This is one of Nikita's best matches ever. Murdoch was sensational here. He opens the match working the neck. This had a real edge to it. Nikita reverses it and does some nice revenge spots. Murdoch is now working the arm. This was well executed too. Nikita is pretty good selling here. He'd get some hope spots here and there. Murdoch is back to the neck again. This of course makes sense since it's setting up Murdoch's finisher the brain buster. We're heading into the finish and now we have Dusty and Windham out as well as the MX. This really cranks the drama up. It looks like Nikita gave Dick a bloody nose. Murdoch hits the Brainbuster, but it's too late time has expired. Afterwards we get a real heated postmatch.

NWA World TV Title: "Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff © vs. "Capt. Redneck" Dick Murdoch (1/3/88)

This is from Baltimore and a pretty cool looking matchup. Murdoch is dominant here from the start as he works over Nikita's neck which was injured the year before and Nikita fights hard trying to subdue Murdoch succeeding for a short time but Dick just keeps on coming. Murdoch is relentless at working over Nikita with Nikita doing a really good job of selling the punishment while getting in whatever hope spots he could get in. Whenever Nikita was on offense Murdoch was fantastic getting it over as the Baltimore fans was crazy for Nikita. Nikita would accidentally hit Dick Woehrle with a Russian Sickle allowing Corny to run in with a tennis racket to nail Nikita. The MX would come out now as Earl Hebner would take over as the referee then Dusty & Windham would come out to even the odds and the fans are even more hot. Murdoch keeps trying to put away Nikita but he won't quit even after a big Oklahoma Stampede which looked like the end. They were totally telegraping the draw but the fans didn't care and were heavily into everything as Murdoch is now bleeding from his nose. Dick hits a big piledriver on Nikita who barely kicks out then follows up with a brainbuster right as the bell rings. This had great drama and then the post-match was hot as the MX would attack Dusty before Murdoch tried to break Dusty's arm like he did Doc but Windham would make the save with the tennis racket. This was clipped up some but a tremendous segment and worth a nomination no doubt.