Kelly Kelly & Maryse Scheduled For More Appearances, The Godfather, DiBiase

December 30, 2020 KANKENNEWS

– WWE Hall Of Famer J.J. Dillon is scheduled to make a special appearance at the “Toys For Tots II” show in Newark, Delaware on Saturday evening. For more information, visit ECWAProWrestling.com.

– WWE Hall Of Famer “The Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase, along with former WWE Superstars and Divas The Godfather, Kelly Kelly and Maryse are all scheduled for the Comic Con event in Monroeville, Pennsylvania on Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit SteelCityCon.com.

PHOTOS: Kelly Kelly & Maryse Feeling Each Other Up At Friday’s Comic Con

German health care workers sent to hospital after coronavirus vaccine overdoses

December 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

Four northern German health care workers were sent to the hospital on Sunday after being accidentally given five times the recommended dose of coronavirus vaccine.

Officials from the Vorpommern-Ruegen district reported that eight workers in an elderly care facility had received an overdose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with four developing flu-like symptoms and being monitored as a precautionary measure. When the mistake was discovered, the workers, who are between the ages 37 and 54, were informed and sent home.

“I deeply regret the incident,” district chief Stefan Kerth said in a statement obtained The Hill. “This individual case is due to individual errors. I hope that all those affected do not experience any serious side-effects.”

District authorities cited previous statements from BioNTech that indicated that larger doses were used in the first phase of trials and did not lead to serious consequences.

Pfizer and BioNTech pointed out that for those who receive an overdose of the vaccine, “monitoring of vital functions and possible symptomatic treatment is recommended.”

The incident occurred days into Germany and the European Union’s rollout of the vaccine, approved by the EU’s drug regulator last week. The U.S. and U.K. had approved the vaccine earlier this month and began giving out the first doses in recent weeks.

Along with Pfizer, the EU has contracts with AstraZeneca and Moderna for its vaccination campaign and plans to vaccinate 6.25 million people by the end of the year.

Some German districts refused to use vaccine doses received over the weekend out of concern that the required cold conditions for the vaccine were interrupted during the delivery, Reuters reported on Monday. The Pfizer vaccine needs to be shipped at a temperature between -112 degrees and -76 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

—Updated at 2:25 p.m.

Coronavirus vaccinations begin at Seattle nursing home that saw first US COVID-19 deaths

December 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

Coronavirus vaccinations began Monday at the Seattle-area nursing home that experienced the U.S.’s first reported COVID-19 death, and subsequent outbreak, in the country.

The first death at Life Care Center of Kirkland, Wash., was reported almost exactly 10 months ago. More than 40 people associated with the facility later died of the coronavirus, and dozens more were sickened.

The outbreak marked the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S. that has killed nearly 335,000 people. The deaths at the nursing home were a dark preview of just how deadly the virus is in long-term care facilities.

Congregate settings such as nursing homes have proved to be the most dangerous areas for COVID-19 transmission, and the elderly are most likely to face severe complications, including death, if they get the disease.

According to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation, almost 114,000 people at long-term care facilities, including staff, have died. Nationwide, only 6 percent of cases are associated with long-term care facilities, but they make up at least 39 percent of all deaths.

In Washington state, more than 50 percent of the state’s COVID-19 victims have been associated with long-term care facilities.

Monday marked the first day of coronavirus vaccinations at long-term care facilities in 36 states and the District of Columbia as part of a federal partnership with Walgreens and CVS.

The pharmacies kicked off the program in 12 states last week.

Under the program, pharmacy teams make three visits to each long-term care facility to ensure residents and staff receive their initial shot and booster. The majority of residents and staff will be fully vaccinated three to four weeks after the first visit, depending on which vaccine they receive.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended states prioritize initial doses of the two authorized vaccines for residents and staff in long-term care facilities.

There is no federal requirement that staff or residents be vaccinated against COVID-19, but experts are hoping it is widely accepted.

Hackers also 'impacting' state, local governments. US cybersecurity agency says

December 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

The top U.S. cybersecurity agency said that an extensive campaign that gave hackers access to networks at several federal agencies is also “impacting” state and local governments.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said in a statement posted to its website that the intrusion, which targeted U.S. tech company SolarWinds’ software to infiltrate government systems, was “impacting enterprise networks across federal, state, and local governments, as well as critical infrastructure entities and other private sector organizations.”

