July 1995 WCW: Where The Beach Boys Play
WCW hits an actual beach, Hogan vs. Vader in a cage, and a Giant's intentions revealed. A complete look at the month inside!
In July, WCW took their “Beach”-themed Pay-Per-View, originally called Beach Blast and now Bash at the Beach, to an actual beach! They set the ring up on Huntington Beach, California, under the sun and attracted all sorts of fans, creating a unique visual spectacle. The event featured two main feuds that reached their conclusions: Hulk Hogan versus Vader, and Randy Savage versus Ric Flair.
What you’ll find below:
Recap: A rundown of the major happenings this month.
Recommendations: A mix of interesting matches, promos, and segments.
Takeaways: My key points that stood out from the month.
Show-by-Show Notes: Comments from going through each show.
After being absent since Slamboree, World Heavyweight Champion Hulk Hogan returned with a series of promos filmed on the beach to hype up a Cage Match with Vader. Meanwhile, Vader continued his rampage, promising that his "Roadkill Tour" would culminate with Hogan. As he had done a few times before, Vader appeared on the live WCW Main Event pre-show, destroying Alex Wright and Marcus Bagwell to send a message. Hogan, however, had an ally with him: Dennis Rodman.
Ric Flair and Randy Savage settled their feud in a Lifeguard Lumberjack Match. With Arn Anderson neutralized, Savage had Flair right where he wanted him and secured the victory. Afterward, Savage shifted his focus to supporting Hogan.
The Dungeon of Doom ramped up their activity in July, with The Taskmaster introducing new members from his "father": Kamala, The Shark (formerly Avalanche), and The Zodiac (formerly The Butcher). Vader also visited the Dungeon of Doom, reclaimed his helmet, and rebranded himself as Big Van Vader. This set the stage for the climactic Cage Match. With interference from the Dungeon of Doom, Rodman stepped in to help Hogan, enabling him to escape the cage and end his feud with Vader. After the match, Ric Flair stormed in, furious at Vader for losing. In retaliation, Vader vowed to take on both Flair and Arn Anderson in a Handicap Match at Clash of the Champions in August.
Vader’s frustration with Flair and Arn stemmed from his belief that the three of them were supposed to dominate the wrestling world. He began questioning whether Arn could truly trust Flair. Arn dismissed Vader’s doubts, claiming Vader was out of his mind, and vowed to "dog" him at the Clash. Flair promised to run Vader into the ground, insisting this wasn’t a movie where one man defeats five. However, a seed of doubt was planted when Arn repeatedly had to help Flair win matches, including one against Marcus Alexander Bagwell on the July 29 edition of Saturday Night.
Although Hulk Hogan had resolved his feud with Vader, his problems with the Dungeon of Doom were just beginning. Hogan entered the Dungeon of Doom itself—a place where, to his surprise, there were no Hulkamaniacs and it wasn’t hot. This proved to be a grave mistake, as The Giant, the “one true immortal,” crushed Hogan. Randy Savage was shocked by the events and promised to stand by Hogan at the Clash.
In the tag team division, Harlem Heat retained the World Tag Team Titles in a triangle match against The Nasty Boys and the Blue Bloods. However, the Stud Stable won a number-one contender’s match and upset Harlem Heat for the gold on the July 22 episode of Saturday Night, thanks to Col. Parker’s help. With her focus regained, Sherri demanded a six-person tag match at the Clash, with the stipulation that if her team won, they would earn a title shot.
Other notable developments included Sting successfully defending the U.S. Title against Meng in a rematch, and The Renegade retaining the TV Title against Paul Orndorff. Diamond Dallas Page defeated Evad Sullivan, seemingly putting their feud to rest. Kamala debuted with a victory over Jim Duggan at Bash at the Beach. Lastly, Marcus Bagwell appeared to be venturing into a singles career, as The Patriot was no longer by his side.
July 1995 WCW Recommendations
Full credit to everyone out there who makes all of this accessible. You know who you are!
