|Date: October 5, 1992
|Venue: Philadelphia Civic Center |City: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|Attendance: 7,000 |Buys: 165,000

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

The show opens with a video package, mostly focused on Sting and Jake Roberts. Other superstars appear as ghosts. Tony Schiavone then welcomes us to the show, he’s joined by Bruno Sammartino. The big news is that Terry Gordy is injured and will be replaced by Stunning Steve Austin in the tag team title match. Tony and Bruno run down the card before throwing to Missy Hyatt who is outside Rick Rude’s locker room. She then throws to the commentary team of Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura.

Z-Man, Johnny Gunn & Shane Douglas vs. Arn Anderson, Beautiful Bobby & Michael PS Hayes

Previous PPV matches: This is a first six man tag involving these six men.

Halloween Havoc PPV Record: Z-Man is 1-1, Shane Douglas is 0-1, Arn Anderson has won and drawn 1, Bobby Eaton is 1-2 and Michael Hayes 2-0.

Match: Arn Anderson and Johnny Gunn kick off the match. The babyfaces wrestle a fast pace, it’s not long before Z-Man and Eaton are tagged in. Z-Man keeps the advantage for his team and Michael Hayes tags in to a pop. Shane Douglas tags in and uses his speed to keep Eaton grounded. There’s lots of quick tags in this match as both teams try to keep control. Michael Hayes hits a neckbreaker on Z-Man. The crowd in Philadelphia are in support of the heels. Johnny Gunn gets a hot tag and all hell breaks loose with all six men. Johnny Gunn hits a lou Thesz press on Michael Hayes and pins him for the three!

Result: Z-Man, Johnny Gunn and Shane Douglas win by pinfall.

Review: This was an ok match t kick things off. The crowd were behind the hells, I wonder if this theme will continue. I don’t think the right team won to be honest. It was fast paced action from the faces, slowed down by the heels.

Rating: 4.5/10

Missy Hyatt is backstage hoping to get into Rick Rude’s locker room when Harley Race goes in instead. Missy Hyatt is ushered away by what looked like Vader’s arm.

Ricky Steamboat vs. Brian Pillman

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

Halloween Havoc PPV Record: Brian Pillman is 1-1, Ricky Steamboat wrestles his first match at this event tonight.

Match: These are two of the best workers on the roster so I’m expecting a good match. It’s a fast-paced back and forth start. There’s some nice possum-playing from Steamboat. Ricky hits some of his trademark arm drags. It’s back and forth but Pillman eventually takes control for a while. Pillman seems to collapse a couple of times as Steamboat attempts to throw him into the ropes. Pillman then cheap shots the veteran to take control. Steamboat counters a superplex and then flies off the top but Pillman hits him with a dropkick for a couple of near falls. Pillman looks to escape to the back but Steamboat goes after him and bring him back to the ring. Pillman then cheap shots Steamboat as he gets back into the ring. This has been a real back and forth match. The two men exchange pinfalls and Steamboat manages to keep Pillman down for the three!

Result: Ricky Steamboat wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a good match between two of the best workers on the rosters. It was back and forth all the way through. They had a lot of chemistry and I’d love to see them run it back.

Rating: 7.5/10

Teddy Long is in the locker room of Chono, Kensuke Sasaki and Hiro Matsuda are also in the locker room. Teddy Long asks Hiro Matsuda who their chosen referee is for tonight’s match and he confirms that it is going to be Kensuke Sasaki. Bill Watts then confirms that Harley Race is going to be Rick Rude’s choice of referee. Bill Watts says that Terry Gordy has been suspended by wcw for breach of contract.We’re then told that Big Van Vader will be defending Rick Rude’s United States title against Nikita Koloff.

Big Van Vader (defending for Rick Rude (c)) vs. Nikita Koloff – No disqualification match for the United States Championship

Background: Rick rude was scheduled for two matches tonight but he has assigned Big Van Vader to defend his United States Championship against Nikita Koloff.

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

Halloween Havoc PPV Record: Big Van Vader is 0-1, Nikita Koloff wrestles his first match at this event tonight.

Match: Big Van Vader dominates the opening stages of this match. Koloff gets back into it with a big clothesline for a near fall. Vader takes a breather but Koloff goes after him just to be thrown into the railings. Vader drops Nikita on the railings and then hits him with a steel chair. Back in the ring and Big Van Vader hits a chokeslam and a splash off the middle rope for a near fall. Nikita fights back, hitting a shoulder charge and a powerslam for a near fall. Koloff misses with a clothesline on the outside and hits the ringpost before Vader hits a powerbomb in the ring for the three.

