WCW Fall Brawl 1996 Review - Sting Walks Away!

[@RedSoxFanatic4Life]

It’s incredible to think that WCW was this great in 1996 and within 5 years the company would cease to exist.

[@e11aguru]

Yeah. At that point it was WWF that people thought would be put out of business. WCW was on top of the world.

[@chrisguardiano6143]

@@e11aguru especially since the WWF still had the cartoony characters, Fake Diesel & Fake Razor Ramon & those awful "Billionaire Ted" skits. Heck Raw was still taped at that point. It wasn't until Stone Cold started feuding with Brian Pillman & then Bret Hart that November that the seeds that would eventually become "The Attitude Era" the following year were planted.

[@mattm7798]

Even the best storyline needs a follow up and WCW, outside of Goldberg for about 8 months, really didn't have it unfortunately. We are still feeling the ramifications of Turner/Aol selling to Vince for so cheap and largely why wrestling has absent any boom period since 2000.

[@thekidfromiowa]

Countless reasons have been given but it's still astounding how rapidly it tanked.

[@e11aguru]

@@thekidfromiowa They probably would've kept going if not for the AOL/Time Warner merger and Turner broadcasting not wanting to show wrestling anymore.

[@timwright3218]

As a teenager I NEVER understood how they kept trying to sell the fake Sting angle because it was always so obvious to me which one was the real Sting. And you hit the nail right on the head, too many face shots of the fake Sting. They probably could have sold it better if they'd just been a little more camera savvy.

[@handsolo1209]

Back then most people were still using CRT TVs and the resolution wasn't like it is today, so it was harder to tell the fake Sting wasn't actual Sting. They also shot him in the dark the first time, and only for a few seconds, so they did it well. I think with the actual War Games match, they had to show him when he came out as the nWo's fourth member, otherwise that would have looked weird, but I agree with you and Brian that it should have been done more cleverly to show as little of his face as possible. It is a total revisionist lie however for so many people to say "Oh, I knew it wasn't the real Sting all along" (not saying it about you personally). Bullcrap. They did it well and most people didn't know until the real Sting appeared in the match. The fake crow Sting was stupid because it was obviously not Steve Borden, but the fake surfer Sting did look enough like him for it to work. Surfer Sting's facepaint was random and hid his facial features a lot. Crow Sting's facepaint brought out his features a lot.

[@ArtLeeThree]

The one in the rain? I couldn’t tell as a kid. That should’ve been the only appearance. Build the drama and let sting come out, he’s hurt by the accusation of the betrayal not by the reappearing sting. I was more confused by everybody turns on Sting IMMEDIATELY considering both Lex and Flair have made a career on turning on Sting.

[@timwright3218]

@@ArtLeeThree Plus WCW had already done the "fake Sting" thing l before. I know the recycle stuff every few years but that was such a specific thing to recycle.

[@garretindall2820]

Was always a fan of the Cruiserweight Division in WCW, Rey Mysterio had a DVD called "The Biggest Little Man" with that Super Calo match on it.

[@DenOfVipers]

I still have that DVD box. :)

[@19seandel78]

I remember that moment when Giant joined the nWo. It was funny as hell listening to him trying to tell his reason then flips over the annouce table.

[@johnmarr2695]

Imagine it's 1996. You're 8 years old and sting is your HERO. He gets betrayed. Hes hurt by his friends. He withdraws and becomes something dark to fight the dark. That was my life on mondays and one Sunday a month during this era. For Christmas the following year, my dad bought starcade as my big gift that year because it was stings big return againt hogan. I wasnt able to watch it live but watched the replay directly after that came with the purchase because we were at my nanas for dinner. It. Was. Special. It was the 1st time i remember staying up that late (2ish by the time the broadcast closed) and i got to see my hero win the big one again.

[@wave201988]

I admit I got tricked and thought it was Sting but boy was I wrong, if I ever meet Sting in person I have to apologize to him.

[@johnmarr2695]

@@wave201988 I've been lucky enough to meet him a few times, and he's a fantastic human being. 3 times in a convention setting, once in the wild. And honestly, he was just as nice and giving with his time in the wild as in a con setting. He's truly a great guy.

