A strange-brew concept that feels like an attempt to replicate the early unpredictability of the Royal Rumble with the unnecessarily complicated final Battle Bowl.
The lottery tag-team matches are, really, bereft of much intrigue or interest and feel genuinely random which, whilst maintaining kayfabe, result in a myriad of dull matches with little on the line. It feels like many storylines are put on hold in an attempt at spectacle, which doesn't come off.
*/***** Marcus Bagwell and Jimmy Garvin defeated Michael Hayes and Tracy Smothers
**/***** Steve Austin and Rick Rude defeated Van Hammer and Big Josh
*/***** Dustin Rhodes and Richard Morton defeated Larry Zbyszko and El Gigante (with Madusa)
*/***** Bill Kazmaier and Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Mike Graham
**/***** Lex Luger and Arn Anderson (with Harley Race) defeated Terrance Taylor and The Z-Man
*/***** Ricky Steamboat and Todd Champion defeated Cactus Jack and Buddy Lee Parker
**/***** Sting and Abdullah the Butcher defeated Brian Pillman and Bobby Eaton
*/***** Big Van Vader and Mr. Hughes defeated Rick Steiner and The Nightstalker
**/***** Scott Steiner and Firebreaker Chip defeated Arachnaman and Johnny B. Badd
*/***** Ron Simmons and Thomas Rich defeated Steve Armstrong and P. N. News
Sting won BattleBowl - last eliminating Lex Luger
Much of the WCW roster at this point is dire; Van Hammer, Big Josh, El Gigante, Bill Kazmaire (why team Liger with this lug?), Buddy Lee Parker, Arachnaman, Nighstalker, Mr Hughes, Mike Graham...all grot.
The selecting of names is painful, Hyatt and Magnum T. A. have to play second fiddle to an overbearing Bischoff. The heel/face dressing room split doesn't help either. It would've helped if these segments happened backstage.
Positives - There is some fun in the tease of Freebird partners facing off but they are staggeringly uncool at this stage of their careers. Austin and Rude show great chemistry, somehow making Josh and Hammer look competitive, and at least there is some advancement of the Dangerous Alliance stable/storyline, Paul E was a fantastic antagonist.
Zbyszko bumps for El Gigante like a boss, one of the few people to ever make him look remotely competent, what a pro. Arn Anderson continues to be one of WCW's MVPs whatever mad situation he is thrust into, Terence Taylor works his ass off too, managing to get the fans to cheer him as he makes near falls against the Champ.
Rick Steiner's exchanges with Vader are hard-hitting, they work around the pitiful Bryan Clarke and Mr Hughes.
The BattleBowl struggles to be anything other than a battle royal with a very complex entry and exit system but at least Sting wins and furthers his ongoing issues with Rude and Luger.
The lottery tag-team matches are, really, bereft of much intrigue or interest and feel genuinely random which, whilst maintaining kayfabe, result in a myriad of dull matches with little on the line. It feels like many storylines are put on hold in an attempt at spectacle, which doesn't come off.
*/***** Marcus Bagwell and Jimmy Garvin defeated Michael Hayes and Tracy Smothers
**/***** Steve Austin and Rick Rude defeated Van Hammer and Big Josh
*/***** Dustin Rhodes and Richard Morton defeated Larry Zbyszko and El Gigante (with Madusa)
*/***** Bill Kazmaier and Jushin Thunder Liger defeated Diamond Dallas Page and Mike Graham
**/***** Lex Luger and Arn Anderson (with Harley Race) defeated Terrance Taylor and The Z-Man
*/***** Ricky Steamboat and Todd Champion defeated Cactus Jack and Buddy Lee Parker
**/***** Sting and Abdullah the Butcher defeated Brian Pillman and Bobby Eaton
*/***** Big Van Vader and Mr. Hughes defeated Rick Steiner and The Nightstalker
**/***** Scott Steiner and Firebreaker Chip defeated Arachnaman and Johnny B. Badd
*/***** Ron Simmons and Thomas Rich defeated Steve Armstrong and P. N. News
Sting won BattleBowl - last eliminating Lex Luger
Much of the WCW roster at this point is dire; Van Hammer, Big Josh, El Gigante, Bill Kazmaire (why team Liger with this lug?), Buddy Lee Parker, Arachnaman, Nighstalker, Mr Hughes, Mike Graham...all grot.
The selecting of names is painful, Hyatt and Magnum T. A. have to play second fiddle to an overbearing Bischoff. The heel/face dressing room split doesn't help either. It would've helped if these segments happened backstage.
Positives - There is some fun in the tease of Freebird partners facing off but they are staggeringly uncool at this stage of their careers. Austin and Rude show great chemistry, somehow making Josh and Hammer look competitive, and at least there is some advancement of the Dangerous Alliance stable/storyline, Paul E was a fantastic antagonist.
Zbyszko bumps for El Gigante like a boss, one of the few people to ever make him look remotely competent, what a pro. Arn Anderson continues to be one of WCW's MVPs whatever mad situation he is thrust into, Terence Taylor works his ass off too, managing to get the fans to cheer him as he makes near falls against the Champ.
Rick Steiner's exchanges with Vader are hard-hitting, they work around the pitiful Bryan Clarke and Mr Hughes.
The BattleBowl struggles to be anything other than a battle royal with a very complex entry and exit system but at least Sting wins and furthers his ongoing issues with Rude and Luger.