Here we are, the last wrestling PPV of 1995: WCW Starrcade 1995. Growing up, Starrcade was always my favorite PPV. It didn’t have the flash and flair of WrestleMania but up until a point it came off as the classier season finale of the year presentation-wise.
WCW Starrcade 1995 has a three-front battle here as it must top WWE In Your House 5’s 5/10 score, WCW World War 3’s 5.5/10, and the same score for WrestleMania XI. Can this show do it or will it fall short?
Low-Tier
Luger defeating Masahiro Chono would’ve made for a decent TV match, but this is Starrcade, baby. A-game only for the time you’re given. That’s not the shocking story here. Johnny B. Badd’s three-PPV streak is over. While he managed to defeat Masa Saito, it wasn’t a match to write home about. The man had a good string of PPV matches going and got the wrong opponent on the wrong show.
Most of the heavyweight New Japan vs. WCW matches here would be mediocre TV bouts. The season finale rule is in effect and all those matches suffered. Savage vs. Tenzan was meh and Sting vs. Kensuke Sasaki could’ve been sweet.
Now, there’s a good reason for this and it has two drawbacks. First, this was billed as the “World Cup of Wrestling” but only half of the inter-promotional bouts hit that mark. Also, there was a point system with these matches with WCW going 4-3 (of course).
The other drawback was that the WCW heavyweights in these matches had more pressing issues. There was a three-way contenders bout for the World Title and the World Title bout itself. Still, these were some salty matches.
Mid-Tier
Benoit vs. Jushin Liger and Alex Wright vs. Koji Kanemoto were both rock solid bouts. With more time and stakes these matches would’ve been exotic tier. Everyone involved in both matches is capable of dope bouts. Hell, you could rearrange the opponents or make a tag match and the chances are high that the match would’ve been good.
Of the two, Benoit vs. Liger was the best pick, but I’d say watch them both. They’re both within the 10-12-minute range and both are exciting.
The triple threat match featured Sting, Luger, and Flair duking it out for a shot at Savage’s World Title. This match had some lulls in the action and went longer than it should’ve, really. Also, it ended on a count-out which I didn’t think was possible unless it was three-way dance and not a triple threat.
Like…you have three people in the ring. There are no eliminations. If someone spills out of the ring and two others are still there—you continue the match. Confusing but an enjoyable match.
Macho Man outlasted 59 other wrestlers in a 3-ring battle royal to win the belt only to lose it the next show. I can’t complain since hot shotting the belt becomes worse as the 90s roll on. Savage’s bout against Flair was solid. There were stakes, it had a good pace, and there was a lot of excitement. Flair and Savage could put on some good matches into their 40s.
I will say that Savage’s finest WCW work won’t be against Flair, Sting, or Hogan. It’ll be against DDP when 1997 hits.
Exotic-Tier
On second thought, the cruiserweight division WCW vs. New Japan bouts would’ve been amazing as a six-man tag. Eddie Guerrero vs. Shinjiro Otani was great. It had excitement, the pace of the other cruiser matches, and had it been for some gold we probably would’ve seen the rare S-game performance. With that said, Eddie and Otani brought their A-game for Starrcade.
WCW Starrcade 1995 Verdict: 6/10
I needed a little more out of the New Japan vs. WCW matches. Maybe other wrestlers should’ve been given the matches. WCW had DDP and the Blue Bloods in dark matches when they could’ve run the ball for the Savage, Flair, and Luger matches. Badd’s match needed more time as well. A mid-tier Starrcade to end 1995 on.
Drop back in for the 1995 Report Card!
WCW World War 3 1995 Score: 5.5/10
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