Brad Armstrong vs. Mike Rotunda - This is incomplete from the commercial tape. I am going to see if I can get a copy of the TV version.

 

Nikita Koloff & Steve Williams vs. The Sheepherders - Does anyone know the backstory on why Doc and Nikita are tagging? Shit, I am going to come out and say it... this match is much better than the Fans-Sheeps match from Clash II. I think it comes down to matchups. In the Fans matches, the Sheeps are supposed to be the aggressors. However, in this matchup, Doc and Nikita are clearly the stronger duo so when the Sheeps get an advantage, they attack like wolves because if they don't, they get their asses handed to them. There is actually a sense of desparation on the heel side. Also, the Nikita FIP section was pretty damn good with some good Sheeps offense and false hope spots. The ending came out of nowhere but was pretty cool as well. Thumbs up from me and a nomination.

 

Dusty Rhodes vs. Kevin Sullivan (Grudge Match) - I guess this is where Gilbert got the idea of pinning Gary Hart in the No Dq Muta match because Dust wins by pinning Gary Hart?!?!? I guess these guys were trying to relive the Florida glory years. Anyway, decent match for awhile but a dumb as fuck finish.

 

Ricky Morton vs. Ivan Koloff (Russian Chain Match) - Compared to other gimick matches I have nominated, this one falls short. Really, you can't even comapre this to the Piper-Valentine match, the Manny-Abby brawl, Flair-Ole. There were some decent weapon spots but not the viciousness I have expected from these types of matches. No vote.

 

Sting vs. Barry Windham - Goddammit, this was going great until Sting no-sold the back suplex. Anyway, really good solo Sting match with someone not named Flair. For awhile there, Sting wasn't shining, he was squashing Barry. However, when Barry was in control, the match was solid. Hell, Barry even juices. I didn't like this as much as the Nikita/Doc tag but I'll give it a low-level nomination.

Watched this while converting my comm. tape to DVD.

 

Was that Van Earl Wright doing the voiceover for the intro?

 

The jump-cut from Jim Ross in mid-sentence to the dark screen (that the graphics for the opener flew into) may have given me a small seizure. Seriously I think I actually lost consciousness for a fraction of a second.

 

Nikita Koloff & Steve Williams vs. The Sheepherders

- Does anyone know the backstory on why Doc and Nikita are tagging? Shit, I am going to come out and say it... this match is much better than the Fans-Sheeps match from Clash II. I think it comes down to matchups. In the Fans matches, the Sheeps are supposed to be the aggressors. However, in this matchup, Doc and Nikita are clearly the stronger duo so when the Sheeps get an advantage, they attack like wolves because if they don't, they get their asses handed to them. There is actually a sense of desparation on the heel side. Also, the Nikita FIP section was pretty damn good with some good Sheeps offense and false hope spots. The ending came out of nowhere but was pretty cool as well. Thumbs up from me and a nomination.

These teams matched up really surprisingly well, especially given the match went pretty long at 17+ minutesl. I like all four guys but I did not expect this to be so good. The faces sold really well in their respective FIP segments while maintaining their aura, Doc's Superman comeback was a lot of fun, and the Sheepherders both brought their A-games, even breaking out big moves like the diving headbutt (one from the second rope that was on the safer side of that move and a swandive from the top rope). Plus you add Doc's ridiculous ponytailed mullet thing and you get some really enjoyable tag team professional wrestling. Definitely worth a nomination.

 

Dusty Rhodes vs. Kevin Sullivan (Grudge Match)

- I guess this is where Gilbert got the idea of pinning Gary Hart in the No Dq Muta match because Dust wins by pinning Gary Hart?!?!? I guess these guys were trying to relive the Florida glory years. Anyway, decent match for awhile but a dumb as fuck finish.

Fun but not worth nominating, especially with one of my least favorite finishes. Dusty at the peak of the hardcore fans hating him going into the crowd and hugging kids as part of his celebration was amusing pandering.

 

Ricky Morton vs. Ivan Koloff (Russian Chain Match)

- Compared to other gimick matches I have nominated, this one falls short. Really, you can't even comapre this to the Piper-Valentine match, the Manny-Abby brawl, Flair-Ole. There were some decent weapon spots but not the viciousness I have expected from these types of matches. No vote.

