[1996-01-23-WCW-Clash of the Champions XXXII] Ric Flair & The Giant vs Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

This was the start of the Ric Flair megapush that only lasted a few weeks, but was incredibly fun while it lasted. Not much of a match, but it was pretty hyped up on WCW TV at the time, so that's why the last few minutes are here.

[Kronos]

I love how Giant just tosses Hogan aside after the backbreaker. Of course being Hogan, he has to come back with a slam. He can never just let the opponent get a good spot. Then at the end, Flair wins but it's Hogan who keeps the ring.

 

Does Hogan signal Pillman to come to him so he can grab Pillman's hair? Fun match clip, anyway. Amazing how Liz looks like Sunny here - blonde and same kind of short boob-dress. For a second at first, I thought it WAS Sunny.

[Jack_Briscoe_Is_My_Hero]

Liz has noticeably grown in a certain area....doubt she has been hitting the gym. Hogan slamming the Giant is not as impressive as the Andre the Giant slam. Paul was so slim back then, and just a tall dude. This match wasn't anything special but Flair did pin the world champ.

 

The Zodiac's tights still look like recycled Booty Man tights.

[fishbaugh]

Kevin Greene?!? I think it is a mistake to bring in a football player who was never known as being superhumanly big and then have him be about the size of Hogan. When they had the Shaq / Big Show altercation, at least Shaq is known for his crazy size, so him being taller than Show didn't cause so much cognitive dissonance.

[Kevin Ridge]

Yep. Can’t help but notice Elizabeth’s enhancement. Tony talks about Andre the Giant/Hogan from 1987. They make way too much of a deal of Hogan slamming the Giant. Heenan is freaked out when the action spills to the outside and takes another walk. Flair uses the foreign object for the win. The Dungeon runs down only to be beat up by Hogan and Kevin Greene.

[El-P]

I don't think Liz got enhanced before late 1997 when she came back at Starrcade, but maybe I'm wrong. I think the dress was doing the trick here. Anyway, she indeed kinda looked like Sunny. Not yet as foxy as she would become as a heel. Oh, there was a match too. The usual stuff from these four. Savage was okay working with Flair during this period, but he was so much better as a heel to me. They do absolutely nothing with Woman, which is odd. Flair winning is quite the shocker. Damn heel booker Sullivan, he was trying his best to put heat on the heels despite Hogan's insecure attitude.

[PeteF3]

This is a total mess, and surprisingly low on heat. Heenan is *still* spooked after the Pillman incident--as soon as Hogan and Giant spill to the floor, Heenan bails from the announce position. Flair steals a win with brass knucks, though Hogan and Kevin Greene get to run off Zodiac and Pillman afterward. I can't imagine a player participating in something like this less than a week before the Super Bowl in this day and age.

[soup23]

Hennan leaving was odd. I do think Giant looked pretty good here and sitting through Gigante for WTBBP has made me appreciate him more starting so fresh. Flair gets the win with a foreign object assist from Hart.. Doesn't looked like we missed much from the finish shown.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Hulk Hogan & Randy Savage vs Ric Flair & The Giant - WCW Clash of the Champions 1/23/96

First Hulkster match since he passed away yesterday. Marquee main event as this is 4/6ths of the Nitro 6. Megapowers teaming is always a big deal as well Horsemen & Dungeon aligning. Flair & Savage had been raging since May 95, their GAB 95 match is a stone cold classic and they had very good matches in Dec 95. Savage just won the title back the previous night on Nitro. Hogan & Giant had a fun match at Havoc marred by Jimmy Hart turn, liked the turn just iffy on execution. Hogan and Flair always have pretty good chemistry. Megapowers have Kevin Greene who was playing in Super Bowl the next week, Woman (which was weird) and a returning Miss Elizabeth! 
 

Surprisingly based on the four wrestlers, this is pretty pedestrian and heat-less. Flair & Savage start. They really just go through the motions and do their basic stuff. There is some jaw jacking between Flair and Greene but nothing to write home about. Flair tags in Giant so here’s come Hogan. They do a hyper compressed version of the Havoc match against that doesn’t feel heated. Giant establishes his size and strength but misses an elbow which allows Hogan to slam Giant. In the Havoc match, they build to that match so much more effectively. Giant tags out. Hogan is selling the back after such a heavy slam. Thankfully a Ric Flair delayed vertical suplex puts his back in alignment as he pops up and starts throwing bombs. Very disjointed match. Savage who still has elbow banadaged really doesn’t do much. Hogan/Flair do their usual deal. Savage hits a couple punches. Things break down between Hogan and Giant. Jimmy Hart distracts but Flair uses a pair of knuckledusters to blow Savage away for the win to put some heat on Superbrawl. Hogan & Greene send Pillman and Zodiac packing. 
 

A surprisingly tepid, mediocre bout which three of the most charismatic wrestlers ever. It was too disjointed and too compressed to get going.