MASAHIRO CHONO & THE GREAT MUTA VS. THE STEINER BROTHERS

 Before the match “Mean” Gene Okerlund plugs the WCW Hotline and tells the PPV viewers the results will be available. To the very people that don’t need it. He walks down to interview Raven who is sitting in the front row with Stevie Richards. Raven recites a happy little poem about hopes and dreams. He doesn’t answer whether he will be Diamond Dallas Paige’s partner tonight though. Stevie tells Raven to tell everyone about the announcement tomorrow night on Nitro and gets decked. Masahiro Chono and Great Muta make their way out representing nWo Japan. Muta’s gear for his entrance looks awesome. Scott and Rick Steiner make their way out

“The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, and Tony Schiavone are on commentary for this match.

MASAHIRO CHONO & GREAT MUTA VS. THE STEINER BROTHERS

WCW Bash at the Beach 1997 (July 1997)

  The Japanese contingent of the New World Order jump the Steiners from behind and dump them through the ropes, but The Steiner Brothers knock them down with clotheslines from the top turnbuckle.

  Running Steinerlines send Muta and Chono to the floor. The Great Muta plays to the camera before starting the match with Scott whilst Chono jaw-jacks to someone in the crowd. Scott Steiner locks up with Muta and grabs a headlock, Steiner is sent off the ropes but knocks Muta down with a shoulder tackle. Steiner clubs Muta across the back and knees him in the midsection before sending him into the corner. The Great Muta gets his boots up as Steiner charges and kicks him on the mat. Muta chops Steiner before choking him against the middle rope. Scott Steiner reverses an irish whip, Muta ducks a clothesline and rolls under Steiner’s leapfrog before kicking him in the midsection. It looked like Muta needed some more room for that sequence, Muta sends Steiner across the ring but gets caught with a double underhook powerbomb.

  Scott Steiner lifts Muta overhead for a press slam and knocks Chono off the apron with a forearm shot. Rick Steiner is tagged in as Muta takes a break on the floor, Tony reminds us he’s still the legal man but that changes as he gets in the ring and tags out. Rick Steiner is sent off the ropes from the headlock and knocks Chono down with a shoulder tackle. Chono rakes the eyes, he’s sent off the ropes and runs into Steiner with the shoulder tackle but Steiner doesn’t budge. Masahiro Chono goes for the eyes again and hits a running Yakuza boot to Rick Steiner. Masahiro Chono teases a test of strength before they fight over it. Chono kicks Steiner in the gut and backs him into the ropes with a shoulder tackle. Masahiro Chono hits the ropes again and runs into a backdrop, powdering to the floor, going back to talk to the fan from earlier and almost confirming in my mind that it’s a plant.

  We get a tag on each side as things return to the ring, Scott Steiner drills Muta in the midsection and clubs at his back before taking him to the corner. Muta reverses the irish whip and Masahiro Chono knees Scott from the apron before being knocked down with a forearm shot. Scott Steiner lifts Muta and carries him to the corner, Steiner connects with forearms but Chono gets in the ring and drops Steiner in the electric chair. The Great Muta sends Scott Steiner into the corner and hits a handspring back elbow and a bulldog as Schiavone says they’re working on Steiner’s back. Muta snapmares Scott down and hits a quick elbow drop before tagging in Chono who takes a cheap shot at Rick on the apron. Great Muta holds Scott Steiner but Chono takes too long fucking about on the top rope as Scott fights back, he hits a belly-to-belly superplex on Chono from the middle rope and we get a double-down. Both guys get the tag, Rick takes both opponents down with Steinerlines and sends Muta off the ropes into a belly-to-belly suplex for a rough landing.

  Masahiro Chono takes an overhead belly-to-belly. Rick Steiner hits a top rope bulldog to Great Muta and covers but Chono breaks it up as Scott gets to his feet. Masahiro Chono runs into an overhead throw by Rick Steiner and they go to the outside, Rick and Muta are the legal men. Scott Steiner hits a belly-to-belly suplex on Muta in the ring and goes to the middle rope. Rick is sent into the ring post on the outside and Chono cuts off whatever idea Scott Steiner had, The Great Muta hits a Frankensteiner from the corner sending Scott rolling to the apron. Rick Steiner is back in the ring, he kicks at Muta but gets caught and taken down with a dragon screw. Muta sends Steiner into the corner but the handspring elbow is caught, Muta gets planted with a german suplex but Chono breaks up the pin. Rick Steiner knocks down Chono as Scott sends Muta off the ropes into a Frankensteiner! Rick covers 1, 2, Chono pulls the referee away and draws his attention as the referee lays down the law.

  Rick Steiner has Great Muta on his shoulders as Scott climbs to the top rope and he hits a DDT to Great Muta! Rick Steiner covers and they get the win.

WINNERS: THE STEINER BROTHERS

 

This was a solid hard-hitting match. The Steiners were well-protected with the few pinfall attempts being broken up instead of having anyone kick out. It didn’t show much from Muta or Chono for anyone new to watching them and Muta seemed to struggle with space a couple of times but it’s a good sample of a match. It wouldn’t be difficult to find a better match for either team though. [**½] 4.75/10