Event: WCW Halloween Havoc 1991
Date: October 27, 1991
Venue: UTC Arena, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Commentary: Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone
Main Event: Lex Luger vs. Ron Simmons — WCW World Heavyweight Championship
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to Superstarion Saturdays, where we dust off the videotapes, revisit the glory days of professional wrestling, and occasionally discover that some of the things we remember fondly were considerably more ridiculous than we realized.
Yes, another Halloween Havoc here on Superstation Saturday. And why wouldn’t it be? It is Halloween after all, and the past two weeks featured one.
This week, we’re heading back to October 27, 1991, when World Championship Wrestling brought Halloween Havoc to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for an evening of championship wrestling, strange characters, questionable creative decisions, and one of the most gloriously absurd gimmick matches ever conceived.
I’m talking, of course, about the Chamber of Horrors.
Eight professional wrestlers, a steel cage, an electric chair, and apparently not one person in the booking meeting who thought to ask whether this was a good idea.
And somehow, ladies and gentlemen, that wasn’t even the main event!
Halloween Havoc 1991 occupies a fascinating place in WCW history. Ric Flair had departed for the WWF earlier that year, Lex Luger was now the WCW World Heavyweight Champion, Sting remained the company’s most recognizable hero, and a collection of young wrestlers were beginning to establish themselves as future stars.
Among them were Steve Austin, Dustin Rhodes, Brian Pillman, and a certain Cactus Jack, who would eventually become one of the most beloved personalities in wrestling history.
The talent was certainly there. The question was whether WCW could assemble that talent into a satisfying pay-per-view.
Let’s find out!
Chamber of Horrors: Sting, The Steiner Brothers & El Gigante vs. Abdullah the Butcher, Cactus Jack, Big Van Vader & The Diamond Studd
Winners: Sting, Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner & El Gigante
Well, folks, we might as well address the enormous electrified elephant in the room.
For reasons that presumably made sense to somebody at WCW headquarters, Halloween Havoc opened with an eight-man Chamber of Horrors match, featuring four heroes battling four villains inside a steel cage.
And positioned inside that cage was an electric chair.
Not a steel chair, mind you. An ELECTRIC chair.
The objective was to strap an opponent into the contraption and activate it, thereby winning the match through what I can only describe as attempted theatrical execution.
Now, I’ve always appreciated professional wrestling’s willingness to embrace spectacle. Cages, ladders, tables, and other unusual stipulations can make for tremendous entertainment when there’s a sensible reason for their existence.
But an electric chair?
What exactly was the referee supposed to do if somebody got seriously electrocuted? Count to three? Check for a submission? Call the local power company?
The actual match was a chaotic mess, with eight men fighting inside and around the cage while the production struggled to capture everything happening. Sting and the Steiners brought their usual energy, Vader and Cactus Jack supplied the violence, and Abdullah the Butcher looked perfectly at home in an environment where the normal rules of civilization had apparently been suspended.
Eventually, Abdullah found himself strapped into the chair, and Cactus Jack accidentally activated the device while trying to intervene.
The lights flashed, Abdullah shook, and the good guys won.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have watched professional wrestling for a very long time, and I still don’t know how I’m supposed to evaluate a match that ends with a man being electrocuted by his own teammate.
Was it good wrestling? Absolutely not.
Was it memorable?
Unfortunately, yes.
Stinger’s View: A complete disaster as a wrestling match, but an unforgettable piece of WCW insanity. The talent involved deserved better, particularly Sting and the Steiners, but I can’t pretend the spectacle isn’t entertaining in its own bizarre way. Sometimes wrestling history is worth revisiting precisely because you cannot believe somebody actually approved it.
Big Josh & P.N. News vs. The Creatures
Winners: Big Josh & P.N. News
Following the Chamber of Horrors, WCW apparently decided that the audience needed something a little more conventional.
Well, conventional by 1991 WCW standards, anyway.
