Sting vs. Cactus Jack (Submit or Surrender) (WCW Power Hour 11/23/91) Review

Sting vs. Cactus Jack (Submit or Surrender) (WCW Power Hour 11/23/91)

So everyone knows about their Beach Blast 1992 match and how good that is, but I don't remember much from this match TBH, and as it's a precursor of sorts, thought I'd check it out.

So, the 'Submit or Surrender' concept was basically a hybrid between I quit/last man standing/submit. Just gloss over the fact that 'Submit' and Surrender' are basically the same thing.

Jack is out first carrying a plastic garbage bin. Bit of him already trying to psych Sting out as Jack here is wearing a 'Sting' T-Shirt.

'BANG, BANG'

Sting comes out and I forgot he's the U.S Champion at this point. Great spot with a young disabled fan, where Sting takes the time to show him the belt and have a moment with him. The bell rings just as Sting gets in the ring and Jack goes straight for him. He starts BITING at Sting's head!!!

OUCH

Jack taking the early advantage here as he clubs Sting with right hands. He pounds Sting's head into the turnbuckle, before setting him up on the ropes. Jack runs at Sting, but Sting moves and Jack takes his first (of many I presume) bump of the match to the outside. Sting follows him out and rams Jack's head into the guardrail. Sting not messing around here, as he does it again, not once but twice. He puts that bin that Jack bought with him into position to suplex Jack onto, but Jack blocks it and rams Sting, back first into the guardrail.

Jack picks up the bin and wallops it over the back of Sting. He does it again, before setting up Sting for a suplex of his own, but Sting blocks and reverses this and plants Jack through the bin.

Sting throws Jack back into the ring, straightens the bin out, and throws that in, too. He then picks it up and starts wailing Jack over the head with it. He then STICKS THE BIN OVER JACK'S head, plants him on the mat, and delivers an elbow onto the bin/Jack.

Sting makes sure that bin is still on tight, as he climbs up to the top turnbuckle and delivers a BIG SPLASH onto Jack whilst he's wearing the bin. Jack is dazed and probably wonders where he is as Sting gets him in the corner for the old ten bell salute punches. Jack blocks one of these and tries to give Sting an Atomic Drop, but Sting blocks it and gives him a short clothesline. Sting whips Jack into the ropes, and tries to leapfrog over him, but Jack stands his ground and Sting ends up going nuts first into Jack. Not sure if this was meant to come off as it looked TBH;

'DON'T RUB 'EM SON, COUNT' EM'

Safe to say, this is Jack's opportunity to take over proceedings. Jack goes straight for the abdomen area and drops a leg onto Sting. He gives starts kicking Sting's head repeatedly, before shoving him on the ropes and choking him. He then runs off the ropes and plants his full body onto Sting's back, who's still draped over the ropes. Sting is on empty here as Jack continues to pound away at him with stiff forearms, before running off the ropes and delivering a running bulldog. Jack tries for a pin, but has to reminded by the ref that PINFALL'S MEAN NOTHING HERE. Sting in real trouble here, as Jack drops a big knee onto the throat before choking him with his boot.

Crowd start up a 'Sting, Sting, Sting chant to try and will him on. He tries a mini comeback with some strikes and chops, but gets cut off quick by a Jack thumb in the eye. Jack starts kicking the shit out of him, before dumping him through the middle rope and onto the outside. Jack follows him out and throws Sting into the guardrail. Jack then picks up a chair from the crowd, although one chap did his best to stop this from happening, bless him

But obviously loses as Jack picks the chair up and whacks it right over Sting's back. Sting is just dead at this point on the mat outside. Ref is asking Sting if he wants to give up, and Sting is just shaking his head; he's tougher than that. Jack goes for him again with the choking. He sends Sting onto the apron and gives him a neckbreaker off the top rope. OUCH INDEED. Jack is just punishing Sting at the moment and he carries it on with kicks and big headbutt. Sting is rocking on his feet and can barely stand as Jack knocks him right back down with a forearm and applies a chinlock.

COME ON STINGER

Crowd are willing Sting on as he's doing his best to try and power out and mount some sort of retaliation. He manages to get up and hits Jack with some strikes, before running off the ropes, but Jack moves out the way and sends Sting crashing right back to the mat with another big forearm smash. Jack follows this up with one hell of a leg drop onto Sting's throat, before going back to the reverse chinlock. Sting needs to do something here, and he does as he staggers up and grabs Jack's hair and yanks his head down onto the top of his own, thus using it as a sort of bettering ram to try and get out of this mess.