Watching this I couldn't help but think about how much better this would have been 3 years earlier. Decent but nowhere near nomination level. Morton's facial expressions & body language at the end were great, though. Part of me feels like Ivan Koloff turning babyface after decades as a heel should be an extra but I wouldn't cry if it wasn't especially well-executed and the angle really dragged, especially with Nikita not running out to make the save.

 

Sting vs. Barry Windham

- Goddammit, this was going great until Sting no-sold the back suplex. Anyway, really good solo Sting match with someone not named Flair. For awhile there, Sting wasn't shining, he was squashing Barry. However, when Barry was in control, the match was solid. Hell, Barry even juices. I didn't like this as much as the Nikita/Doc tag but I'll give it a low-level nomination.

I liked this a lot. Maybe not as fun as the tag earlier in the show, but it's 1988 Windham getting a main event showcase match with a carryable athletic rising babyface star and it's pretty much as good as you'd expect. I second the nomination, though more enthusiastically than you.

So odd seeing Ric Flair as a guest host with Tony Schiavone and he definitely should be wrestling. Flair & Windham vs. Luger & Sting would've been a great Clash match.

 

NWA World TV Title: "Captain" Mike Rotundo © vs. Brad Armstrong

 

Brad wearing a David Lee Roth "Skyscraper" shirt is fantastic. The Albany, GA fans are fired up for this one and it starts good with Brad getting a quick nearfall after rolling under a Rotundo cross body block off the ropes. Rotundo throws some fierce European uppercuts so Brad fights back with some great dropkicks and Mike drops to the floor to regroup. Brad works a side headlock but they keep it interesting and it isn't tedious as others I've seen lately and then Brad goes to work on Mike's left arm with the crowd red hot for everything Brad does. Rotundo looks to be in deep trouble here but he catches Brad with a quick knee to the ribs and that allows Mike to go to work on Brad. Mike send Brad to the floor so Kevin Sullivan can attack him which he did including smashing him into the railing. When Brad got back in the ring Mike kept up the attack hitting more fierce European uppercuts as well as working a reverse chinlock. Rotundo would nail Brad with a big diving clothesline as Brad tried to make a comeback which looked really cool but Brad still wouldn't quit. Mike would toss Brad back out to Sullivan again who got more shots in and Brad is bumping his ass off here. Brad comes back in with a sunset flip over the top for a nearfall with the crowd going nuts. Mike is back on offense when Dr. Death shows up to counter Sullivan and to rally the crowd for Brad who gets an inside cradle for a nearfall. Rotundo is now trying to milk the clock as there are 3 minutes left and he is trying to keep Brad on the mat. Mike hits his old finisher the Airplane Spin but he goes down as well and can't capitalize as there are now 2 minutes left. Mike tries to put Brad away numerous times but he won't quit as the fans chant his name with 1 minute left. Mike gets more nearfalls as the seconds tick away but Brad won't be pinned as the bell rang to end the match. If they went with a renewed push with Brad this would've been an awesome way to start but no that didn't happen and Brad was back in Continental soon thereafter. Regarding this match, this was one of the best Rotundo matches I've ever seen as Brad was working his ass off here boy. This is a solid nomination to me.

 

Tony & Flair then talk about Luger some.

 

Next we get clips of Kevin Sullivan injuring Jimmy Garvin where he "broke his leg" with cinderblocks.

 

"The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff & "Dr. Death" Steve Williams vs. The Sheepherders (Butch Miller & Luke Williams)

 

Gotta love Doc with his Oklahoma jersey on backwards. The fans are yet again pumped up which has pumped up the babyfaces who look very strong early on. The Sheeps were very fun here working as the stooging bumping heels for the powerhouses on the other side and they make Nikita/Doc look amazing. Doc's cross body block off the top rope for the nearfall was impressive as hell and like I said this whole babyface control section was a blast. The dominance would finally end when Doc missed a running shoulderblock into the corner and the Sheeps started feverishly working over his left arm. Doc though would break free and got the tag to Nikita who runs wild until Rip Morgan took Nikita down leading up to some hard ass knees by Luke in Nikita's ribs. Nikita then goes the floor where he gets punished by everyone until Doc runs them off and Nikita is doing a terrific job of selling this. The crowd is red hot for Nikita trying to get the hot tag and the Sheeps are so good at keeping him away using their entire bodies as weapons. Doc also does a really good job of working the corner getting Nikita motivated for his hope spots. As Nikita would have a chance to tag Doc, Rip Morgan attacked him on the floor which got Doc's attention so Nikita couldn't tag him. Nikita would get the tag though after Luke missed a big diving body press off the top rope and Doc ran wild on the Sheeps & Morgan who was in the ring but Butch would clip Doc's leg from behind to stop the rampage. Nikita would get tagged back in the ring and he just destroyed Luke with a Russian Sickle to get the win out of nowhere. This was a really strong match I thought and is a solid nomination.

