Day 24 2020

 

WCW Halloween Havoc 1992

Coal Miners Glove Match

Jake Roberts vs. Sting

Well this was a bad idea and so was this review. Before we get to the match let’s talk about the stipulation for a second. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this broken down but it’s a mess before the bell even rings. First off, the pole is an actual pole. It’s not a pole with a hook that the wrestlers can easily reach from the second turnbuckle. Nope instead one of them has to actually shimmy up this pole to get the glove at the top like they’re fucking Mulan. 

Secondly, the aforementioned glove, completely optional. This match could’ve ended without either man actually getting the glove. The match is non-sanctioned so why is a pinfall or submission an acceptable method of victory? Wouldn’t it make more sense to book it so that if you get the glove, it’s in play and the first person to knock out the other with the glove? 

Ok that aside let’s get to the match. It stinks. It’s pole match so it’s one of those matches with a formula and boy do this guys not try to do anything out of the box except for one spot where Sting stripper swings on the pole and nails Roberts with an elbow. There’s aslo just moments where the two just stand around. Like not playing to the crowd or camera, just standing still. It’s like they forgot what they had planned. They try to incorporate some storytelling here with Sting working over Jakes DDT’ing arm but it doesn’t matter as Jake still hits the move with the damaged arm...then Sting no sells the DDT so that whole series of events was ultimatum pointless. 

Oh the arm doesn’t play into the finish by the way which is a whole other mess. So spoilers for a twenty year old match. Cactus Jack comes to the ring while Sting is climbing the pole not to stop the Stinger but to hand Jake a snake handlers glove and the bag with his cobra in it. Meanwhile, Sting retrieves the glove. Then the cobra is supposed to have bitten Jake in the face but there’s no way of showing the snake turned so one second Jake is holding the snake fine then the next he’s swaying around acting like the snake bit him. 

Sting comes and punches Jake, who proceeds to roll over the poor snake, and pins him. During this you can clearly see that the snake hasn’t actually latched on as Jake pulls it away from him before trying again. 

Well that was something. I think this was Jakes one and only televised match which is like going into a job interview and just shitting on the floor. The stipulation was a mess and neither man seemed eager to even try and make it work. I know both men are capable of better. And yes I’d rather watch the Human Torch match then this simply because it’s shorter.