Tony Schiovane and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan still the commentary table for this match, it carries on from my review earlier. They tell us that Paul Orndorf lost a match to Randy Savage and they have exclusive footage from his locker room after the match. He's having a personality crisis and isn't believing in himself. Gary Spivey from some Psychic network shows up out of nowhere and helps him believe in himself. It took up too much time and sucked. Diamond Dallas Page enters first, and it's strange seeing him as a heel, bad-mouthing Diamond Doll on his way to the ring, with Max Muscle not far behind. The Renegade sprints to the ring and for those who don't know The Renegade was WCW's BTEC Ultimate Warrior. They might as well have dubbed Warrior's music in on the Network version.
THE RENEGADE © VS. DIAMOND DALLAS PAGE
(WCW TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP)
WCW Fall Brawl (17th September 1995)
Diamond Dallas Page jumps Renegade whilst he's on the turnbuckles, starting the match in the corner. Page wants to send Renegade across the ring but he changes his mind, sending him sternum-first into the corner. Page hits a side Russian leg sweep with a float-over, but Renegade presses him off at 2.
DDP hits a headbutt as they get to their feet, but it sends him outside. Somehow, he also walks into the ringpost, sending himself into the crowd. “Hey, he didn't pay for that seat!” - Tony Schiovane. Hopefully, you didn't have to pay anyone for that line. The Renegade hits a headbutt of his own before bringing Page back over to ringside. Page's head gets sent into the apron and Renegade throws him back in the ring, with Jimmy Hart encouraging him. (I wonder if The Renegade had anything to do with Hulk Hogan...?) DDP begs off before pulling The Renegade into the corner by his singlet. The Renegade blocks his head going into the turnbuckle before sending Page into it. The Renegade gets a rough headlock, dropping Page to his knees. Page tries to escape with Renegade's hair, but to no avail. They struggle around the ring, and Page tries to climb through the ropes to break it. The Renegade brings him back in the first time so Page tries again. This time, the 5 count expires with Page in the ropes so The Renegade has to release. The Renegade allows Page to his feet before knocking him down with a lariat for a nearfall.
DDP reverses an irish whip, The Renegade ducks a clothesline and goes to the air but Page sidesteps him! Renegade gets caught over the top rope. Page starts choking him over the top rope. Diamond Dallas Page picks up some speed hitting Macho's over the top head snap which Diamond Doll gives a perfect 10 for. Diamond Dallas Page hits a spinning neckbreaker and he tells Diamond Doll that's another 10. She's not happy holding it up as DDP keeps control on the mat. He chokes The Renegade near the ropes with his boot and dropping a knee to Renegade's chest. DDP sends Renegade out to the floor, but Renegade gets back to the apron. DDP sends Renegade back down with a running knee strike, but he can't win the championship by count out. The Renegade is back on the apron and he shoulder barges Page through the ropes and comes back in the ring with a sunset flip. Diamond Dallas Page drops to his knees and grabs the ropes! Renegade finally rolls through and they get a nearfall apiece. Diamond Dallas Page knocks Renegade down with a clothesline for another nearfall.
Diamond Dallas Page hits The Renegade with a forearm and sends him corner to corner, following with a running shoulder tackle to the ribs. The Renegade gets sent back across but avoids another charge as Tony and Bobby note that this is The Renegade's longest match to date. They each block a right hand before Page's finds its mark. The Renegade is sent across the ring but Page ducks too early allowing The Renegade to kick him and send him over. The Renegade catches his breath in the corner before knocking Page down with another lariat. A second consecutive lariat sends Page down to the mat clutching his lower back. DDP has to use the corner to get to his feet, The Renegade is more than ready for him with a cartwheel back elbow! The Renegade decides not to cover and comes off the top rope with an axe handle instead. The Renegade covers 1, 2, no! The Renegade tries to bring Page to his feet, but it's countered with a jawbreaker. The Renegade reverses an irish whip, but Page blocks a hip toss bringing The Renegade down with a DDT! Page is slow to cover, getting him just a nearfall this time. He has The Renegade in position for the Diamond Cutter, but The Renegade sends him into the corner, he rolls Page up, 1, 2, NO! Max Muscle climbs on the apron, but DDP is sent into him sending him back down to the floor. The Renegade catches Page with a slow powerslam, but turns his attention back to the outside, climbing to the top rope and hitting a splash on Max Muscle! Jimmy Hart sacrificed himself by standing up to Muscle whilst The Renegade climbed to the top, but he should really focus on defending his championship.
The Renegade gets back in the ring, but Page has had a good 20 seconds to catch his breath. Max Muscle grabs Renegade's ankle as he tries to get into the ring allowing Page to hit the Diamond Cutter! 1, 2, 3.
WINNER: DIAMOND DALLAS Page (NEW WCW TELEVISION CHAMPION)
I've always enjoyed looking at early careers of guys that would become big stars. Within a few years, Page would be feuding with Randy Savage and battling for the WCW Championship. If The Renegade had come in with a different character, he could have had a decent career. He was more athletic than Warrior and he could hold his own, just a shame his introduction would plague him so much in his short career. This was a serviceable match, besides the annoying "Samoan headbutt" oversell, Page would go on to have a lot better over time. Really The Renegade's Television Championship run was his career highlight (June – September 1995). – WORKRATE: 3.75/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.75/5 OVERALL 7.5/10
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