[@matt_shaboy]

Anytime Zane reviews a PPV with DDP on it i eagerly anticipate the 'favorite move on the planet' line. That gets a pop outta me everytime!

[@WilliamJohnson-ml7ij]

I'm always a little disappointed when he doesn't do the chest out part of it.

[@roccojamison89gooker51]

If he could only play that one clip from Wrestling Bios with that crazy fan shouting out "bang"

[@jackburton2680]

Im dissapointed we didnt get the "head up chest out" or whatever it is along with the "diamond CUUttttter" from the Z man though

[@UndergroundSkat2000]

The Die Mond Cutter

[@salamisumo2]

@@LazAIcontent at ease!

[@ljreelz]

I loved this time period for Sting. The promo where he declared himself a free agent is my favorite Sting promo. His slow descent into darkness was dope.

[@toptenguy1]

Yep, with the announcers pointing out that he purposely turned his back on the main camera.

[@NickMichalak]

I still remember him coming out on Nitro with his back turned to the hard camera cutting that promo. It was a smart thing from Sting to show he's turned his back on everyone he once trusted, but isn't declaring any allegiance whatsoever.

[@harveymcelroy9332]

It was a huge moment on nitro

[@radalexander7160]

Late 1996 - 1997 was some of WCW's best storytelling.

[@ryankeefe2102]

I watched it not too long ago and I'm like yea sting is justified in 100 percent of what he's saying you don't trust ME seriously I was on board with him

[@kokotheclown2588]

Chris Benoit and Jericho seem to always have really good matches together and crazy to think they been feuding and have partnered up in different promotions throughout their careers and eras wild

[@namikstudios]

Perhaps but wrestling is now totally and utterly irrelevant as far as the double murderer Benoit is concerned. He may have been good at his day job but because of his actions that means nothing now. He is a disgrace to the industry.

[@handsolo1209]

It is a great combination. The looks, charisma and psychology of Jericho, and the create a wrestler opponent to pummel.

[@AlexanderT.A.G]

Were they in Japan together?

[@jomaxgamez3840]

​@@namikstudiosamen

[@UndergroundSkat2000]

​​​@@AlexanderT.A.Gthey both wrestled in Japan and Mexico but I'm not sure it was the same time. Benoit was wrestling before Jericho. You may be thinking Eddie Guerrero and Benoit were in Japan at the same time. Guerrero was Black Tiger under a mask and Benoit was Pegasus also wearing a mask

[@joshdrumheller4920]

Loved the lucha scene in WCW. La Parka, Psychosis, Juvetute, Eddie, Ray, Super Calo. Man, it was so much fun!!!!

[@CSC52698]

I introduced my girlfriend to Arn Anderson at GalaxyCon Raleigh this year and explained to her how serious the Wargames match was at the time. I also told him that spinebuster to Undertaker at WM18 was the best spinebuster I have ever seen. Before I left, I mentioned the tag match between AA/Flair against Mongo/Kevin Greene, and he said, "They almost killed us."

[@AndrewJW]

The worst AA spinebuster > every other spinebuster (other than maybe Ron Simmons)

[@RobertHustwick]

The war games matches were always better back in the day. I saw the clip from WWE's war games last year where CM punk returned at the end of the match. The guys who were standing around outside the ring didn't even look like they've been through a war games match. They might as well have been playing pickleball

[@ajcismo]

This is the storyline that got me back into wrestling as a plucky 22 year old college student. The whole NWO concept, Sting being the face of WCW, guys like Jericho starting their careers while the Arns and Savages were still performing at a high level even though theirs are in the twilight. It was just so different than what Vince was doing in 1996, and so much better.

[@Sammy_Boy_Smith]

True. WWE has like 5 guys. It was boring!! They had to go to the whatever era that was, cuz they couldn't do it with wrestling. It was between the next generation and attitude. And it sucked. I didn't even bother watching it unless I was really bored.

[@SheriffOutlaw]

Super Calo definitely was a name in WCW who needed more screen time. His look was cool!