Sting interview (July 1 Worldwide)
Hulk Hogan promo at the beach (July 8 Pro)
Very cool Vader promo package (July 8 Saturday Night)
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Shark debuts (July 15 Worldwide)
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Vader gets his helmet back (July 15 Worldwide)
Blue Bloods interview (July 15 Saturday Night)
Randy Savage & Ric Flair confrontation (July 15 Saturday Night)
Johnny B Badd vs. Chris Kanyon (July 16 Main Event)
Vader destroys everyone (July 16 Main Event)
Sting vs. Meng (July 16 Bash At The Beach)
Harlem Heat vs. The Nasty Boys vs. The Blue Bloods (July 16 Bash At The Beach)
Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair (July 16 Bash At The Beach)
Hulk Hogan & Dennis Rodman interview (July 16 Bash At The Beach)
Hulk Hogan vs. Big Van Vader (July 16 Bash At The Beach)
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Zodiac (July 22 Worldwide)
Vader interview on Flair and Arn (July 22 Worldwide)
Vader promo (July 22 Pro)
Arn Anderson, Ric Flair, Vader confrontation (July 22 Saturday Night)
Harlem Heat vs. Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater (July 22 Saturday Night)
Ric Flair and Arn Anderson interview (July 29 Worldwide)
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Hulk Hogan meets the one true Giant (July 29 Worldwide)
Ric Flair and Arn Anderson take out Vader (July 29 Saturday Night)
Sherri and Col Parker have their confrontation (July 29 Saturday Night)
Wrestler of the Month: Randy Savage
Match of the Month: Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair (July 16 Bash At The Beach)
Promo of the Month: Randy Savage & Ric Flair confrontation (July 15 Saturday Night)
July 1995 WCW Takeaways
The promotion felt on autopilot with a lot of the feuds continuing. All the DQ’s, countouts and uneventful matches just to fill up time started to make this tougher to get through. Arn hasn’t been wrestling on TV which is a huge loss. Austin’s not around. Pillman hasn’t been used well. The Cruiserweights never showed up. Instead there’s an influx of the worst of the year that 1995 WCW is known for. The Dungeon of Doom skits are silly but the real slog is Renegade, Kamala, Zodiac, Shark, etc all taking up featured spots on the TV and PPV. A major step back.
Ric Flair getting away from Hogan and back with Arn has been a huge improvement.
I really liked the outdoor atmosphere with Bash at the Beach and all the promos leading up. Felt like a good creative way to make the promotion feel bigger than it was. Most of the hype and build leading up was more about the beach than the matches, though.
They’ve started pushing the Where The Big Boys Play slogan.
Vader wrapped up his feud with Hogan and it never really lived up to the promise of the initial build to SuperBrawl. Vader tried his best and his face turn after is the most interesting development heading into August.
July 1995 WCW Show-by-Show Notes
Current Champions
WCW World Heavyweight Champion: Hulk Hogan
WCW United States Champion: Sting
WCW World Tag Team Champions: Harlem Heat
WCW World Television Champion: The Renegade
July 1, 1995 WCW Worldwide
Tony and Bobby talking Hogan and Vader
Flyin Brian squash
Meng & Col Parker interview on Sting. Standard stuff.
Dave Sullivan squash. Uses a backwards bearhug…
Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater squash.
US Champ Sting interview. Has water to keep moist. Little nervous to face Meng again. Good promo
Vader promo. Python killers. Promises a winner and a loser at BATB.
Tim Horner & Scott Amstrong v State Patrol. Decent match. Scott now with Horner. Horner gets the win.
July 1, 1995 WCW Pro
Harlem Heat squash. No belts. Blue Bloods and Nastys look on
Johnny B Badd squash. Facing Diamond Dallas tonight.
Hacksaw Duggan squash
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Taskmaster drank from the goblin of darkness. Fatha brings him Kamala. Oh no.
Taskmaster squash. New red gear. Gets DQ’d for violence.
Nasty Boys v Stud Stable (Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater). Decent match. Blue Bloods and Harlem Heat watch on. Nastys win.
Meng squash
Nasty Boys promo. Time to get a body count
July 1, 1995 WCW Saturday Night
The Nasty Boys squash. Post-match interview. Winner take all triangle match at BATB with Harlem Heat and Blue Bloods.
Meng squash. Post-match interview. Sting’s a lucky man.
Diamond Doll goes on date with Evad. Disco Inferno is there as a rabbit. Again, not great but consistently getting TV time for this storyline.
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Bring in Vader. Who dare speak to me? Take the final step to defeating Hogan. Vader goes. Vader somehow remains Vader despite the silliness.
Diamond Dallas Page vs. Johnny B. Badd. Good little match. Working really hard and have good chemistry together. DDP wins by countout. Max Muscle and Dallas lay out Badd to start the feud. Nice.
