June 15th, 1997

Providence, RI

WCW WORLD TITLE MATCH
GAUNTLET RULES
Ahmed Johnson
vs.
Marc Mero/Faarooq/Lex Luger
w/Ted DiBiase

The Match:
Marc Mero is standing in the ring looking up the aisle. Ted DiBiase is standing at ringside watching his man. Ahmed Johnson comes down the aisle with the WCW World Title and rolls into the ring and stands face to face with his first opponent.

Ahmed opens up overpowering Mero in a lock up and forces him into the corner. Ahmed gives him a few knees to the stomach and then hits a running lariat! He hits ANOTHER running lariat and keeps going! Mero gets up again and tries to leapfrog over Ahmed.. but is caught in a SPINEBUSTER!!

Ahmed signals for the Pearl River Plunge! He pulls Mero up in the air, turns him over and drops him down... 1... 2... 3...!!! THE FANS GO NUTS!!!

JR: That's ONE! One down... TWO to GO!

Bam Bam: Here comes FAAROOQ!!!

Ted DiBiase waves Faarooq down the aisle, pointing the way to Ahmed! Johnson is just getting up from pinning Mero when Faarooq assaults him! Faarooq pounds him down, then picks him up... heaves him to the ropes... SPINEBUSTER!!

JR: Faarooq! He attacked the Pearl River powerhouse before Mero even got out of the RING!

Bam Bam: These are the kinda tactics you EXPECT from the Million Dollar Man!

Ahmed is hard pressed to fight back! He is pummeled down with fists and kicks until Faarooq pulls him up into a... SLEEPER!!! The referee gets in and begins checking Ahmed's arm. He raises it once..... AND IT DROPS!

JR: Faarooq may put him out! Ahmed's dream could be crushed right here!

The referee lifts it again.... IT DROPS!

Bam Bam: One more time... and it's OVER! Ted keeps the WCW WORLD TITLE!

JR: And FAAROOQ becomes the champion! Here we go....

The referee lifts it a THIRD TIME! It drops.... but Ahmed STOPS IT! He shakes his arm a few times... then DRIVES his elbow into Faarooq's stomach! Ahmed reaches up with his arms and holds on to Faarooq's head.... and drops him into a JAWBREAKER!! THE SLEEPER IS BROKEN!

Ahmed throws Faarooq to the ropes...TILT-A-WHIRL BACKBREAKER!! Faarooq is pulled up.... turned over... PEARL RIVER PLUNGE!! The ref counts... 1... 2... 3...!!! THE FANS GO NUTS!

JR: TWO DOWN!!! AHMED IS ONE AWAY!!!

Bam Bam: The Million Dollar Man is one match away from losing the WCW World Title to the WWF... just like he did the TAG TEAM titles!

JR: Here comes THE TOTAL PACKAGE LEX LUGER!!!

Ted DiBiase looks angry. He directs Luger into the ring, pumping him up with a pep-talk.

Luger and Ahmed start brawling with each other. Each one fires a punch... then a block.. then a punch again. Luger staggers back... then charges in full force and FOREARM SMASHES Ahmed!

JR: That FOREARM! Remember the steel plates inside!

Bam Bam: Piper made him wear an armpad in the WWF, but Ted DiBiase is letting him use it to full effect for his own personal gain!

JR: That doesn't suprise ME!

Luger pulls up Ahmed... and SLAMS him down! Ahmed looks dazed, hurt from the power moves and still woozy from the sleeper. Luger backs up, holding his loaded forearm in the air. He charges in at Ahmed, looking to finish him off. Ahmed sets... and catches Luger... BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX!!!

Ahmed stands up and calls for the Pearl River Plunge! Ahmed hits the ropes... AND FALLS!! DIBIASE TRIPS HIM!!! Ted is laughing! Ahmed pounds on the mat in anger, then rolls out of the ring and runs at DiBiase! Ted turns and runs and starts heading up the aisle. Ahmed is in hot pursuit! DiBiase drops down to the mat.... as Faarooq and Mero return and dive over him and attack Ahmed!!!

JR: DiBiase led him straight to SLAUGHTER!!

Bam Bam: Disqualify Luger! Ahmed wins by DQ!

JR: In the WWF... but this is WCW! We're playing by THEIR rules!

Bam Bam: Ahmed is getting TRASHED! What kinda rules are THEY?

Mero and Faarooq hammer Ahmed, then drag him back to the ring and throw him in. Lex Luger has recovered and he pulls Ahmed up.... AND RACKS HIM!

JR: The HUMAN TORTURE RACK!

Bam Bam: You don't get out of THIS!

JR: Not after the beating Ahmed just took!

The referee is calling for the bell!!! IT'S OVER!! Luger drops Ahmed to the mat.

JR: NEW WCW WORLD CHAMPION!!!!

Bam Bam: HIGHLY CONTROVERSIAL!

Faarooq and Mero roll into the ring and continue bashing on Ahmed! Faarooq pulls up Ahmed... and hits the DOMINATOR!!! Mero climbs to the top rope... AND HITS THE WILD THING!!! Ted DiBiase is laughing at ringside, directing everything. He picks up the WCW World Title and puts it over his shoulder.

JR: HERE COMES THE CAVALRY!!!!

Bam Bam: WHO IS THAT???