CISA did not identify specific governments or agencies, but urged them to take precautions.

“This threat actor has the resources, patience, and expertise to gain access to and privileges over highly sensitive information if left unchecked. CISA urges organizations to prioritize measures to identify and address this threat,” it said.

The statement comes as the federal government grapples with the fallout of the sprawling hack, which officials have attributed to Russia. The Treasury, Commerce and Energy departments were just a few of the agencies that were breached, and experts have warned that it could take months to discover the full extent of the intrusion.

The scope of the campaign led some lawmakers to call for some form of retaliation against Russia and an overview of the U.S.’s cyber capabilities. President TrumpDonald TrumpMcCarthy to offer UC request to revisit foreign spending in omnibus GOP senator on Trump pardons: ‘This is rotten to the core’ Trump pardons Manafort, Stone and Charles Kushner in latest round MORE, however, downplayed the attack and contradicted his officials by suggesting China may be to blame in his only public remarks on the hacking to date.

“The Cyber Hack is far greater in the Fake News Media than in actuality. I have been fully briefed and everything is well under control. Russia, Russia, Russia is the priority chant when anything happens because Lamestream is, for mostly financial reasons, petrified of discussing the possibility that it may be China (it may!),” Trump tweeted over the weekend.

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA declines to tighten air quality standard for smog | Green groups sue over Trump bid to open Alaska's Tongass forest to logging

December 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!! Welcome to Overnight Energy, The Hill’s roundup of the latest energy and environment news.

Please send tips and comments to Rebecca Beitsch at rbeitsch@thehill.com. Follow her on Twitter: @rebeccabeitsch.

Reach Rachel Frazin at rfrazin@thehill.com or follow her on Twitter: @RachelFrazin.

Signup for our newsletter and others HERE.

Programming note: Today will be the last edition of Overnight Energy this year. We’ll be back on January 4, 2021! Have a great holiday season!!!

AT THE LAST MINUTE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday declined to tighten air quality standards for smog, despite calls from environmental and health advocates for a stricter standard.

The EPA finalized its decision to retain the Obama-era air quality standard for ozone, the main component of smog, of 70 parts per billion (ppb).

In the stratosphere, the ozone layer protects the Earth from ultraviolet light from the sun, but at ground level it can worsen health conditions like bronchitis, emphysema and asthma.

“This decision fulfills the Trump administration’s promise to streamline the [National Ambient Air Quality Standards] review process,” EPA Administrator Andrew WheelerAndrew WheelerOVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA declines to tighten air quality standard for smog | Green groups sue over Trump bid to open Alaska’s Tongass forest to logging EPA declines to tighten air quality standard for smog OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA revises lead rule, sidestepping calls for more stringent standards | In massive energy investments, some see just a start MORE told reporters.

Environmental advocates have called for tightening the standard to 60 ppb or lower, and have pointed to studies linking adverse health impacts of exposure to ozone at concentrations lower than the current standards.

“Air pollution kills thousands of people each year and failing to set a more protective standard means that the health of millions of Americans is threatened,” said Paul Billings, the American Lung Association’s national senior vice president for advocacy.

When the standards were first proposed during the Obama administration, an EPA analysis showed that the 60 ppb ozone standards could have prevented 3,900 deaths linked to long-term exposure while just 680 deaths would have been prevented under the 70 ppb standard.

Wheeler argued, however, that the current standard for ozone is in line with the science.

“I looked at it just like Gina McCarthyRegina (Gina) McCarthyOVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA declines to tighten air quality standard for smog | Green groups sue over Trump bid to open Alaska’s Tongass forest to logging EPA declines to tighten air quality standard for smog In massive energy investments, some see just a start MORE did in 2015,” he said, referring to the EPA administrator at the time who has recently been named a climate adviser to President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenTrump administration advances bomb sale to Saudis Klobuchar: Trump ‘trying to burn this country down on his way out’ OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA declines to tighten air quality standard for smog | Green groups sue over Trump bid to open Alaska’s Tongass forest to logging MORE. “I think the 70 is in keeping with where the science is today.”

Billings said that setting the right standard is key because it sets goals for pollution cleanup efforts and also allows the public to be informed about the levels at which smog is harmful to their health.

Read more about the EPA’s decision here.