July 2, 1995 WCW Main Event
Randy Savage v Big Bubba Rogers. Decent match. Macho wins with the elbow and Bubba kicks out at 3.1.
July 3, 1995 WCW Prime
Jim Duggan v Big Bubba Rogers. Quick double countout.
July 8, 1995 WCW Worldwide
Tony & Bobby hyping Cage Match
Mark Starr squash. Yes. Bobby and Tony put it over as his first win
Nasty Boys interview on triangle match.
Show Diamond Doll date with eVad
Diamond Dallas squash.
Blue Bloods squash
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Next present. Someone who scared the white bengal tiger. Vader.
Tex Slazenger squash
WCW World Tag Team Champs Harlem Heat interview. This is personal. Going to take care of two teams at once!
Sting & The Renegade v Stud Stable (Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater). Ok. Sting gets the pin.
July 8, 1995 WCW Pro
Blue Bloods squash
BATB Control Center: Hogan does another promo where he makes the WCW Title seem secondary. I don’t get it.
Jim Duggan squash
Harlem Heat squash. Post-match interview. Gonna do it once again.
Kamala squash. Duggan inset promo. He’s coming for Kamala.
Nasty Boys v Stud Stable (Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater). Decent brawl. Blue Bloods in for the DQ. Harlem Heat come out too. Parker kisses Sherri again and she bites him!
July 8, 1995 WCW Saturday Night
Jim Duggan squash.
WCW TV Champ The Renegade squash.
Hawk squash. Post-match interview. Wants Meng soon.
Randy Savage interview on Flair.
Kamala squash. The unnamed Giant in crowd
Very cool Vader promo package.
Blue Bloods squash. Post-match interview. A grappling cooperative.
Randy Savage v Bunkhouse Buck. Decent. Savage is unhinged heading into BATB. Post-match interview. That was him being nice!
July 10, 1995 WCW Prime
Diamond Dallas Page squash
July 15, 1995 WCW Worldwide
Dave Sullivan interview. He’s facing Diamond Dallas at BATB
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Next warrior is from two thousand leagues under sea. The Shark has come. Taste for Hulkamania. Shark debut. So silly.
Nasty Boys squash
Meng squash
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Vader makes another appearance. Now he’s Big Van Vader again and has his helmet.
Diamond Dallas Page interview on Evad.
Ric Flair interview. Recaps his same key points on Savage
Randy Savage v Tex Slazenger. Squash. Savage destroys him. Post-match interview. BATB will be the woodstock of WCW!
July 15, 1995 WCW Pro
US Champ Sting squash
Vader squash
Vader promo. Roadkill tour ends with Hogan. Calls him a coward
Craig Pittman squash
Taskmaster & Kamala squash
WCW World TV Title The Renegade v Bunkhouse Buck. Ok. Gets time. Renegade wins. Meng and Sting have a big standoff after.
July 15, 1995 WCW Saturday Night
WCW World Tag Team Champions Harlem Heat squash. Post-match interview. Overcame everything
Dave Sullivan squash. Post-match interview. Goofy.
Meng squash. Post-match interview. Parker and Sherri stuff continuing. Parker thinks she’s into him.
Johnny B. Badd squash.
Jim Duggan squash.
Diamond Dallas Page v Tim Horner. Ok short match. Page uses a different set up for the Diamond Cutter.
WCW World TV Champ The Renegade squash.
The Blue Bloods v Chris Kanyon & Scott Armstrong. Decent showcase for Blue Bloods. Tony puts over Kanyon. Post-match interview. Won’t be dragged down into the society of violence. They’re pure scientific wrestlers!
Randy Savage interview. He has Flair right where he wants him! Ric Flair comes out with ladies in Ric Flair t-shirts. Flair gets a jobber in the ring with the girls as lifeguards. Savage comes out to brawl with Flair. Girls throw Flair back into Savage! Very funny. Savage beats up some jobbers. No time to calm down! Savage is a top TV performer and this feud is hot. Recommended
July 16, 1995 WCW Main Event
Johnny B Badd v Chris Kanyon. Fun squash. Badd does a dive onto the sand! The overhead shot of the beach looks crazy.
Commissioner Bockwinkel makes a statement on Hogan/Vader. There will be a winner!
