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.

Hulk Hogan vs. Genichiro Tenryu (SWS 12/12/91) Review

Hulk Hogan vs. Genichiro Tenryu (SWS 12/12/91)

This one is from SWS, run by Tenryu, and they put on several cross promotional shows with the WWF during this period.

Hogan is out to his 'Real American' theme and is over with the crowd. The stage for the arena is quite unique, with dragons everywhere and a stage, then some steps, then a walk to the ring

They both start off with a respect handshake. Just also realised, Earl Hebner is the referee for this one lol. Hogan goes right after Tenryu's arm and applies a very nifty armbar

Yup, this is Hogan in Japan, so he's actually wrestling. Tenryu quickly reverses this into a leg hold though. Hogan manages to break the hold by going under the ropes and we're back to even stevens as they both get up. I know most Hogan matches feel big in themselves, but Hogan in Japan adds another element to that at times IMO. They go for a test of strength, which Hogan quickly turns into a leg takedown and applies a sleeper hold,as Tenyru is on the mat. That's two very nifty takedowns Hogan has done.

They both end up in the corner and Tenryu gives Hogan a big chop, which pops the crowd, and Hogan is like “What the fuck” and backs right off. You're messing with a tough S.O.B here Hulk. Slow start continues as Hogan does a 'come on' taunt to Tenryu (sure you wanna do that?). They both quickly try and trade holds and Hogan again takes him down and applies the mat sleeper, but Tenryu escapes and puts on an armbar. They both are up on their feet again and Tenryu gives Hogan another big chop to the chest.

You hear Hogan go “What's wrong with this guy, huh?” - Yeah Hulk, you're in a battle, Son.

Back to being even now as they both start circling each other. Again, Hogan gets the better of Tenryu again as he puts him in a headlock, before again taking him down with a leghook. Both back on their feet, and Hulk has still got Tenryu in a headlock as they head towards the ropes, which forces a break. Hogan again taunts him with a 'come on' hand gesture, but Tenryu keeps his cool and has that 'yeah, I'm fine and you'll get some' look on his face.

They again go to start a test of strength, but Hogan gives Tenryu a condensing slap on the face

Not clever, dude.

Hogan goes into WWF mode for a bit as he rakes at the eyes and starts throwing right hands at Tenryu, for which Tenryu returns the favour with some chops of his own

Hogan slings Tenryu off the ropes, but he ducks and Hogan tries the big boot, but that's blocked and he gets taken down into a leg lock, but they both end up rolling out of the ring. Tenryu is first back in the ring, as Hogan chases after him. As soon as Hulk gets back in, Tenryu tries to attack but gets an elbow in the throat. Hogan throws him against the ropes and gives him the

HULK HOGAN BIG BOOT

But only gets a 2.9 in the matches' first near fall. Hogan in control now as he puts him into a submission hold whilst keeping his knee firmly in Tenryu's back. He gets him up and starts hitting big right hooks, before whipping him into the corner and giving him a clothesline. Tenryu is down on the mat, so Hogan applies a Boston Crab. He manages to get to the ropes and Hulk backs off. Tenryu gets a bit flustered as he just flings himself at Hogan with his whole body lol

Calm down, you'll get your chance. Hogan gets Tenyru in another headlock, before peppering him with right hands. He whips him into the ropes, I thought another BIG BOOT was coming here, but he ends up doing a flying knee to Tenryu

Seemingly injuring his own knee in the process. Tenryu takes him down with a sort of Enzuigiri, shoving Hogan to the outside. Tenryu is in dick mode now as he sees the leg as an easy target. He follows Hulk outside and gets a chair from the crowd and wallops Hogan's leg with it. He does this again before Hogan escapes back into the ring. Hulk in trouble now as his knee is fucked. Tenryu fly kicks Hogan in the head for and attempts a pin, but Hulk gets his leg on the rope quickly to break it.

Tenryu keeps Hogan down and applies a leg hold, bending the bad leg in the process. Hulk tries to get out of this by elbowing Tenryu in the side of the head, but Tenryu is having none of it and just nails Hulk with a kick.

Tenryu fully in control and he gives Hogan a POWERBOMB straight into a pin attempt, but only gets a 2 again. Hogan quickly gets up and is seemingly fine as he punches Tenryu, gives him a body slam, before bouncing off the ropes and gives him another

HULK HOGAN BIG BOOT

That came from nowhere TBH. Tenryu kicks out again though (that's two he's already kicked out of, impressive). Hogan then whips Tenryu off the ropes and gives him the

AX BOMBER – This was Hogan's main finisher in Japan

But again, TENRYU KICKS OUT AT 2. Bit of a strange transition follows, as Hogan tries again for the BIG BOOT, but this is blocked. Tenryu then immediately gives Hogan an Enzuigiri, before taking him to the mat and back into a leg hold. Back to that leg now I presume. No, Hulk gets up on his feet but Tenryu starts giving him some big kicks to the face and some big ass chops to the chest. Hogan whips him off the ropes again and gives him an awkward looking forearm, before delivering two running elbow drops. He follows this up with another

HOGAN BIG BOOT

He pins Tenryu, but again, IT'S ONLY ANOTHER TWO COUNT LOL.

The finish comes pretty much straight after this though, Hogan gives Tenryu his own Enzuigiri

He follows this up with two big AX BOMBERS, which has Tenryu rocking on his feet, before a third finally knocks him down for the THREE COUNT.

HULK HOGAN IS YOUR WINNER

I thought this was really good match, one of Hogan's best for sure I'd say. He mixed up his offense well here and busted out some really effective moves. There was a couple of awkward spots where they weren't quite on the same wavelength, but overall these two worked well with each other to deliver a very good match. Started well with both having some nifty matwork, then picked up when Hogan injured his knee. Some big spots in this match too that were good and it picked up during the last quarter.

Also liked just what it took to put that tough fucker Tenryu away, Three leg drops wasn't enough, it need several Ax Bombers to finally keep him down. Hogan really bough it here and it made for a overall enjoyable match. Tenryu didn't lose much at this point I don't think and neither did Hogan of course, so I guess why it took so much for Hogan to get the win in the end.

Recommended.