Bobby “The Brain Heenan and Gordon Solie are on
commentary for this match. It's Heenan's first night in WCW, being
introduced earlier by “Mean” Gene Okerlund.
LORD
STEVEN REGAL © VS. DUSTIN RHODES (WCW Television Championship)
WCW
Clash of the Champions XXVI (27th January 1994)
The bell rings
and Regal stays out of reach, backing into the corner. They finally
lock up and Regal breaks it instantly. Heenan says it's because Regal
knows he's better than anybody else. Dustin Rhodes backs Regal into
the corner but has to break. The champion complains about his ear,
giving Heenan a chance to take a shot at Dusty Rhodes. Lord Steven Regal gets the best of the second collar-elbow tie up backing Rhodes
into the corner. Regal gets a cheap shot but Rhodes fights back with
rights and a flying dropkick. Lord Steven Regal slides out of the
ring to confer with Sir William at ringside. Regal gets back in the
ring and they lock up. Rhodes gets control of the arm so Regal backs
to the corner but Rhodes sends him across the ring before he has to
break. We had to see Sir William during some of that to break it up,
apparently. Lord Steven Regal asks for a test of strength and gets
it, they both break it off with a kick. Lord Steven Regal rolls
through an arm wringer and counters into an armbar, trapping Rhodes
on one knee. Dustin Rhodes makes it to his feet but Regal moves to a
full nelson, Rhodes snapmares him over before it can be properly
locked in and a top wristlock keeps Regal on the mat.
Lord Steven Regal kips up! No time for celebration
though, ending up in a headlock. Regal sends Rhodes off the ropes but
is knocked down with a shoulder tackle so he decides to go back to
ringside to confer with Sir William. Gordon Solie mentions that Regal
has the time limit on his side. Regal gets back in the ring after
taking a walk on the mats. Dustin Rhodes goes to a side headlock as
Regal gets in the ring and takes him down, but it didn't look pretty.
Regal's shoulders are down for 2, but he raises it in time. Regal
rolls through for a nearfall of his own so Rhodes brings it to their
feet. Steven Regal sends Rhodes off the ropes and goes prone, but
loses sight of him as Rhodes keeps leapfrogging him. Regal gets to
his feet and is immediately slammed, Rhodes covers for 2. Dustin
Rhodes takes Regal down with a headlock, keeping the shoulders down
for 2 again.
Lord Steven Regal uses his leg to try and break the
hold, but Dustin fights it off and works back to his feet. Regal
forces Dustin down to his knees, slipping out of the headlock but
Rhodes brings him down with a drop toe hold and gets a rear chinlock
on the mat. They get to their feet, moving into a headlock and Regal
tries to suplex Rhodes, but Rhodes counters the weight bringing Regal
down to the mat. Regal gets it back to their feet and walks Rhodes to
the corner, forcing Rhodes to break. Lord Steven Regal gets in some
cheap shots. A European uppercut knocks Rhodes down, the second sends
him into the turnbuckle. Rhodes tries to hit Regal on his way out of
the corner but misses. More strikes knock Rhodes to the mat before
Regal keeps him down with a top wristlock. Dustin Rhodes slowly makes
it to his feet but eats a gutwrench powerbomb before he can counter,
giving the champion a nearfall. Dustin Rhodes tries to scramble away
but Regal mounts him, keeping him on the mat with a crossface. “Hey
look, an Englishman riding a cowboy!” - Brain.
Dustin Rhodes gets to his knees and elbows his way
free, knocking Regal down with a right. Steven Regal trips Rhodes'
ankle and goes back to the top wristlock, not giving Rhodes a second
of separation. Rhodes sits up into a reverse chinlock, Regal uses
Rhodes' own arms across his chin as we hear 10 minutes of the 15
minute time limit has expired. Rhodes is able to get to his feet and
almost turns the momentum over before a swift headbutt from Regal
puts a stop to it. Regal turns the momentum back and forces Rhodes to
his knees. Rhodes is able to get back to his feet and throws Regal
overhead and across the ring. Rhodes knocks him down with a
clothesline and covers, but Regal's foot is on the rope. Dustin
Rhodes gets some shots in before Regal scrambles to ringside, taking
another walk. Regal backs away from the ring as Dustin gets near,
only getting in on his terms. Dustin Rhodes is complaining to the
referee, so Regal climbs to the apron.
He shoulder barges Rhodes through the ropes, coming in
with a sunset flip but Rhodes counters, dropping to his knees and
punching Regal. Dustin Rhodes sends Regal off the ropes and hits a
flying lariat for a nearfall, Steven Regal goes back to ringside.
This time Dustin follows, so Regal runs up the elevated walkway and
into the ring. They struggle for a suplex over the top rope, Regal
brings Rhodes in but he lands on his feet, sending Regal off the
ropes into a dropkick. Dustin Rhodes covers and gets a nearfall.
Regal almost rolls Rhodes up but A) it looked shit and B) Rhodes got
the ropes. Regal goes back out of the ring, with Rhodes following
again, they end up on the walkway. Lord Steven Regal charges at
Rhodes and is backdropped into the ring at the 1-minute mark. Dustin
Rhodes almost trips on the rope during a running over-the-top plancha
and it only gets him a nearfall. Steven Regal rolls back out to Sir
William, Dustin follows and knocks their heads together before
throwing Regal back in the ring. Dustin Rhodes hits an elbow to the
back of Regal's head from the top rope as it's announced 15 seconds
are left. Dustin Rhodes decides to hit the bulldog instead of
covering and it costs him the match.
DRAW: LORD STEVEN REGAL RETAINS
I'll get it out of the way that the finish was
stupid. If it wasn't announced at 15 seconds I wouldn't have minded,
it showed why Regal outsmarted him the whole match. Speaking of, he
had a good tactic to scramble and stalling when things don't go your
way and stay close to keep the advantage. It led to a basic match and
Rhodes would speed things up a bit when he had the chance. It was an
enjoyable match, I don't regret watching it.– WORKRATE: 2.75/5
PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 3.5/5 OVERALL 6.25/10
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