Sage Cortez
These matches and angles are much more difficult to find than their WWF counterparts. So, I want to watch more of them, but it isn’t really feasible yet. There does come a point when NWA/WCW puts more good matches on TV, and once that happens, naturally I’ll review more of them! We’ll start in the same month as WrestleMania.
– Taped to air March 30th, 1985 on Worldwide, from Charlotte, North Carolina
Magnum TA vs. Wahoo McDaniel in a Steel Cage Match for the NWA United States Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: There was a small feud to build up to this. Wahoo was big in Mid-Atlantic, and Magnum was the youngster on his way up. This was Wahoo’s 5th US Title reign.
Match Review: Pinfall and submission rules, with a referee inside of that smaller ring. David Crockett’s commentary is always interesting. I have no idea what to expect here, because I’ve never seen the match. The match starts with Magnum shoving Wahoo into the corner, and giving him an arm drag. Wahoo takes Magnum over with a headlock, picks him back up, and kicks him in the nuts. Wahoo starts dishing out some of his famous chops, but Magnum responds with some big punches to knock down the champion. Wahoo rakes the eyes, lands more chops, and sends Magnum head first into the cage. Magnum knocks Wahoo down with a big punch, but the pin only gets a 2 count. Magnum latches onto Wahoo’s left arm and starts to work it over. He hits Wahoo with a dropkick, goes for the pin, but Wahoo has his foot on the bottom rope. Wahoo gets a small package for 2, but shortly gets sent head first into the cage by Magnum. Big fistdrop by the challenger, and a headbutt. Unfortunately, Wahoo pulls Magnum into the steel cage, then tosses him into the fence once again. Big chop by Wahoo gets a couple of 2 counts. Wahoo slams Magnum, drops a big elbow, but that also only garners a 2 count. Magnum kicks Wahoo when he attempts a backdrop, but Wahoo once again tries a small package, and it gets a 2 count. Wahoo slams Magnum’s head into the turnbuckle, and I’ve got to admit, this match has slowed down a little. Wahoo tries to climb up the cage, which makes very little sense. Of course, Magnum catches up to him, and he gives Wahoo a back suplex. Cover got 2. Wahoo gives Magnum a backbreaker, drops two elbows, but can only get a 2 count. He shoots Magnum into the ropes, shoulderblocks him, and goes for another one. Magnum quickly rises to his feet to hit the champion with his belly to belly suplex, which leads to a Magnum TA pinfall victory, and NEW champion at 10:47. Epic pop.
My Thoughts: Nice to see someone get put over by an veteran. I don’t think the match was anything special, but it accomplished its goals and was put on TV to get the younger guy over. It certainly accomplished that. **1/4.
– Taped to Air April 20th, 1985, on World Championship Wrestling
Dusty Rhodes slaps Baby Doll
After Dusty runs into the ring, Tully Blanchard goes crazy on a microphone…but that’s nothing compared to what happens in the ring. Baby Doll gets in the ring, slaps Dusty, AND DUSTY REARS BACK AND SLAPS HER. THE CROWD GOES NUTS.
– Taped to air June 15th, 1985, on World Championship Wrestling from Atlanta, GA
Ric Flair (NWA World Champion) vs. Magnum TA in a $1,000 dollar challenge match
Pre-Match Thoughts: The buildup angles to this are unbelievable. I’ll share them.
Should this video ever disappear, here’s the recap. Magnum TA goes over to Flair to confront him after Magnum’s squash match. Flair calls Magnum some names, tells him he needs to improve his wardrobe, and that offends the United States Champion. He grabs Flair, Flair says that “NOBODY TOUCHES MY CLOTHES,” and Flair attacks Magnum as Magnum gets into the ring, and works Magnum over, before taking his exit. By the way, Schiavone’s hair and mustache is so befitting of the time period.
In this one, Magnum cuts a promo on Ric Flair. Not that great, but necessary to further this thing along.
After an excellent Flair promo, where he says he has an outline of a suit for Magnum TA, it’s time for him to work a TV squash match against George South. Didn’t see Hogan doing very many of those, by the way. Great prop, that suit. Magnum TA comes out to the announce section, and takes a look at this custom made suit. Magnum says that he doesn’t have a suit like this one. It means so much to him that he must personally thank Ric Flair in the ring. Magnum thanks Flair by…RIPPING THE SUIT JACKET IN HALF. The look on Flair’s face is UNBELIEVABLE. He attacks Magnum, and Magnum gives him his finisher, THE BELLY TO BELLY SUPLEX. Then Magnum puts his hands on the World Title. Flair runs out of the ring screaming that “NOBODY TOUCHES MY WORLD TITLE.”
And now, at the studio on that day, Magnum comes out to interrupt Flair’s promo, and puts a grand on the line, saying that Flair can’t beat him in 10 minutes.