SPEAKING FOR THE TREES: A coalition of environmental groups is suing the Trump administration after it lifted protections for Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, expanding logging in the nation’s largest old growth forest.

The October rule from the U.S. Forest Service exempts the Tongass from the so-called Roadless Rule, a Clinton-era regulation designed to limit logging by restricting road access within forests.

Under the Trump administration’s changes, the nearly 9.4 million acres of inventoried roadless land in the Tongass would once again be considered suitable timberlands.

“The large roadless areas of the Tongass provide outstanding habitat for a remarkable diversity of wildlife. Stripping protections from this forest to allow for road construction, clear cut logging, and other destructive activities will degrade water quality, accelerate climate change impacts, and threaten local economies,” Tracy Stone-Manning, associate vice president for public lands at the National Wildlife Federation, said in a release announcing the suit.

“The U.S. Forest Service ignored public input from Indigenous tribes, local communities and tens of thousands of people across the country, and it violated the law. The administration left us no choice but to go to court to protect this remarkable place for future generations.”

The suit, filed by a coalition of 13 environmental groups on behalf of several tribes, argues the Forest Service did not properly consult with Alaska tribes when making their decision or fully weigh the environmental consequences of the decision.

“The need for this litigation is a mark of shame upon the federal government for violating the trust and responsibilities it has to the Indigenous peoples of the Tongass. It is equally a stain upon the State of Alaska which colluded with the Trump Administration to circumvent scientific analysis to achieve a desired political outcome,” said Robert Starbard, tribal administrator of the Hoonah Indian Association.

Starbard said his association stopped coordinating with the Forest Service “when it became clear that our involvement was purely to provide political cover and lend legitimacy to a corrupted process with a preordained outcome. The Roadless Rule decision is fatally flawed and ignores the advice and expertise of the Tribal cooperating agencies and omits significant issues and concerns.”

Teens expand TikTok playbook to help Democrats in Georgia runoffs

December 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

Teens and first-time voters who jumped into political organizing this year are expanding their TikTok-focused playbook in an effort to boost the Senate Democratic candidates in Georgia’s crucial runoff elections next week.

Youth-led groups are drawing on successful campaigns they launched in the fall — leveraging influence from accounts with large TikTok followings and creating memes that mock Republican candidates — to mobilize young voters ahead of the Jan. 5 elections in the Peach State that will decide which party controls the Senate.

“I think we’re really building off of that momentum that we’ve built up and going a step further and really becoming creative with it and letting young people take the lead,” Alicia Novoa, director of engagement at the youth-led Future Coalition, told The Hill.

Future Coalition partnered with a group called Gen-Z for Change, previously known as TikTok for Biden, last week for a virtual phone and text banking event in support of Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock in Georgia. The event used Zoom breakout rooms to let volunteers virtually phone and text bank with popular TikTokers who combined had more than 5 million followers.

“This was totally youth-led. It was me, a young organizer, and my peers saying, ‘How can we bring other young people?’ And saying, ‘Let’s bring TikTokers,’” said Novoa, a 19-year-old sophomore at Georgetown University.

“That wouldn’t come up naturally with seasoned political operatives,” she added. “It’s really something new, that’s innovative. Something that’s super niche for young people.”

Gen-Z for Change launched as TikTok for Biden ahead of the general election. The group brought together hundreds of TikTok creators to support Biden and target a young audience. After Biden became president-elect, the group changed to broaden its goals and is now pumping out content to energize voters ahead of the Georgia runoffs, where Republican Sens. David PerdueDavid PerdueBiden on working with Senate Republicans: ‘I’ll never publicly embarrass them’ Ossoff, Warnock each rake in over 0 million Judge throws out GOP lawsuit to close Georgia ballot drop boxes after business hours MORE and Kelly LoefflerKelly LoefflerBiden on working with Senate Republicans: ‘I’ll never publicly embarrass them’ GOP seeks to avoid messy Trump fight over Electoral College Ossoff, Warnock each rake in over 0 million MORE are fighting to keep their seats and the Senate in GOP hands.

Biden became the first Democrat since former President Clinton in 1992 to win Georgia, largely driven by turnout among young voters and voters of color. Democrats have widely praised voting rights activist Stacey Abrams and her organization Fair Fight in mobilizing Democrats statewide.