[@handsolo1209]

His look was cool, his response from the crowd was luke warm at best. Pretty much only Eddie, Rey and to a lesser extent La Parka, Juventud and Psychosis got over at all with the crowd. The rest like El Dandy, Damien were just kind of there.

[@UndergroundSkat2000]

​@@handsolo1209La Parka became really popular

[@handsolo1209]

@@UndergroundSkat2000 Yeah, it was like 1988 Hulk Hogan....................

[@UndergroundSkat2000]

​@@handsolo1209in comparison to most of the modern "stars" yes

[@handsolo1209]

@@UndergroundSkat2000 I can't argue with that.

[@ramblingRJ]

That reference... Nelson Eddy and Jeanette McDonald were a very popular onscreen singing duo. Their most famous song was "Indian Love Call". Since Chavo was whipping DDP with a strap, it was an allusion to the old Indian Strap Matches. Heenan is the best.

[@jamesbounds]

Not too long after this Sting gets his iconic Crow look.

[@joshdrumheller4920]

Which was actually an idea that Scott Hall pitched to Sting. True story!!!! It was in the Sting documentary.

[@jet9385]

I'm having one of the worst days of my life and you managed to make me belly laugh. Thanks for everything you do Brian.

[@MrKahlerHahn]

Fingers crossed tomorrow will be better

[@Dr.Meth666]

At least you don't have AIDS

[@kenterminateddq5311]

It's crazy to see Hogan spray-painting on Miss Elizabeth's back ( 19:34 ) and spitting on her ( 19:39 ) when, in the past, Hulk said that he loved Liz like a sister. I know Hollywood Hogan is a heel but Hogan spitting on Liz is arguably as brutal as Jake slapping the daylights out of her in 1991.

[@RealMattKiefer]

It’s fake bro--like a movie She was in on the show

[@alphonsemaina8293]

@@RealMattKiefer Cringe

[@tmage23]

I don't think it would have happened had she and Savage still been married. Without his obsessively protective behavior of her, she was just another talent. Had they still been married, Randy would have had words and more with Hogan

[@kenterminateddq5311]

Exactly. That's why I don't believe the rumor of Randy giving Hogan a black eye prior to Wrestlemania 9. @@tmage23

[@tmage23]

@@kenterminateddq5311 I dunno. Doesn't have to be over Elizabeth. I'm sure Savage had a multitude of reasons to want to punch Hogan in the face

[@ItsAVolcano]

No joke, I think the Nasty Boys were the most versatile tag team of the New Generation and early Attitude Era. They could play goofy over the top for WWF, hard brawling bruisers for WCW, or just straight blood and violence for ECW and they never felt out of place.

[@frylock97]

When people talk about WCW today they always focus on what a mess it was, but PPVs like this one shows why they were so popular for so long. You had a great undercard/Midcard that put on great matches, and the main event was all sports entertainment. They had a great blend for a long time. It's important to remember they didn't just get lucky, they really had something there. Just makes how it all came crashing down even sadder

[@catrakes5276]

They had a huge following , you gotta remember NWA was national way before WWF and the NWA turned into WCW overnight same shows same channels same times so to the fan it was still NWA the biggest wrestling organization in the US

[@LuckyStrike01]

@@catrakes5276yeah I still thought of wcw as nwa even into the mid 90s because in the northeast wwf was king and the rest of the country where the real wrestling was taking place was nwa. When I started watching it still was nwa and wwf with the awa burning out first and even into the 90s thought of wcw as nwa guys.

[@thehorrorhound6575]

And it was the same sort of formula that TNA for many years would use and it worked well and I think proved it can still work, TNA for years had great stories, a absolutely stacked roster (there’s a reason 90% of those guys ended up in NXT eventually) and it was the same sort of vein. The tag division and x division were staked and the main event was sports entertainment with stories like Christian brining sting back to wrestling and beating Jarrett for the title. Sting and abyss and James Mitchell being abyss’s father and abyss spending years in prison for shooting his own dad for abusing his mom. Joe and angle, and angles wife Karen turning on joe. Aj styles turning on Christian to team with angle. Sting and angle forming the main event mafia. Just like WCW people only talk about the downfall of TNA and not why it was so popular for so many years. It’s kinda sad really how the peaks of WCW and TNA get ignored like that.