Big Josh and P.N. News faced two masked wrestlers known as the Creatures, who were essentially Halloween-themed opponents brought in to provide a quick victory for the established babyfaces.
Big Josh had his lumberjack gimmick, P.N. News had his rap-inspired presentation, and the Creatures had the unfortunate distinction of looking like they wandered into the wrong building while searching for a costume party.
The match was short, straightforward, and ultimately forgettable. Josh and News controlled much of the action before News secured the victory.
I suppose it served its purpose, although I can’t imagine anybody ordered this pay-per-view specifically to witness the thrilling conclusion of Big Josh and P.N. News versus the Creatures.
Stinger’s View: Harmless filler, and probably a welcome opportunity for the audience to recover from the electric-chair incident. Nothing particularly offensive, but nothing worth revisiting either.
Beautiful Bobby Eaton vs. Terrance Taylor
Winner: Bobby Eaton
Now we’re getting somewhere!
After the opening circus, WCW finally gave us two experienced professional wrestlers who understood how to construct a proper match.
Beautiful Bobby Eaton was one of the finest workers of his generation, a man who could make practically anybody look good while delivering excellent offense of his own. Terrance Taylor, meanwhile, was a talented veteran who had somehow found himself associated with the York Foundation and its supposedly revolutionary computer-assisted approach to wrestling.
Because apparently, in 1991, having access to a laptop was enough to make somebody a tactical genius.
The match itself was a welcome change of pace, with Eaton and Taylor working a traditional contest built around technique, timing, and intelligent offense.
Taylor controlled portions of the action, while Eaton fought back with the smooth execution that made him such a respected performer. Eventually, Bobby connected with the Alabama Jam to secure the victory.
And would you believe it?
Two wrestlers entered the ring, wrestled a match, and one of them won without anybody being electrocuted.
A remarkable development!
Stinger’s View: One of the evening’s better matches. Eaton was an outstanding professional wrestler, and Taylor was more than capable of keeping pace. Their work provided a reminder that WCW had the talent to deliver excellent wrestling whenever it stopped getting distracted by its own gimmicks.
Johnny B. Badd vs. Jimmy Garvin
Winner: Johnny B. Badd
Our next encounter featured Johnny B. Badd taking on Jimmy Garvin, accompanied by Michael Hayes.
Johnny B. Badd was still relatively new to professional wrestling, sporting the flamboyant presentation that would eventually become one of his trademarks. Garvin, meanwhile, was an experienced veteran who understood how to work a crowd and make a younger opponent look credible.
This was a decent enough match, although it never quite reached the level of Eaton versus Taylor.
Garvin relied on his experience and occasional shortcuts, while Badd demonstrated flashes of athleticism and the charisma that made him an intriguing prospect.
Eventually, Badd connected with his left-handed knockout punch to secure the victory.
Now, I have a question.
If a wrestler’s finishing maneuver is a punch to the face, why is that apparently legal when other closed-fist strikes are supposed to be prohibited?
Never mind. I’ve spent enough time questioning wrestling officiating this week.
Stinger’s View: A serviceable match that helped establish Johnny B. Badd as an emerging attraction. Garvin did his job, Badd got the victory, and everybody moved along without unnecessary complications.
WCW World Television Championship: Stunning Steve Austin vs. Dustin Rhodes
Result: Fifteen-minute time-limit draw — Austin retains
Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of the most interesting matches on the entire card, particularly when viewed with the benefit of hindsight.
On one side, we have Stunning Steve Austin, years before the shaved head, black trunks, and beer-soaked rebellion that would transform him into one of the biggest stars in wrestling history.
On the other, we have Dustin Rhodes, long before he would become Goldust, establishing himself as a talented young wrestler capable of delivering excellent performances against experienced opponents.
Both men were still developing their identities, but the ability was already apparent.
Austin worked as the arrogant Television Champion, using intelligent offense and occasional shortcuts to maintain control. Dustin responded with a spirited babyface performance, repeatedly fighting back and threatening to capture the championship.
