Welcome to another post in this latest edition of UnWrest Focus. I continue my look into WARGAMES by now focusing on the match labeled by many as The Greatest War Games Match Ever. It's one of several WarGames matches that Meltzer gave his beloved five star rating. (He also gave it to the 1987 WarGames match with War Machine. He's entitled to his opinion.) Does this match live to the hype? Is it the greatest WarGames match ever? Let's find out...
LET THE WARGAMES BEGIN!!!!
WrestleWar 1992
May 17, 1992
WarGames
Sting's Squadron (Sting, Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, and Nikita Koloff) vs. The Dangerous Alliance (Steve Austin, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, and Larry Zbyszko) (with Paul E. Dangerously and Madusa)
The cage is being lowered down to the ring. We get more fireworks going off as the rules are read by the ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta. J.R. says "Winning the coin toss is so ultimately important..." Um, not really. The Horsemen in 1991 were the only team that won the coin toss and won their match at this point.
Here comes The Dangerous Alliance. And Madusa looks absolutely beautiful in her blue shiny dress. Then here comes Sting's Squadron. Dangerously meets with the Alliance to discuss strategy. Austin is starting the match for his team. Barry Windham is starting for Sting's team.
Here we go!
Windham and Austin collide near the center of the ring. TV Champ vs. Former TV Champ. They are trading punches early! Windham gets the advantage. Shoulder tackle by Windham. Austin almost gets Windham into the cage Windham continues to attack Austin. Jesse Ventura puts over Windham's taped fist. Austin gets the advantage, but a rake to the eyes stops that. Austin nails a backdrop on Windham who almost bounces off the cage roof. Windham gets the advantage and throws Austin into the other ring. Windham almost gets Austin into the cage, but he hits a DDT instead. Austin continues to block any cage attack. Austin clotheslines Windham into the area between the two rings. AUSTIN HITS A FLYING CLOTHESLINE ON WINDHAM SENDING BOTH OF THEM INTO THE OTHER RING! Austin climbs the corner and grabs the cage roof. He tries to swing his feet into Windham's face, but he misses. Windham catches Austin dangling from the roof and sends him 7 feet down to the mat. Windham continues the attack. Austin hits the cage face first! He hits it again! Austin's face gets grated on the cage like a block of cheese. He's bleeding. Windham continues the assault as 1 minute counts down for the next period. The taped fist of Windham is covered in Austin's blood. He's biting Austin's bloody face now. Big knee lift to Austin.
Coin toss. Dangerous Alliance gets the advantage. HERE COMES RUDE! Rude goes to a vicious attack on Windham unleashing a flurry of offense. He's buying time until Austin heals up. Windham fires back, but Rude will have none of it! Shoulder spears into the stomach of Windham in the corner. Austin and Rude double team Windham. Windham gets clotheslined by Austin coming off the corner. They send Windham's head into the cage a couple times. Rude with a back chin lock.
HERE COMES STEAMBOAT!!!! The crowd erupts. He unloads with attack son Rude. Austin into the cage! Rude into the cage! DDT by Steamboat to both men!!!! This crowd is GOING NUTS! Chop by Steamboat to Austin. Austin and Steamboat now. Steamboat uses the top of the cage to kick Austin and nail a hurricanrana on Rude. Punches by Steamboat. Windham works on Austin. Steamboat works on Rude.
Here comes The Enforcer Arn Anderson!!!! Windham meets him coming in, but Anderson hits him with a DDT. Anderson goes into the other ring and nails a SPINEBUSTER ON STEAMBOAT! DOUBLE BOSTON CRAB ON STEAMBOAT BY ARN AND RUDE! DANG! Windham fights off Rude from the move and goes after Anderson. But the heels get the advantage back. 3-2 here. Steamboat chops Austin, but Rude comes over to stop Steamboat from getting any momentum. Piledriver to The Dragon. Steamboat is absolutely catapulted into the other ring by Rude. Steamboat and Rude collide and fall down in the ring from a double clothesline attempt.
Here comes The Natural Dustin Rhodes! Arn meets him coming in the ring. He kicks Arn in the face and now goes on the attack with fists! Right hand to Austin! BIG INVERTED ATOMIC DROP SENDING AUSTIN HEAD FIRST INTO THE CAGE ROOF! Clothesline! Clothesline to Arn too! Dustin goes to work on Arn. Rhodes catches Austin climbing the corner and POWERBOMBS HIM IN THE RING! The crowd is still going nuts. WINDHAM HAS ARN'S FRIGGING HEAD WEDGED BETWEEN THE RINGS AND KICKING AT THE HEAD!!! Big series of punches by Rhodes on Austin. Rude and Steamboat are locked in a Figure Four, torturing each other.