He reverses a whip into the ropes and tries a dropkick onto Jack, but Jack is smart and just holds onto the ropes, so Sting falls flat on his ars........................back. Jack follow up on this with a double arm DDT.

MAN, WHAT HAS STING GOTTA DO??!!

Sting gets up as Jack comes over to him and dumps him over the top rope to the outside. Finally, this could be the opening Sting has been waiting for. He flies over the ropes and via a crossbody right onto Jack.

Sting is fired up now as he just starts pounding on Jack with some big ass punches to the head. All the shit Sting has taken, looks like it's payback time. He suplexes Jack on the outside, before dumping him back into the ring. He whips Jack into the corner and attempts a STINGER SPLASH, but Jack moves so Sting...........no he doesn't, Sting was smart and put the brakes on just before his head bounces off the post. But don;t speak too soon, as he flies off the turnbuckle, straight onto Jack, who catches him and flings him throat first onto the top rope. This sends Sting back to the outside.

Jack puts Sting into a headlock and marches around the outside with him, before dumping him onto the mat with a backbreaker. Jack gets on the apron and flies right off it onto Sting with a big flying elbow

Sting is showing some balls and resilience here as he's trying to get some energy from somewhere and make his way back up. Jack picks up a mic and shouts “TELL THEM, YOU DON'T WANT ANY MORE' and clubs on Sting's back. He tells Sting to say “I QUIT” and shoves the mic in Sting's mouth.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO STING

“NOT A CHANCE”, cries Sting, as the crowd erupts.

He makes it back onto his feet at last and Jack throws him back into the ring. Jack goes and grabs the chair again as the ref tries to get it off him, Jack just gives him a shove, sending him onto the mat. Well ref, it is a No-DQ. At this point, Sting is so fucked, he can't really stand, as he's got his head draped over the middle rope. PERFECT TARGET PRACTICE FOR JACK.

Jack goes to whack Sting with the chair, but Sting moves and the chair bounces hard off Jack's head

SURELY THIS IS STING'S BIG CHANCE, NOW!!!

Jack recovers and climbs onto the apron, but Sting has finally got the energy to get up and hits a big dropkick onto Jack, sending him crashing to the outside, nearly whacking his head off the rail in the process.

Jack is fucked now, as Sting staggers to the outside, and applies the SCORPION DEATHLOCK onto Jack. The ref, now seemingly recovered, runs over to check on Jack, but he is KKOCKED THE FUCK OUT, and can't respond to anything. Sting is declared the WINNER.

Well this was fucking excellent. Not sure how it compares to the Beach Blast match, but this is such a great brawl on it's own TBH. Jack is fantastic here; Menacing, punishing, just doesn't care one bit. Sting is equally wonderful as the full on babyface in complete peril. These two work so well together, and Jack was the perfect opponent for Sting to demonstrate why he could be so good in this sort of setting. The finish was brutal in showing what it took to finally get and keep Jack down. A full on chair shot to the head, followed by a nasty bump on the outside. Jack looks great here but so does Sting. Jack is spot on with how ruthless he his and makes all his offense work here, and Sting is perfect to play off it all.

Just wonderful.

Recommended.

Vader vs. Sting (Strap Match) (WCW Superbrawl III) Review

Vader vs. Sting (Strap Match) (WCW Superbrawl III)

People  know how much of a Sting and Vader mark I am, and I was browsing through 1993 and had the urge to revisit this classic match again. Of course, these two already had history before this match. In 1992 they had two other wonderful matches at Great American Bash and at Starrcade. People remember the build up for the infamous 'White Castle Of Fear' video:

Which was a rather wacky element to an other wise, strong rivalry. In the run up to Superbrawl, Sting and Vader both did excellent, individual promos hyping the match up and were involved in matches that further built towards the PPV. There was a Barry Windham & Vader vs. Sting & Dustin Rhodes match on Saturday Night, that resulted in Windham holding Sting, whilst Vader whipped him with the strap, before the babyfaces made the save;

Sting got his revenge the week later when he faced Windham and he used the strap to hang Barry from the rope, until Vader helped Windham and Sting was alone in the ring with the strap, swinging it around in front of Vader;

Vader had a squash match against Rick Thames on Saturday Night, where Race ended up covering his face with red paint to send a message to Sting, whilst Vader held the strap that would be used;

Now, onto the match.