Recent polls show a tight race in both Georgia Senate races. Young and first-time voters are yet again poised to play a key role at the ballot box, when the makeup of the Senate for the next two years will be decided. If Ossoff and Warnock both win, Democrats will win back control of the Senate.

Youth voter turnout nationwide increased this year compared with the 2016 election, according to data from Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at (CIRCLE) Tufts University. An estimated 52 to 55 percent of eligible voters between the ages of 18 and 29 cast a ballot in the 2020 presidential election, up from about 42 to 44 percent in the 2016 election.

In Georgia, youth voters made up 20 percent of all ballots cast during the general election, according to the data from CIRCLE.

The majority of voters in that age group broke for Biden, at 58 percent, compared to 39 percent who voted for Trump. That bump was largely driven by Black voters. While just 34 percent of white voters in Georgia under the age of 30 voted for Biden, an overwhelming 90 percent of Black voters supported him, according to CIRCLE data.

Young voters also were more likely to vote for Ossoff, at 54 percent, compared to 43 percent who backed Perdue, according to CNN exit polls.

Organizing aimed at mobilizing and educating voters about the runoff may have an even larger impact than similar work done ahead of the general election because of lower overall awareness of the runoff, said Ben Wessel, executive director of the progressive group NextGen America.

“You had to be living under several rocks to not know the [general] election was happening and that’s completely different in January of an odd numbered year,” Wessel said.

NextGen has partnered with Instagram, TikTok and YouTube accounts with large followings to spread information about key election-related dates and ballot requests ahead of the runoff. The efforts mimic similar steps taken by the group before the Nov. 3 election.

“It’s actually adding new information to almost everyone who is watching it because most young people aren’t aware they would have to request another ballot or that early voting is happening over the holidays,” Wessel said. “All of these things that are just so strange and different and unprecedented.”

Jackie Ni, an 18-year-old who created a super PAC in July to boost Biden, is using similar tactics to back Ossoff and Warnock through memes and interactive features.

Ni’s MemePAC TikTok account has more than 341,000 followers. The account is still posting some “anti-Trump” content but is ramping up content focussed on the Georgia election, Ni said.

For example, MemePAC has several TikTok videos aimed at casting Perdue as a “chicken” over the candidate not agreeing to debate Ossoff. Ni indicated his PAC is planning to launch an anti-Perdue digital ad building off the “chicken” meme.

“I don’t want to give too much away but it involves a chicken nugget. I think you know who that refers to in Georgia,” Ni said.

Ossoff’s campaign has jumped on the TikTok bandwagon ahead of the runoff to reach young voters. The campaign’s official TikTok account posted its first video at the start of December, and has amassed more than 171,000 followers and nearly 3 million “likes” since then.

The TikTok account, under the handle @Jon, uses TikTok trends to amplify the 33-year-old candidate’s platform.

In a video posted Monday, Ossoff showed “things on my campaign bus that just make sense,” playing off a popular TikTok trend where users show off their rooms or houses. In Ossoff’s take, he highlights the “cabinet dedicated exclusively to snacks,” the closet for his shirts “that doesn’t close,” and a 7-foot-tall cutout of himself.

“Georgia’s unprecedented youth turnout in the general election was a result of years of Georgia Democrats’ hard work and Jon’s relentless focus on turning out young voters. Our Digital Program’s strategy is intended to meet young voters where they are: online,” Ossoff campaign spokesperson Miryam Lipper said in a statement. “TikTok is one creative element we’re using to speak to young voters about the issues that impact their lives.”

Some of Ossoff’s TikTok content also features Warnock, 55, including one video highlighting a joint event with the two Democrats as the “combination Ossoff Warnock Senate runoff,” playing off another popular TikTok audio clip.

The Warnock campaign does not have a TikTok account, nor do the Loeffler or Perdue campaigns.

Novoa said the shift to reach young voters proves what young organizers have already known: “Young people show up.”

“And this year we saw a historic youth turnout,” she said. “I think finally the narrative has been starting to shift, because of the tireless work of so many organizers, from being that young people don’t care to young people just need to be engaged and invested in.”