The action was crisp, the pacing was effective, and the two competitors demonstrated a chemistry that would serve them well throughout their careers.
Unfortunately for Dustin, the fifteen-minute time limit expired before he could secure the victory.
Austin retained the championship, and the audience was left with the sense that these two had unfinished business.
Now THAT is how a time-limit draw should work.
It protected the champion, kept the challenger credible, and gave viewers a reason to want another match.
Stinger’s View: One of the best matches of the evening and a fascinating glimpse at two future stars. Austin was already developing the timing and ring awareness that would make him exceptional, while Dustin demonstrated that he was far more than simply Dusty Rhodes’ son. Excellent work from both men.
Bill Kazmaier vs. Oz
Winner: Bill Kazmaier
Oh, good heavens.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Oz. Yes, THAT Oz.
Before Kevin Nash became Diesel, before the nWo, before the championships and the legendary career, he was portraying a mysterious giant inspired by The Wizard of Oz.
And somehow, this was considered a promising direction for a professional wrestler.
Bill Kazmaier, meanwhile, was a legitimate strongman whose tremendous physical strength made him an imposing presence.
The match was exactly what you might expect from two large men working a relatively brief contest. Kazmaier demonstrated his power, Oz attempted to use his size, and the strongman eventually secured a submission victory with the torture rack.
It wasn’t particularly exciting, but it accomplished what WCW apparently wanted.
Still, I can’t help wondering how Kevin Nash felt about spending the early portion of his career portraying a character that seemed to have escaped from a children’s fantasy novel.
Professional wrestling is a strange business, folks.
Stinger’s View: A short, forgettable encounter, although Oz remains one of the more entertaining examples of early-1990s WCW character development gone completely off the rails. Fortunately, Kevin Nash eventually found considerably better opportunities.
Van Hammer vs. Doug Somers
Winner: Van Hammer
Next up, we have Van Hammer, WCW’s attempt to introduce a heavy-metal-inspired powerhouse to its roster.
Because it was 1991, and apparently every wrestling promotion needed at least one performer whose entire personality revolved around electric guitars.
Doug Somers was the unfortunate opponent tasked with making Hammer look impressive.
The match barely lasted more than a minute, with Hammer overwhelming Somers and securing a quick victory.
And that’s about all there is to say.
Van Hammer certainly had the physical appearance WCW wanted, but looking like a professional wrestler and actually becoming a compelling professional wrestler are two entirely different things.
Stinger’s View: A squash match designed to establish Van Hammer. It accomplished that objective, but on a pay-per-view already filled with questionable material, I would’ve preferred another meaningful contest.
WCW Light Heavyweight Championship: Brian Pillman vs. Richard Morton
Winner: Brian Pillman — NEW Light Heavyweight Champion
Now THIS is something worth celebrating!
Brian Pillman faced Richard Morton in the tournament final to crown WCW’s inaugural Light Heavyweight Champion, and the result represented an important development for the promotion.
Pillman was an extraordinary athlete, capable of delivering spectacular aerial offense while maintaining the intensity and credibility necessary to make his matches feel competitive.
Morton, of course, was no stranger to championship wrestling. As one-half of the legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, he had already established himself as one of the finest tag team wrestlers of his era.
By 1991, however, Morton had adopted a villainous persona and aligned himself with the York Foundation.
The match featured a mixture of traditional wrestling and high-flying offense, with Morton attempting to control the younger Pillman while Brian used his athleticism to create openings.
Eventually, Pillman connected with a flying crossbody to secure the victory and become the first WCW Light Heavyweight Champion.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, was a genuinely meaningful moment.
The creation of a dedicated championship for smaller, faster competitors gave WCW an opportunity to showcase a style that would eventually become one of its greatest strengths.
Years later, the cruiserweight division would help distinguish WCW from its competition, featuring remarkable performers from around the world.
