BIG VAN VADER VS. STAN HANSEN

  Jim Ross teams with “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes for announce duties tonight. This is about a year after the vicious Japanese “eye-popping” match between these two. I'm not imagining many chain wrestling sequences here. Stan Hansen enters first, the smaller of the two at a trim 309 lbs. Dream says it best, “these are two big bad men” Giving up a hefty 95 lbs to his opponent. Big Van Vader makes his way down to the ring wearing his headgear as Jim Ross calls their Japan “match” the most brutal brawl he's ever seen. Vader puts the helmet on the entranceway and it blows steam, pretty fancy. He has a full mask here, and it looks strange to me.

BIG VAN VADER VS. STAN HANSEN

WCW WrestleWar 1991 (24^th February 1991)

Stan Hansen meets Vader at the ropes, leaping at him with a bearhug, but Vader just brings him to the outside and pummels him with rights. Hansen's brought to his feet, getting headbutted along the way. Hansen swings the momentum with kicks, Ross says they were low but I dunno. Hansen chops Vader back into the ring ropes and hits a famous lariat, it doesn't send Vader over so Hansen forces him over. Hansen strikes at Vader as he gets to his feet in the ring, sending his head into the corner. Hansen hits an overhead chop, but gives Vader too long, walking into a lariat. Vader slams Hansen's head into the mat and hits more right hands for a nearfall. Stan Hansen is sent corner to corner, Vader follows with an avalanche. Hansen drops and Vader squashes him with an elbow drop but can only get another nearfall. Vader applies the match's possibly only wrestling move, a chinlock. Rhodes mentions on commentary that it's just to wear Hansen down for more beatings. Vader dumps Hansen outside, following to dish out more punishment.

Vader just flops off the apron onto Hansen, but he comes back with a thrust kick to Vader's midsection. They slug it out on the floor, Vader goes to the eyes and headbutts Hansen. Hansen catches himself on the guardrail and somehow finds his way back to the ring. Vader takes his time getting back in the ring and hits Hansen in the corner with right hands. Stan Hansen is sent across the ring, this time he avoids the avalanche and hits a back suplex on Vader. Stan Hansen slowly covers and only gets 2. Hansen boots at Vader on the mat as he tries to crawl away and hits an elbow drop. Hansen uses the middle rope to get added height on a knee drop and covers again, but Vader kicks out after 2. Vader tries to roll out of the ring but Hansen paid the referee, so he obstructs Vader. Hansen has a chance to get some boots in before Vader gets outside. Hansen hits him over the head with a box, Vader replies with a plastic chair. Hansen takes a walk to get his own chair. Connecting that with Vader's skull. Vader hits a lariat but is knocked back with a right hand and kick to the gut. Stan Hansen sends Vader back in the ring.

Vader eats some right hands on his knees, another one sends him back over the top rope to the apron. Hansen knocks him down to the floor, quickly following. Not quick enough, as Vader clubs Hansen and drops him ribs-first on the guardrail. Vader hits an elbow drop and Hansen throws a chair at him from the floor. They get back in the ring, but Hansen slides straight back out. Vader boots Hansen as he tries to get in, so Hansen brings him out by his ankle. Stan Hansen sends Vader into the stairs. Hansen drops to his knees into Vader's midsection and sends him back in the ring. They exchange right hands on their knees, transitioning to forearms and headbutts. Pee Wee Anderson, the referee gets caught in the crossfire and sent on his way. He tries to separate them again, so Hansen sends him out of the way, and right out of the ring. That's enough for the match to be thrown out.

WINNER: DOUBLE DISQUALIFICATION

Just because the match is over, doesn't mean the fight is. Vader drops Hansen, climbing to the top rope. Vader hits a diving forearm from the top rope, knocking Hansen flat. Stan Hansen avoids a splash, choking Vader with the bullrope. He sends Vader over the top, but Vader gets the rope, choking Hansen with it instead. They choke each other out and brawl all the way up the aisle to the back as we see highlights of the aftermath.

  I was more surprised we saw the chinlock than anything. It kind of made sense for the referee to wait that long before disqualifying both guys, because who would want to do that? They just went at each other blow for blow and neither man wanted to give an inch. Then having them fight all the way to the back because security didn't want to be involved added to the mystique. – WORKRATE: 2/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 2.75/5 OVERALL 4.75/10