WCW PPV Flashbacks: Halloween Havoc 1991: Chamber of Horrors – 10/27/91

December 29, 2020 KANKENNEWS

Halloween Havoc 1991: Chamber of Horrors
October 27, 1991
UTC Arena
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Welcome to Halloween Havoc 1991! We last left off with Lex Luger finally breaking through and winning the WCW Championship at the Great American Bash. In doing so, he sold his soul and turned heel. Subsequently he would be accompanied to the ring by Harley Race and adopt an arrogant persona. He switched his finisher from the Torture Rack to a Piledriver that he called the “Attitude Adjustment.” So apparently that’s where John Cena got the name of his finisher. Anyway, for Luger’s first pay-per-view title defense the booking team selected Ron Simmons. An interesting choice, considering Simmons was just starting out as a singles wrestler. Anyway, to build the match they had Luger offer Simmons a position in his stable…as their driver. Very clear racial overtones there. Let’s get to the action:

The show starts with Eric Bischoff greeting Abdullah the Butcher and Cactus Jack as they arrive at the arena. DDP and the Diamond Studd also roll in. At this point, Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes arrive. Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko show up and slam Windham’s hand in the car door, taking him out of the Chamber of Horrors Match.

Chamber of Horrors Match: Sting, El Gigante, and The Steiner Brothers vs. Abdullah the Butcher, Cactus Jack, The Diamond Studd, and Big Van Vader

Vader replaces Windham. Quite a collection of talent in this match. Sting, the Steiners, Abdullah, Cactus, Hall, and Vader are all Hall of Famers in my book. And then there’s El Gigante, who might be the worst professional wrestler I’ve ever seen. So this match takes place inside a large steel cage. The object of the match is to place one of your opponents in an electric chair, which descends from the ceiling five minutes into the match, and then throw the switch, electrocuting them. An intriguing but cartoony idea. Clearly, WCW has strayed far from the NWA days at this point. I can’t imagine Gordon Solie calling this match.

Sting gets jumped by Cactus Jack during his entrance. They brawl on the ramp. Meanwhile, everyone else fights in the ring. Sting gets into the cage and beats everyone with a Kendo Stick. Notably, we have a camera shot from the referee’s point of view via a helmet camera. It’s helpful here because it’s hard to see through the cage with the wide shot. Everyone just kinds of mills around brawling. Sting Clotheslines Vader over the top rope. Sting goes over the top rope with a Plancha on Vader. The chair very slowly lowers. That gets a slight pop from the crowd. The lever to turn the chair on is mounted on the cage, about eight feet up. Sting hits Cactus with the top of a casket (there are caskets all around ringside). Cactus gets rammed into the cage by Rick Steiner and blades. Someone in a mask popped out of a casket earlier and is now handcuffed to the cage. Not sure who it was or why it happened. Still not very much happening. The lever falls down into the “on” position and a referee climbs the cage to flip it back. This all happens in the background, but on-camera. Pretty symbolic of how this match is going. Cactus climbs the cage and the switch falls again. The camera pans away.

Rick Steiner gets double-teamed by Diamond Studd and Abdullah and thrown into the chair. Regrettably, no one throws the switch and the match goes on. Abdullah knocks him back in. This time, Cactus goes for the switch. Steiner manages to throw Abdullah into the chair as Cactus throws the switch. Abdullah gets electrocuted as sparks, fire, and smoke emerges from the chair at 12:33.

Analysis: 1/2*. Garbage match. Not a good concept for a match and especially poor execution. The entire match featured zero memorable spots as everyone just milled around the ring fighting. There was no teamwork, no story, no flow. Awful.

Abdullah wakes up and beats up Cactus and the EMTs sent to assist him.

My tape clips the following matches: Big Josh and PN News defeated The Creatures (Joey Maggs and Johnny Rich) in 5:16 and Bobby Eaton defeated Terrance Taylor in 16:00.

Johnny B. Badd vs. Jimmy Garvin

Badd is still a heel here, managed by Teddy Long. The Freebirds have turned face. Rope-running starts us off, and then Garvin Hip Tosses Badd over the top rope. Garvin beats on Badd back in the ring and knocks him to the floor with a running elbow. Badd gets back in the ring and Garvin works on his arm. Teddy Long distracts the referee, allowing Badd to choke Garvin with a towel. Badd gets a very botched Sunset Flip for two. Badd goes up top and hits an Elbow Drop. He goes up top again and gets caught with a shot to the gut as he comes off. Badd tries a corner charge and ends up missing and tumbling to the floor. Back in, the do a Double KO spot. Badd misses a left hook and gets DDTed. Long distracts the referee, and Badd catches Garvin with a left hook for the pin at 8:16.