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Here we go.

'LIGHTS OUT, LEATHER STRAP MATCH – NOT SANCTIONED'

Vader, the man, the heavyweight champion, is first out. With Harley Race of course and dressed in a white robe

Sting is out next, as energetic as always and gets a massive pop from the crowd. He and Vader square off and start jawing at each other as the ref tries to separate them. Harley has the strap and the ref finally ties them both together.

Already you can feel the intensity here and just how bad Vader was just by the look he gives Sting.

Sting starts out cautiously, moving around and Vader slowly stalks him. They have a mini tug of war which Vader ends up winning and throwing Sting to the mat. Vader's dominance already in effect here. Once again, they have a tug of war and again, Vader throws Sting down with the strap. Vader drags Sting ever closer to him with the strap and they end up face to face, before Vader gives the Stinger a big clothesline

Vader in control early as he delivers some big elbows to Sting. He starts whipping Sting's back with the strap before getting on the turnbuckle for a big splash. Sting then tries to mount a comeback as he gets up and yanks the strap under Vader's legs (Watch the family jewel, now). Crowd pop big for this as you'd expect. Sting follows this up by running at Vader with some right hooks to the head and finally knocking the big man down. Sting gets onto the turnbuckle but Vader gets up, so Sting smacks him in the face with a big kick followed by a big clothesline

Now the Stinger is in control and he has Vader on the mat. He continues to use the ariel offense as he delivers not one, but TWO big splashes. Crowd is going fucking NUTS for Sting. He untangles the strap from Vader and

IT'S PAYBACK TIME, BITCH

Sting starts whipping the back of Vader and the crowd are LOVING this, esp one of Sting's biggest fans, I'm sure

He continues to whip Vader big style with the strap, Harley gets on the apron, and Sting clumps him as well with the strap for his troubles. Big Van Vader is in trouble here as Sting is fully in control and is dominating the big man. Vader ends up rolling out the ring as Harley recovers and tries to get Vader going again. Sting then goes to the outside, Vader gets up, but Sting has the strap in between him and drags Vader right into the post, TWICE.

At this point, Vader's back is RED AS FUCK (A little help from Race, there :side: ). Sting gets him up and drags him to a post and to mark that is one down (remember, you have to drag your opponent to all four corners, and touch the corners to win). Sting PICKS UP VADER and slams him to the mat with a big powerslam. Sting is the babyface in this, but he has the physical power to still bring it to Vader.

Sting starts dragging Vader around to another corner, that's TWO now. He tries to drag Vader to a third, but Vader sends him into the guardrail

I sense this is where Vader regains control. Plus, those two corners mean nothing now as you have to touch all four corners in one successive motion. Sting gets up thou8gh and drags Vader back into the ring and gives Vader a Fireman's carry back drop. Sting runs at Vader but is met with a BIG Vader body bounce, not once, but twice. Vader kicks him in the gut and shouts 'POWERBOMB'. Oh oh, Sting is in trouble here. But Sting blacks it and gives Vader a back drop. Sting is still bringing it here, but ends up making his first real mistake too. He goes to the top turnbuckle again, where he's already been successful, and tries another splash, but Vader moves out the way this time and Sting goes face first onto the mat.

Now this is surely where Vader has enough of this.

He goes off the ropes and delivers his own big splash to Sting, before pancaking him with big punches to the face. We all know you DON'T want to get caught taking any of those from Vader. Crowd is cheering Sting on and willing him on, but Vader squashes that enthusiasm as he picks Sting up and plants him down with a back drop.

Yeah, this is now Vader's yard.

He gets on the turnbuckle and gives Sting his Vaderbomb, as Harley starts taunting him with “How do you like that, Sting?”.

Sting is now in real trouble as Vader starts whipping him again with the strap, the sound effects perfectly demonstrating the pain and anguish he's currently in. This is not where he wants to be . Vader picks Sting up again, gets on the turnbuckle, and delivers a FUCKING BACK BODY DROP

Fuuuuuuuuuuck, Sting is in deep, deep shit atm. Sting is helpless now as Vader drags him to his first corner spot, that's one down. He drags him to another, that's two, only another two to go and this thing is over. Sting is desperately trying to stop this and is grabbing the strap as tight as he can. Just as Vader is close to the third corner, Sting digs deep and kicks Vader right in the mush. Sting is still in trouble, but at least he's broken up the corners.