Pillman’s championship victory represented an early step in that direction.
Stinger’s View: A worthwhile match and one of the evening’s most historically significant developments. Pillman was an exceptional talent, and seeing him crowned the inaugural champion was a reminder that WCW occasionally recognized the value of building something new around genuinely gifted wrestlers.
The Halloween Phantom vs. Tom Zenk
Winner: The Halloween Phantom — revealed as Rick Rude
Throughout the evening, WCW teased the arrival of a mysterious masked competitor known as the Halloween Phantom.
Who could this frightening individual possibly be?
Would he emerge from the darkness to terrorize the roster? Would he possess supernatural powers? Would he require an elaborate backstory involving ancient curses and unexplained disappearances?
Nope.
It was Rick Rude.
And frankly, that’s considerably better than whatever nonsense WCW might otherwise have invented.
The Phantom made quick work of Tom Zenk, securing the victory with a neckbreaker before revealing himself as Ravishing Rick Rude.
Now THAT was a worthwhile surprise.
Rude was an established star with tremendous charisma, excellent wrestling ability, and the sort of arrogant personality that made him a natural villain.
His arrival immediately gave WCW another credible performer capable of challenging its biggest names.
And unlike the electric chair, this particular Halloween surprise actually made sense.
Stinger’s View: The match itself was little more than a vehicle for the reveal, but the reveal was excellent. Rick Rude was a tremendous addition to WCW, and his arrival gave the promotion another legitimate star at a time when it desperately needed recognizable talent.
WCW World Tag Team Championship: The Enforcers vs. The Patriots
Winners: Arn Anderson & Larry Zbyszko — retain the championships
Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko defended the WCW World Tag Team Championship against Todd Champion and Firebreaker Chip, collectively known as the Patriots.
And ladies and gentlemen, whenever Arn Anderson enters a wrestling ring, I immediately become more optimistic about the quality of the proceedings.
Arn was one of the finest technicians and storytellers in professional wrestling, while Zbyszko brought years of experience and an exceptional ability to frustrate both opponents and audiences.
Together, they formed an effective villainous combination built around intelligent teamwork and methodical offense.
The Patriots, meanwhile, were presented as patriotic American heroes, complete with the sort of exaggerated character identities that WCW seemed determined to introduce during this period.
The match was largely controlled by the champions, who used their experience to isolate their opponents and prevent sustained offense.
Eventually, Anderson secured the victory with a spinebuster, allowing the Enforcers to retain their championships.
And that’s perfectly fine with me.
The Patriots weren’t ready to dethrone an experienced team like Anderson and Zbyszko, and the champions emerged looking like exactly what they were supposed to be: dangerous, intelligent professionals.
Stinger’s View: A solid championship defense that benefited enormously from the presence of Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko. The Enforcers understood tag team wrestling, and their ability to control a match made them far more compelling than many of WCW’s more elaborate character creations.
WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Lex Luger vs. Ron Simmons — Two Out of Three Falls
Winner: Lex Luger, 2–1 — retains the championship
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, we arrive at the main event.
Lex Luger defended the WCW World Heavyweight Championship against Ron Simmons in a two-out-of-three-falls match, with the challenger looking to capture the biggest prize in the company.
Luger had undergone a significant transformation during 1991, moving away from his previous heroic presentation and embracing a more arrogant, villainous personality under the guidance of Harley Race.
Simmons, meanwhile, had emerged as a credible challenger following his success in Doom and his growing popularity as a singles competitor.
And this was an important opportunity for both men.
Luger needed to establish himself as a convincing world champion, while Simmons had an opportunity to demonstrate that he belonged in the main-event picture.
The opening fall went to Simmons, who caught Luger with a powerslam and secured the pinfall.
A tremendous start for the challenger!
Unfortunately, the second fall ended in disqualification after Simmons continued attacking Luger despite the referee’s instructions.
