|Date: May 19, 1991
|Venue: Bayfront Center |City: St Petersburg, Florida
|Attendance: 6000 |Buys: 150,000

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

There’s brief opening titles and Brandi Brown then sings America The Beautiful.

Jim Ross welcomes us to SuperBrawl 1991, he’s joined by Dusty Rhodes and then hype up the main event between Ric Flair and Fujinami.

The Young Pistols (Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong) vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “PS” Hayes & Jimmy Garvin) – United States Tag Team Championship match

Background: When The Steiner Brothers won the World Tag Team Championships it was decreed that they would have to vacate the United States Tag Team Championships. The Freebirds and Young Pistols were the two teams given the opportunity to battle for the vacant championships.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two tag teams.

Match: Michael Hayes and Steve Armstrong kick off the match. Diamond Dallas Page and Big Daddy Dink create problems on the outside which causes Brad Armstrong to come out and support his brother Steve and Tracy. Big Daddy Dink gets sent to the back. It’s a fast paced start to the match as The Young Pistols clear the ring. It isn’t long before The Freebirds take control to a chant of “Badstreet”. Garvin and Hayes keep Smothers from tagging out by making quick tags themselves. Armstrong eventually gets the hot tag and all four men go at it. The Pistols miss with missile dropkicks and get thrown out of the ring but Smothers hits a top rope clothesline and then a cross body to the outside on both opponents. The Young Pistols hit both Hayes and then Garvin with double team moves but the referee gets knocked down. Someone else then, dressed as a bird enters the ring and hits both Pistols with DDT’s before Hayes pins Smothers for the three!

Result: The Fabulous Freebirds win by pinfall.

Review: This was an alright match to kick things off with. It wasn’t a classic but it was decent enough. I’m not sure who the mystery man was, but he was wearing a t shirt that said Fantasia. He was the difference maker and gave the Birds the victory tonight.

Rating: 5.5/10

Ricky Morton vs. Dan Spivey

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match between these two men.

Match: It’s a back and forth start to the match with Spivey throwing Morton out of the ring repeatedly but Morton getting right back in there. Spivey hits a DDT to slow down the pace before nailing Ricky with a clothesline for a near fall. Spivey hits a crucifix powerbomb and no-sells any offence from Ricky Morton. Morton hits a Japanese arm drag but Spivey hits another powerbomb for the win.

Result: Dan Spivey wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a quick match and in some ways a glorified squash. Dan Spivey gets the win and I could see him getting a bit of a push over time. A quick match but a big win for Spivey.

Rating: 3/10

Tony Schiavone and Missy Hyatt are joined by Z-Man. Z-Man has been out with an injury. Missy Hyatt has been voted to go into the men’s locker room again.

Tommy Rich vs. Nikita Koloff

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two men.

Match: I love that we have the Nikita Koloff of old. There’s no way he loses this. Tommy Rich starts quickly with a cross body. Tommy gets a lot of shots in early but it’s not long before Nikita avoids a splash in the corner and hits a powerslam to take control. It’s back and forth between the two men with Koloff outsmarting Rich more often than not. Nikita hits the Russian Sickle for the win.

Result: Nikita Koloff wins by pinfall.

Review: Another quick match here in a similar vein to the previous match. Nikita wins which was expected but Tommy Rich did get a fair bit of offence in. Koloff goes back to chasing the United States Championship.

Rating: 3/10

Tony Schiavone introduces Theodore Long with his new client Johnny B. Badd. Johnny B. Badd is a very camp figure but Theodore Long says that Badd is the only real man in all of wrestling and it seems as though they’re targeting P.N. News.

Dustin Rhodes vs. Terrence Taylor – Computer match

Background: The York Foundation have been trying to recruit Dustin recently but the son of Dusty refuses to join them. It has resulted in a match between Taylor and Rhodes.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two men.

Match: It’s a cagey start to the match with Terrence repeatedly exiting the ring and conferring with Alexandra York. It’s back and forth from here with Dustin dictating the pace for the most part. Taylor avoids a cross body to take control himself. Rhodes gets his boot up as Taylor comes off the top and Dustin picks up the pace from here. He hits a big clothesline and an inverted atomic drop for a two count. Rhodes then hits a bulldog but Alexandra York distracts the referee. Mr Hughes then grabs Rhodes before putting in a loaded glove and swinging at Dustin who ducks and Hughes nails Taylor! Dustin hooks the leg and gets the three!

Result: Dustin Rhodes wins by pinfall.

Review: This was an ok match. It was back and forth and I wasn’t sure which way it would go but in the end it was Dustin with the win. Could this be the end of the York Foundation? It’s a big win for Dustin tonight, the biggest of his career so far.

Rating: 4.25/10

Big Josh vs. Black Bart

Background: Black Bart fills in for the injured Larry Zbyszko tonight.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two men.

Match: It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Black Bart on PPV and he’s put on a few pounds. Big Josh hits him early with the log roll. Josh hits some big lefts and rights, dominating the early part of the match. Black Bart fights back with strikes. This match has a slow pace to it. Big Josh hits an axe handle and then the flying butt splash for the win.