HERE COMES LARRY ZBYSZKO! Larry gets absolutely assaulted by Dustin Rhodes coming into the cage! Madusa is climbing the WarGames cage!!! She's on the roof! She's got Paul E's phone! She drops it in the ring, and Larry uses it to attack Dustin and the other members of Sting's Squadron. STING CLIMBS THE ROOF IN A HURRY AND TELLS MADUSA TO BACK OFF! Arn uses the phone on Steamboat! Rude is ripping at the bandaged face of Steamboat as Madusa comes off the cage. Austin is a damn bloody mess punching away at a comatose Dustin Rhodes. This is WarGames! Rude's fingers are literally in Steamboat's nose. Windham is rammed into the steel as is Dustin Rhodes. Rude gets on Steamboat's back, locking in the sleeper hold! The count is on...
AND IT'S STING!!!!! And he's going after Arn Anderson! BIG BULLDOG FACEPLANT BY STING! He's got Rude up against the roof of the cage!!! He presses Rude 4 times before dropping him. He goes back after Arn and throws him right into the cage face first! STING BACKDROPS A BLOODY STEVE AUSTIN RIGHT BACK INTO THE CAGE! AUSTIN'S BODY SICKENINGLY CRASHES TO THE MAT! Arn continues to be brutalized by Sting, having his face grated against the steel! Rude gets flung in between the rings as Austin hits Rhodes with a diving clothesline. Sting and Steamboat pull a leg of Rude from the middle of the two rings and are pulling him apart!
Here comes Bobby Eaton!!! He sends Sting into the cage. Rhodes is a bloody mess!!! Arn is bleeding. Eaton rips at Steamboat's face. Rhodes meets the steel again as Steamboat clotheslines Rude off of Sting's neck. Larry is working on a turnbuckle to loosen it up. Steamboat goes into the cage. The top rope is loose after Larry's twisting. This is a cluster of blood, sweat, and carnage. Damn.
Here comes Nikita Koloff!!! It's The Match Beyond! Submit or Surrender! J.R. mentions that there has been questions about whether Koloff can be trusted. Nikita goes to fight Arn and throws him against the cage. He extends his hand to Sting, and Sting takes it. Koloff pushes Sting out of the way of a double team attack, taking the brunt of it himself. They knock down Arn and Austin, and they hug it out! The crowd is absolutely losing it as Sting continues to attack Austin!!! Rude goes to work on the loosened turnbuckle. Steamboat hits him in the back with a forearm. Sting hits the Scorpion Deathlock on Arn!!! Bobby breaks it up. Bobby has the turnbuckle now which has been removed from the corner, steel back bar and all. He's twisting at the bar part. Figure Four on Larry by Dustin Rhodes! Koloff unloads with turnbucle attacks on an absolute mess that is Steve Austin. Rude breaks up the Figure Four. Koloff goes after Rude and attacks him. Slam by Rhodes on Austin. Rhodes climbs to the top and misses the elbow drop. Eaton and Larry double-team Sting. Eaton gets the loosened turnbuckle in this ring. Eaton can't seem to get it together. Larry takes the bar, which has been exposed in the back of the turnbuckle. AND HE HITS EATON BY ACCIDENT IN THE SHOULDER! STING FIGHTS OFF LARRY! ARMBAR ON EATON BY STING!!!! THE REF CALLS FOR THE BELL!!!!
Winners: Sting's Squadron
Match Grade: A+. We have a new #1 folks. That was an incredible WarGames. All ten guys absolutely shined in this match with great moments for each one. The rivalry with these guys with each other (Steamboat-Rude, Sting-Rude, Rhodes-Austin, Windham-Arn, etc.) just heightened the enjoyment of the entire match. The brutality and violence in this was also an added bonus. Add to that Madusa and Paul E. adding more flavor to the match from the outside. Bottom line: This is the best WarGames so far on this countdown, and I can see why it gets so much love from fans.
After the match, Paul E. gets in Larry's face about the finish. The rest of the Alliance is livid with Larry.
_ _ _ _ _
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 1989- Road Warriors/ Midnight Express/Dr.Death vs. Freebirds/Samoans
6. WarGames II (1987)- The Four Horsemen vs. The Superpowers
_ _ _ _ _ _
On the next UnWrest Focus WARGAMES Edition, we will look at Fall Brawl 1993 featuring the WarGames Match between the team of Sid, Vader, and Harlem Heat and the team of Sting, Davey Boy Smith, Dustin Rhodes, and... (you knew it was coming) THE SHOCKMASTER! Make sure you protect your walls and hold on to your glittered Stormtrooper helmets for this one.