[@jackburton2680]

Their doom had nothing to do with a lack of ability/talent/potential. Right till the end they had some huge names and stellar talent on the roster, the ability to do great things was ALWAYS present. They just CHOSE trashy bullshit and illogical nonsense, chose to cater to assholes who didn't have a fucking clue or didn't care about quality.

[@danbruno7303]

So good so long they didn't even sprinkle 4 years together, I don't call that long

[@SomeDumbKid1]

Super Calo with the hat and sunglasses sewn into his mask has to be one of the wildest luchador looks

[@TheNickTokio]

"This is an angle disguised as a match." I've never heard the wrestling concept of storytelling put so poetically or succinctly. This is why Brian is the best in the business. Now I want a video on the top 8 Angles Disguised as Matches. Really made me think today Zane. Thank you.

[@agckirozx4902]

The spanish wrestling youtuber Falbak created a similar pharse of this one By the Z Man(because he really like this channel) which Is "Mas que una lucha, fue un segmento"(More as a match, it was an Angle).

[@str.77]

That's not storytelling but the inept attempt at it.

[@hhtptai]

15:06 Brian, your spot-on impressions do not get enough love.

[@BigKat96]

I wish and hope that with the addition of War Games in WWE games, they make it so the arena has 2 rings for regular matches even if its locked to War Games arenas

[@GLJosh]

I did like watching the older WCW PPVs with the multiple rings, matches starting in the different rings, and matches going from ring to ring. I am surprised that the E hasn't turned Wargames (similar to Elimination Chamber and HiAC) into an annual (over every two years for the non-US market) event to sell more "ringside" seats.

[@HalensHaven]

Isn’t that weird? I feel like that would be the easiest thing to do. They already have ring traversal in the match. Just remove the cage and let us rock.

[@darrenhigham753]

There a arena in 2k23 made in community creations jus looks a bit naff coz second ring glitch’s over the commentary team

[@paulrose1634]

​@@darrenhigham753 So the answer is basically, removing the hard coded location for the commentary table is too much work? Cause all throughout the games that have expanded on the 2k15 engine over the years have had this issue where the game just HAS to recognise a commentary table ringside if it's there or not

[@niteporter]

I really wish wwe would add or do a wcw game.

[@kckc6578]

Remember this shit like it was yesterday. Never been more hyped as a wrestling fan than watching WCW in 96’ 97’

[@darringardner6310]

WCW Fall brawl : War Games 1996 will forever be one of my favorite wrestling PPVs of all time. It continued the story of how nWo was so dominate. This would also be the final time we see Sting as that happy go lucky colorful face paint wrestler who high fives people. It also got fans ready for Savage vs Hollywood Hogan at Halloween Havoc 1996

[@timbartschwolfman]

This is where Surfer Sting Ended and where Crow Sting begins

[@jamessteel9016]

Basically yes 👏 although the full crow makeup took a few months to show.

[@UmJammerChelle]

I've always loved the nWo Sting arc for some reason. Even after this PPV, the nWo just having a fake version of the top babyface is a hilarious power flex to me.

[@MrGared22]

With intros like that, it's good to know that Botchamania's "Insane Dusty Commentary" still lives through your show, Brian.

[@coryfusting9294]

Brian's wrestler impersonations never fail to amaze. Great review.

[@metsrulein2k]

This was the first PPV I was able to convince my parents to get for me, I was 10, life was good! I remember being so hyped for the Fire Vs Ice match hahaha

[@BigDominoakaGerard]

I put the same comment. I had to get this ppv.

