[1994-05-22-WCW-Slamboree] Sting vs Vader

[PeteF3]

I barely have any breath left after the Bullrope and Broad Street Bully matches, but okay, one more to go. This isn't on the level of the best of this series--a lot of it's more low-key, and even mat-based until they unleash the big bombs at the finish. Vader working over Sting's knee is an interesting way to go, but it works. A lot of this is standard, including all the Harley Race bits, and if Slamboree had an overriding flaw it was an overreliance on referee drama, as we get a gratuitous ref bump here. But we've still got great Sting power spots, still got great moves from Vader, and a few nice twists and turns. Sting hits an awesome splash off the top to regain the vacant International World belt. The fall-out-of-bed match between these two, but those are always welcome. Schiavone was fantastic during this, it should be noted, reciting almost the entire history of this rivalry and placing every spot in its necessary larger context. A rare instance of Sting/Vader not being match of the night, which speaks to how strong this card was.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Sting vs Vader - WCW Slamboree 1994 WCW International World Championship

Days Of Our Membrane spells DOOM for our opponents! Seeded #13 we upended the #4 today to advance to the Quarterfinals in the Work Cornhole tournament, 21-16! Played lights out today! I'll be honest it was hard coming down from the victory. I was originally going to watch a longer match on my walk, BUT too much post-match revelry, I decided to keep it under 15 minutes. What a 14 minute banger this was! Something I have definitely seen in the past, but just never reviewed until today. I think if this was the only Sting/Vader match (which would be sad), it would be more highly rated. It is not as good as the Big 3 so it is overlooked, but many other wrestlers would kill for a match this good. 

A couple notes on the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship aka the Big Gold Belt. It is something that alwaysfascinated me as a child. Rick Rude was the Champion and really the face of this Championship. He wrestled his last match of his career beating Sting in Japan to regain the Big Gold Belt after losing it to Stinger in April. I have never watched the Flair/Rude matches or the Rude title defenses against Hawk, Bossman or Sting, but it is the International Title was still second banana to the WCW World Title even though International Title physically was the Flair Belt of the 80s and the one looked more prestigious. This was the only PPV main event the Championship got before it was unified at the next Clash between Flair/Sting. Apparently the build for this match was Rick Rude defending the Championship, but I got confused by commentary. Was it a rematch against Sting or a fresh match against Vader, which would have been heel vs heel? Either way Rude pulled out and retired for good, this match is to determine the new champion. 

We are in Philly and it is 1994 so we get a "Sting Must Die" chant. It is good 30 years later, the hardcores came around to him and gave him a nice sendoff in Greensboro. Cautious start which I appreciate. Vader gets his licks in and looks like he is going to runaway with it early. Sting EXPLODES! This is what Vader brings out of Sting. He just strings these awesome strike combinations against Vader that he does not do against anyone else. He overwhelms Vader who goes ass over tea kettle onto the floor. Big vertical suplex punctuates the shine for Sting. They collide and as you would expect Vader eventually gets the better of that. I love the Vader Chest Bump! It is so sick. A couple Vaderbombs follow as Vader consolidates his advantage. Vader works some holds just smothering Stinger. Sting gets a burst of energy but is quickly extinguished by the sheer mass of the Mastodon.

Amazing finish run! Sting comes flying off with a clothesline that wipes out the ref on a Vader duck. VADER THROWS THE STINGER DOWN WITH A CHOKESLAM! No ref though. Harley brains Vader with a chair. Now here comes Sting! DDT! 1-2-NO! Big Time Clotheslines send Vader over the top rope twice. Vader CATCHES The Stinger Splash! Powerslam! Sick! Perfect Vadersault misses! Crashes & Burns! Sting goes for the pin, but Harley top rope headbutts Vader! Sting hits his out of control top rope Splash for win!

Excellent match, a ton of fun! Really overlooked because the other three Sting/Vader are so damn good! But this is killer too! **** 1/4