Vader is pissed and goes back to the turnbuckle and goes for another Vaderbomb. Ohhhhhhhhh shit. He goes for it, but Sting gets some resilience, and moves out of the way. Sting needs to dig deep again here as this could be his moment. Crowd once again go FUCKING NUTS. Vader though gets up and gets back onto the top turnbuckle, he's either supremely or supremely confident. Just as he gets up there though, Sting yanks hard on the strap and it plants Vader down on his, erm, family jewels.

'Don't rub 'em Son, count 'em'

Now this is where Sting can get his shit going again. Vader manages to get up and back onto the top turnbuckle, but Sting again yanks on the strap, only this time it sends Vader over and flying into the ring

Both men and down and, I'd imagine, fucked at what they have been through so far TBH. Vader is gets up on his knees and powders Sting with some of his famous club right hands. Sting blocks on of them and whacks Vader back with a big punch of his own. I love Sting's jumping punches here, as he shows how fucked he is, but he's still trying and fighting. Vader picks him up again though and plants him onto the top turnbuckle. He gives Sting a SUPERPLEX

Sting is dead on the mat as Vader starts going for the four corners again. He gets one. Vader screams “IT'S OVER” as he gets two. He goes for the third, and gets it. ONE MORE AND THIS ISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS OVER. He tries to drag Sting over to the fourth, but Sting wraps his legs around the ropes and clings on for dear life

He gives Vader one hell of a big boot, knocking the big man onto the mat. Once again, as much as anything, Sting has saved the match and has the chance of a comeback here. Don't speak so soon though as Vader gets Sting in the corner

YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A RING CORNER WITH VADER FACING YOU

Vader pancakes him with big ass clubs to the head

Big Van Vader just wants to fucking KILL this man. Sting is BUSTED OPEN as Vader continues to destroy him. But Sting gets some energy from somewhere and plants Vader with a CAPULO KICK to the head

COME ON STINGER

Fantastic desperation move by Sting to try and get this monster off of him. Vader is still back to his feet, like some fucking horror movie villain though. Sting plants him with some rights and takes him to

Crowd are going nuts as this is Sting's big chance to finally take over. He nails Vader with a DDT. He puts Vader into the corner and starts giving Vader some fucking PAYBACK with some right hooks. I just love Sting's facial expressions here, he perfectly shows the agony and madness he was feeling at Vader. His face is bleeding and he's just pounding on Vader and laying into him with all his frustrations.

STING HAS FUCKING SNAPPED as he's just killing Vader with punch after punch. He rips Vader's mask off, picks him up off his back and touches one of the corners. But as he does that, Vader's foot catches the ref and knocks him down.

REF BUMP

Sting goes onto to touch THREE corners as Vader's ear is spouting blood heavily at this point. Sting goes for the final corner, but trips over the ref and just misses the corner with his hand. FUCK SAKE. Vader is a BLOODY MESS atm. Ref is back up, but so is Vader and he flies off the ropes and onto Sting. Vader ties Sting's feet up with the strap and drags him into the corner foe ONE. Then to the other corner for TWO. Sting is down and out and is being dragged around like a lifeless body at this point. Vader drags him to a third turnbuckle for a THREE.

JUST ONE MORE

Sting clings onto the ropes for dear life to stop Vader dragging him to that fourth corner. He kicks Vader back to try and get out of this, but the power of the kick sends Vader back and right in the corner for the win. Man, Vader really is a BLOODY MESS

Sting gets the strap and starts whipping Vader out of the ring.

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Well, where does one start with this one? IT'S A FUCKING WAR, A FUCKING WAR. Violent, destructive, monstrous. Vader is just a non stop killing machine who has no mercy or remorse and Sting plays the perfect babyface, timing his hope spots and comebacks to perfection but also showing he can bring the power to Vader when he has to. Still one of the best WCW matches ever and the best match of it's kind. Vader and Sting were always perfect for each other and this match demonstrates this as well as any of their matches. This match shows why I'm such a fan of both too, esp Sting.

Thanks for reading.

Now GO AND WATCH THIS SHIT