VS 189 (1989) 3 Discs

Coal Miners Glove Match: Top Gun vs. Abudadein (12/3/88)

Top Gun is still masked here and Tom Peterson demanded this match be televised of course. This match was all about climbing the pole to get the glove and both men were doing whatever they could to stop the other one from getting it. Gun got the glove but couldn't use it as he ate a clothesline from Abudadein and then we get got a battle for the glove but Gun would get it and he used it on Abudadein but Buddy Rose ran out and tried to use the glove on Gun but he failed and Gun got it back chasing Rose off. Fine for what it was but nothing special.

Steve Doll vs. Al Madril (12/3/88)

Madril was so good at being a sleazy scuzzy heel working Memphis style schtick to the tee and his running feud with Don Owen was great. Madril stalls and stooges like crazy on defense and then on offense used his Bic lighter to jab and burn Doll. Madril would throw Doll over the top rope without Sandy Barr looking and then went to work over his injured left hand. Doll would make a quick comeback though and they took the battle to the floor where Doll would come back in the ring playing king of the mountain keeping Madril on the floor until Madril got on the apron and choked Doll on the top rope for a DQ. Fun match because of Madril.

Next we get a promo from Top Gun talking about his upcoming hair match with Buddy Rose next week and he wants it to be a Coal Miners Glove match off TV.

Abudadein & Buddy Rose then come out with Abudadein talking about how Tatsumi Fujinami was the greatest Japanese wrestler ever....well he was telling the truth. Rose then says that the match next week will be the biggest match of his life and everyone wants him to lose and he was celebrating his 15th anniversary as a wrestler so he wasn't going to lose. Great promo and extra material.

Art Crews & "Playboy" Buddy Rose vs. The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll & Scott Peterson) (12/3/88)

Rose asks Don Owen who does he want to win next week and he won't answer on the grounds it may incriminate him...AWESOME....lots of schtick early on with both teams playing to the fans and Rose being awesome at stooging. The heels would finally get control working over Peterson but it didn't last long as the faces uses the mistakes of the heels to beat them to win the 1st fall but Don Owen said before the match this wasn't 2 out of 3 falls so I was confused. The 2nd fall didn't last long as the heels would get a quick win as Rose tucked under a cross body block by Peterson and pinned him. We would get a 3rd fall but TV time ran out before the finish.

Then we get more promos from Top Gun, The Southern Rockers, Abudadein, & Rose about the next week.

The next show starts up with Buddy Rose showing off the t-shirt that was sold for the show with a bald Buddy Rose on the back. Buddy also had a friend with him named Carl Styles who challenged Top Gun to a shot at his TV Title down the line. Styles cuts a full heel promo here which is fun considering what was coming soon.

Steve Doll vs. Abudadein (12/10/88)

Abudadein attacked Doll as soon as he got in the ring and took it to him but Doll recovered and sent Abudadein to the floor where he crashed down on him with a dive. Abudadein though would go on offense but Doll would get his knees up on a reverse splash from Abudadein off the middle rope. Doll was taking it to Abudadein when Matt Borne ran out for the DQ. Scott Peterson then ran out and the Rockers sent the heels packing. Doll then cuts a promo about what happened afterwards.

Next we get a promo from Top Gun & Tatsumi Fujinami who was the Northwest Heavyweight Champion at that time standing in the background. This was followed by Grappler & Carl Styles for a retort promo. Abudadein & Matt Borne would follow them for a promo on the Rockers.

Boot Camp Match: Col. DeBeers vs. "Golden Boy" Mike Golden (12/10/88)

Golden coming out to "Centerfield" by John Fogerty is hilarious. The object of this is to get the other one's flag and I've seen Boot Camp matches over the years and this was one of the worst ones. Nothing of note happened as these guys weren't very good. The highlight was DeBeers pushing Golden off the top rope to the floor. DeBeers grabbed the flag and Art Barr ran out trying to get it from him and he failed.

