VADER VS. STING

The King of Cable' tournament celebrated 20 years of wrestling on Turner Networks. These two faced off for the WCW Championship at the previous Great American Bash. Sting beat Brian Pillman and Rick Rude in the tournament, Vader beat Tony Atlas and Dustin Rhodes, for those interested. Both men also qualified for the Battlebowl after this match. Jesse “The Body” Ventura and Jim Ross are on commentary. Vader is accompanied by Harley Race. Jim Ross lasts 5 seconds before mentioning this won't be their last match.

Vader VS. Sting (King of Cable tournament)

WCW Starrcade 1992 (28^th December 1992)

The bell rings and they milk the crowd, Vader slaps Sting and they lock up. Sting is shoved to the ground, gets to his feet and jabs at Vader, but it's shaken off. Sting goes to lock up and gets slammed by Vader. Vader slams him a second time as Race taunts Sting from ringside. Sting charges at Vader, which goes as well as you would expect. Vader lifts Sting overhead and drops him across the top rope. He does it again, so Sting rolls out of the ring. After a short breather, he gets back in the ring but is met by Vader. Sting ducks a pair of clotheslines, knocking Vader down with a somersault heel kick. Another kick drops Vader again, Sting hits a german suplex and clotheslines Vader, knocking him into the ropes. Sting sends them both over to the floor and knocks Vader's mask off with another clothesline! Sting slingshots from the ring onto Vader and Race with a crossbody before patiently waiting for Vader to get back into the ring,

Sting goes to meet Vader, but is cut off. Sting is beaten into the corner and pounded with lefts and rights. Vader sends Sting across the ring but eats shit on the charge. Sting takes Vader over with an arm drag and sends him into the corner but eats Vader's boot on a Stinger Splash attempt. Sting is sent into the ropes but holds on, boots Vader in the head and connects with a DDT. Sting brings Vader over to the corner and hits a superplex/DDThybrid from the middle rope. He covers Vader for 2. Sting locks in the Scorpion Deathlock but Vader is too close to the ropes. Vader decides to take a breather on the outside, but Sting follows him. He stalks Vader at ringside, setting up a Stinger Splash against the guardrail, but Vader avoids it. Vader is able to get into the ring, where Sting barely beats the count. Jim Ross asks if Sting can defend himself as Vader knocks him down with a clothesline. Vader sends Sting across the ring and crushes him with a running avalanche. Vader clotheslines Sting as he staggers out of the corner and covers, Sting kicks out at 2.

Vader hits Sting with a couple more stiff shots, a back suplex and a splash get Vader 2. Vader wears Sting down with a chinlock, then he isolates an arm of Sting whilst cranking his neck. Vader lariats Sting down and covers for a nearfall. Sting powers Vader down in a backslide for 2. Vader knocks Sting into the corner, Sting is sent off the ropes, he tries a sunset flip but Vader stays on his feet, Vader tries to drop onto Sting but Sting avoids it. Vader hits Sting with more rights but the headlock is countered into a back suplex. Vader covers Sting and gets 2. Vader pounds away at Sting for the next minute as Sting tries to cover up, then Sting is perched on the top rope. Sting fights out of the superplex and Vader drops from the middle rope. Sting can't capitalise, dropping to the mat himself. Vader goes back to his boxing strategy as Sting encourages him. Vader starts to punch himself out, including a random shot at the referee that he lets slide. He sends Sting off the ropes but Sting hits Vader with rights of his own. Sting slams Vader and covers, but Vader has his foot on the ropes. Sting drags Vader across the ring and hits a splash from the top rope for 2.

Harley Race gets up on the apron, distracting Sting and allowing Vader to get a shot in from behind. He hits Sting with a middle rope splash but the impact sends Vader across the ring. He goes to the top rope, but his second splash attempt is countered into a slam by Sting! Sting covers and wins the match.

WINNER: STING

This was an awesome match. The time spent outside the ring was well used, it didn't overstay its welcome and Harley Race added just enough to the match. Vader looked brutal here and Sting just looked insane for wanting to take that much punishment and wanting to wear Vader out whilst taking a beating.– [***½ ] match but personally 8/10

Sting is presented his trophy by a less than enthusiastic Ventura. Sting hints at winning the Battlebowl, which would be one hell of a night.