[@jasonbrown8694]

Man the trip to Space Camp was always a favorite of mine from 90s kids competitions. Ted should have asked for a piece of the Aggro Crag

[@TheFlock83]

I think we all wanted a glowing piece of that radical rock

[@Bandana_Boi]

What a treat brother! Quick story. We were very, very much dirt poor. My dad's buddy had the black box and would very kindly gift me about 15 WWF & WCW PPV tapes from 1996 & 1997. Fall Brawl '96 happened to be one of them. I still have it in my collection! I just re- watched the Jericho DVD from around 2010 & he mentioned touring Japan in '95 for WAR. So I went back & especially wanted to check out Jericho vs Benoit from the Super J Cup in WAR '95 (I know it's a mouthful, but stay with me). Jericho was this total badass Canadian wrestler in '95. He would cut great promos, drop the F bomb in Japan at will, and oftentimes busted his face open with stiff shots. Brother, picture this. Benoit's on the outside, Jericho is on the inside. Jericho runs, does a springboard backflip from the second rope to the fucking outside onto Benoit! I've never ever seen him even attempt that here in the states. Exploring how polar opposite Lion Heart Corezon de Leon was to white meat babyface WCW Chris Jericho is fascinating. Maybe exploring pre- WCW Jericho is good content for a future video? Canada, Mexico, Germany, Japan and SMW, so there's tons to talk about and show. Thanks Brian!

[@unj]

AA AA

[@thesfdoctor3603]

Wow, I'm shocked at how amazing this PPV turned out to be. WCW was really golden in 1996, gotta check out this show sooner than later

[@nujabeez6573]

I have been watching your videos since 2017 and one thing I’ve noticed is that Chavó Guerrero to my knowledge has never had a bad match in your reviews !

[@dontizzlejones7330]

I just want to say I always love the Diamond Cutter bit and replay it multiple times

[@psychorabbitt]

Juvy has been unmasked for so long that I forgot he was ever en mascarada.

[@venomousnate7263]

Your impressions of Dusty Rhodes and Randy Savage are so funny.

[@benespinosa6725]

WCW fall brawl 1996 was a good PPV the Wargames match was awesome Great review Brian You're the best.

[@jamessteel9016]

One of the better fall brawls in the Nitro era, the storyline of everyone thinking sting had sided with the NWO was well done 👏 and the way he left soon after was great.

[@kevinramsey417]

👊for a fellow Diamond Cutter stan. I always thought Scott Norton had an underrated powerbomb. His moves always looked stiff to me. In a good way, of course. Anyway, I always loved those Mike Tenay vignettes when they were really hyping up the cruiserweights where he put over Lucha Libre and explained some of the history and traditions so people could get behind the incoming luchadores. From both an academic standpoint and a wrestling fan standpoint, it was extremely educational and helped introduce fans like myself to wrestling from other countries such as Japan and Europe. Man, Hogan's heat in the latter half of 1996 was nuclear. It was so fun to watch.

[@pepito2847]

Every member of Team WCW was at one point a horseman So it’s basically Team Four Horsemen VS Team NWO Also crazy how we never saw fake Sting again after this heavy stakes War Games match

[@handsolo1209]

The fake Sting was having a match when Sting first appeared with the white facepaint and cut his "The only thing for sure" promo.

[@dmichael1172]

Jeff Farmer as NwO Sting spent a lot time with NwO Japan

[@Warrenwoon]

Horsemen should have ended the nwo , obviously not in 96 but 98

[@handsolo1209]

@@Warrenwoon LOL. 90 year old looking Flair, midgets Malenko & Benoit and Steve McMichael, real midcard crap should have beaten the biggest stable in company history.........................yeah......................... If a group was going to beat the nWo, it should have been Sting, Goldberg, DDP and then tale your pick from the rest of the roster.

[@handsolo1209]

@@dmichael1172 He also spent a lot of time in WCW as the fake Sting, like when he was kissing Hogan's feet, the thing with the Steiners where the real Sting dropped him, etc. Where the OP gets the idea that fake Sting disappeared after War games 96, I will never know.

[@musclethestrong1522]

I’m never ready for Stingtember to end.

[@Zetasphere]

For my money, there has never been a wrestling story as great and as epic as these early NWO stories. Also it is easy to forget that DDP put on banger after banger. This whole show was absolute top tier PPV.

[@fighting.words.ma.library]

Wow, this brings back memories. I started watching just after this, when Sting told WCW to "stick it". THIS is the WCW I was first exposed to.

[@raycerx87]

"They want the trip to Space Camp!" Who didn't in 1996? As a fan starting out in 96, oh man was this awesome review. Thanks Brian!