Art Barr then cut a promo talking about how he wanted the flag back and he wanted a flag match against DeBeers on Christmas night. The Rockers & Top Gun then followed for a promo on Abudadein, Borne, Rose, & Styles.

Northwest Heavyweight Title: Tatsumi Fujinami © vs. The Grappler (12/10/88)

FUJINAMI IN PORTLAND!!!!!!! and the fans cheer him but guess what.....we get promos from Abudadein, Borne, & Styles as the match is just starting about the next week then of course we never go back to the match as TV time runs out.

No DQ Match: Abudadein & Matt Borne vs. The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll & Scott Peterson) (12/31/88)

Abudadein & Borne were pretty fun here working over Doll using some good power moves and using the no DQ rules to their advantage as they threw Doll over the top to the floor then Borne used a chair on him. Doll was like a rag doll here taking all the punishment but he would get the hot tag to Peterson who ran wild hitting a big lariat off the top rope for the win. This was one of the better matches I've seen from this era but it was too one-sided for my taste to be a nomination.

Top Gun then cuts a promo with his newly won Northwest Heavyweight Title and his Northwest TV Title which would bring out Grappler who talks some shit until the Rockers come out pointing out that the Northwest Tag Titles haven't been defended in over a month and they wanted a title match next week. Grappler said no way.

Al Madril then comes out saying that he is going to take Top Gun's title and mask and he is going to stop the free kids shows. Abudadein & Grappler follow for promos about Gun & Rockers. Barry Owen then comes out and takes the belts from them saying they are vacant.

Col. DeBeers vs. "Golden Boy" Mike Golden (12/31/88)

Golden gets on the mic before the match and said that he is going to kick his ass. This was okay nothing special with DeBeers winning with an O'Connor Roll using the ropes for leverage.

Then we get promos from Top Gun & The Southern Rockers.

Art Barr & Top Gun vs. The Grappler & "Playboy" Buddy Rose (12/31/88)

Rose is wearing a mask because he had his head shaved the previous week. Man there a lot of quick tags here with some fast paced action until Sandy Barr got knocked down as Gun was going for Buddy's mask. Grappler then got sent to the floor by Barr while Sandy called for the DQ to end the 1st fall. Between falls we get promos from Abudadein, Grappler, Madril, & Styles. The 2nd fall would start up with more of the babyfaces taking it to the heels with lots of fun bumping by Rose. The match would run out of TV time though and we get no finish.

Next we get promos from Top Gun, the Rockers, & Art Barr who has a child with him then gets sprayed with champaigne by the heels then the babyfaces join and this is quite the way to end the year.

Decision Match for the vacant Northwest Tag Titles: The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll & Scott Peterson) vs. Abudadein & The Grappler (1/7/89)

This is a brawl at the bell and the heels grabbed the belts then walked off. Grappler gave Peterson a shoulderbreaker on the floor and they had to help him to the back so Doll said that he wanted the heels solo. Doll got his wish and he put it to the heels but the numbers game would catch up to him as the heels would take turns working him over. Doll tried fighting back but ate a vicious clothesline from Abudadein to end the first fall. The 2nd fall would see more of the same from the first fall as Doll was giving all he had trying to fight the heels until Peterson finally showed up with his shoulder in a sling. Peterson would come in the ring and fired off some offense but Grappler would send him back to the floor and he rammed him into the post shoulder first for a DQ to even the falls. We get a promo from Top Gun between falls. Doll came back to start the 3rd fall solo again and he fought valiantly before Peterson returned yet again to help Doll but the heels would work over his shoulder. RODDY PIPER shows up and sits front row at ringside trying to rally on the Rockers. Doll would dropkick a distracted Grappler over the top rope to the floor with Piper going nuts. Abudadein would then choke Doll before Piper threw his coke into Abudadein's face allowing Peterson to cradle him to win the titles. Then we get a promo from the Rockers & Piper afterwards. The match told a great story and you get some twists and turns as well as the Piper stuff and this match is a fairly easy nomination.

