A brilliant film that helped define a genre

A Brilliant Conflict

This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

1st Match: Fire and Ice vs The Steiners. This match has a stipulation that there much be a winner, it's not a No DQ match though, so it's not that important. A solid start here, mostly power moves, but it flows well and both teams get good offense. The ending's a little sloppy, but it still works well. Rating: 3.5/52nd Match: El Gato vs Konnan, WCW US Heavyweight Championship. This is probably the best Konnan match I've seen so far. Nothing mind blowing, but it works for a short title match. Rating: 3/53rd Match: DDP vs Buff Bagwell. Part of DDP's return push, it goes longer than I thought it would, but it was entertaining. Rating: 3/54th Match: Dean Malenko vs Rey Mysterio, WCW Cruiserweight Championship. Thank god Mysterio was here to save this division. This is the match of the night, a fantastic blend of technical wrestling and high-flying. Both guys do a great job at showing what the cruiserweight division is capable of, please tell me there are more great matches like this in the future. Rating: 4.5/55th Match: John Tenta vs Big Bossman. Tenta was Shark and Avalanche if anyone cares, I don't, because this match is just a 5 minute borefest. A below "meh" cooldown match, but also a good match to go to the bathroom. Boring, but the show's been better than almost every WCW PPV over the past year so far. Rating: 1.5/56th Match: Chris Benoit vs Kevin Sullivan, Falls Count Anywhere match. A great brawl, though not as crazy as stuff that would follow it in the Attitude Era, it's still entertaining. This is the best Sullivan match I've seen in like 2 years, good thing Benoit was able to squeeze a good match out of him. Rating: 4/57th Match: Sting vs Lord Steven Regal. Billed as a grudge match, because Sting promised to "straighten Regal out", despite the awkward backstory, the match is alright. I don't know if they ever did anything with Regal main event-wise, but he holds his own here pretty well against a top guy. Rating: 3.5/58th Match: Ric Flair and Arn Anderson vs Steve McMichael and Kevin Greene. An OK attempt to copy what the WWF did with Lawrence Taylor, but not as good. At least Taylor's match was entertaining, this just kind of goes through the motions until McMichael joins The Four Horsemen and screws his partner over. Rating: 3/59th Match: Lex Luger vs Big Show, WCW World Heavyweight Championship. So after Nash and Hall Jackknife Eric Bischoff through a table, we get this match. This is probably the best Luger match I've seen, but it's still not that good of a way to finish off the show. At least Big Show wins clean, albeit anticlimactic. It's short though, and doesn't drag on, so that's a plus. Rating: 3/5Final Rating: 6 out of 10. About damn time WCW decided to put on a good show. It still has problems, but it's a lot better than anything else they've made this year. If this keeps up, they might actually start putting out great shows for the first time in 2 years.R.I.P. Chris Benoit

