CACTUS JACK VS. STING

Cactus Jack went from feuding with Van Hammer recently to a non-title match against the reigning WCW World Heavyweight champion Sting. That's a jump and a half. For some reason, in my mind, this match is a part of Cactus Jack's feud with Vader, but I could be wrong. Jim Ross (in a Hawaiian shirt) and Jesse “The Body” Ventura are on commentary for this match. Bill Watts had recently come into power, making new rules for WCW, with this being the first Pay-Per-View under that regime. Falls count anywhere on the Gulf Coast in this match, but Cactus Jack decides to start on the entrance way. Entering first and waiting for Sting. Jim Ross says Cactus Jack is a hitman, so it might have been Sting's feud with Vader.

CACTUS JACK VS. STING (Falls Count Anywhere)

WCW Beach Blast 1992 (20^th June 1992)

They lock up for half a second before just exchanging right hands. Cactus gets the better of it and tries to hip toss Sting off the raised entrance way. Seriously, it's not a ramp. Sting counters with a backslide and Bill Alfonso counts 1. Sting kicks Cactus in the gut like he just learned the move then goes back to rights. He awkwardly has to back Cactus into the ring ropes then sends him back into them for a backdrop. Did you follow it? Alfonso asks Cactus Jack if he wants to quit, has he not seen this guy? Sting hits a bulldog on the entrance way for a nearfall. A Stinger splash against the ropes misses and Sting lands awkwardly in the ring. He rolls out as Cactus rolls in and we see one of Watts' new rules. No ring mats, his wrestlers were TOUGH! Cactus elbow drop off the apron does neither man any favors but does get Cactus Jack a nearfall. As do a swinging neckbreaker and sunset flip from the apron. Jesse Ventura questions Sting taking this match, Jim Ross says he has character and he's a fighting champion but I think his 2019 eyes would see it very differently.

Sting rams Cactus Jack's head into the guard rail, but gets sent into it himself as if nothing's happened. Sting backdrops Cactus Jack into the crowd and vaulting the guardrail to join him. Sting sends Cactus' head into the guardrail from about 4 feet away and suplexes him on the concrete floor but only gets a nearfall. Sting brings it back to ringside and I'm sure Cactus must have fractured a hip as he went over the guardrail and hit the floor. Sting sends Cactus Jack into the ring and follows, making it the first time they've been in the ring together to correct Ross and Ventura. Sting sends Cactus Jack into the ropes and catches his foot as Cactus tries to kick. He spins Cactus Jack around but gets decapitated with a clothesline. Cactus Jack runs the ropes, hitting a falling elbow drop, but Ventura calls it a headbutt and kicks Sting with his left leg, causing Ross to think his right could be injured. He pulls at Sting's face as Jesse says he's surprised Cactus Jack hasn't tried to go back outside the ring.

Sting is sent into the far corner and Cactus charges at him with a knee strike. Cactus Jack is favoring his right leg as he snapmares Sting down and applies a bodyscissors on the mat. Jesse applauds him for wrestling. He covers Sting's face so he can't see the ropes, and pulls on his mouth. Really nice heel moves here. Sting pulls Cactus Jack's hair and is able to sit up. Cactus Jack slaps Sting but it just fires him up, Sting elbows free before turning around to Cactus Jack and pounding him with rights. Sting is on his feet before Cactus Jack but a rake to the eyes equalizes that advantage quickly. The Cactus clothesline sends them both back to ringside and Cactus Jack sends Sting into the guardrail. Cactus Jack is caught with a boot to the face and another before dropping from a clothesline. Jim Ross confirms for me that was Sting feuding with Vader, but over the next 12 months they would all meet. Cactus Jack drives a chair into Sting's rib cage and slams it across his back.

Cactus Jack walks around ringside cradling the steel chair before a third shot to Sting's back with the chair. He rakes at Sting's face as he tries to lead him to the other side of the arena but gets back suplexed on the floor. Sting covers and gets a nearfall before they get to their feet, hitting each other with a right hand simultaneously. Cactus Jack is the first to cover but Sting reverses at 2, getting a nearfall himself. Sting stuns Cactus Jack with right hands on their feet and hits a Stinger splash, Cactus Jack falls back into a chair at ringside and Sting's landing didn't look too fun of time either. `Cactus Jack's knee gives way' on a piledriver on the concrete, but it looked like a botch to my cynical mind. Cactus Jack climbs to the top rope but misses the Cactus elbow, allowing Sting to bring him to the entrance way, hitting rights and chops before slamming Cactus Jack on the flat surface. Sting retrieves the chair for some revenge. Cactus Jack goes down but keeps getting up. He decides it isn't worth the effort and stays on his feet from the last shot so Sting attacks his injured leg. They fall off the raised entranceway as Sting attempts a Scorpion Deathlock. Cactus Jack takes it back onto the entranceway and hits the double-arm DDT for a nearfall. Sting runs half the length of the entranceway to hit Cactus Jack with a clothesline and another one off the top rope for the win.

WINNER: STING

For some reason, I've never liked this match. Before today. I must have unfairly judged it, but can't think why. It was paced well, didn't get too crazy too soon but did enough to be different. Commentary pointing out the parts that would have been disqualifications in any other match helped it look like more of a fight, but unfortunately so did the spacial awareness issues Sting seemed to have. Speaking of the champion, he took a lot of punishment for a man in his position to make Cactus Jack look good,. When Sting was in control though Cactus Jack took enough to make himself look almost indestructible until the surprise finish. The match has grown on me.– Objectively I would rate the match 3 ¾* personally though I call it a 3.5/5

This match is available on WWE's DVD release “Mick Foley's Greatest Hits & Misses”