Glass Hand Dissolving: Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas

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vs Brian Pillman & Steve Austin (10/25/1992)

This is the marquee matchup for Steamboat and Douglas. They get some time and have a fairly decent match. Steamboat gets a segment in control, then Douglas, then Steamboat takes a beating, then Douglas takes a beating. Things get a bit lawless, and in the chaos, Pillman throws Douglas over the top rope, and the Hollywood Blondes get DQ'd. I think this is actually a bit disappointing. They get plenty of time, and they don't do anything of note, and the finish doesn't do them any favors. 

vs Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton (11/7/1992)

Steamboat starts this off, but unlike a lot of the other matches of this team, this isn't about Steamboat selling for big portions of the bout, nor is it about Steamboat having to essentially save Douglas. Things are pretty back and forth. Steamboat does take a bit of a beating toward the end, and Shane is able to get a hot tag and clean house. Brian Pillman hits the ring as it looks like Douglas has Eaton beat, and this ends in a DQ. This was perfectly fine, nothing really stood out to me, but it wasn't bad. 

vs Barbarian & Tony Atlas (11/22/1992)

This is all about Steamboat selling for Barbarian and Atlas. They very effectively isolate The Dragon and Douglas doesn't see the ring after tagging out after the opening sequence of the match. I don't think Atlas or Barbarian look all that great in doing so, and I don't think the crowd really is at a fever pitch to support Steamboat, so it is lacking there, but there's nothing wrong with this match. Steamboat eventually tags Douglas, but the ref doesn't see it. Douglas comes in anyway and distracts the other team enough to distract them from Steamboat climbing the top rope. Steamboat gets the pin with a crossbody. 

vs Barry Windham & Bobby Eaton (12/19/1992)

Eaton and Windham hit the ring, and it's a lawless brawl. When things finally get under control, its Steamboat and Windham in the ring. After a bit, we go to a commercial, and when we come back, things have broken down again. Windham and Eaton are able to isolate Douglas for a bit, but Shane gets a tag, and Steamboat comes in and cleans house. Things break down again, and in the melee, Steamboat hits a crossbody on Eaton for the win. This is short, but it is heated. It's the same format where Steamboat saves Douglas, but it is a decent structure. 

 vs Tex Slazenger & Shanghai Pierce (4/10/1993)

Tex and Shanghai attack Steamboat before the bell and go after Douglas early. Steamboat isn't totally out of commission and returns to the ring to even up the score. From there, Steamboat takes over, and Tex and Shanghai only occasionally get above water. Douglas comes in and holds his own, but the dynamic here is about Steamboat fighting these guys off because Douglas couldn't handle them. This is a perfectly fine, short TV match. 

Verdict

So, I realize that none of these matches are the top end of this team, and I actually like those top-end matches, but I don't love any of these matches, and actually think that the team dynamic here is detrimental to the team. Steamboat is either saving Douglas from a beating or Douglas is getting beaten down until Steamboat tags in. It really seems like Steamboat is dragging an anchor around in these matches, and I'm not saying Shane Douglas is some all-timer, but he certainly was capable of carrying more of a load in this team. 

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