Hollywood Blondes
From Freepedia
The Hollywood Blondes were a heel tag team in World Championship Wrestling in 1992 & 1993.
Contents |
History
There have been many versions of the "Hollywood Blondes" over the years (the best known being Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts in the 1970s and Rip Rogers & Ted Oates in the 1980s), but the most famous one was the WCW tag team of "Stunning" Steve Austin and "Flyin'" Brian Pillman. They were known for their innovative tag team and for their mockery of legends like Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. After a good move on an opponent, they acted like they were filming their fallen opponent as he looked on in horror.
The team was put together in November 1992 when WCW management did not have anything for either of them to do. Pillman and Austin made up some matching trunks and vests and decided to make the gimmick work. And work it did!
They immediately started a feud with WCW/NWA World Tag Team Champions Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas (The titles were unified at this point). They wrestled them at Starrcade '92 and Clash of Champions 22 before winning them on March 11, 1993. They continued their feud until it culminated on May 23, 1993, at Slamboree when the Blondes won a Cage Match to retain their titles.
The Blondes then decided to pick on some legends, Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. Flair was hosting a show called "A Flair For the Gold" with Anderson sitting at the bar during the show, so the Blondes made up "A Flare For the Old", complete with Austin as Anderson with a pillow under his shirt for a gut. This was aired on June 5, 1993 and it really kicked the feud into high gear.
On June 17, 1993, at Clash of Champions 23, The Blondes retained their titles in a classic 2 out of 3 falls match against Flair and Anderson by Disqualifying due to Barry Windham's interference. Four Horsemen member Paul Roma saved his fellow Horsemen and the feud included some six-man tag matches between the six wrestlers as well as tag team matches.
By July, Flair had become a singles wrestler and the Blondes were feuding with Anderson and Roma. In August, Pillman suffered an injury and was replaced in the team by Lord Steven Regal for a title defense at Clash of Champions 24 on August 18, 1993, at which time Austin and Regal lost the titles.
Pillman came back in September only to be turned on by Austin (who had joined Col. Rob Parker in Pillman's absence). They feuded for awhile and Pillman even made Parker wear a chicken suit on TBS, but this version of the Hollywood Blondes was finished.
Legacy
The Hollywood Blondes of the 1990s have gone down as one of the most exciting, innovative tag teams in wrestling history, but WCW management did not seem to appreciate what they had. They split the team when they got too over with the fans and even said no to Austin before they fired him about reforming them. It seems that they were a threat to certain wrestlers' spots in the hierarchy.
Other Versions of The Hollywood Blondes
- Buddy Roberts & Jerry Brown wrestled as The Hollywood Blondes in the 1970's in the Southern territories, California, and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
- Rip Rogers & Ted Oates wrestled as The Hollywood Blondes in 1984 in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions.
- Lenny Lane and Lodi wrestled in WCW in 1999 as the flamboyant West Hollywood Blondes.
Championships/Accomplishments
- 1-Time WCW/NWA World Tag Team Champions
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked them # 50 of the 100 best tag teams during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
Categories: World Championship Wrestling teams and stables | Jim Crockett Promotions teams and stables