Result: Big Josh wins by pinfall.

Review: This was slow and it wasn’t good. Big Josh isn’t bad to be fair but Black Bart is done. A win for Big Josh in a match I wouldn’t want to see again.

Rating: 2.25/10

Paul E. Dangerously is out next with his guest, Stan Hansen. Hansen basically challenges all the babyfaces like Dustin Rhodes whilst Paul E sucks up to him. This segment was pretty bad.

Oz vs. Tim Parker

Background: This match marks the debut of Oz.

Previous PPV matches: This is a definitely a first.

Match: Jesus Christ this is bad. It’s Wizard Of Oz theme with the character all looking terrified in the entrance way. Oz the wizard then walks down to the ring, this is terrible. Oz, who is accompanied by Wizard takes off his head to reveal Kevin Nash underneath. He hits a spinning powerbomb and wins.

Result: Oz wins by pinfall.

Review: What the hell was this.

Rating: N/A

Missy Hyatt is backstage in the men’s locker room. She runs into Terrence Taylor who isn’t happy. She goes off to look for Z-Man. She goes over to the shower where Stan Hansen scares her off again.

Brian Pillman vs. Barry Windham – Taped Fist match

Background: Brian Pillman looks to avenge the injuries he suffered at the hands of The Four Horsemen.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first singles PPV match between these two men.

Match: Barry Windham uses his size to take down Pillman in the early going. It’s definitely a classic size vs. speed match. Pillman dropkicks Windham off the top rope and then jumps off the top with a right hand. Windham shoves Pillman into the ringpost and at this stage both men are bleeding. Pillman hits a spinning heel kick and lays in some right hands. It’s a back and forth match. Jim Ross is on top form for this match. The two men butt heads and both go down. They both get back up and Pillman reverses a suplex before heading to the top but Windham shoves the referee out of the way, hits a low blow and then a superplex for the three count.

Result: Barry Windham wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a good match but could have been even better if given more time. Windham played a really good heel in this, raking the eyes and hitting a low blow. The blood definitely added to the drama too. It was a match that could have gone either way but in the end Barry Windham gets the win.

Rating: 7/10

Diamond Dallas Page is up in the Diamond Mine with the Diamond Dolls. He talks about The Steiner Brothers, Lex Luger and Sting before throwing to their hype videos. Luger and Sting appear nervous and say as much but they’re ready. Page then introduces The Diamond Studd. Page is looking for a Studdette to accompany The Diamond Studd.

El Gigante vs. Sid Vicious – Stretcher Match

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two big men.

Match: El Gigante hits the first knockdown of the match, a sloppy clothesline. Sid fires back with some cheap shots and strikes. El Gigante applies the claw and keeps Sid down for the three!

Result: El Gigante wins by pinfall.

Review: This was short and didn’t even get started. I don’t like to see Sid lose, he’s such a force. This was in no way a stretcher match.

Rating: N/A

One Man Gang and Kevin Sullivan enter the ring after the match and attack El Gigante unsuccessfully. El Gigante clears the ring of them and puts One Man Gang on the stretcher. Sullivan throws powder in the face of Gigante and he and One Man Gang attack Gigante with chains. El gigante gets to his feet and the two attacks head to the back.

Ron Simmons vs. Butch Reed – Thunderdome cage match

Background: Long time partners go one on one tonight after Butch Reed ended the team by attacking Ron Simmons. Theodore Long will be locked in a shark cage above the ring.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first PPV match between these two men.

Match: Ron Simmons starts the match hotter but soon clashes with the steel. Reed hits an elbow drop off the second rope for the first near fall of the match. Butch Reed dominates for a long portion, hitting strikes and busting Ron Simmons open. Butch hits a piledriver as Theodore Long cheers him on. Reed hits a shoulder block off the top rope but Simmons manages to get his foot on the rope to escape the pin. Simmons manages to counter a splash and lays in some right hands and a big back body drop but then runs into a high knee. Teddy Long throws a chain into the ring, Butch Reed picks it up but Simmons ducks it and hits a spinebuster for the win.

Result: Ron Simmons wins by pinfall.

Review: This match was ok. It was slow paced due to Butch Reed dictating the match. Ron Simmons wins it and this was the right call. Butch Reed seems to be on his way out whilst Ron Simmons is a star on the rise.

Rating: 4.75/10

There’s a video package for the upcoming tag team championship match.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott) (c) vs. Sting & Lex Luger – World Tag Team Championship match

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match between these two tag teams.

Match: Lex Luger and Rick Steiner knick off the match. It’s a cagey start to the match but it makes for some back and forth action. Sting tags in and picks up the pace, knocking Rick out of the ring and hitting a big cross body over the top. Scott Steiner tags in and hits a double underhook powerbomb. Sting hits a hotshot and the crowd are really into this one. Scott Steiner hits a top rope belly to belly on Sting for a near fall. There’s lots of quick tags between Sting and Lex Luger who keep Scott from tagging in Rick. Rick makes a blind tag and hits a bulldog off the middle rope on Luger for a two count. Tempers start to flare as Sting gets involved. Rick and Luger both make tags to Sting and Scott Steiner. Sting hits a tombstone piledriver and all four men get into it. The referee got taken out in the melee too. Sting hits a scorpion deathlock on Scott but out comes Nikita Koloff who looks to take out Luger with a chain but Sting saves his partner and takes the hit himself! Scott then covers Sting and gets the three!

