Ron Simmons Wins WCW World Heavyweight Title – 16.08.1992 (Big Van Vader vs. Ron Simmons)

August 16, 1992 (taped August 2, 1992)
WCW Main Event

Your host is Jim Ross

WCW World Heavyweight Championship – Big Van Vader(c)(w/ Harley Race) vs. Ron Simmons

Big lockup and Vader overpowers Simmons to start, but Ron fights back by slugging away in the corner. Simmons runs wild with a clothesline, a backdrop suplex and a running shoulderblock, and Vader bails. Back in, Vader walks right into a massive spinebuster for an awesome nearfall. The atmosphere in the arena is electric. Vader finally takes control with a giant avalanche in the corner, into a clothesline and then a splash for two. Huge pop for Ron’s kickout. However, Vader remains in control with a suplex. Big Van Vader plants Simmons with a chokeslam, followed by a flying splash for … A FALSE FINISH!? Vader arrogantly puts the boots to Simmons some more as he preps for a suplex, which Simmons turns over into a suplex of his own, but Ron’s too beat up and Vader clotheslines him back down. He tries a second one, blocked by Ron who gets a backslide for two. Vader stays in control once again, but he eats buckle on a missed avalanche and Ron cradles him for two. Sunset flip attempt, but Vader drops down on the poor guy. Holy smoke. Vader picks him up to finish with the powerbomb, which Simmons somehow avoids before exploding with a scoop powerslam for the historic win and the WCW World belt at 9:42. The entire babyface dressing room comes out to celebrate with Simmons!

• Rating: This is obviously a moment and a title change for the ages, and because of it most people will remember only its finish, but it’s actually a heck of a match as well. A fantastic super-heavyweight tussle between two bulls determined to hit each other as hard as possible. Nothing out of this world, but still pretty damned good and the crowd was fantastic all the way through. ***1/2

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