JOHNNY B. BADD (C) VS. HONKY TONK MAN

 T. Graham Brown sings the National Anthem before the event starts. Honky Tonk Man makes his way out, from “Honkyland USA” Johnny B. Badd spent so much on his fireworks that he could only get some fangs for a Halloween costume. He lets off some confetti guns in the ring before we get started.

Bobby “The Brain” Heenan and Tony Schiavone are on commentary for this match.

 

JOHNNY B. BADD © VS. HONKY TONK MAN

WCW Television Championship

WCW Halloween Havoc (23^rd October 1994)

  Honky Tonk Man avoids some boxing jabs from Badd to start, backing through the ropes before going for the lock up.

  Honky Tonk Man takes control of the arm and elbows down on the champion. Johnny B. Badd counters into one of his own, taking down HTM and hitting a leg drop. Honky Tonk Man backs himself to the ropes again. Honky Tonk Man gets some cheap shots whilst Badd’s in a headlock, out of the referee’s vision. Johnny B. Badd ducks a right hand, hitting an atomic drop on Honky Tonk Man and ruffling his hair. That’s enough to get the biggest reaction from the crowd and commentary so far. We cut to Mike Tenay interviewing Sting backstage for the WCW Hotline as the challenger gets back in the ring. He’s back on the offense, sending Johnny B. Badd into the turnbuckle, a snapmare takes Badd down for a fist drop. HTM keeps the attack going whilst Tony and Brain talk about tonight’s main event.

  Johny B. Badd fights back with right hands but he’s cut off with knees to the midsection. Honky Tonk Man sends Johnny B. Badd off the ropes into a stiff back elbow, he hits an ax handle and puts Johnny B. Badd in a chinlock, standing over him. We get some crowd shots before Johnny B. Badd elbows free, knocking Honky Tonk Man down with a shoulder tackle but running into a knee lift. Muhammed Ali is shown at ringside as Honky Tonk Man kicks Johnny B. Badd in the ribs. The champion gets choked on the bottom rope as Nick Patrick counts away. Johnny B. Badd is sent off the ropes but catches HTM with a sunset flip for 2.

  Johnny B. Badd cuts off the ax handle but another knee to the midsection puts a stop to any future plans of attack. Honky Tonk Man snapmares Badd down into a chinlock as we reach the halfway point of the match, just in time for another crowdshot and a quick look at the Detroit Redwings in attendance. Johnny B. Badd fights to his feet and slams Honky Tonk Man, and again. The champion eats shit on the elbow drop though, leading to Honky Tonk Man covering for 2. I wonder who we’ll see now as Johnny B. Badd is put back in the chinlock. Johnny B. Badd tries to elbow free, another knee to the gut sets up the Shake Rattle & Roll, but Johnny B. Badd backdrops out of it. He connects with some punches, backing Honky Tonk Man into the corner. Honky Tonk Man is sent across the ring, Johnny B. Badd follows but hits the turnbuckles, Honky Tonk Man covers but is caught trying to use the ropes.

  Honky Tonk Man throws Johnny B. Badd to the floor and hits an ax handle from the apron, but he has less than 3 minutes left. Johnny B. Badd is slammed off the apron before being sent back in the ring. Another snapmare into a reverse chinlock, as we reach the 8-minute mark. Johnny B. Badd uses the famous “crowd power” to get to his feet and fight back with more back elbows. This time it’s a knee to the back that stops his momentum. Honky Tonk Man calls for Shake Rattle & Roll but is walks into Badd’s boot. HTM is sent into the turnbuckles before the 10-punches. Johnny B. Badd connects with a boxing combination in the final minute and a kneelift. Honky Tonk Man begs off but is sent off the ropes into a back elbow. Honky Tonk Man ducks The Kiss That Don’t Miss and hits a back suplex. Bobby Heenan shouts HTM to cover, but he goes for the chokehold.

  They start exchanging right hands and brawling. Just as the time limit expires Johnny B. Badd has Honky Tonk Man in an inside cradle.

RESULT: DRAW (Johnny B. Badd Retains)

This match felt a lot longer than 10 minutes. Honky Tonk Man wrestled like a 1970’s heel, which didn’t gel with Johnny B. Badd, a chinlock per minute and the stalling at the beginning didn’t leave it as much of an opener either. There’s not much good I can say about the match. [½* ] 0/10

Johnny B. Badd sends Honky Tonk Man across the ring, HM bails to the floor and leaves.