Result: Johnny B. Badd by pinfall

Analysis: *1/2. Pretty standard match with a few botches.

WCW World Television Championship: Steve Austin (c) vs. Dustin Rhodes

They prominently announce the 15 minute time-limit at the start of the match. You know what that means. They exchange basic holds and mat wrestling to start. Headlocks, Armdrags, takedowns. Dustin ends up Clotheslining Austin over the top rope. Again, I have no idea why that isn’t a disqualification. Austin Suplexes his way out of Headlock. Dustin tries a Bulldog, but Austin shoots him into the corner. Long Headlock sequence follows. Dustin gets a Crossbody for a two count and we go back to Headlocks. Dustin tries another Crossbody, but misses and goes over the top to the floor. Austin follows him outside and beats on him on the floor. Dustin is busted open. Austin goes from the top rope to the floor with an Ax Handle. Back in the ring, Dustin fights back with right hands. Austin rakes the eyes and hits a Gutwrench Suplex. Austin applies a Chinlock and sits on it for awhile. JR mentions the time limit. Dustin gets out and hits a Clothesline.

The ring announcer announces three minutes left. Austin misses a dive into the ropes and Dustin hits an Atomic Drop. Dustin throws Austin to the floor. Austin gets thrown into the guardrail and blades. Two minutes left. Powerslam by Dustin gets two. Dustin mounts Austin for punches. Bionic Elbow for another two count. One minute left. Ten Punch by Dustin. 30 seconds left. Dustin goes up top and hits a Flying Clothesline. He gets the cover and three count, but time expires at 15:00.

Result: Time Limit Draw

Analysis: **3/4. Decent match. A little slow, but solid technically.

My tape clips the following: Bill Kazmaier defeated Oz in 3:59, Van Hammer defeated Doug Somers in 1:13, and Brian Pillman defeated Richard Morton in 12:45 to become the first WCW Light Heavyweight Champion. Too bad they clipped that last match. I’ll have to track that down.

The WCW Phantom vs. Tom Zenk

The Halloween Phantom is an unknown masked man. The Phantom dominates and hits a Snap Neckbreaker for the pin at 1:27. Like a moron, Tony Schiavone says that the Neckbreaker looks a lot like the Rude Awakening. Good work, Tony. Way to keep that secret in the box.

Result: WCW Phantom by pinfall

Analysis: Dud. Basic squash.

WCW World Tag Team Championship: The Enforcers (Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko) (c) vs. The Patriots (Firebreaker Chip and Todd Champion)

The Patriots are United States Tag Team Champions, but those belts aren’t on the line here. Larry and Chip start out. They exchange Abdominal Stretches. Chip hits a Scoop Slam. Anderson tags in. Anderson and Chip exchange some basic holds. Champion, the bigger man, tags in and hits an Ax Handle from the second rope. Anderson takes over and gets some stomps. Anderson gets thrown to the floor and Champion slams him. Jesus, these guys are ridiculously green. Back in the ring, Champion applies a Bearhug. Double Clothesline by Champion. Zbyszko tags in. Larry gets chased around the ring. Anderson makes a blind tag and that allows him to get the advantage on Chip. Zbyszko tags back in. Swinging Neckbreaker by Larry. Champion ducks a punch and hits an Atomic Drop, but Arn made a blind tag. Arn cuts Champion’s legs out. Larry tags back in and gets Suplexed. Arn and Chip both tag in. Chip goes house on fire, taking out both guys with Dropkicks. Chip slams Arn, but Zbyszko breaks up the pin. Chip gets hit with the Spinebuster and the champs retain at 9:51.

Result: The Enforcers by pinfall

Analysis: *1/2. Pretty boring tag match. I like the idea of Arn and Larry as a tag team, but they really need some better opponents to work with than those two jabronis.

Eric Bischoff interviews Paul E. Dangerously at ringside. Bischoff is dressed as Dracula, by the way. Dangerously comes out with Madusa. He reveals that he was recently fired as a commentator for being too “controversial.” Dangerously declares war on WCW. He says he still has his manager’s license and he’s going to bankrupt WCW by destroying its top stars: Sting is singled out in particular. He says he told Madusa to find the man to destroy Sting. The Phantom comes out. He unmasks, revealing himself as RICK RUDE. Awesome debut for Rude, and a great start to the Dangerous Alliance Storyline. This was basically the NWO before the NWO.

