JCP April-December 1980

There are some VQ issues at times on here.

This starts with Blackjack Mulligan narrating over clips of him getting beaten down by the Masked Superstars where they try to break his claw hand.

NWA World TV Title Tournament - Finals: Masked Superstar vs. Blackjack Mulligan (4/1/80)

Mulligan attacks Superstar as he gets in the ring but Superstar would get the advantage working over the claw hand as Superstar #2 (Big John Studd) watches from ringside. Superstar then methodically picks Mulligan apart a bit before BJ makes his comeback and throws Superstar over the top rope for the DQ then throws Tommy Young over the top for good measure. BJ then goes for the mask but Superstar #2 would jump him and it's 2-on-1 until Flair runs out with a walking cane sending the heels running. Superstar then cuts an angry promo afterwards holding his belt & trophy.

Next we get clips of a Snuka/Flair match with Gene Anderson doing the narration while Snuka is wearing one of Flair's robes with Iron Sheik gloating as well. Gene said that they are holding the robe for ransom to get a US Title shot while David Crockett's jacket is amazing.

Then we get a promo from Enforcer Luciano who was one of the worst wrestlers ever but he had a great look. He was a gangster wearing an eye patch. Luciano wants to prove how hard his hands are and he punches through some cinder blocks then he eats light bulbs to show how tough he was. This is hilarious and extra material. (July 1980)

Next we get a Flair/Steamboat match from the studio where Flair puts up the US Title against him. This is from 1978 and a legendary angle as this is where Flair rubs Steamer's face on the concrete floor to destroy his good looks. Steamboat would get revenge later on where he would strip Flair to his underwear in a segment where Flair has two women with him which one of those women would become Steamer's wife Bonnie.

Then we get an amazing promo from Flair who has a broken nose as he narrates clips of his match where he teamed with Greg Valentine against Iron Sheik & Jimmy Snuka from 6/8/80 where Valentine had begged Flair to be his partner reforming their old team and when he took him on he turned on him during the match where the 3 heels destroyed Flair's nose. Like I said Flair is amazing here as a babyface saying "Look at me...they are making fun of me" and this is a slam dunk extra.

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair & "King Kong" Angelo Mosca vs. Hussein Arab & Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (9/6/80)

Lots of hatred here on all sides but there were some VQ issues here that hurts the enjoyment of the match. Mosca works FIP early on and the heels pound on him before Flair comes in like a house of fire taking it to both heels. The heels would catch Flair though and Valentine would bust him open but Flair would fight back valiantly after a strong FIP section to get the hot tag to Mosca. Flair & Mosca would both then come back in separately and had momentum but the heels would stop them in their tracks. Flair though would get a desperation backslide on Valentine to get the win which came out of nowhere. Flair was a fucking bloody mess here and while this was a pretty good match I think the VQ issues hamper it's candidacy as a nomination.

Next we get Greg Valentine out in a tuxedo gloating about beating Ric Flair for the US Title with two women by his side. Flair then comes out and of course strips Valentine down to his underwear finally getting to do it to somebody else for a change. Bobby Duncum runs out and bashes Flair over the back of the head with a steel chair before the other faces run out to help. Definite extra. (7/30/80)

Then we get clips of Valentine beating Flair for the US Title on 7/26/80 with Valentine narrating.

Next we get clips of a Race/Steamer match for the NWA Title from July 1980 with Steamer narrating.

Then we get clips of a Texas Street Fight between Mulligan & Luciano from August 1980 with Mulligan narrating talking about running Luciano out of town.

NWA World Tag Titles: "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka & Ray "The Crippler" Stevens © vs. Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood (8/27/80)

A very rare title match on TV and these guys are on fire here especially Snuka & Steamer. Stevens & Youngblood aren't loafing around either as they are working at a fast pace as well with the crowd loving every minute of this match. Both teams trade the advantage throughout here so you don't get any long sections and the match is really flowing. Steamboat & Youngblood hit their double team slam on Stevens for a nearfall before Snuka breaks it up then Stevens fires back with a kneebreaker. Snuka then jumps off the top rope on Youngblood's knee with Youngblood selling like he got shot with a gun. Steamer comes in and referee Stu Schwartz calls for the bell as Youngblood is too injured. The selling of this injury was very well done and the match itself was pretty damn good so I'm pushing this forward as a nomination. One of the better TV matches from JCP in this era.

Brass Knuckles Match: Blackjack Mulligan vs. Bobby Duncum (November 1980)

These dudes are just beating the shit out of each other with some great punches before Jim Crockett comes out to announce he was taking it off of TV because of the violence. This was to set up the house show matches where you could only see this type of action.

US Heavyweight Title: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair © vs. Greg "The Hammer" Valentine (12/23/80) Good hard hitting action here with Valentine dictating the pace using his hard strikes but Flair comes back with his own. Valentine would control Flair using a grounded headlock mainly before Flair comes back getting a suplex but Valentine would counter a figure-four kicking Flair to the ropes where he would schoolboy him using the ropes to get the pin. The booker George Scott would come out and told Tommy Young what happened so he restarted the match with Flair locking in an inside cradle to get the pin. Roddy Piper comes out and he is pissed off at Scott saying that this wasn't right then decks him. The heels destroy the faces especially Scott until Steamer runs them off. Jim Crockett Jr. would come out afterwards and suspended Piper & Valentine. This wasn't a real long match but still a good one nonetheless plus you have the very hot post match angle and this moves forward as a nomination.