83 Weeks - Clash Of The Champions XXX [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Clash of the Champions 30

Clash of the Champions 30 took place on January 25th, 1995 from Paradise, Nevada at Ceasar's Palace. It drew a sellout 3,500 fans, of which 2,300 were paid. With the high ticket prices ($50, $40, $25 and $15), the gate was in excess of $60,000 so from a gate standpoint it was the biggest Clash ever. 

It did a 3.5 rating and a 5.6 share, so it was viewed in 2,160,000 homes during an average minute. 

This event would be the start of a relationship between WCW and Ceasar's Palace where they'd host several Halloween Havocs in a row. How did that come to be?

It was originally supposed to be in Hampton, VA. Meltzer reported -

The reason the Clash was moved from its original site of Hampton, VA to Las Vegas was because the NATPE convention was being held in Vegas from 1/24 through 1/26. The idea was that WCW would hold a major event, get major TV execs there and show off a hot product with Hogan and Savage. While it didn't appear there were any TV types there with the exception of two or three faces like Mitch Ackerman from Disney that are there for big shows all the time anyway, WCW did seem to come out strong from a psychological standpoint from NATPE because for the first year in history they stole the spotlight from WWF. 

We're coming off of Starrcade 1994 where we saw Hulk Hogan successfully defend his World Title against....The Butcher...also known as Brutus Beefcake

After that, Hulk would start a feud against a real main eventer, Vader and they'd have their first ever match at the SuperBrawl pay per view, in February.

Meltzer reported - In another mistake that only could happen here, on the television show that aired over the weekend in Las Vegas plugging the 1/25 Clash, the phone number given for tickets was of the Hampton, VA Coliseum. About 1,000 of the 4,000 seats are sold with three weeks to go but they are almost all expensive ($50) seats so it's nearly $40,000 in already. 

Meltzer reported - The cruiserweight tournament has been delayed for a while because nobody has gotten their act together as far as bringing in outside talent. With Eric Bischoff in Japan this week for the Tokyo Dome, it's expected he'll request one or two wrestlers like Shinjiro Otani and Chris Benoit. They have a verbal deal with Antonio Pena to send in two wrestlers. Pena is looking to send in Jerry Estrada and Eddy Guerrero, although I've heard Bischoff didn't want Guerrero. 

This tournament wouldn't happen until 1996. And hopefully the end of what Meltzer wrote isn't true?

Meltzer reported - Hogan has a meeting this week to discuss a revival of "Thunder in Paradise" with a new name of "Thunderforce" in which a four-person team of Hogan, Sting, Mr. T and a women martial artists would all be equal co-stars. 

Meltzer reported - Supposedly WCW's losses this year are cut to $3.5 million as opposed to the $5 to $6 million of previous years, but that the figure is misleading because Hogan's salary comes from the Turner Home Entertainment ledger rather than the WCW ledger and Hogan between salary and bonuses and percentages should be no less than $2.7 million and probably considerably higher for his six months so the real losses are the highest ever. Because of this, there is considerable pressure to cut losses by knocking about $500,000 off the payroll and you can imagine the internal fighting over whose friends paycheck gets nailed.

The Honkytonk Man deal was that he refused to do a job for Johnny B. Badd as asked at Starrcade. According to one source, he would have done it had he received a contract and WCW was willing to offer him one but the two sides were about $50,000 apart on a price tag. It looks as though Arn Anderson will be replacing him against Johnny B. Badd at the Clash. Bunkhouse Buck worked as his replacement on the house shows this week.

On the live show, Bischoff joked that Honkytonk Man couldn't stand the heat and went back to school teaching. Honkytonk was working as a phys ed teacher before he went back to WCW. 

Meltzer reported - Van Hammer (real name Mark Hildreth, 35) was arrested on two counts of possession of illegally prescribed drugs. Hammer turned himself in a few weeks ago while also arrested was Lawrenceville, GA physician Brian Dillingham who wrote the prescriptions. No details on what drugs were involved, however the humorous part of the story was when WCW was contacted in the newspaper story, a spokesman claimed Hammer hadn't worked for the company in two years. There was a guy who looked just like him who had the same name and unfortunately wrestled just like him on television just a few weeks ago, just before he had turned himself in. 