(06.16.96)Live from Baltimore, MarylandAttendance: 9,000Your hosts are Tony Schiavone & Dusty RhodesFire & Ice (Scott Norton & Ice Train) Vs The Steiner BrothersThe Steiner's win after Scott drills Norton with a frankensteiner. There are certainly worse ways you could start a show. I wouldn't call this match great by any means, but they did enough to keep your attention. They sprinkled in some exciting moments here and there.**1/4United States ChampionshipKonnan (C) Vs El GatoEl Gato is Pat Tanaka in a mask. Konnan wins with a jackknife roll- up. This match wasn't so hot. They were never able to fully get going like they had the potential to do. Konnan's sunset flip powerbomb on the floor from the apron was cool, though.*1/2Lord of the RingDiamond Dallas Paige Vs Marcus BagwellDDP wins with the Diamond Cutter. This was a pretty average match for the most part. I can't recall any moment in this match that really stood out to me. DDP was really working on improving his craft at this juncture.**Cruserweight ChampionshipDean Malenko (C) Vs Rey Mysterio Jr.Can you say, hell yes?! Malenko powerbombs Mysterio and puts his feet on the ropes to retain his title. I'm gonna have to say that this match was disappointing. Malenko spent WAY too much time applying arm holds to Mysterio. I'm all for good psychology, but Malenko overdid it here to the point of boredom. It picks up near the end to kinda salvage this match a bit. **3/4Big Bubba (W/Jimmy Hart) Vs John TentaTenta is Earthquake, The Shark, Avalanche, Golga, etc. Big Bubba is The Big Bossman. Tenta wins with a powerslam. This was pretty crappy. It's weird to think how irrelevant these two became in WCW. This would have been a marquee match in the early 90's in the WWF. *Falls Count AnywhereChris Beniot Vs "The Taskmaster" Kevin Sullivan (W/Jimmy Hart)Beniot wins with a superplex off a table that was situated on the top rope. Beniot beats up Sullivan some more after the match. Anderson originally gets Beniot away from Sullivan, then turns on Sullivan as he double teams Sullivan with Beniot. The Dungeon of Doom run down and chase Beniot and Anderson away. This was a really entertaining match that featured plenty of excitement and some creative spots as well. The crowd erupted after Beniot's win and went even crazier after The Horsemen reunited. ***1/4"Lord" Steven Regal Vs StingSting wins with the Scorpion Deathlock. This match was kind of dull, to be honest with you. Regal slapped on too many rest holds for my liking. Because of how poorly they were booking Regal, he never felt like a threat.*3/4Ric Flair & Arn Anderson (W/Bobby Heenan, Miss Elizabeth & Woman) Vs Steve McMichael & Kevin Greene (W/Randy Savage & Debra McMichael)Flair and Anderson win after McMichael turns heel on Greene by nailing him with a briefcase full of money. Steve McMichael has souled out for the money and is now a member of the Four Horsemen. The match was better than expected, but the ending is complete nonsense. McMichael being a member of the Four Horsemen is illogical and idiotic. It tarnishes the image of the Horsemen.**1/4Eric Bischoff brings out Scott Hall and Diesel. Bischoff asks if they still work for the WWF. They both say no. Hall says they are gonna get carved up whoever Bischoff chooses to face Hall, Nash, and their surprise partner. Bischoff won't tell them who he's chosen. Nash, subsequently powerbombs Bischoff off the stage and through a table. Thoughts: Nobody had ever done anything like this at the time. It was a huge deal and made Nash and Hall look like badasses. WCW Heavyweight ChampionshipThe Giant (C) Vs Lex LugerThe Giant retains with a chokeslam. This was a pretty mediocre way to end the show. Luger barely got in any offense at all. The only time he did was near the end. The crowd (either exhausted or indifferent) was dead throughout the match. *1/25/10 overall

1. Steiner Brothers Vs. Fire & Ice - Decent match but there were screwed some moves. 7/10 2. WCW U.S. Heavyweight Title match: El Gato Vs. Champ: Konnan - By Konnan it was still good. Retains. 6.5/10 3. Diamond Dallas Page Vs. Marcus Bagwell - Push for DDPwho applied nice Diamond Cutter. 7/10 4. Cruiserweight Title Match: Rey Mysterio Jr. Vs. Champ-Dean Malenko - decent match, but these two can do it better. 7/105. Big Stiffa Vs. John Tenta - Bossman is stiff. Hate even look at him. match was poor, crowd dead. 5/10 6. Chris Benoit Vs. Kevin Sullivan - Basic brawling in backstage but at least, Benoit won. 6.5/10 7. Sting Vs. Lord Steven Regal - Funny, somebody booked Big Stiffa over Sting at PPV and Regal must job to Sting, tough he is 100 times better grappler than Big Stiffa. Technical but good match. Far the best of the night. 8/10 8. Ric Flair/Arn Anderson Vs. Steve Mcmichael/Kevin Greene - I don't like this kind of matches, it's stupid in itself. Team of Mongo/Greene acted like complete idiots. Action was boring either, I really don't know, what should entertain me 5/10 Legendary moment - Kevin Nash powerbombed Bischoff through the table! 9. WCW World Heavyweight Title Match: Lex Luger Vs. Champ-Giant - Kick/punch match with clean Giant victory. 6/10