The Fantastics vs. Dr. Death Steve Williams & Kevin Sullivan - Kevin Sullivan from Singapore? WTF? I really hate the way the NWA used Doc when he was in the Varsity Club. The man who dominated Mid South/UWf in its end days is on the bottom of the totem pole. Tommy Rogers plays face in peril and I enjoy watching Rogers much more than Fulton at this point. I love how Doc and even Sullivan would use amateur takedowns and tackles to keep Rogers from making the pin. Still, I kind of understand where Phil was coming from when he was talking about the Fans being robotic at points and I think this is one of those matches. I won't vote for this.

 

Midnight Express vs. Original Midnight Express - Man, they started off hot in this one. When Cornette popped Condrey with the racket, you get the feeling there was some extra swing to it. I also loved the Irish whip on Condrey sending his ass directly into Rose's face. A neat spot I haven't seen before. I wish they would have built up to Condrey-Eaton a little bit more and the announcers really downplayed the relationship of the two, just mentioning it casually. Still, when Condrey and Eaton were in there together, everythin just clicked. It made me wish that they had a singles feud without the other players involved. Still, it was nice to see Condrey do most of the work in tis match and it really made a difference. This is a nomination.

 

Varsity Club Interview

 

Junkyard Dog & Ivan Koloff vs. Russian Assassins - No

 

Mike Rotundo vs. Rick Steiner - Man, this was just a magical wrestling moment where Rick Steiner comes of age. It also helps that the crowd was smoking for this, especially the end. Some parts were a little slow but Rotundo has great facial expressions and Steiner was on top of his game. Nomination.

 

Barry Windham vs. Bam Bam Bigelow - This is much more like it for a Windham match. Barry was bouncing around like a pinball for Bam Bam's offense. I loved the Bigelow gutbuster but compared to the other famous moves of the day, I don't know why he wasn't using it as a finisher. My only complaints were Bigelow was inconsistent in selling his knee and the countout finish was weak. Still, this is an easy nomination.

 

Rick Steiner Interview

 

Sting & Dusty Rhodes vs. Road Warriors - This wasn't a bad match but I think the thing it has going against it is I don't care if I ever see it again. If I were making a Road Warriors comp, I would inlcude it but it wasn't one of the best NWA matches of the 1980s. No vote.

 

Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger - This was a great match and maybe Luger's best match up to this point. Compare this to the Nikita Koloff match from 1987 and tell me which one is worthy of being on this set. Luger collapsing because of the damage done to his leg was great and using the ropes for the win is classic Flair. While 1987 was one of my least favorite Starrcades, this is one of the best so far.

Tony & Magnum are your hosts this evening.

 

US Tag Titles: The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton & Tommy Rogers) © vs. "Gamesmaster" Kevin Sullivan & "Dr. Death" Steve Williams

 

Fants looked really good early on switching back and forth to keep the heels frustrated which it did because Doc grabbed Fulton and pressed him in the air 6 times before he dropped him and then clotheslined him to the floor. Fulton though would come back in and he dropkicked Doc to the floor which pissed him off more so he came back in and dropped him with a backdrop suplex. Rogers would tag in but his luck wasn't much better as now both heels take turns working him over until Sullivan misses a clothesline and tumbles over the top rope to the floor. Rogers was so good at using his dropkick here as his main offensive move but a knee to the back by a pissed off Doc changed the pace. Doc running in place while holding Rogers up for a vertical suplex was fun but it only got a nearfall. We don't get real long FIP sections as both Fulton & Rogers take turns doing it but only in short doses. Rogers though would come off the top with a diving body press and caught all knees from Sullivan and now we have a true FIP section as Rogers is in deep trouble. The heels are very effective in working over Rogers plus keeping him away from Fulton but he would eventually get the tag and Fulton fired off on the heels especially Doc. Both Fants get sleeper holds on the heels but Doc catches Fulton as he tried a Thesz Press and he used his version of a Hot Shot to win the match. This was a fun match with both teams working hard and I think it should go up as a low-end pick.

 

Tony & Magnum then run down some of the other matches on the show.