Match Review: They lock up, Flair does his chop thing, and takes a punch right to the jaw that puts him down. Magnum shoulderblocks Flair, dropkicks him, and now they square off once again. Flair lays into Magnum with more chops, but gets whipped into the turnbuckle and backdropped on the way out. Flair tosses Magnum to the outside, as Schiavone explains that the Andersons are in the commentary position. Okay. Magnum blocks a suplex, picks the champion up, and suplexes him for a 2 count. Flair knees Magnum, snap mares him, and gives him a kneedrop. Flair gutwrench suplexes Magnum, but only for a 2 count. Ole is pretty annoying on commentary, I must say. Flair applies an abdominal stretch, and we can see that a scab from Magnum’s forehead has been removed and he is now bleeding, and he reverses the abdominal stretch into a hiptoss. Magnum gets 2. Magnum then puts a small package on Flair, but that only gets 2. Magnum decides to whip Flair into the turnbuckle, and Flair flips onto the ring apron and then the floor. Flair rope clotheslines Magnum and heads to the top, comes off with a double axehandle. A Flair elbowdrop gets 2. Flair tosses Magnum to the outside, shoots Magnum into the ringpost, and back into the ring. Flair latches onto Magnum’s left arm and takes him down, then works it over in the corner. Magnum sends Flair into the turnbuckle again, then into the ropes, and Flair takes him down. They do a cradle sequence, where Magnum gets another 2 count. This match is super fast paced. Magnum backdrops Flair yet again, but still can’t get the pinfall one. Magnum tries a big splash, but lands right on Flair’s knees. Magnum reverses a snap mare into a backslide, and the tease for a 3 count is big, but that’s yet another nearfall. Magnum then catches Flair, and gorilla press slams him for a 2 count. Some great nearfalls here. Magnum hiptosses Flair, but misses a dropkick and we have one minute left. Magnum then misses a cross body, and Flair goes up to the top rope again. As Flair is talking with the crowd, Magnum gets to his feet and slams Flair off the top turnbuckle. Then Magnum puts on the figure-four leglock, and the time expires at 10:00!
Flair could not beat Magnum, but he tries to attack him, and gets atomic dropped. In come the Andersons, and all three men attack Magnum, until Dick Slater and Buzz Sawyer go into the ring to save the United States Champion.
My Thoughts: That was an unbelievable 10 minute match, which was built so perfectly as to give off the impression that Magnum TA would get a pinfall over Ric Flair. That didn’t happen, but I don’t think it mattered that much. It helped build up Magnum as more than just a new guy in Mid-Atlantic, but a legitimate wrestler who could take anyone to the brink. Just what the fans wanted to see. **** and highly recommended for a great match. If you want to see it, get the Rise and Fall of WCW DVD. It’s on there, and frankly, you should have it anyway. They’ll have a match at Superclash 1985 which I should be reviewing, as well.
– July 6th, 1985, from Charlotte, North Carolina
Great American Bash 1985
I would have loved to find a full version of Great American Bash 1985, but that was not possible. There’s a PWI released tape, but that’s clipped beyond belief. Linked above. Everything else on there is extremely shortened, which saddens me. At this show, Dusty Rhodes beat Tully Blanchard in a steel cage match, won the TV Title, and won possession (she’s property?) of Baby Doll for 30 days. The match is on Dusty’s DVD, which I don’t have, so I’m shit out of luck. Now I’m sad. Probably one to come back for later. Ric Flair faced Nikita Koloff in a title bout, but the match was clipped beyond belief. I can’t possibly review it. Goes back to what I was talking about regarding Jim Crockett Promotions during this time. Unclipped matches, whether shown on television or not, are HARD to find.
– Taped to air July 13th, 1985, on Worldwide, from Shelby, North Carolina
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express vs. Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khruschev for the NWA World Tag Team Championships
Pre-Match Thoughts: The match is on the Allied Powers WWE DVD if anyone wants to check this out. Khruschev is Barry Darsow, otherwise known as Smash and Repo Man. This is the debut of the RnR Express, one of the best tag teams of the 80’s. And what a debut this was…
Match Review: The running time says 35:14. Wow. Anyway, Khruschev starts with Ricky Morton, who dodges Khruschev repeatedly as the champion attempts to lock up. Then they do lock up, and Khruschev goes to punch Morton, but Morton ducks out of the way and away from the turnbuckle. He does that once again, punches Khruschev, and gets away. Morton tries a crossbody on Khruschev, but gets slammed hard to the canvas. Khruschev tries an elbowdrop to follow up, and can’t land it. In comes Robert Gibson, who is now in there with Koloff. Just some early heel stalling type stuff going on to build things up. Morton comes back in, and applies an arm wringer to Koloff. He sunset flips the Russian, but only for a 2 count. Koloff wins a test of strength, but it ends up the same way, with Morton and Gibson working over Koloff’s left arm. Gibson tags in, hiptosses Koloff, and tags back in his partner. Koloff misses an elbowdrop, and begins to work over Morton in the corner. Khruschev tags in, gives Morton a big elbow to the face, and press slams him. Cover gets 2. Double underhook takedown also gets a 2, then Khruschev goes to a chinlock. Morton flips out of a back suplex, dropkicks Khruschev, but can’t make a tag. Koloff tags in, and we go to commercial.