They show a montage of Ron Simmons training before the main event.

2 out of 3 Falls Match for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship: Lex Luger (c) vs. Ron Simmons

Luger is accompanied by Harley Race, Simmons by Dusty Rhodes. If you think that it seems to be a little soon for Simmons to be getting a title shot in the main event of a pay-per-view, you’re probably right. JR, always one to talk football, mentions that Luger and Simmons were teammates for the Tampa Bay Bandits of the USFL. Lots of stalling to start. Luger telegraphs a Backdrop and gets his face slammed into the mat. Powerslam by Simmons. Spinebuster! Simmons gets the first fall at a quick 4:54. Simmons 1, Luger 0.

Simmons is one fall from the championship. They impose a one minute rest period. Simmons gets a Snap Suplex. He gets a Backdrop. Luger sends Simmons into the corner, but gets hit with a Back Elbow. Simmons gets a Small Package for two. Luger throws Simmons to the floor. He’s doing a suspiciously good job of selling his back. I think he might be hurt legit. Simmons gets a Sunset Flip and then a Clothesline. Simmons goes for another Clothesline, but misses and falls to the floor. Luger takes over. Mostly chokes from Luger. He hits a Powerslam for a two count. Luger shuts down a Simmons comeback with a Big Boot. Suplex by Luger. Luger applies a Chinlock. Simmons fights out and hits a Clothesline. Luger misses a charge to the corner and gets rolled up for a good near fall. Race distracts Simmons and gets decked by Dusty. Luger charges Simmons and gets Backdropped over the top rope. Simmons is disqualified and Luger wins the second fall at 16:26. Simmons 1, Luger 1.

Next fall wins. Luger plays possum and gets a cheap shot. Luger wails on Simmons, but he stops selling. Simmons beats down Luger with a Ten Punch. Luger tries an Inverted Atomic Drop, but Simmons blocks it and hits a Clothesline. Backdrop by Simmons. Simmons gets an Inverted Atomic Drop. Simmons puts Luger on the top rope and hits a Superplex! Luger kicks out at two. Powerslam by Simmons. Simmons goes the to the second rope and hits a Diving Shoulderblock, but Luger rolls out to the floor. Simmons follows him out and puts Luger into the guardrail. Simmons tries a three point stance charge, but Luger ducks and Simmons hits the post. Back in the ring, Luger hits the Attitude Ajdustment Piledriver and gets the pin at 21:59.

Result: Lex Luger 2-1

Analysis: ***. Pretty good match. Third fall was especially exciting. Interesting that Luger went over clean. I won’t complain, it’s nice to see a heel champion be booked strongly. Simmons took Luger to the limit, so he doesn’t come out looking bad.

JR and Schiavone recap the match to end the show.

Overall: Bad show. The main event was okay, nothing else was much above average. Dusty’s run as booker was not good, and this show is prime example of that. Simmons really wasn’t ready to be champion, so there isn’t a ton of sense in putting him in a championship match. The Chamber of Horrors match took up a ton of talent and put them in a situation they couldn’t succeed. Poor show, the second one in a row.

Grade: D

dovdiv

Monthly Archives: December 2020

Kelly Kelly & Maryse Scheduled For More Appearances, The Godfather, DiBiase

German health care workers sent to hospital after coronavirus vaccine overdoses

Coronavirus vaccinations begin at Seattle nursing home that saw first US COVID-19 deaths

Hackers also 'impacting' state, local governments. US cybersecurity agency says

OVERNIGHT ENERGY: EPA declines to tighten air quality standard for smog | Green groups sue over Trump bid to open Alaska's Tongass forest to logging

Teens expand TikTok playbook to help Democrats in Georgia runoffs

WCW PPV Flashbacks: Halloween Havoc 1991: Chamber of Horrors – 10/27/91

Latest On Hulk Hogan & TNA, Update On Top ROH Star To TNA, TNA Attendance

Spoilers WWE SmackDown Tapings Results For Friday

Michael Hayes Returns, Matches Taped For Superstars, Nothing After RAW