Result: Big Van Vader wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a good match. It was hard-hitting and a great showcase for Vader. He’s a lot more agile than he looks. Koloff was a good opponents but he won’t be taking hime the United States Championship tonight.

Rating: 7/10

There’s an ad for Starrcade 92. Battlebowl is back.

Teddy Long is backstage with Dr Death and Stunning Steve Austin, they’re confident tonight. Missy Hyatt then interviews Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes. Barry puts over Steve Austin, Dustin doesn’t say a word.

Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes (c) vs. Dr Death Steve Williams & Stunning Steve Austin – tag team championship match

Background: Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes recently beat Dr Death and Terry Gordy for the tag team championships. Since then then champions haven’t really been seeing eye to eye. With Terry Gordy suspended, Dr Death has bought in Stunning Steve as his partner.

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

Halloween Havoc PPV Record: Dustin Rhodes drew his previous Halloween Havoc match, Dr Death is 0-1 at this event, Steve Austin drew his previous match (which was with Dustin Rhodes). surprisingly Barry Windham wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Dr Death and Dustin Rhodes kick off the match. They have a football tackle competition that Williams ends up winning. Barry Windham tags in and takes control for his team. There’s plenty of tags between the two teams before the pace starts to steady. Dustin Rhodes applies a headlock to Stunning Steve but Steve gets out of it and hits Rhodes with strikes. Rhodes hits a big clothesline for a near fall and then tags in Windham who hits a big clothesline of his own for a near fall. Dr Death tags in and slugs it out with Windham. Williams takes control and really slow down the pace before tagging in Austin. Barry hits a clothesline off the top for a near fall. Dustin Rhodes then gets a hot tag and picks up the pace. He hits a big bulldog on Austin but Dr Death breaks up the cover. Williams then hits a clothesline on Rhodes to give Austin the advantage. Williams tags in and applies a Boston crab. This has been a very long match. Time ticks down as Steve Austin and Dustin Rhodes go at it, we’re told there’s only three minutes left. All hell breaks loose, Windham powerslam Dr Death but takes out the referee. Dr Death clotheslines Windham and pins him and the new referee counts the three but the first referee points out that Windham isn’t the legal man. All four men go at it with a minute remaining. Dustin hits a tombstone piledriver but the time ticks down to zero.

Result: Time limit draw.

Review: This one went on a bit. It was a decent match but a 20 minute time limit would have been nicer. I didn’t think a title change was happening to a makeshift team but it looks as though Barry Windham is in the midst of a heel turn. This was a decent match though between four talented athletes.

Rating: 6/10

Tony Schiavone is with Paul E. Dangerously, Big Van Vader and Harley Race. Dangerously congrats Vader but is interrupted by Madusa. She slaps Dangerously but he goes off on a sexist rant and then fires Madusa so she kicks him in the face and lays in some boots.

Sting is out next to spin the wheel, make the deal. Sting spins the wheel and it lands on coal miner’s glove match!

Masahiro Chono (c) vs. Rick Rude – NWA World Heavyweight Championship match with special guest referee Kensuke Sasaki & Harley Race

Background: In a recent tournament to determine a new NWA World Heavyweight Champion in Japan, Masahiro Chono defeated Rick Rude in the final. Tonight Rude gets his rematch.

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

Halloween Havoc PPV Record: Rick Rude is 1-0, Chono wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: A coin toss decides that Harley Race will be the referee inside the ring. It’s a cagey start to the match, back and forth but slow. Chono looks to use technical offence whereas Rude uses his power. He hits a powerslam for a near fall. Chono applies hammerlocks, a Boston crab and a camel clutch as he takes control of the match. Rude applies a sleeper. This crowd, much like me, are bored stiff. Rude hits a piledriver for a near fall and then goes back to a never ending sleeper. Christ, this is bad. Chono accidentally kicks Harley Race, sending him outside the ring. Chono then launches Rude over the top, taking out both special guest referees. Back in the ring and Rude hits the Rude Awakening but there is no referee. Chono avoids a jneedrop off the top and applies an STF. Sasaki gets in the ring and calls for the bell! But Harley Race says that Rude wins because Sasaki threw Rude over the top.

Result: Rick Rude wins by disqualification.

Review: This match was not good. It was slow, it was mostly submission holds and never ending sleepers. It was really disappointing. Rick Rude wins by disqualification but Chono takes the gold home.