 

The Midnight Express ("Beautiful" Bobby Eaton & "Sweet" Stan Lane) vs. The Original Midnight Express ("Loverboy" Dennis Condrey & "Ravishing" Randy Rose)

 

MX sends OMX out of the ring quickly and Corny comes in demanding for Paul E. to join him as Norfolk goes nuts. I always loved the MX/Corny babyface run and they were molten hot here in this feud. Corny lighting up Condrey on the floor with the tennis racket then dancing like a girl mocking Paul E. was great. Eaton then lighting up Rose with a right hand sending Rose to the floor where he got the racket in the back from Corny was also great. This had such a Memphis feel to it that it was different than most of your JCP tag matches. Condrey & Rose were stooging and bumping hard and the Eaton/Condrey exchanges were so damn good. Eaton & Lane were looking like machines here just picking the OMX apart until Eaton crotched himself in the corner with the OMX now taking over and they just teed off on Eaton especially Condrey. Paul E. would get involved as well which got Corny upset so he chased him around. Eaton was good here at FIP as he was good on the hope spots plus sold the punishment well. OMX missing a Rocket Launcher was so perfect as it allowed Eaton to get the hot tag to Lane who cleaned house with his educated feet then did his little dance as the crowd went nuts. Lane had Rose pinned as Condrey & Eaton took out Teddy Long then we get Corny slugging Paul who had used the phone on Lane so Rose had Lane pinned but Teddy saw the phone and in the confusion, Rose got caught in the Double Goozle and was pinned. Condrey then got the racket and cleaned house on the MX then Corny and they bashed the phone over his head as well. Eaton though would come back and he got the racket then swung like Bo Jackson on everyone. This was a total blast and a fairly easy nomination.

 

Next we get Magnum interviewing the Varsity Club in the locker room talking about having the gold and Rotundo beating Steiner.

 

The Russian Assassins (Angel of Death & Jack Victory) vs. Junkyard Dog & "Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff

 

The stip here is that if the Assassins lose by pinfall then they unmask and Paul Jones must retire. Ivan Koloff the babyface is a hoot and teaming with JYD no less. The match of course wasn't very good but the fans were into it and the finish came when one of the Assassins used a loaded mask on Ivan to win the match.

 

NWA World TV Title: "Captain" Mike Rotundo © vs. "Dog Faced Gremlin" Rick Steiner

 

Kevin Sullivan yet again is in the black cage here. Steiner started off tentative but a quick Steinerline changed that fast. Steiner gets better of the early exchanges but Rotundo holds his own as everything is done deliberately until Rotundo sent Steiner flying from the ring to the floor. Rotundo now works over Steiner and again deliberate is the word as he doesn't do anything dynamic but it's effective and Steiner does a good job of trying to fight back keeping the crowd into the match because Mike was trying to keep it on the mat. Rotundo did hit a vicious clothesline though that Steiner did quite the turn on when hitting the mat. Rotundo would miss a dropkick and Steiner came back with a hard Steinerline and now Rick is back in control just taking it to Rotundo right as Dr. Death shows up at ringside. Steiner hits a big powerslam for a nearfall then a belly-to-belly suplex but Dr. Death rings the bell trying to trick everyone and then Tommy Young comes down to tell Teddy Long what happened with Kevin Sullivan now out of the cage trying to plead his case. They restart the match and Steiner shoves Rotundo into Sullivan and pins him to win the title as the Norfolk Scope loses their mind. A tremendous ending to the match as the fans are ecstatic at the payoff of this long angle. The action may not have been the best but the finish and everything else makes this a solid nomination.

 

US Heavyweight Title: Barry Windham © vs. Bam Bam Bigelow

 

Bammer has been no-showing dates before this show and there was a plan in place for Eddie Gilbert to take his spot if necessary but he shows up here so we get the advertised match. Humperdink is with Bammer to offset JJ Dillon as well. Barry hits some sweet right hands early in the match but Bammer pretty much no-sells them and just drops Windham on the mat then sends him to the floor. Windham came back with another right hand and a backdrop suplex but Bammer popped right back up and intimated Windham back down to the floor. Windham right now has no answer for Bammer and is very flustered because he is getting thrown around like a ragdoll. Windham is being treated like a Mike Jackson jobber trainee pretty much then Bammer got really cocky and after he hit slingspot splash he pulled up at 2. Bammer then went up top for a splash off the top rope but he missed and landed hard on the mat so his stupidity cost him big time. Windham now is able to take control hitting his right hand numerous times before hitting a big diving lariat. Windham would even hit his backdrop suplex again this time it worked and now Barry is having full success in everything. Windham would then lock on the Iron Claw but Bammer would get to the ropes to force a break. Barry then gave Bammer a bodyslam which was impressive but missed a big diving elbow off the top rope. Bammer now comes firing back before both men tumble over the top rope to the floor where the action continued as Windham posted Bammer then got back in the ring to beat the count. I thought this was really fun but Windham got dominated way too long compared to how long he was on offense and then you have the shitty finish. I'll say this is more of a low-end pick because it ended way too early.

