February 1986

HANDHELD FOOTAGE ***SPOILER*** NWA US Champion Magnum TA fought Nikita Koloff to a double count-out at the 13-minute mark when both men began brawling on the floor; after the match, it was announced NWA National Heavyweight Champion Dusty Rhodes would challenge NWA World Champion Ric Flair March 9

The Midnight Express defend the NWA World Tag Team Titles

We are truly blessed that, nearly 35 years down the line, we can go back and watch Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson wrestle on TV just about every week. Crockett was next level in '86. This was only about eight minutes but it was a ridiculously fun Tully performance, which was pretty much his average around this point. You knew 2002 Tim Duncan was giving you 25 and 12 on a nightly basis. It was an inevitability and at a certain point became an accepted part of our lived existence. Death, taxed and Timmy Duncan. That's basically Tully in 1986 (with none of the geniality or respectable disposition). Mike Jackson is always rock solid - the late-career Timmy Duncan of enhanc…

Taped on 2/17/86, aired on World Wide Wrestling 2/22/86 JCP Fayetteville NC TV taping: Ron Garvin & National Heavyweight Champion Dusty Rhodes (w/ Baby Doll) defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair & NWA TV Champion Arn Anderson when Rhodes pinned Flair after Garvin punched Flair in the face behind the referee's back

AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Sgt Slaughter - AWA 2/23/86 Slaughter's hair was really Bozo-ing out, dude, needs to get that in check. Alright, here we go Stan the Man, this is more what I was expecting. A really nice brawl for the AWA World Championship in front of a packed house. Hansen and Slaughter fight on the floor. Slaughter gets the best of it. Hansen feeds and bumps for Slaughter well. In AWA at least, Hansen is controlling more on the mat than I remember from his work in Japan. Hansen bounces Slaughter's head off the turnbuckle. On second attempt Slaughter blocks and retaliates, but Hansen goes after leg. Hansen goes a really good job groundin…

National Heavyweight Champion Dusty Rhodes vs Arn Anderson - JCP 2/23/86 Steel Cage Death Match Again this is filmed for Japanese TV and thus I was super confused what the rules were. Dusty takes the first fall at the end of the shine which totally caught me off guard. Then the match continued and I was like Oh it must 2 out of 3 falls. Then Dusty won 2-1 but the match kept going, I was like what the fuck. Then I was like maybe it is Death Match Rules but the ref has not been counting then Dusty Walloped him with Cowboy boot and got up before ten and the match was called. So I am pretty sure this is contested under Death Match rules. I thought the beginning of …

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Magnum TA - JCP 2/23/1986 This was taped for Japanese TV, other than that I dont have any info on it besides the date. In my opinion, Magnum TA is the ultimate broomstick for Ric Flair. That sounds mean but let me explain. The Ric Flair match, if you are a fan and I am, will stand out based on what unique wrinkles or twists the opponent can provide. For instance, Ronnie Garvin or Wahoo McDaniel will turn the match into a fire fight, very physical and kick ass. Lex Luger or Kerry Von Erich will turn it into a power match. Ricky Steamboat or Barry Windham will turn it into a cardio, workrate match. Hulk Hogan or Dusty …

I'm a sucker for the manager in the shark cage above the ring. It never fails to dissapoint, and helps the box office. Jake/Slater might be my favorite Jake feud. We see Jake target the arm. I like how Jake gets the gimmick over and keeps Journey relevant in the match. We see Jake using the post to soften up the arm. I'm a mark for limb work so this is heaven for me. Loving how Jake keeps going back to the arm. Slater with an eye rake, and he returns the favor and works Jake's arm. Slater wearing out Jake's arm with a chair. Crowd is totally with Jake. Jake is incredible selling that arm. We see Jake's boot come into play. Journey tosses a chain to Slater, but Jake …

This is in a cage and is under Texas Tornado rules. This was a total fight. Both teams bleed in a fun spirited brawl. We start with a good heat segment by the Fabs. Just beating on the Guerreros. They finally make a comeback. Which gets cut off by the Fabs. We get a little misdirection which results with the Guerreros delivering a Spike Pile Driver. I enjoyed this a good bit. 3 1/2*