Then we get a Carl Styles promo which Grappler would crash saying that he didn't want to talk about arm-wrestling and he buried Abudadein then started slapping Styles around. Grappler then said that he was taking on Buddy Rose as his partner and he said they could beat any team in wrestling. Barry Owen then came out and said that he was booking them against Junkyard Dog & Ivan Koloff on the 1/12 NWA show where if Grappler lost he would unmask and Art Barr would be the referee.

Northwest Heavyweight Title: Top Gun © vs. Al Madril (1/7/89)

After some back and forth action, Madril would take over on Gun and had him reeling before Abudadein showed up at ringside just walking around. Sandy Barr would get distracted by this and it allowed Madril to get in some dirty tactics. Art Barr then showed up telling Abudadein to leave which he did in a weird spot. Don Coss would then interview Art Barr as the match went on and of course the cameras focused on the promo. They go back to the ring when Gun is making his comeback but Abudadein would show back up and Madril would use this to get back over on Gun. That didn't last long though as Gun would come firing back and he would finish off Madril with a cradle to retain his title. Fine for what it was.

Abudadein then cuts a promo on Piper before Top Gun shows up demanding that Gun put up both his belts next week which he agreed to.

Col. DeBeers vs. Art Barr (1/14/89)

Barr did a lot of fun rope climbing early in the match with DeBeers doing stuff that many guys at this time weren't doing. DeBeers tried to use his power advantage to get some shine on Barr but Barr was like a bulldog fighting back. DeBeers would grab Barr in the air and he hit his father by accident with his legs so there was no referee and neither guy didn't know what to do. Art would go to the floor to check on his dad followed up by Barry Owen who stopped the match giving it to DeBeers by countout.

Next we get a promo from Abudadein who starts ranting about his Middle Eastern brethren being blown up by American military forces. Carl Styles then came out and read a statement to Abudadein from Grappler saying that he was a pig and a coward and that Grappler was forcing him to face Abudadein next week. Abudadein accepted and said that if he lost he would leave town.

Then we get promos from Grappler, Buddy Rose, & Styles and this is the beginning of the Grappler coaching Styles angle. Grappler picks some dude with a great mullet out of the crowd to arm-wrestle Styles for $500 and some former arm-wrestler shows up to be the referee. Carl wins easily but Grappler said that Styles has more to learn so they are going to have a workout in the ring. They show him the basics and tell him that he is doing everything wrong. Styles would accidentally press slam Grappler which caused the fans go nuts and Grappler sold it like he had been shot. Grappler then slapped him in the face and kicked him out of the ring. Definite extra.

Abudadein then cuts another promo saying that he was the world's conscience before Styles & Barry Owen showed up for a contract signing which Abudadein bitched about but he did it anyway. Abudadein is really good here.

Top Gun then comes out reading a letter from a former soldier about Abudadein.

Next we get clips of the Southern Rockers beating the Russian Assassins on the joint NWA/PNW show from 1/12.

The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll & Scott Peterson) vs. Col. DeBeers & Al Madril (1/14/89)

Art Barr is now the referee since his dad was injured earlier. Peterson's shoulder was still taped so he was easy picking for the heels and they definitely focused on it. They also used Art's lack of experience as a referee to sneak around and break the rules. Doll would eventually get the hot tag and he ran wild before he would leapfrog DeBeers right into a Thesz Press on Madril to win the match. After the match, Grappler & Rose challenge the Rockers to a title match for next week which of course turns into a brawl where they choke Doll in the ropes until Top Gun makes the save. Fun little TV match.

Grappler & Rose would steal the belts and celebrated with Don Coss afterwards in the Crow's Nest before Barry Owen showed up demanding the belts back followed by an angry Scott Peterson.