Blue Bloods interview. Harlem Heat confront them. Think they have pact with Nastys
Alex Wright & Marcus Bagwell v Stud Stable (Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater). Ok short match. Patriot must be gone. Bischoff is shouting out WCW Attorney Nick Lambrose. WHERE THE BIG BOYS PLAY is being pushed down as a slogan. Parker distraction causes Buck to pin bagwell. Vader hits the ring and power bombs Alex Wright. Big pop! Beats the hell out of Bagwell. Jobbers getting power bombed. This ruled. Tons of heat on Vader as the final push. Recommended.
July 16, 1995 WCW Bash At The Beach - Huntington Beach, CA
Slim Jim sponsored. Huge crowd on the beach. Tony and Bobby in their polos.
Meng video package
Sting interview. This is his home turf. He’s seven different forms of crazy!
WCW United States Heavyweight Title Sting (c) vs. Meng. Solid. Some good stuff. Went a little too long. Michael Buffer is in shades. Meng shrugs off all Sting’s offense. Good way to open the show. Sting’s working for the people there on the beach. Really like it. Sting busts out a thesz press and a frankensteiner! Sting ducks a kick and rolls up Sting for the pin. Not the best finish. Meng gets right up and attacks Sting. Hawk makes the save.
Renegade & Jimmy Hart interview. TOS. Terminate on sight.
WCW World Television Title The Renegade (c) vs. Paul Orndorff. Ok. Orndorff carries him through it. Fans boo Renegade winning. His offense is very poor. Orndorff attacks him after and gets cheered! Hits a great piledriver that Renegade no sells.
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Kamala segment
Jim Duggan interview. Upset about playing by rules. No more mr nice guy
Kamala vs. Jim Duggan. Bad. Duggan hasn’t really been featured much in 95. Felt like two old guys at an independent show. Butcher is now Zodiac and hits Duggan with a belt. People audibly groan and laugh. Kamala wins.
Randy Savage interview. Very cool Slim Jim shirt. Chill in the air but on the beach. Opposites attract. About emotion and family. Good Macho style promo.
Diamond Dallas Page vs. Dave Sullivan. Thankfully short. Max Muscle gets involved. Page wins with Diamond Cutter. Please be the end.
Harlem Heat and Sherri interview. It’s on like neckbone cooking for three days
WCW World Tag Team Titles Harlem Heat (c) vs. The Nasty Boys vs. The Blue Bloods. Good match that dragged a bit. Harlem Heat get chants. Action packed start. Heenan has lots of funny Nasty Boys lines. Weird messy finish where Nastys pin one of each but Booker was on top of Regal so Harlem Heat win. Post-match interview. Still the champs. Stud Stable are the new number one contenders. Moving fully into the Sherri/Parker business.
Ric Flair interview. Only one nature boy
Randy Savage vs. Ric Flair - Lifeguard Lumberjack Match. Good match. Best thing on the show. Heenan stands on his chair to see the Baywatch lifeguards. Visually a cool looking match. There’s good action and intensity. Crowd’s into it. Arn comes in and gets decked. Savage survives and wins clean with the Elbow. Recommended
Vader interview. Brotha the whole world knows what time it is.
Collision In Korea airing on PPV Friday August 4th
Hulk Hogan & Dennis Rodman interview. Hogan talking about sharks ripping and tearing Vader after he throws him over the cage. Funny. Rodman seems to be having fun being involved.
WCW World Heavyweight Title Hulk Hogan (c) vs. Big Van Vader - Steel Cage Match. Good Hogan vs big guy cage match. Vader has the helmet and name back. Hogan’s having fun. Puts helmet on and headbutts Vader. Good action in this fighting it out more seriously. Hogan gets the crowd all hyped for the body slam. Hurts his back. We get to the big HULK UP and Zodiac and Taskmaster come out. Rodman helps Hogan to a big pop! Hogan escapes the cage to win. Flair comes in after upset at Vader and Vader runs him off. He’ll take on both Flair and Arn. Good booking move to give Vader something after the blowoff with Hogan.
The main few matches and the set up were the highlights. There were way more bad matches than on any PPV this year.
July 22, 1995 WCW Worldwide
Tony and Bobby open talking about BATB and Vader wanting Flair & Arn
Alex Wright squash
Renegade and Jimmy Hart interview. Orndorff gets another shot at Clash. This is terrible
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Master gives Zodiac. Brother of goodness. The key. Yes no yes no. It actually got sillier!