Meltzer reported - Jean Paul Levesque gave notice on 1/10 that he'd be leaving for the WWF, turning down a contract believed to be between $1,500 and $1,800 per week. Apparently Levesque's decision was based on the track record of WWF vs. WCW when it comes to creating new superstars and felt that even though WCW had plans to make him and Steve Regal the tag team champions with Sherri as their manager feuding with a babyface Harlem Heat in 1995, that he'd take his chances without the guaranteed money since Titan is obviously going to push new blood this year as hard as it can. At company meetings, Eric Bischoff was fuming over Levesque's lack of loyalty because he took him from nothing and this is the respect he gets. After the example set with Rick Steamboat, I can't believe anyone can question a WCW wrestler about making a decision and even considering loyalty to the company. 

What's your memories of him leaving? Did you see him as a potential superstar?

It's safe to say that he made the right decision

Meltzer reported - Mark Madden helped promote the show in Pittsburgh and was the subject of a great deal of controversy this past week. While in the midst of promoting the show, Eric Bischoff threatened Madden with firing on the 900 line supposedly for his reporting that Lex Luger would be coming to WCW but probably as much for him discussing on their 900 line the possibility of Vader shooting on Hogan and then discounting the possibility. 

There doesn't appear to be any truth whatsoever in regard to the Luger story, however ever since the WCW Hotline gained attention when Gene Okerlund started hinting that Bret Hart and Yokozuna were going to jump, the new thing has been to say people are leaving even if it isn't true which has happened a half-dozen times in the past few weeks. 

Even after Madden was reprimanded for doing the same thing, Okerlund then a few days later talked about rumors of Luger coming and Okerlund and Heenan teased Ric Flair and Roddy Piper jumps on television as teases to get calls to the point that even internally people were questioning the nature of the rip-offs. 

In the dark match, Brad & Scott Armstrong beat Dick Slater & Bunkhouse buck in 8:32. Slater went to hit Brad with his cowboy boot, but Brad ducked and Buck got hit and was pinned. *

Arn Anderson retained the TV title over Johnny B. Badd in 7:38. This was the best of their series of matches thus far. Badd dominated opening with a dropkick and a dive over the top onto Arn and Rob Parker. A really creative spot saw Anderson come off the top, Badd raise his foot but Anderson block getting hit and hit an elbow drop. A lot of fans were screaming "Haku" at Meng. Badd hit the KO punch but knocked Anderson out of the ring. Parker revived Anderson by pouring a pitcher of water on his face. As Badd chased Parker around and into the ring, Anderson caught him with a DDT for the pin. The reaction to Anderson winning was about 90% positive. ***

Arn beat Johnny B. Badd for the WCW TV title on the live 1/8 show  

Gene Okerlund interviews Kevin Sullivan and the Butcher, with Sullivan saying that he and the Butcher are prepared for what lies ahead and that Big Van Vader, Harley Race, and Ric Flair being there will work in their favor.  Sullivan also implies that Randy Savage might turn on Hulk Hogan in the main event.

A  music video of Alex Wright airs where we get clips of his matches through multiple television monitors.

Wright pinned Eaton in 7:28. The announcers have taken Wright's age back from 19 to 18. Match was okay although nobody cares about Wright. It's too bad, he has potential and he's got the kind of look that women would go for but by shoving that down people's throat, it works in reverse. Eaton kicked out of Wright's crossbody off the top rope, then Wright kicked out of Eaton's Alabama jam before Wright scored a pin with a second crossbody. **

Talk about how Alex Wright came to be in WCW

It's been said over the years that you thought he was going to be the next Hulk Hogan. Is that true?