Until next time, take care of yourselves, spread some awesomeness, and get ready to be shocked!
LET THE WARGAMES BEGIN!!!!
WrestleWar 1992
May 17, 1992
WarGames
Sting's Squadron (Sting, Barry Windham, Dustin Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, and Nikita Koloff) vs. The Dangerous Alliance (Steve Austin, Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, and Larry Zbyszko) (with Paul E. Dangerously and Madusa)
The cage is being lowered down to the ring. We get more fireworks going off as the rules are read by the ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta. J.R. says "Winning the coin toss is so ultimately important..." Um, not really. The Horsemen in 1991 were the only team that won the coin toss and won their match at this point.
Here comes The Dangerous Alliance. And Madusa looks absolutely beautiful in her blue shiny dress. Then here comes Sting's Squadron. Dangerously meets with the Alliance to discuss strategy. Austin is starting the match for his team. Barry Windham is starting for Sting's team.
Here we go!
Windham and Austin collide near the center of the ring. TV Champ vs. Former TV Champ. They are trading punches early! Windham gets the advantage. Shoulder tackle by Windham. Austin almost gets Windham into the cage Windham continues to attack Austin. Jesse Ventura puts over Windham's taped fist. Austin gets the advantage, but a rake to the eyes stops that. Austin nails a backdrop on Windham who almost bounces off the cage roof. Windham gets the advantage and throws Austin into the other ring. Windham almost gets Austin into the cage, but he hits a DDT instead. Austin continues to block any cage attack. Austin clotheslines Windham into the area between the two rings. AUSTIN HITS A FLYING CLOTHESLINE ON WINDHAM SENDING BOTH OF THEM INTO THE OTHER RING! Austin climbs the corner and grabs the cage roof. He tries to swing his feet into Windham's face, but he misses. Windham catches Austin dangling from the roof and sends him 7 feet down to the mat. Windham continues the attack. Austin hits the cage face first! He hits it again! Austin's face gets grated on the cage like a block of cheese. He's bleeding. Windham continues the assault as 1 minute counts down for the next period. The taped fist of Windham is covered in Austin's blood. He's biting Austin's bloody face now. Big knee lift to Austin.
Coin toss. Dangerous Alliance gets the advantage. HERE COMES RUDE! Rude goes to a vicious attack on Windham unleashing a flurry of offense. He's buying time until Austin heals up. Windham fires back, but Rude will have none of it! Shoulder spears into the stomach of Windham in the corner. Austin and Rude double team Windham. Windham gets clotheslined by Austin coming off the corner. They send Windham's head into the cage a couple times. Rude with a back chin lock.
HERE COMES STEAMBOAT!!!! The crowd erupts. He unloads with attack son Rude. Austin into the cage! Rude into the cage! DDT by Steamboat to both men!!!! This crowd is GOING NUTS! Chop by Steamboat to Austin. Austin and Steamboat now. Steamboat uses the top of the cage to kick Austin and nail a hurricanrana on Rude. Punches by Steamboat. Windham works on Austin. Steamboat works on Rude.
Here comes The Enforcer Arn Anderson!!!! Windham meets him coming in, but Anderson hits him with a DDT. Anderson goes into the other ring and nails a SPINEBUSTER ON STEAMBOAT! DOUBLE BOSTON CRAB ON STEAMBOAT BY ARN AND RUDE! DANG! Windham fights off Rude from the move and goes after Anderson. But the heels get the advantage back. 3-2 here. Steamboat chops Austin, but Rude comes over to stop Steamboat from getting any momentum. Piledriver to The Dragon. Steamboat is absolutely catapulted into the other ring by Rude. Steamboat and Rude collide and fall down in the ring from a double clothesline attempt.
Here comes The Natural Dustin Rhodes! Arn meets him coming in the ring. He kicks Arn in the face and now goes on the attack with fists! Right hand to Austin! BIG INVERTED ATOMIC DROP SENDING AUSTIN HEAD FIRST INTO THE CAGE ROOF! Clothesline! Clothesline to Arn too! Dustin goes to work on Arn. Rhodes catches Austin climbing the corner and POWERBOMBS HIM IN THE RING! The crowd is still going nuts. WINDHAM HAS ARN'S FRIGGING HEAD WEDGED BETWEEN THE RINGS AND KICKING AT THE HEAD!!! Big series of punches by Rhodes on Austin. Rude and Steamboat are locked in a Figure Four, torturing each other.