Taskmaster squash. Kamala attacks too
Steve Austin squash
Vader interview on Flair and Arn. Just the man that knows the man. We were gonna own the world. Good stuff
Kurasawa vignette. New warrior for Col Parker
Diamond Dallas Page v Dave Sullivan. Bad match. DDP wins.
July 22, 1995 WCW Pro
Chris Cruise in for Solie
Randy Savage squash. Post-match interview. Ask him about the Vader v Arn/Flair Handicap Match at Clash. Flair messed up. Also his spirit will be with Hogan as enters the Dungeon Of Doom. Savage getting dragged into this too.
Frank Anderson squash
Shark & Kamala w/Taskmaster squash
Vader promo. Not nervous or scared of Flair and Arn. Coming to inflict pain. Asks arn if he truly trusts Flair or not? More good work.
WCW World TV Champ Renegade squash
Nasty Boys v Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater. Decent brawl as usual. Probably their best. Parker in for a DQ.
July 22, 1995 WCW Saturday Night
Vader handicap squash. Post-match interview. He’s lost his mind. On sight at Clash.
Nastys Boys squash
Arn Anderson squash. Post-match interview with Arn and Flair. Vader’s dizzy. Going to dog him. Vader comes out for big pull apart. Recommended
WCW World Tag Team Titles Harlem Heat (w/Sister Sherri) (c) vs. The Stud Stable (Bunkhouse Buck & Dick Slater). Decent match. Heat work better as faces especially with Booker T’s offense. Parker nails Stevie and we have a surprise title change! Change the tag titles quite often on TV.
July 23, 1995 WCW Main Event
Harlem Heat v Blue Bloods. Solid match. Booker’s kicks always look deadly. Heat win with Harlem Hangover.
July 24, 1995 WCW Prime
Dick Slater v Scott Amrstrong. Ok. Slater wins.
July 29, 1995 WCW Worldwide
Tony and Bobby talking about Heenan partying with the new tag champs in Bucksnort
Kurasawa is coming
Meng squash
Ric Flair and Arn Anderson interview. This is not a movie where one guy takes out five. Going to run him into ground. Pay the price fat boy! Recommended
DUNGEON OF DOOM: Hulk Hogan falls through a wall. No Hulkamaniacs here. Ah its not hot. The famous clip. Very ridiculous stuff. Going to bury them. Only Hogan has defeated himself. The Giant comes through the wall and crushes him. The greatest Giant. One true immortal. Recommended
Kamala squash
Big Bubba squash
Blue Bloods squash
Meng and Kurasawa interview. Look bad ass together. Going after Hawk and Sting at Clash.
Harlem Heat v Alex Wright & Brian PIllman. Ok match. DQ finish. Pillman’s been doing nothing since his big comeback.
July 29, 1995 WCW Pro
Marcus Bagwell squash
Johnny B Badd squash
Taskmaster squash
Harlem Heat squash. Post-match interview. Want belts back. Sherri ripping Parker. Confrontation on WCWSN.
Diamond Dallas Page v Dave Sullivan. Basic. Diamond Cutter. Enough.
July 29, 1995 WCW Saturday Night
Randy Savage squash. Post-match interview. Shocked at The Giant and Dungeon of Doom. He and Hogan will be at the Clash.
Vader squash. Post-match interview. Reiterates the same points. Revenge and satisfaction will be his
WCW World TV Champ The Renegade squash.
US Champ Sting squash.
Ric Flair (w/Arn Anderson) vs Marcus Alexander Bagwell. Solid match. Flair takes a backdrop on the floor. Flair wins with the Figure Four. Bagwell’s better in tags. Vader goes after Flair but gets chopblocked by Arn. Huge DDT! Arn and Flair take out big man.
Sherri and Col Parker have their confrontation. Six person tag at Clash. If Sherri wins, Heat get title match. Sherri rules. Recommended.
July 31, 1995 WCW Prime
Big Bubba Rogers squash. Bubba doing nothing after strong showing in Sting feud.
I watched Bash at the Beach '95 last summer for the first time. I thought it was really fun and the outdoor atmosphere on the beach was unique for sure. Also did a watch-along live-post thread on Twitter for it.
Good stuff as usual.
"AHHHH! IT'S NOT HOT!" and "THERE'S NO HULKAMANIACS HERE!" both live completely rent-free in my head.