[@MrBlazemaster525]

My only knock on the midcard is that Ice Train/Norton did not need to be a submission match - and I say that as a massive Ice Train mark!

[@WrestlingWithWregret]

I just can't believe how long Ice Train was part of the company - all the way til the end! - and how he seemingly accomplished so little there!

[@MrBlazemaster525]

@@WrestlingWithWregret solid midcard hands in that place usually did get the shaft lol

[@kevins8071]

It wouldn’t be a proper review without Brian doing his Jimmy Hart impression. Love it.

[@Alsebra]

I don't know if I prefer his Hart or his Funk...both are *hilarious* and spot-on.

[@andrewwolfgang7461]

A LOT of modern fans have no idea how good WCW was at that time

[@bobmarshall8527]

This was one of the best War Games matches and the go home Nitro leading into this show was one of the best they ever did

[@walterhager8626]

I loved ice train. But with no taking over there was basically no room on the roster for him as time went on.

[@e11aguru]

I feel like Ice Train would've been very successful in WWE. Being huge and black worked for Mark Henry.

[@MrT571]

He never got a real chance. They weren't interested.

[@walterhager8626]

@@e11aguru damn that would of been great. Big E kinda reminds me of him now I think about it.

[@walterhager8626]

@@MrT571 very true. They loved Norton though who went to the NWO of course basically everyone did lol. Norton was very popular in Japan too which I've noticed black wrestlers don't go there much for some reason. I wonder why fr

[@GOJOWrestling]

4 stars for the opener ! You're in a good mood today!

[@Bananahammock681]

Wise opening words there, for the Dream. Thanks for reminding me of that mantra to live by, Mr Zane, can always count on you! =P

[@austinlewis5459]

I have been waiting for this one! Such a huge moment for Sting and Sting fans like myself!

[@job489]

I used to watch WCW around this time but don't remember most of these matches. I remember Fake 'Sting', the interviews with Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Lex Luger about their tag match against NWO, and real Sting coming out at the cage match. Everything else is just a blank to me. I'm not saying those were irrelevant but rather intriguing how I was a huge pro wrestling fan back then but forgot most of what happened during it. I'm grateful that you and many others who enjoy reviewing these matches take time to give us recaps, analysis, and more. I'm curious to know what else I've forgotten.

[@wwesvk9958]

Lawdy dawdy boolah boolah boolah

[@Cursed_Mark]

HE GOT A BICYCLE!

[@marcp9926]

That was a great Savage, "thinking, thinking, thinking!" Funny!

[@WhatAisleIsTheMustardOn]

I've been waiting on a review of No Mercy 2002 since retro reviews became a thing. Can't wait

[@havensouljah]

Lmao that Juventud spot tripping over the stairs 😂 never seen that before that is golden

[@ZAQ970]

I'll never forget the Nitro "Sting" turned. I was in the third grade. I wasn't allowed to watch wrestling because my mom thought it was too raunchy and portrayed women poorly (this was in 95-96... well before the attitude era). My poor heart couldn't understand it. I felt so bad for Lex. How could Sting do this... I came out of my room with tears in my eyes. My mom knew I had been watching wrestling. She said... "Let me guess...do your guy lose his match." How could I explain to her that not only my favorite wrestler but all-around good guy Sting was involved with this outlaw faction who was first taking over WCW... then the world. I didn't bother. I just walked on by...

[@MikeCassandra]

Hey Brian, I think you may have stumbled onto a new list on accident... When you called the Diamond Cutter your favorite move, it got me thinking, we've seen your favorite wrestlers and matches, but I don't think you've ever done a list of your favorite moves or favorite finishers. That could be pretty interesting

[@williamdillon6534]

I found this PPV on a recorded VHS tape when I was about 12 or 13 (2006 or 07) all I knew was WWE and its superstars. So to see vintage WCW talent really helped educate me to there being other wrestling promotions who were just as good.