HERE COMES LARRY ZBYSZKO! Larry gets absolutely assaulted by Dustin Rhodes coming into the cage! Madusa is climbing the WarGames cage!!! She's on the roof! She's got Paul E's phone! She drops it in the ring, and Larry uses it to attack Dustin and the other members of Sting's Squadron. STING CLIMBS THE ROOF IN A HURRY AND TELLS MADUSA TO BACK OFF! Arn uses the phone on Steamboat! Rude is ripping at the bandaged face of Steamboat as Madusa comes off the cage. Austin is a damn bloody mess punching away at a comatose Dustin Rhodes. This is WarGames! Rude's fingers are literally in Steamboat's nose. Windham is rammed into the steel as is Dustin Rhodes. Rude gets on Steamboat's back, locking in the sleeper hold! The count is on...
AND IT'S STING!!!!! And he's going after Arn Anderson! BIG BULLDOG FACEPLANT BY STING! He's got Rude up against the roof of the cage!!! He presses Rude 4 times before dropping him. He goes back after Arn and throws him right into the cage face first! STING BACKDROPS A BLOODY STEVE AUSTIN RIGHT BACK INTO THE CAGE! AUSTIN'S BODY SICKENINGLY CRASHES TO THE MAT! Arn continues to be brutalized by Sting, having his face grated against the steel! Rude gets flung in between the rings as Austin hits Rhodes with a diving clothesline. Sting and Steamboat pull a leg of Rude from the middle of the two rings and are pulling him apart!
Here comes Bobby Eaton!!! He sends Sting into the cage. Rhodes is a bloody mess!!! Arn is bleeding. Eaton rips at Steamboat's face. Rhodes meets the steel again as Steamboat clotheslines Rude off of Sting's neck. Larry is working on a turnbuckle to loosen it up. Steamboat goes into the cage. The top rope is loose after Larry's twisting. This is a cluster of blood, sweat, and carnage. Damn.
Here comes Nikita Koloff!!! It's The Match Beyond! Submit or Surrender! J.R. mentions that there has been questions about whether Koloff can be trusted. Nikita goes to fight Arn and throws him against the cage. He extends his hand to Sting, and Sting takes it. Koloff pushes Sting out of the way of a double team attack, taking the brunt of it himself. They knock down Arn and Austin, and they hug it out! The crowd is absolutely losing it as Sting continues to attack Austin!!! Rude goes to work on the loosened turnbuckle. Steamboat hits him in the back with a forearm. Sting hits the Scorpion Deathlock on Arn!!! Bobby breaks it up. Bobby has the turnbuckle now which has been removed from the corner, steel back bar and all. He's twisting at the bar part. Figure Four on Larry by Dustin Rhodes! Koloff unloads with turnbucle attacks on an absolute mess that is Steve Austin. Rude breaks up the Figure Four. Koloff goes after Rude and attacks him. Slam by Rhodes on Austin. Rhodes climbs to the top and misses the elbow drop. Eaton and Larry double-team Sting. Eaton gets the loosened turnbuckle in this ring. Eaton can't seem to get it together. Larry takes the bar, which has been exposed in the back of the turnbuckle. AND HE HITS EATON BY ACCIDENT IN THE SHOULDER! STING FIGHTS OFF LARRY! ARMBAR ON EATON BY STING!!!! THE REF CALLS FOR THE BELL!!!!
Winners: Sting's Squadron
Match Grade: A+. We have a new #1 folks. That was an incredible WarGames. All ten guys absolutely shined in this match with great moments for each one. The rivalry with these guys with each other (Steamboat-Rude, Sting-Rude, Rhodes-Austin, Windham-Arn, etc.) just heightened the enjoyment of the entire match. The brutality and violence in this was also an added bonus. Add to that Madusa and Paul E. adding more flavor to the match from the outside. Bottom line: This is the best WarGames so far on this countdown, and I can see why it gets so much love from fans.
After the match, Paul E. gets in Larry's face about the finish. The rest of the Alliance is livid with Larry.
_ _ _ _ _
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 1989- Road Warriors/ Midnight Express/Dr.Death vs. Freebirds/Samoans
6. WarGames II (1987)- The Four Horsemen vs. The Superpowers
_ _ _ _ _ _
On the next UnWrest Focus WARGAMES Edition, we will look at Fall Brawl 1993 featuring the WarGames Match between the team of Sid, Vader, and Harlem Heat and the team of Sting, Davey Boy Smith, Dustin Rhodes, and... (you knew it was coming) THE SHOCKMASTER! Make sure you protect your walls and hold on to your glittered Stormtrooper helmets for this one.
Until next time, take care of yourselves, spread some awesomeness, and get ready to be shocked!
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