World Championship Wrestling 12/23/89

Gordon Solie is working with Jim Ross on the next two shows that are taped in Greensboro.

The Midnight Express ("Beautiful" Bobby Eaton & "Sweet" Stan Lane) vs. The Fantastics (Bobby & Jackie Fulton) (12/10/89)

Cornette's racquet of course has Santa Claus on it and the fans still want to cheer the MX. This is fight at the bell as both teams go at it with the Fants sending the MX to the floor. The action comes back in the ring and the Fants are still dominant on offense the thing is the fans aren't really taking to these Fantastics like they did the old ones. Eaton fucking jacks Bobby's jaw with a right hand but Fulton would lock on the Octopus hold until Lane nailed him with a clothesline. The MX now are in full control working over Bobby before he finally gets the tag to Jackie who comes in blazing starting a 4-way brawl. Lane backdrops Bobby over the top rope and then Jackie eats a double goozle to end the match. This was a pretty fun all-action sprint and I'm throwing it up as a low-end nomination.

Next we get a taped promo from Luger talking about his match with Sting later in the show and how this is one of the biggest matches ever with lots of backstory. Luger said that he & Sting are the two best athletes in wrestling today.

The Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Ole & Arn Anderson) vs. The State Patrol (Buddy Lee Parker & James Earl Wright) (12/10/89)

I loved Arn's demeanor as he comes to the ring like it's a reunion and he gets on the apron giving the crowd a standing ovation which was great. The Crew look great especially Arn who was obviously jacked to be back home and Arn dropped Parker with the Gourdbuster. Flair then joins them for a promo after the match talking about how the Four Horsemen are back in town and Ole said that they are bringing wrestling back their way. Arn then talked about how everyone asked why he left and he said that he called Flair to say he wanted to come back home for good. Extra material.

Doom (Butch Reed & Ron Simmons) vs. Paul Drake & Rick Ryder (12/10/89)

Woman can't come out to Her Strut anymore so they come out to Great Balls of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis which is hilarious. Butch Reed is highly pissed about this music playing and Doom makes these guys pay for that mistake. Norman comes to ringside looking for Woman but she isn't there which is hilarious because Ross was acting like on commentary that she was there.

Tommy "Wildfire" Rich vs. "Captain" Mike Rotundo (12/10/89)

This starts where the last match left off with both men trading shots in some good back and forth action but Rotundo drops to the floor trying to keep Rich from getting some extended offense. Kendall Windham comes out again during the match and is scouting both men. Rich gets sent to the floor hard by Rotundo who goes down with him giving him an atomic drop giving him the advantage. Once back in the ring though, Rich has Rotundo reeling with nearfalls before they go back to the floor again for a double countout. Fun for what it was.

The Dynamic Dudes join Ross next for a promo about their issues with the MX and Douglas said that if they wanted the $10,000 then Cornette would sign to face one of them in a match.

Kendall Windham vs. Lee Scott (12/10/89)

Kendall just pounds on poor Scott before dropping him hard with the Bulldog.

The Terminator vs. Agent Steel (12/10/89)

Here is Marc Laurinidas back in his Terminator gimmick just with a different look and he looks like an American version of Hiroyoshi Tenzan from 2000. Terminator looks impressive.

Ross interviews Tommy Rich next about his match with Rotundo and he said that on the Main Event tomorrow night he will get Rotundo in a lumberjack match.

Ross talks to Cornette and the MX next about the Dudes contract from earlier for an anything goes match. Cornette said that the Dudes are stupid and Ross asked him if he wanted to read it which he said that he didn't. Ross then tells Cornette that the contract says Shane Douglas vs. Jim Cornette in an anything goes match. Fun angle and extra material.

"Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert & Ranger Ross vs. The Galaxians (Danny Davis & Ken Wayne) (12/10/89)

Fun watching Gilbert work against his old buddies Davis & Wayne again who were really fun here working Southern heel stooge schtick. They get some offense in as well and Ross/Solie both put them over as a tough team. I really dug how this match was worked as it was a true Memphis style tag match which was rare to see on NWA TV. Gilbert would get the Hot Shot one of them to win it as Ross tripped the other one. Again I really liked this and what the hell I'll throw it up on the block as a low-end pick.

US Heavyweight Title: "Total Package" Lex Luger © vs. Sting (12/10/89)

The fans really get under Luger's craw early on and that allows Sting to take advantage of that to get his offense in. Both men would make some mistakes early as well to let the other one shine but Luger again came on the short end most of the time. The battle went in and out of the ring as Sting bashed Luger on the railings a couple of times before taking it back to the ring. The way this match was worked was like a lot of World Class singles matches featuring the Von Erich's as it was give and take both men clubbing on each other. Sting hits a big cross body block off the top rope for a nearfall and then went for another one but Luger caught him and crotched him on the top rope then clotheslined to the floor. Luger now throws Sting into the railing on the floor and now he is in full control. Luger would press Sting in the air but Sting caught him in the eye causing an awkward landing where Sting went on his back and Luger's knee turning but no one got hurt. Sting would then throw Luger down and he started pounding on him and Luger is in trouble. Luger then grabs a steel chair trying to use it on Sting but he misses and Sting gets a schoolboy for a nearfall. Luger then grabbed the chair as Sting went for the Stinger Splash and Sting hit it for the DQ. Flair then runs out and he fires away on Luger then J-Tex runs out assaulting Flair as Luger has Sting which brings out the Andersons to even the odds. This is a wild brawl and extra material.

Brian Pillman & The Z-Man then cut a taped promo talking about how they are forming a tag team and they are coming after The Freebirds.

The New Zealand Militia (Rip Morgan & Jack Victory) vs. Sean Regal & Mike Thor (12/10/89)

Another strong win for the Militia as Lord Littlebrook has guys on a roll.

Flyin Brian Pillman & The Z-Man vs. Ned Brady & Bob Cook (12/10/89)

Pillman & Z-Man's first match on TBS as a tag team and they show that they are are on their way to being a strong team. The Birds come out after the match and they brawl with the faces to close the show with Ross saying that we will see this match next week.