[@Jesusmy733]

As far as the Rey Mysterio match goes, I totally agree. As Shawn Michael said, you pay for a ticket, you pay for a ticket, you can boo and cheer whoever you want. But it's amazing how your biggest critics have never rustled the day in their life

[@darringardner6310]

Also I love how this PPV up to Starrcade 1996 WCW showcased DDP and Eddie Guerrero as both would have higher stock in 1997 (DDP vs Savage trilogy/Eddie’s heel turn)

[@mattm7798]

It's really hard to overstate how not only big for business the NWO was, but what an absolutely amazing time it was to be a wrestling fan. You had no idea what was going to happen next, everything seemed fresh because this storyline hadn't been duplicated 27 times yet, there was an energy that was off the charts and made every even feel like it was can't miss. WCW 1996-late 1997 then WWF Late 1997 thru 1999 was truly an off the charts time to be a wrestling fan.

[@Mr.ChristianD1993]

I know it’s a small thing that could easily be overlooked, but when Brian said the NWO wanted jet skis, and he showed the pic of the stock image of someone on a jet ski . i wondered why he didn’t have a pic of Hogan on a jet ski from thunder in paradise 😂😂

[@derekrichardson9105]

Or a pic of Brutis...oh wait. Not a good idea.

[@wstine79]

I can't wait for next year's STINGTEMBER.

[@TeganCantEven]

This is absolutely peak WCW/nWo. It was impossible to NOT watch.

[@TeganCantEven]

@@jeffbayard682 not “the peak” - just “peak”

[@johnselwitz5362]

@@jeffbayard682I don’t know, this might be the peak for me. One of my favorite PPVs ever. The nWo was, in my opinion, at it’s best when it was just Hogan, Hall, Nash, The Giant (of course kick him out later to progress his story), Syxx, The Fake Sting (I thought that story was great), Ted Dibiase as the financial backer, and Vincent (Virgil) as the lackey who can take an ass kicking every so often. They felt like an exclusive yet still powerful group that could cause pure chaos for the rest of the roster. Once everyone and their brother started joining, the nWo became really watered down. Bischoff was lame, he took away so much of the cool factor, and Savage joining made zero sense, seeing as how they made his life a living hell for months.

[@alexgeorge501]

Great grade you gave for this classic WCW PPV. Can't wait to see what you'll will bring to the table for PPV reviews with the likes of WWF's "No Mercy" and WCW's "Halloween Havoc" in October!

[@BigJasonMc]

2nd year in a row Im using your content to keep me sane during Covid. I appreciate all your work and I feel like Im hanging out with my buddy while I sit isolated from my wife and kids.

[@WrestlingWithWregret]

I appreciate that, hope you get well soon!

[@BigJasonMc]

@@WrestlingWithWregret Thanks brother!

[@SteveReaves]

About the DDP Match. This was around that time DDP was one of the few wrestlers that had a website, and he was building a following by posting clips of his latest version of the Diamond Cutter on his site every week. DDP really became a face on a grassroots level before he officially became a face with turning down the nWo, and feuding with Randy Savage. Exciting stuff to watch him go "from the outhouse to the penthouse". Also, there was a period where Cobra did look kinda like Sting in the face w/o face paint, so having him play the part of fake Sting made sense at the time, but yeah... wearing paint is a totally different story. Also, I didn't know Cobra was "Jumpin" Jeff Farmer... yep! Funny!

[@vankook]

Any video with that Jimmy Hart impression is a winner for me.

[@ItsRMFL]

Great video. Bonus points for the X-Men Beast reference.

[@toptenguy1]

If this were a video game, Ice Train and Scott Norton would be identical "Sprites". Sort of like Bald Bull and Mr Sandman. lol

[@michaelpaiva9924]

When Hershel Walker put up the " Diamond Cutter " after scoring a TD in the NFL i will never forget ! Hershel F-in Walker loves wrestling and DDP apparently

[@RetroHabit82]

Oh Brian, these were the days ! Monday nights in 96 was the best time in Wrestling

[@mastershake42019]

Watching Chris head that huge diving headbutt was so creeping with what we know now. He gave everything to that ring.....

[@Brando-Lee3725]

Damn . I watched wrestling since 85 . And to think about watching any of that until the mid 90s like you and many others started , makes me REALLY wonder how I would see all that looking back on it through fresh eyes . Honest to God im not sure if I would still be a fan as strong as I am if i discovered it as a kid then . Fascinating to think about though as I still LOVE wrestling . I guess it works the same way , If you love it you love it ! More power to you ! Long live wrestling !!!!!!