 

Next we get a Magnum interview with Rick Steiner in the locker room where he is happy to be the new TV champ.

 

NWA World Tag Titles: The Road Warriors (Animal & Hawk) vs. "American Dream" Dusty Rhodes & Sting

 

This is Dusty's last hurrah on a major NWA show as he was gone a couple of days after this. The match is a total fight at the bell with Dusty & Sting sending the Roadies to the floor. Roadies got quite a bit of cheers here as by this time there was no way they could be heels. Sting looks good early on before tagging in Dusty who just wants to roughhouse Animal then Hawk when he gets in the ring. Sting comes back in and he hangs tough with both Roadies in the ring then hits a huge plancha off the top rope to the floor on Animal which got the crowd in a frenzy. This would soon break down into a fight with the Roadies trying to work over Dusty's bad eye starting their control section. Dusty shucks and jives trying to make a comeback but the Roadies are too tough for him at the moment and they viciously work him over. Hawk would get a sleeper hold on Dusty but Dusty would use a jawbreaker to get free and he made the hot tag to Sting who ran wild on both Roadies hitting a big Stinger Splash on Animal then followed up with the Scorpion Deathlock. Hawk came in though and broke that up and it was 2-on-1 on Dusty as Sting got chunked over the top rope but Sting came back in and hit a big cross body block on Animal but Paul Ellering jumped Tommy Young for the DQ. Dusty & Sting then sent the Roadies packing as the fans cheered. Again another really fun match but there just wasn't enough here for a nomination.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Title: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair © vs. "Total Package" Lex Luger

 

If Flair gets DQed here then he loses the title and yeah since it didn't happen at the Bash this was the night that Luger should've won the title. Lou Thesz was shown sitting in the crowd enjoying the action as Luger takes it to Flair early and often. Luger really focused on Flair's left arm early in the match including wrapping it around the railing on the floor then posting him. Flair was just getting pounded on here a lot like Windham in the Bammer match and it took Luger missing his big elbow drop for Flair to finally take over. Flair takes it to the floor where he is very aggressive beating Luger from pillar to post then shoves Tommy Young who reminds him of the DQ rule so Flair chills out. Luger fights back and Flair chops him which Luger no-sells with his pecs dancing which was great before locking on a sleeper hold but Flair would counter it into a backdrop suplex. Flair wants to work over the leg but Luger gets a quick inside cradle for a nearfall which stops that. Flair would go up top but Luger would go with him and hit a big Superplex for a nearfall before Luger would lock on his own figure-four leglock until Flair got the ropes. Luger would accidentally elbow Tommy Young and Flair would throw Luger over the top rope to the floor but Luger comes back in hitting a big cross body block for a nearfall. Luger would then get a backslide for a nearfall and Flair is in trouble as Luger looks unstoppable. Luger would hit his powerslam then called for the Torture Rack but Dillon would hop on the apron allowing Flair to go the floor. Flair then took out Luger's legs and bashed his left knee with a steel chair. Flair is now ruthlessly working over the knee setting up the figure-four which he gets and gets it in tight. Luger turns it over but Flair would get to the ropes to break the hold but the damage is done on Luger who is having problems standing. Flair again goes back to working over the knee and climbs up top again but even with the bad knee he still press slams Flair off. Luger is running off pure adrenaline now and press slams Flair again but again he drops in pain as he is having a hard time. Luger would hit a big clothesline for a nearfall at the 30:00 mark then hits him with his powerslam before going for the Torture Rack again. Lex gets the Rack on Flair but his leg gives way and buckles under him with Flair falling on top with his feet on the ropes to get the win. Larry Matsyik was with the company at this time and this was the finish that he came up with because he thought Flair should win and win by pinfall.....Luger gets screwed at the worst time. Regardless of that this was a fantastic match and a slam dunk nomination.

 

Then we get Magnum with Flair & Dillon in the locker room putting over everything that happened on the show. Flair then said he was done with Luger which was true.