Video:
Match Preview (09:58 - 10:10) Match
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| Confident of victory pre-match |
In this 15-minute time limit defence of his WCW World Television Title, Stunning Steve Austin once again takes advantage of the ringside presence of the beautiful Lady Blossom in helping him retain the belt. As any wrestler at the time who challenged him for the TV title was all too aware, not only would they have to overcome Austin but also the interventions of his distracting blonde valet, proving a near-impossible task.
In a short preview of the match screened before the PPV event starts, Blossom smiles demurely next to Austin, as the champion dismisses the chances of his young challenger.
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| A sizzling Blossom at ringside |
The match underway, Lady Blossom looks dazzling (left) as she stands ringside in a cleavage-baring dress, posing and pouting at the cameras. As the match gets going, Rhodes has the temerity to clothesline Austin out of the ring at 3:55, drawing Blossom's attention in helping the champion to recover. She chooses not to intervene any further at this time though.
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| Austin tended to by his valet |
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| A posing Lady Blossom works the cameras |
As the commentators refer to Blossom's many interventions in Austin's matches, the cameras again focus on the valet as she poses and preens at 5:40 in to the watching world. Indeed, Jim Ross highlights how unfair it can be for Lady Blossom to be ringside to influence his matches, implying that Austin's position as a title-holder means the WCW authorities are intimidated from taking action against the valet.
A basic error at 7:55 sees Rhodes this time fly outside the ring, landing painfully ringside in close proximity to Lady Blossom. Coolly taking a second to assess the situation before her, Austin's valet again chooses to retreat and leaves things to her man. Austin launches numerous punches to his young opponent, drawing blood from Rhodes' forehead, all within the approving gaze of his valet.
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| A thoughtful Blossom considers her options with Rhodes stricken |
Rhodes is in big trouble now, staggering around the ring with blood streaming from his face and with Austin in pursuit. With the action returning in-ring, Austin applies a painful hold on Rhodes, before illegally using the ropes for extra leverage. When referee Randy Anderson challenges this foul play from the champion, Blossom gets involved to defend her man at 10:40 to deny any wrongdoing, before breaking out in a calculated smile.
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| Blossom satisfied that she has duped the referee |
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| Sizing up the challenger |
As the tannoy announces four minutes left, an elementary error from Rhodes allows Austin the chance to bring Lady Blossom's talents to the fore. Austin chokes his young challenger on the ropes leaves Rhodes vulnerable, and the beautiful valet spots her opportunity. At 12:14 in, and with Anderson's back turned, she takes aim and delivers five perfectly-executed slaps to the face of the incapacitated wrestler, before fleeing the scene and visibly revelling in her intervention. While Jim Ross expresses his disappointment at her actions, Blossom has clearly left her mark both on the match and on Rhodes.
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| Lady Blossom lands with a forceful slap |
With the time limit ticking away, Rhodes comes on strong and very nearly clinches an unlikely win, only for the referee's three-count to finish after the limit has been reached, meaning that Austin stays champion.
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| The final slap of Blossom's assault |
Once again, Lady Blossom displays her willingness to get involved and attack any wrestler challenging for her man's title. For much of the match, she was happy to observe the action and pose to the cameras, but when needed she was happy to influence the referee and launch a vicious, sustained attack to Rhodes as he lay prone on the ropes. She was careful to wait for the referee's attention to be diverted before stepping in, displaying excellent awareness and skilfull valet intervention technique
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| The demure valet looks on approvingly as Rhodes is pummelled |
The only slight disappointment was the fact that the opera-gloves Lady Blossom wore prevented the valet from executing her favoured nail-rake attack. An ungloved Blossom would surely have taken the opportunity to claw the bloodied Rhodes' face, as he lay incapacitated on the ropes. However, her slap attack prevented Dustin from recovering quicker from Austin's assaults, leading to the time limit running out before Rhodes could pin the champion. Even the commentators acknowledge her value, accepting that her presence would make it unlikely for Austin to be beaten.
An excellent night's work then for the buxom valet - this is one Lady you don't want to mess with!
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