Northwest TV Title: Top Gun © vs. Abudadein (1/14/89)

Gun attacked Abudadein at the bell and he was just beating the piss out of him but Abudadein would catch him with a shot of his own out of nowhere and this was nothing but a fight. Abudadein would then hit a crappy swinging neckbreaker and Art Barr made the count to end the match and Abudadein was the new champ. The finish came out of nowhere and Don Coss was even surprised.

Grappler & Rose come back out with the belts for a promo when Scott Peterson jumped both of them. Grappler & Rose then grbabed chairs and threatened Peterson until Roddy Piper showed up and took the chairs out of their hands. Piper then said that he would be with the Rockers next Saturday. Fun stuff.

Northwest Heavyweight Title: Top Gun © vs. Abudadein (1/14/89)

Well here we go again with these guys and Abudadein attacks Gun as soon as he gets in the ring. Gun came firing back and would hit his piledriver to retain his title in short order.

Scott Peterson would then drag up a bunch of screaming girls to support him while he cut a promo on Grappler & Rose.

Top Gun vs. Al Madril (1/21/89)

Madril was all about working his schtick and nerve holds here which was effective. Gun though would hit a big diving body press off the top rope to win the match.

Buddy Rose is in the ring next talking about Bush being inagurated as the new president and that he was going to do the Rose Garden in the ring with DeBeers standing guard in the ring. Rose then rips on the fans for calling him fat and has 60 pounds of fat with him in the ring which he said that he lost that much weight. Rose then takes off his shorts showing his underwear and he shows off his physique then starts making his pecs dance. Rose then brings a female fan in the ring to hold his feet so he can do 10 situps. Then he brings in some random guy to do pushups against him and the guy fails which is hilarious. This is a great segment and a slam dunk extra.

Next we get Top Gun for a promo and Grappler comes out with it ending up with Grappler challenging Gun for a Northwest Heavyweight Title match next week.

Abudadein vs. Carl Styles (1/21/89)

The fans are starting to cheer for Styles and working guys like Abudadein would help that cause. Nothing fancy here as these guys just threw strikes or worked restholds mainly. Sandy Barr would get hurt again and Abudadein would get brass knux and used them on Styles but it had no effect on him. Styles then took the knux and used them on Abudadein which was seen by Sandy Barr who called for the DQ.

Grappler then grabs Abudadein at the Crow's Nest and said that Styles screwed up and Abudadein could've been gone so next week they would have a rematch where if Styles lost he would be gone. Art Barr then tried to take up for Styles and Grappler made Styles put him in the Full-Nelson before Piper showed up and told Styles to let him go. Piper then told Grappler that he was getting of his crap with Grappler calling him a has been. This all leads up to Grappler challenging Piper to work out with him & Styles with Piper wanting him to take his mask off for the session. Piper then said that he would take the mask off himself and Grappler pushed him around. This was a great segment and a slam dunk extra.

Then we get a video for The Southern Rockers to "Winner Takes It All" by Sammy Hagar and this is a definite extra.

Northwest Tag Titles: The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll & Scott Peterson) © vs. The Grappler & "Playboy" Buddy Rose (1/21/89)

The heels really key on Doll's back early on until he could get the hot tag to Peterson who runs wild. Styles comes to ringside and Grappler wants him to throw some brass knux to him but he throws them to Sandy Barr instead who calls for the DQ. Hilarious finish.

Art Barr then comes out and says that he would stand by Piper when he needed him which Piper would come out and he said that he needed to give Barr a makeover because he was too plain. Piper then tells him to take all of his gear off including what was under it and Piper was hilarious here. Piper then tells Barr to put the pants on he gave him, then he puts some paint under his eyes and some foam on his hair. Piper then gives him a jacket throws powder on his hair and this is the beginning of Beetlejuice. Slam dunk extra if there ever was one.

Col. DeBeers vs. "Golden Boy" Mike Golden (1/21/89)

These two again.......but DeBeers wins in very short order.

Grappler, DeBeers, & Rose then cut promos next about next week. Beetlejuice would then attack DeBeers in his new gimmick and he takes it to him until Rose pulls him away.

