongo refuses to surrender either. He asks Flair. He gives Flair an elbow to the head. Buff asks Benoit. He gets some spit. JACKKNIFE TO FLAIR. Benoit refuses to quit. Mongo refuses as well. Benoit tells them to "Bite Me." Flair is a heap in the center of the ring. Hennig goes outside the cage. They drag Flair to where his head is in the doorway, and Hennig has the door ready to crush Flair's head. Mongo says "Stop it." The Horsemen surrender. And Hennig crushes Flair's head against the cage anyways. Nash: "DEATH OF THE HORSEMEN RIGHT IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD."
Winners: Team nWo
Match Grade: D. And now, they just officially killed the town and WarGames once and for all. Well, there's more WarGames matches, but this is where WarGames just lost any and all meaning. The only reason I'm not calling this a complete and utter failure was the performance of Chris Benoit here. Benoit was the star of this match with the type of performance that WCW should have used to promote him more. Of course, this would be forgotten the next night as Benoit didn't have nWo on his chest nor was one of Hogan's real-life running buddies. But that performance and Syxx's bumps (which also deserve some praise) saved this from being a complete utter dud. This is the upteenth time they basically sacrificed Ric Flair and The Horsemen for the sake of the nWo, and in the process this time, they actually killed any of the spirit that WarGames had left. Unfortunately, the next year's match put more dirt on that grave.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
WarGames Ranked (Thus Far)1. WarGames (1992)- The Dangerous Alliance vs. Sting's Squadron
2. WarGames (1988)- Horsemen vs. Dusty's Team
3. WarGames (1991)- The Horsemen/Zbyzsko vs. Sting, The Steiners, and Pillman
4. WarGames I (1987)- The Four Horsemen vs. The Dream Team
5. WarGames (1994)- The Rhodes and The Nastys vs. The Stud Stable
6. WarGames (1989) - Road Warriors/ Midnight Express/Dr.Death vs. Freebirds/Samoans
7. WarGames (1996)- Team nWo vs. Team WCW
8. WarGames II (1987)- The Four Horsemen vs. The Superpowers
9. WarGames (1997)- Team WCW/Horsemen vs. Team nWo
10. WarGames (1993)- Sid, Vader, Harlem Heat vs. Sting, Bulldog, Dustin Rhodes, and Shockmaster
11. WarGames (1995)- Hulkamaniacs vs. The Dungeon of Doom
_ _ _ _
Next time on UnWrest Focus WARGAMES, we finish off the Fall Brawl WarGames with the stupidest WarGames match perhaps ever. Can this overtake the 1995 WarGames as the worst ever? How much further can WarGames sink? What kind of trap doors and smoke and mirrors do we need to sink to in order for this to get any worse? Enter Warrior.
Well, I signed up for this mess. I might as well finish it off folks. See you next time. Until then, take care of yourselves, spread some awesomeness, and be prepared for a Mystery Science Theater 3000-type post next time.
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