Now, I understand that professional wrestling is supposed to involve emotion, and Simmons certainly had every reason to dislike the champion.
But when you’re competing for the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP in a two-out-of-three-falls match, perhaps it’s worth remembering that getting disqualified is not generally considered a sound strategy.
With the contest tied at one fall apiece, Luger eventually secured the deciding pinfall following a piledriver, retaining the championship.
And there you have it.
The champion survived, the challenger came close, and WCW continued building Luger’s reign.
The match itself was better than some might expect, particularly given the physical styles of the two competitors. Simmons brought intensity and power, while Luger played the arrogant champion effectively.
But I can’t help feeling that the disqualification in the second fall diminished what could have been a more satisfying championship contest.
Stinger’s View: A respectable main event with good physical intensity and a strong performance from Ron Simmons. Luger played his role well, but the second-fall disqualification was an unnecessarily frustrating way to extend the match. Simmons deserved better than losing a fall because the referee suddenly remembered the rulebook.
Stinger’s View: Was Halloween Havoc 1991 Worth Watching?
Ladies and gentlemen, Halloween Havoc 1991 is one of those wrestling events that perfectly captures the contradictions of early-1990s WCW.
On one hand, the company possessed an extraordinary collection of talent. Sting, the Steiner Brothers, Vader, Cactus Jack, Steve Austin, Dustin Rhodes, Brian Pillman, Bobby Eaton, Arn Anderson, Rick Rude, and Ron Simmons were all present on the same pay-per-view.
That’s an impressive roster by practically any standard.
On the other hand, WCW seemed determined to surround those talented performers with some of the most questionable creative decisions imaginable.
An electric-chair match? A wrestler named Oz? A heavy-metal character defeating an opponent in barely a minute? Two mysterious creatures who looked like they’d wandered out of a Halloween costume shop?
Sometimes I wonder whether the people running WCW actually watched their own programming.
And yet, I can’t bring myself to dislike this show entirely.
The Chamber of Horrors is an absolute train wreck, but it’s a train wreck that wrestling fans still discuss thirty-five years later. Steve Austin and Dustin Rhodes delivered a terrific Television Championship contest, Brian Pillman’s victory was historically meaningful, and the arrival of Rick Rude gave WCW another tremendous performer.
Bobby Eaton and Terrance Taylor provided some excellent traditional wrestling, while the Enforcers demonstrated why experienced tag teams are so valuable.
Even the main event, despite its frustrating finish, offered enough physicality and drama to justify its position on the card.
What ultimately hurts Halloween Havoc 1991 is the lack of consistency. For every entertaining wrestling match, there’s another segment that feels like somebody in management lost a bet.
And that’s the frustrating thing about WCW during this era.
The company didn’t lack talent. It lacked the discipline to let that talent carry the show without surrounding it with unnecessary nonsense.
Still, if you’re a fan of wrestling history, Halloween Havoc 1991 is absolutely worth revisiting. Not because it’s a masterpiece, but because it provides a fascinating snapshot of a promotion attempting to find its identity during a period of enormous change.
And if nothing else, you’ll get to witness the only wrestling match I can remember where the winning strategy involved strapping somebody into an electric chair.
Stinger’s Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
An uneven but entertaining piece of wrestling history, elevated by several excellent performers and dragged down by some truly ridiculous booking decisions. The good wrestling is worth your time, and the bad wrestling is occasionally so absurd that it becomes entertaining for entirely different reasons.
And honestly, ladies and gentlemen, that’s part of the charm of revisiting these old events.
You never know whether you’re about to witness a forgotten classic or an absolute catastrophe.
Sometimes, as Halloween Havoc 1991 demonstrates, you get both.
Until next Saturday, remember: Wrestling Matters, even when it is sometimes shit.
— Stinger, reporting from the rafters of Titanquisitor Hall. Happy Halloween, and join me later tonight, where we’ll do this again for NXT Halloween Havoc!