 

"American Dream" Dusty Rhodes vs. "Gamesmaster" Kevin Sullivan

 

These two have been feuding for 6 years and have revived it lately and then you add in Gary Hart who has been feuding with Dusty for 14 years and the powderkeg is on. Dusty just bashes Sullivan's head on the table numerous times and then assaults Hart as the crowd goes nuts. This ain't nothing pretty as both men just beat the piss out of each other inside and outside the ring with Hart & Al Perez getting involved as well. Rhodes pinning Gary Hart was ridiculous and I loved Dusty sitting in the crowd with the fans afterwards hugging on kids.....Great visual to end this segment.

 

Then we get Flair & Tony joined by John Ayers who is the special referee for the Flair/Luger matches around the horn.

 

Russian Chain Match: Ricky Morton vs. "Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff

 

Morton is also wearing a David Lee Roth "Skyscraper" shirt like Brad Armstrong.....funny. Yeah this match would've been awesome a couple of years earlier. Morton has dedicated the match to his father Paul and Koloff is trying to prove Paul Jones wrong that he isn't the weak link in the family now. They work hard and do some fun things but the match just feels lesser than some of the other matches like this that will be on the set. I did love the finish though where Jones accidentally cost Koloff the match and then blamed Koloff for the loss. Jones and the Russian Assassin then destroyed Ivan after Ivan punched out Jones with help from debuting Russian Assassin #2 (Jack Victory.) Of course no one would save the bloody Ivan but the crowd chanted heavily for Nikita.

 

Jim Ross is at ringside with John Ayers next talking about Flair/Luger again.

 

US Heavyweight Title: Barry Windham © vs. Sting

 

Now this is an intriguing matchup and both men looked very good to start off with hitting some crisp offense. Sting was at that stage where he was full of potential with athleticism that was off the charts for a man his size and Windham had everything in the world going for him at this time and one of the best wrestlers in the world. It was funny though watching Windham work this like Flair including doing his version of a Flair Flop. Windham's ring smarts is the big advantage he had here over Sting and that helps Windham get the advantage as he takes Sting to the floor where he punishes him enough to get him weak so when it comes back to the ring Barry would be in full control. Sting tries to fight back but the work that Windham had done on his back has forced Sting's impact on offense to be weakened. Windham though would get too cocky and he missed a flying splash into the corner where he hit the ringpost and then Sting followed up by posting him twice on the floor which gets the color flowing from Barry's forehead. Sting then starts biting the cut and he is becoming vicious working him over like raking his back with his fingernails. Windham is in deep trouble as Sting gets a sleeper hold on him but Windham uses a kneebreaker ala Flair to turn the tide. Windham then started working over Sting's left knee and gets the figure-four with help JJ on the floor. Windham would hit the same backdrop suplex he hit earlier but this time Sting couldn't no sell it although it wasn't long after it though that Sting started fighting back including hitting a suplex of his own but Barry got the Iron Claw on his pectoral muscle as they went down. Sting fights back though and uses his momentum to send Barry to the floor then slingshots him back in the ring and Sting is now taking it to Windham but both men are selling fatigue as Windham accidentally hits Tommy Young with a cross body block sending him to the floor. Sting then would hit the Stinger Splash on Windham before locking on the Scorpion Deathlock but Dillon would come in with a chair which Sting intercepted. As this happened though, Windham caught Sting with the chair then covered Sting as Tommy Young counted but John Ayers jumped in the ring and told Tommy what happened so Sting won by DQ. Dillon got up in Ayers face and he was getting choked as Sting took out Windham with a dropkick as the fans went nuts. Another shitty finish but this match was really fucking good and a easy nomination.

 

Tony & Flair then close out the show with Flair ripping up John Ayers for getting involved.