Gene Okerlund recaps the issues surrounding the Hulk Hogan-Vader match for SuperBrawl before welcoming Vader out for an interview.  Vader accuses Hogan of dodging him, saying that his time is running out. Harley Race is not with Vader because before the show he was in an automobile accident that permanently ended his career as a manager.

Ric Flair comes to the ringside area with two women. He makes peace with Vader and takes a seat in the crowd. Bobby Heenan welcomes Flair back to WCW.

Harlem Heat retained WCW tag titles beating Marcus Bagwell & The Patriot in 9:45. All four worked hard. Lots of "USA" chants live. Bagwell was worked over most of the way. Match was better than average but the finish was really messed up with Sherri on the apron holding her shoe waiting for the spot that Booker T had called for 15 seconds which just made everyone look stupid. Sherri took an outrageous bump when they finally got to it, as Bagwell reversed T's whip and T got hit with the high heel shoe. Bagwell had T pinned but Stevie Ray kicked Bagwell in the face, he went over backwards, and T pinned him. **1/4

Gene Okerlund interviews Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Jimmy Hart.  Hogan tasks Hart with being the lookout with Vader and Ric Flair at ringside.

Gene Okerlund hypes SuperBrawl 5 that will take place in Baltimore, Maryland.  The only match signed so far is Hogan against Vader for the WCW Championship

Call 1-900-909-9900 to hear what is happening behind the scenes at the Clash

Sting beat Avalanche via referee stop in a weird finish in 5:22. Avalanche controlled early with the power moves. After a collision, Avalanche went down and Sting fell against the ropes and went down accidentally head-butting Avalanche in the groin. Sting then used four Stinger splashes before putting on the scorpion. Avalanche was shaking his head and tapping out like a concession but special ref Guardian Angel didn't call it. Nick Patrick then came out and stopped the match ruling Avalanche had submitted. Angel and Patrick started arguing with Angel saying he was the ref in charge. 

Angel attacked Patrick and Sting then started punching Angel. Avalanche and Angel started to work on Sting and Angel pulled out his belt but before he could do any real damage, Bagwell & Patriot made the save. The angle was really strange as it appeared it was totally mistimed as Bagwell & Patriot came out for the save before they'd even gotten any heat up. 

After the match Gene Okerlund in a very clumsy manner said to Angel something to the effect of "You're not going back to Big Bubba Rogers," which in fact he is and he at the end of his interview said he was Big Bubba Rogers going back to the first gimmick that got him over in the mid-80s. Talk about going full circle in life. Match was watchable, but easily the worst thing on the show. *1/4

When Ray Traylor came to WCW at the end of 1993, he was The Boss, then he was The Guardian Angel and here he turned heel and went back to Big Bubba Rogers. Whose idea was that?

Hogan & Savage beat Kevin Sullivan & Butcher in 11:04. Butcher got the sleeper and Hogan was out. Savage dropped the elbow off the top on Hogan and he popped up and made a comeback. Savage started selling including taking a Jerry Estrada style bump over the top rope. Finally he made the hot tag. Hogan got the foot in the face on Butcher, Savage dropped the elbow, Hogan did the legdrop and 1-2-3. After the match Vader jumped in and knocked Savage out of the ring. Hogan punched him three times but Vader didn't sell. 

Vader power bombed Hogan, who got right back up. Savage & Hogan double teamed Vader and at some point while either doing the power bomb or taking the bump, Vader ripped his pants. Jimmy Hart threw each a chair and Vader backed off and they posed to end the show. Whatever the purpose was for Flair to be there and the plans of what to do were thwarted for reasons that are unclear although it was supposed to only be a tease at this point. *1/2

How did Butcher get another main event match here?

Did Vader have a problem with Hulk no-selling his powerbomb? Vader made that one of the most devastating moves in wrestling over the previous few years, and here Hulk gets up like it was nothing

We've talked about how Hulk didn't want to work with Vader before. What brought this together?

How would you rate this Clash of the Champions?

• Thumbs up 20 (09.0%)
• Thumbs down 164 (73.9%)
• In the middle 38 (17.1%)