NWA Power Hour 8/11 & 8/18/89

 

8/11

Mike Rotunda vs. Shane Douglas

- Dynamic Dude sure is a shitty gimmick. I like Mike Rotundo but I do not care for Douglas at all. Seriously, I can't think of one match in his career that I would go out of my way to purchase or even watch.

 

Wrestling News Network w/ Gordon Solie

 

Great Muta vs. Eddie Gilbert (No DQ)

- Even if the match doesn't make it, the first minute has to go on as an extra as Missy gets on the apron and is immediately sprayed with the green mist. Actually the match was pretty awesome as both guys using the No DQ to full effect. Hell, Muta even kicks Eddie straight in the nuts. The ending was pretty good until the pin. Tommy Rich has Gary Hart in a sleeper so Muta sprays red mist on him. Eddie then goes to the top but since Muta is taking care of Rich, he flies on Gary Hart for the pin? Good match but the stupid ending will hurt it. Still a nomination.

 

SST vs. Road Warriors

- I had high hopes for this after the first few minutes a couple of episodes back but this was boring. Chokes, nerve holds, chinlocks. Roadies win.

 

 

8/18

Sting vs. Ron Simmons

- Similar to the other match I dismissed.

 

Wrestling News Network w/ Gordon Solie

 

Ric Flair vs. Cuban Assassin (from Pro)

- Flair takes care of the Assassin in short order.

 

Funk’s Grill w/ Teddy Long & Norman

 

Lex Luger vs. Tommy Rich

- 1st half is all Rich. You know Rich worked Georgia because he is holding on to Luger's arm for dear life. I was surprised at how much Luger gave Rich esp. considering this point in Rich's career. I don't think people will give this a chance and it may not make it out of the next round but this is a yes vote from me.

Muta vs Gilbert NO DQ

 

I'm going to go no, and I'm hating to do this because their was so much great stuff. The opening angle with the mist. The Memphis esque brawling, but that finish is plain bad.

 

Luger vs Rich

 

I'll give this a low -end nomination. Luger has this aura about him. Rich is great on offense here targeting the arm. It was all fun work. He also kept Luger off by using arm drags. This also negates Luger 's strength by being on his back. Eventually Luger gains control and targets Rich's neck. This was well executed. Rich gets a blast of offense and work's a good Thesz press spot. Luger though would turn the tide for the win with his feet on the ropes.

NWA Power Hour 8/12/89

"Captain" Mike Rotundo vs. Shane Douglas (8/1/89)

Rotundo mocks Shane for Johnny Ace getting "injured" and said that if he threw an illegal blow in this match that he would give his Syracuse letterman jacket to Douglas. This was kinda boring and Rotundo won by getting an inside cradle on Douglas as he was coming back into the ring from being thrown to the floor.

Next we get the WWN with Gordon Solie and he talks about NWA news as well as Eric Embry winning the World Class name.

No DQ Match: "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert vs. The Great Muta (8/1/89)

Muta grabs Missy and sprays her immediately with the green mist which sends Gilbert into a frenzy as he just tees off on Muta as the Steiners help Missy out of the area. Gilbert grabs a chair and nails Muta with it as the crowd goes nuts. Some really good brawling here and Muta just nails Gilbert with a kick which sends him to the floor and Hart posts Gilbert for his trouble. Tommy Rich then comes out to cheer Gilbert on as Muta starts wearing Gilbert down with nerve holds. Gilbert makes a comeback then Gary Hart gets involved with Rich coming after him and it goes to the ring. Rich gets the sleeper on Hart and Muta sprays red mist in Rich's face. Gilbert then comes off the top with a cross body block on Gary Hart which Nick Patrick counted as the finish....what the fuck......Muta then sprayed Gilbert with green mist for his trouble after the finish. The finish completely kills this as a nomination but we need parts of this as extra material at least.

Then we get Funk's Grill with the Steiner Brothers which was always a hoot.

Road Warrior Hawk vs. Samu (8/1/89)

This is the beginning of the captain's match concept with tag team wrestlers working singles matches. Of course this is a brawl at the bell but then they slow it down when Samu is on offense working nerve holds. Hawk would eventually get Paul E.'s phone and used it on Samu to win. Samu was pissed at Paul after the match and tore the phone up.

Ross & Cornette then announce Freebirds were the Wrestlers of the Week.

NWA Power Hour 8/18/89

Sting vs. Ron Simmons (8/14/89)

It's the battle of the future WCW champs again and these two put on a pretty damn good little match here as both men were improving especially Sting who was starting to come into his own at this time. Simmons was really good at using his power offense to keep Sting on defense and Sting did a good job of selling everything plus the finish was cute as Sting got a schoolboy on Simmons after he brought him back in the ring from the floor. I'm going to push this forward as a low-end nomination.

Next we get the WNN with Solie talking about the upcoming Clash as well as news from Stampede & Japan.

"Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. Cuban Assassin (8/14/89)

Flair is back wrestling on TV and this era of Flair is so fucking awesome because he was working on TV against really good guys he wouldn't normally work with. Flair gets off to a good start but Sierra takes Flair to the floor where he posts him a couple of times and begins working over Flair's forehead trying to get blood. Flair is now pissed off and comes back hitting some of his signature spots while blood trickles down his face and puts Sierra away with the figure-four. Very fun little match.

Next we get another Funk's Grill with Norman and these were always great as Funk wants to make Norman look like a Road Warrior but decides that he wants to cut Brian Pillman's hair instead.

US Heavyweight Title: "Total Package" Lex Luger © vs. Tommy "Wildfire" Rich (8/14/89)

Luger loved rocking the wet hair look during this time and it added to his douchey aura. The early run of the match is really fun as Luger is a complete jerk and Rich makes him pay punching him in the face numerous times and works over his left arm. Rich really has Luger frustrated as he can't seem to shake him off. Luger would drop to the floor allowing Rich to chase him and that is where the momentum switched as Luger beat him back in the ring and kneed him in the ribs when Rich got on the apron. Luger then works over Rich while taunting the fans but Tommy fights back as much as he can before Luger would neutralize him. Rich would make a comeback and he gave it all he had trying to put Luger away even hitting the Thesz Press for a 2 3/4 count. Luger would catch Rich with a headbutt to the ribs from the apron and then jumped on top of him with his feet on the ropes to get the win. I thought this was a blast and I think this moves forward as a fairly easy nomination.