Result: The Steiner Brothers win by pinfall.

Review: This was a good match and one that the crowd was really into too. I’m surprised that it was Nikita Koloff who decided the match in the end, despite his rivalry with Luger. The Steiner Brothers retain tonight and have really cemented themselves as one of the greatest tag teams of all time.

Rating: 7.75/10

Tony Schiavone is backstage with Nikita Koloff who says that Sting was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sting heads to the back and he scraps with Nikita all the way outside the building.

Arn Anderson (c) vs. Bobby Eaton – Television Championship match

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time singles PPV meeting between these two men.

Match: It’s a fast, mat-paced start to the match with Bobby Eaton getting the first knockdown in. A back and forth match turns into one dominated by Arn Anderson. He works the left leg on Bobby Eaton. Arn dominates for most of the match but Eaton hits the Alabama Jam off the top as Brian Pillman fights off Barry Windham to get the victory.

Result: Bobby Eaton wins the TV title by pinfall.

Review: This was a decent technical match. Arn anderson dominated for the majority of the match but in the end Bobby Eaton won with a high flying legdrop.

Rating: 6.25/10

Tony Schiavone is backstage as the Japanese entourage leave Tatsumi Fujinami’s locker room. Hiro Matsuda tells Schiavone that Fujinami will be taking the title back to Japan tonight.

Ric Flair (c) vs. Tatsumi Fujinami – WCW World Heavyweight Championship match

Background: At the WCW/NJPW Supershow these two men main evented in a match that Tatsumi Fujinami won. However Ric Flair claimed that Fujinami didn’t win and took the belt back. Tonight these two men meet in a rematch.

Previous PPV matches: Tatsumi Fujinami previously beat Ric Flair.

Match: It’s a cagey start to the match with both men hitting takeovers. Fujinami applies a bow and arrow and then an STF as he works the legs of Ric Flair. Flair won’t submit but Fujinami continues the assault with a flying forearm. Fujinami knocks Flair out of the ring and follows him out but Ric hits an inverted atomic drop on the barricade to take control. Back in the ring and Flair locks on the figure four but Fujinami breaks it up. Fujinami busts Ric open and then locks on the octopus stretch. Fujinami rolls Flair up but Flair kicks out and knocks Fujinami into the referee. Ric then rolls Tatsumi up and the American referee on the outside, counts the three!

Result: Ric Flair wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a decent enough main event. It didn’t feel definitive and I wouldn’t be surprised if there was another rematch between the two men. Ric Flair wins tonight and cannot be denied as the champion now.

Rating: 6.75/10

And that was SuperBrawl I. It was a pay per view of two halves with the opening match being the exception to that rule. The Fabulous Freebirds became United States tag team champions, beating The Young Pistols in an ok match to kick things off. Diamond Dallas Page has added a fresh coat of paint to The Freebirds and they’re working as an act together. I still think the Pistols will get their day. Then came a run of short and somewhat predictable matches. Dan Spivey beat Ricky Morton, Nikita Koloff beat Tommy Rich, Dustin Rhodes beat Terrence Taylor in the best of these matches, Big Josh beat Black Bart in a pretty terrible match and what should have been the low-light of the show but then came Oz which blew it out of the water. What the hell is this crap. Barry Windham beat Brian Pillman in a good match and one that could have gone either way. I don’t mind Windham winning but it does feel like he hasn’t progressed to the next level since returning to WCW.

El Gigante beat Sid as the crowd chanted “goodbye” at Sid. I guess he’s done and off to New York. That match was a real disappointment for me. Ron Simmons beat Butch Reed as Simmons starts to shine as a babyface. The Steiner Brothers beat Lex Luger and Sting in a match that the crowd were really into. Nikita Koloff cost Sting the match there so I wouldn’t be surprised to see Koloff/Sting into Clash Of Champions before Nikita moves on to Lex Luger at the Great American Bash. Bobby Eaton beat Arn Anderson for the TV title which is the biggest singles win of Eaton’s career and I believe a reward for not leaving WCW with Stan Lane and Jim Cornette. Arn Anderson could really elevate up the card now, he’s worthy of a higher position. In the main event Ric Flair defeated Tatsumi Fujinami to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. This was a good but not spectacular main event and the crowd were definitely behind Flair.

Overall Rating: 50.5/100 (ranked 16th out of 24 NWA/WCW PPV’s reviewed so far)

Match Of The Night: The Steiner Brothers vs. Sting & Lex Luger
Worst Match Of The Night: Big Josh vs. Black Bart
Surprise Of The Night: How quickly El Gigante beat Sid Vicious
Worst Booking Of The Night: Oz
Superstar Of The Night: Ric Flair
SuperBrawl I Will Be Remembered For: The Steiners vs. Luger & Sting, and the terrible debut of Oz