The Southern Rockers join Don Coss next to celebrate getting their belts back until Grappler & Styles come out to whine some more.

Don Coss starts the next show bringing out the returning "Gorgeous" Joey Jackson who doesn't say much.

Jonathan Boyd vs. Rex King (1/28/89)

This is JIP with Mike Golden coming out to save King from a beatdown. Funny seeing Boyd & Golden together again after they were part of The Wild Bunch in Continental and the best part is they pretend to not know who they were. They then agree to wrestle next week.

Beetlejuice vs. Al Madril (1/28/89)

How fitting that Madril was Beetlejuice's first opponent and Madril ripping Don Owen was great. Beet would sneak from behind and dropkick Madril which pissed him off. Beet would use the pole to fly around and started doing the schtick that would make his gimmick so big. Madril then would throw a fucking fireball and it hit Sandy Barr. This was a wild segment and extra material.

Carl Styles would join Don Coss next for a promo and Coss gave him a gift from his fans which was a stuffed animal.

Northwest Heavyweight Title: Top Gun © vs. The Grappler (1/28/89)

Rex King is now the referee since Sandy Barr was injured and Johnny Eagles is on commentary for this which is cool. After some decent back and forth action, Top Gun would hit his piledriver early but Grappler would kick out and scrammed to the floor to recover. Grappler would soon take control and even broke out his version of a Garvin Stomp which was interesting. Gun would make a comeback and hit a cross body block off the top rope but Jonathan Boyd would run out ringing the bell which distracted Gun so Grappler could schoolboy him to win the title. Fine match with a cute finish.

Next we get the Rose Garden with Buddy Rose getting flowers from his female fan and he asked her if should would build him a Rose Garden which she agreed to. Rose then brings up the Grappler who is very happy to be the new champion. Carl Styles showed up thinking Grappler might need some help but he got slapped in the face for his trouble. Top Gun would then show up and they congratulated on him losing the title. Gun is pissed and challenged Grappler to a mask match next week and after some baiting by Rose and the fans he accepts the match then gets slapped by Gun. Extra material.

Loser Leaves Town Match for the Northwest TV Title: Abudadein © vs. Carl Styles (1/28/89)

Abudadein was really busting his ass here throwing a sweet German Suplex and just taking it to Styles throughout the whole match. Styles though would lock on the Full-Nelson out of nowhere and won the match and the title. Grappler then berates Styles more in the Crow's Nest and told him he hoped he would've lost the match to Abudadein. Steve Doll & Top Gun then show up and Don Owen tells Grappler that the mask match next week would be inside of a steel cage which pissed off Grappler.

Northwest Tag Titles: The Southern Rockers (Steve Doll & Scott Peterson) © vs. Col. DeBeers & "Playboy" Buddy Rose (1/28/89)

This was really fun to start as the heels did a good of bumping and selling everything which was no shock with these guys. Peterson though would get isolated in the heels corner and they would use their experience as a team to take control of him. Doll would get the tag though and came in a house of fire before he would get caught by the heels. DeBeers would hit Doll with the Calf Branding on Rose would cover to win the titles. Rockers then cut an disheartened promo afterwards and they wanted a rematch with the heels joining them singing "We Are The Champions" and then said that they would give them a non-title match next week. This match could've been really good if it had more time but everything was rushed here.

"Golden Boy" Mike Golden vs. "Gorgeous" Joey Jackson (1/28/89)

This is like watching a mirror image facing off....props to Don Owen for booking this. Al Madril then comes out for a promo during the match talking about burning Sandy Barr which brings out an angry Beetlejuice who runs Madril off. Top Gun then cuts a promo saying that he was taking Grappler's mask next week.

The next show starts with Don Coss interviewing Beetlejuice who is starting to grow into his gimmick and he strikes a match threatening Madril. Beetlejuice then debuts his friend Crowbar the mouse putting him on Don Coss' head.