Posted October 23, 201410 yr comment_5634974 This starts with clips of Gilbert/Rich vs. Cuban Assassin/Ron Simmons from 8/15/89. Next we get Rick Steiner's first date with Robin Green and it starts with Jim Ross trying to coach him on how to act. This is when Robin Green turns into Woman. Definite extra. Dick Slater makes his return to the NWA with Gary Hart demanding that Sting face him. (8/16/89) Brad Armstrong vs. Cuban Assassin (8/16/89) During this match, Ross & Corny run down the upcoming shows and they mention New Haven, Connecticut with Ross saying that the real "Titans of Wrestling" will be there which is great. Decent TV match which was a showcase for Brad. Then we get the Danger Zone with Iron Sheik & Ron Simmons where they talk about their partnership. Sheiky calling Paul E. an "Intelligent Jew" is always great. Flair is out next with Ross talking about the upcoming Clash and how he signed with Ted Turner for nights like that. Next we get Funk's Grill with The Road Warriors who trade barbs with Funk. Decision Match for the vacant NWA World TV Title: Sting vs. The Great Muta (8/22/89) Sting has Muta reeling early getting numerous nearfalls on him which brings out Terry Funk to get in Sting's head which works as Sting gets distracted as Funk leaves the area allowing Muta to sneak attack him. Muta then throws Sting to the floor where both he & Gary Hart get their shots in on Sting as Nick Patrick can't keep control. Sting though would fight back and he would throw Muta to the floor where he dropped him neck first on the railing numerous times. Sting brings it back in the ring where he tries to finish off Muta but Muta doesn't go down easy and Sting tried to finish him off on the apron with a running elbow smash but hit all ringpost in a crazy looking spot. Sting though fought back and even tried a Hot Shot with Muta but hit Nick Patrick instead who bumped to the floor. Sting would then hit the Stinger Splash and got the Scorpion Deathlock but Hart would hit Sting with something in his hand although Muta couldn't finish the job as Sting kicked out. Muta would then miss a Moonsault and Sting would come back with another Stinger Splash as the crowd goes apeshit. Sting then punches Muta in the corner before Hart would throw Sting off to the floor prompting a DQ finish. Sure the finish sucked but this was a damn good match and I'm passing it on as a nomination. Then we get another Funk/Hart promo about Flair/Sting with Funk singing the old hymn One Day At A Time. Rick & Scott Steiner vs. The State Patrol (Buddy Lee Parker & James Earl Wright) (8/15/89) This is the debut of Robin Green in her Woman attire and the males in the crowd go nuts with Ross ogling hard on commentary. This is the debut of the State Patrol on World Wide and a legendary team is born. NWA World Heavyweight Title: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair © vs. Brad Armstrong (8/15/89) So this one night in Cleveland, Brad Armstrong received shots at both the World & US Heavyweight Titles....not many men ever did that if ever. Brad was always one of Flair's favorites to work with and with Flair booking it made sense for him to spotlight him a little on TV. The action here was so good as both men were going back and forth with wrestling holds and working in some high impact moves as well. Flair hit a chop on Brad that was one of the best he ever threw but Brad came back up firing away with a clothesline. Every time Ric thought he had him Brad would come back but Flair countered a hip toss with a cradle and won the match then shook hands and hugged Brad afterwards. This was on the short side but such a good performance from Flair with Brad holding his own and I'll push this as a low-end pick. The Skyscrapers (Dangerous Danny Spivey & Sid Vicious) vs. The Ding Dongs (8/15/89) Boy do the fans hate the Ding Dongs....and this is the official murder of the gimmick as the Skyscrapers DESTROY these guys then unmask them revealing Greg Evans & Richard Sartain. Flair is now head booker and he gets rid of this ridiculous gimmick. This is a slam dunk extra. Next we get a promo from Tommy Rich about coming for Luger and the US Title. Then we get clips of J-Tex jumping Sting at Center Stage after the Sting/Slater match on 8/16/89 and this is where Flair & Pillman come out trying to save Sting ending up with Flair stealing the branding iron and "breaking" Slater's arm. Definite extra. Next we get a promo from Pillman & Sting saying that the have combined forces to end J-Tex. Tommy "Wildfire" Rich vs. Ron Simmons (8/22/89) The best part about the early part of this match was Rich going to the floor and raising the hand of some old woman after hugging here then Simmons comes down to her asking her to hug him and she shook her head no way. Simmons works this like a classic Memphis heel would stalling on the floor as well as hemming and hawwing so Rich was in his wheelhouse on offense. The action here is pretty good and Simmons looks as good here as I've seen him at this stage of his career. Simmons would work a bearhug leading to a early version of the Sidewalk Slam but would miss a legdrop off the top rope allowing Rich to come back to work over the left arm. Simmons though would fire back with a fierce clothesline and this turns into a back and forth slugfest with both men getting some big shots in on each other. This was now becoming a pretty damn good match as both men gave as good as they got and you think this might go to a draw but Tommy would get a cradle on Simmons out of the corner to get the win. I really dug this match a lot and fuck I'll push this forward as a fairly easy nomination. Then we get WNN with Solie. "Total Package" Lex Luger vs. Ranger Ross (8/22/89) Ross gives Luger fits early which pisses Lex off and he works angry here rubbing Ross' face in the mat and on the ropes then just shoves him down like nothing. There is a really awkward spot where Luger was on the middle ropes and tried to jump off but fell down prompting the crowd to laugh at him and Ross would take over having Luger reeling before eating a big clothesline to finish the match. Ross was treated almost like a jobber here. Next we get Funk's Grill with Gary Hart & Dick Slater as the guests talking about Flair/Sting. The Road Warriors (Animal & Hawk) and Rick & Scott Steiner vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy "Jam" Garvin & Michael "PS" Hayes) & The Samoan Swat Team (Fatu & Samu) (8/28/89) This has 2 referees in Nick Patrick & Tommy Young which is interesting. Missy wanted Robin Green to leave with her but she changed her mind and came back to the ring. Lots of clotheslines from the babyfaces and lots of bumping from the heels early on in this match and that is a scary babyface team to meet in a dark alley. Scott would work FIP here after the faces dominated the early portion of the match and all of the heels took their turn pounding on Scott. Rick would get the hot tag and he ran wild with Steinerlines and suplexes before the match would break down into a wild brawl. Hayes would try to DDT Rick but Scott came off the top with a sunset flip to get the win as the crowd went nuts. This was more fun than good...so not a nomination. Ranger Ross vs. Wild Bill Irwin (8/29/89) Wahoo McDaniel is on commentary with Ross here and we get no finish to the match. Then we get a promo from Teddy & Skyscrapers about the Clash.