Rating: 1/10

Ron Simmons (c) vs. The Barbarian – WCW World Heavyweight Championship match

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

Halloween Havoc PPV Record: Ron Simmons is 1-1-1, The Barbarian wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: It’s a cagey start to the match once again but both men struggling to knock the other down. The two men slug it out but The Barbarian slides off to get advice from Cactus Jack. Cactus then distracts the referee allowing Barbarian to throw Simmons into the ringpost. The Barbarian applies a cobra clutch for a long time. Simmons powers out but Barbarian knocks him down and looks for a flying elbow drop but Simmons avoids it. Ron hits a spinebuster for a near fall. Cactus Jack distracts Simmons so Barbarian hits him with a big boot. Barbarian then hits a flying headbutt for a near fall. Simmons then hits a powerslam out of nowhere and that’s enough for the win.

Result: Ron Simmons wins by pinfall.

Review: This wasn’t very good. It certainly didn’t feel like a World Heavyweight Championship match. Ron Simmons wins but with so many talented heels like Rick Rude, Jake Roberts and Vader it seems like it’s a matter if time until he drops the belt.

Rating: 3/10

Tony Schiavone and Bruno Sammartino are joined by Erik Watts. Ron Simmons jons them, Erik congratulates him and Simmons passes on some advice.

Sting vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts – Coal Miner’s Glove match

Background: Jake roberts made his WCW debut a few weeks ago, attacking Sting. The two would then be pitted against each other at this event with a spin the wheel stipulation that wherever the wheel lands dictates the match type. Sting spun the wheel and it landed on Coal Miner’s Glove.

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

Halloween Havoc PPV Record: Sting is 3-0, Jake Roberts makes his WCW PPV debut tonight.

Match: Both men attempt to climb the pole early but with no success. Roberts launches Sting over the top rope but it’s no disqualification. Sting rams Jake into the ringpost a couple of times and then climbs the pole to get the glove but Jake Roberts pulls him down. Sting works the arm of Roberts but the match spills to the outside where Roberts uses a chair. Jake seems really out of shape at this point in his career. Jake avoids a Stinger splash, hits a short-arm clothesline and a DDT. Roberts looks to climb the pole but Sting fights him off and climbs the pole himself, to the top and gets the glove. Meanwhile Cactus Jack runs out and hands Roberts a bag with a snake! Jake turns around but Sting nails him with the coal miner’s glove. The snake then latches onto Roberts’ face and Sting pins him for the three!

Result: Sting wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a good match. I enjoyed this one. I think Jake Roberts is a little past it but Sting carried him to a decent match. The psychology was good but I’m not sure about the finish. Sting proves why he is one of the best in the world at the moment.

Rating: 6/10

And that was Halloween Havoc 1992. What a bizarre show in terms of quality. It started well. The six man tag team match wasn’t bad at all but there’s no way the babyfaces should have been winning it. Ricky steamboat and Brian Pillman unsurprisingly put on a good match. Just two of the greatest workers on the roster there. If I was booking WCW I’d have been tempted to flip that result too. I enjoyed the match between Vader and Nikita Koloff. Two of the best big men on the roster in a match that really showcased Big Van Vader’s agility. The tag team title match was good in terms of quality but boy did it go on way too long. I didn’t need to see a half hour match between these four men. The champions retained but I don’t think they’ll be champions for too much longer.

This is where the show became unwatchable. Rude and Chono put on such a disappointingly awful match. Never ending sleepers and submissions, it was bad. I hate to say it but Rick Rude is really hit and miss. When he’s good he’s really good but when he’s bad, he’s dreadful. Ron Simmons and The Barbarian put on a match not worthy of the World Heavyweight Championship. I’m not sure how much longer Ron Simmons will be champion for. The main event I thought was decent. Sting carried it though. I know I’m being quite critical but Jake roberts seems past it. The psychology is spot on but ability-wise he doesn’t look like he has it anymore. He’s a good heel to have on the roster though and a big name to mix it up with the top babyfaces. Overall a show of two halves, disappointing overall and not one I would recommend watching.

Overall Rating: 50 out of 100 (ranked joint 22nd out of 33 WCW PPV’s reviewed so far)

Match Of The Night: Ricky Steamboat vs. Brian Pillman
Worst Match Of The Night: Masahiro Chono vs. Rick Rude
Surprise Of The Night: Big Van Vader subs in for Rick Rude
Worst Booking Of The Night: Johnny Gunn, Z-Man and Shane Douglas beat The Dangerous Alliance
Superstar Of The Night: Sting
Halloween Havoc 92 Will Be Remembered For: Spin the wheel, make the deal