Windham & Garvin vs. Midnight Express
- Early on, the story is that when Windham is in, he controls the match but when Garvin is in, the MX gain the advantage. It stays this way for about ten minutes until Windham gets a knee from Bobby but even when he gets the tag, GArvin still gets roughed up by the MX. I remember watching this match 20 years ago live and thinking how the MX were such a better team because of how long they controlled the match. I know Tim Cooke will disagree but I really like these studio matches because the intimate setting allows smaller things like headlocks and arm bars and eye rakes to feel a little bit more painful to the viewer because you are right up on the action. The match ends in a time-limit draw but Condrey thought he had Garvin pinned. The MX is upset and Cornette lays Garvin to waste with some racquet shots. This match was the beginning of the Garvin-MX feud that would last through the next year and peak with the fire incident. This is a personal favorite but I think it stands on its own and warrants a nomination. THe fact that Garvin was being abused by the MX the entire match and laid out after only makes it more interesting in my view.

(NWA TV 12/86 - 1/87 D1)

I'll give this a solid nomination. This was well worked and built to a finish that allowed more rematches on the road. With the finish and the Cornette racquet shots. I dug the work that lead to Garvin 's ankle pick. Windham was his usual smooth self. The MX were great as well.

US Tag Titles: "Hands of Stone" Ronnie Garvin & Barry Windham © vs. The Midnight Express ("Loverboy" Dennis Condrey & "Beautiful" Bobby Eaton) (12/27/86)

Cornette on commentary that his Christmas present to David Crockett was the address to the Columbia School of Broadcasting was great. Both teams looked very good to start with the faces having the edge as they were keeping the MX on the mat. Garvin hitting the sunset flip off the top rope for a nearfall was cool. Garvin would get isolated by the MX and they worked him over prettty good before we go to break and we come back and Windham is in the ring so we missed the tag which sucks. Windham now gets dominated by the MX and this is also really good as the MX were such great offensive wrestlers. Garvin comes back in and he runs wild on the MX before he gets worked over again. The stretch run towards the end was fun as Garvin was doing whatever he could to keep Eaton from pinning him for the last minute. Condrey would hit his brainbuster and he almost got Garvin when the bell rang for the 20:00 draw. The heels then jumped the champs afterwards for good measure afterwards. This was a very strong TV match and I think it's a fairly easy nomination.