[@funkyweapon1981]

Fun fact about Nelson Eddy: He was Willie the Operatic Whale, a Disney short. Also, my grandpa's brother was named after him.

[@Grt_Sge]

I kinda wish Tony Schiavoni said “It’s Sting!?” All confused when Fake Sting came out.

[@Chalk0073]

Sting with his back to the camera for the backstage promo was a really good choice, it worked on me in the days of SD tv

[@MarashcinoLarry]

I adore Nick Patrick. Great promo, took a helluva bump, and he always understood his assignment 💯. My favorite referee ever.

[@danieltarczynski6559]

Best WCW PPV ever in my opinion. Set up the Sting vs Hogan storyline, quality matches top to bottom and perfectly set up the next PPV Halloween Havoc

[@diabeticman2194]

As someone who has never seen any WCW in 96, this looked like an awesome PPV! Good angles, and the matches looked awesome to see, some truly innovate stuff with the two rings

[@harshckuk]

No mercy 2002 - R.I.P. Katie vick , yeah BRIAN!!!!!!!!!

[@sea4our]

Always a good day when new W3 drops.

[@kafan439]

Great review and look back at a wonderful era.

[@joshdrumheller4920]

WCW will always bring back memories of me watching it with my grandparents as a kid. I miss those days every day of my life. It really hurt to see them crumble that badly so fast.

[@jaybee5315]

18:25 So Brian, you're telling us this is not THE Jumping Jeff Farmer? Brian: Yip

[@smcilia]

The diamond cutter! Shoulders back, chest forward!

[@jackburton2680]

Your love for the diamond cutter gave me an idea, you should do a "Who did it better" vid on signature moves that were popularized by multiple different wrestlers....best spear(we all know it should be Rhino, and that Edge's sucks), who had the best chokeslam, the best Tombstone, sharpshooter vs deathlock, RKO vs diamond cutter....best powerbomb! Could be quite the interesting series of vids!

[@HobbiesGamesChillin]

To be fair to edge his spear looked better when he was wrestling small dudes like the Hardys It only started looking weak and bad when he was having to spear large or tall people

[@chubbycatfish4573]

Oh man, I miss these times so much.

[@cisbenoit2788]

This was a GREAT event and a day I remember for many reasons. Unfortunately, thus was the first ppv I didn't get to watch with my Grandpa as he had passed earlier that day.

[@jamesdixon6332]

19:41 Schiavone calling Hogan the lowest wrestler who ever walked the face of the earth. So true

[@MarashcinoLarry]

Always loved Scott Norton. He was just so believable. Really happy that he had such great success in Japan.

[@jayb-clay2724]

It's one thing to watch it now and think it's gold bit you jad to be there at the time... it was just so fresh after the gloom years. Plus add in how the world was around you at the time and it was a perfect storm.

[@dustincongello5802]

Konan had a awesome snap wheelbarrow slam...he did it to the smaller guys like a snap suplex...quick

[@ClassicWrestlingReview]

No Mercy 2002? Oh, boy! You're gonna have to talk about Katie Vick!

[@michaelcalico8702]

My second WCW PPV, but first Fall Brawl. I always liked War Games ideas.

[@BXMarathoner26]

I recorded this PPV as a 12 yr old (The start of recording WWF/WCW PPVs, Thank you illegal cable!). That Double Springboard into that Hurracanrana lives rent-free in my head to this day. I became a huge fan of "He who shall not be named" a few months prior and was pretty excited he was in the horsemen; plus seeing him do the early very of the Lion Tamer to Jericho was really cool; everything he did had impact. I probably would have the same strategy Flair had when he went into War Games: Foreign Objects and Hitting some D*cks. I was hooked onto WCW at this time every week with WWF being secondary (Until Bret came back for Survivor Series).

[@frozenlimemix]

Holy shit, "Ice Train"! That's a boy if I've ever seen one; i had totally forgotten about him until seeing this

[@mike4409]

Nelson Eddy. My grandma loved him. No joke. She would have popped for that reference.