Khruschev is in the ring, and he lifts Morton up in a chokehold before tossing him to the canvas. Morton is trying to tag out, and after a headbutt to Koloff, he makes the tag to Gibson. Gibson is a house of fire, one that decides to clear the ring along with Morton. RnR’s do a wishbone double team on Koloff, and Gibson applies a toe-hold. Another wishbone follows, and they attack both Russians for a second time, then Gibson goes back to the spinning toe-hold. Gibson sunset flips Koloff for a two count, and then he and his partner exchange tags for some time. Koloff makes it to his corner, and Khruschev tags in. Gibson misses a charge to the turnbuckle, and Koloff tags in again. Koloff puts a hammerlock on Gibson, and we go to another commercial break.
Koloff has Gibson in a bearhug when we return, and the debuting wrestler is taking a beating from the Russians. Gibson goes to the wrong corner to make a tag, and gets worked over again. Khruschev misses a charge to the turnbuckle, and exchanges tags with his partner for a little while. Koloff elbowdrops Gibson a few times, and heads to the second turnbuckle, but misses a kneedrop from up there. Gibson still can’t make the tag, but Koloff does. Khruschev has Gibson locked up, and Ivan comes in to distract the referee while Khruschev knocks Morton off the ring apron. Good heel work there. Koloff and Khruschev ram Gibson’s head into the turnbuckle repeatedly, and Ivan heads to the top rope, only to get pulled down to the canvas by Gibson. Khruschev tags in, 21 minutes into this video. Just a time check. Double back elbow lands on Gibson, and so does a Koloff kneedrop. Cover gets a 2 count. Koloff slams Gibson, but misses a big splash the same way every wrestler has in 1985, landing on their opponent’s knees. Khruschev tags in and knocks Morton off the ring apron yet again so that Gibson can’t tag. Khruschev misses a clothesline, and Gibson responds with one of his own, which makes people think he’ll be able to make the hot tag. But he still can’t. Gibson trips Koloff, is about a foot away from his partner, but Koloff latches on and chokes him. The Russians are choking Gibson on the rope, and Koloff lands a big knee to the back…for a 2 count. I think the false tags may have gone on for a little too long. Khruschev and Koloff went back to the arm, as I lose my concentration for a bit. During that time, I’m sure no false tag sequences happened. Koloff chokes Gibson, and gets a 2 count. I’m sure that they were going for an “epic tag title change” here, but this isn’t really that. It’s just too long. If it was a 2 out of 3 falls match, that would have been better. A Khruschev reverse atomic drop gets a 2 count, and nothing of consequence happens until Gibson knees Khruschev and FINALLY tags in Ricky Morton.
Morton dropkicks the champions, tries a crossbody, but gets caught with a punch as he dives off the turnbuckles. Stereo sunset flips by the RnR’s are good for a 2 count, and Tommy Young took a spill to the outside while Koloff was throwing Morton over the top rope. Okay. Morton winds up on top of Ivan’s shoulders, and victory rolls Koloff for the win and tag team championships at somewhere around 36-37 minutes counting commercials.
The crowd completely loses their shit, and some of the midcarders like Manny Fernandez, Jimmy Valiant, and Sam Houston celebrate with the new champions. In the back, the RnR’s get some interview time, and it’s the most southern style WOOO type promo you could imagine. They recap the match themselves, but nothing of consequence is said. Jim Crockett congratulates them, Magnum TA puts them over, and that’s the end of my clip.
My Thoughts: This was TOO LONG. Few false tags too many, couple minutes too many, and a few repeated moves too many. *** as it wasn’t bad, just too long. The title change was nice, and I liked the finish, but more time given to the finish instead of the heat segment would have been better. They built that hot tag to the point of overkill and finished the match shortly after.
– July 21st, 1985, from Atlanta, Georgia
Magnum TA talks about Tully Blanchard
This is funny as hell and a video which must be shared. Nice botch at the start where Magnum tells them to give the promo a retry. Then he cuts one of the better promos I’ve ever seen him give, capped off by “I’M GONNA COME ON YOU LIKE NOBODY’S EVER COME ON YOU BEFORE GETTIN IT ON LIKE TWO MEN SHOULD DO.” Ole and Arn then run into the locker room and kick Magnum’s ass.
– September 2nd, 1985, from Battle of the Belts in Tampa, Florida
The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering, also AWA Tag Team Champions) vs. Harley Race & Stan Hansen
Pre-Match Thoughts: This isn’t Jim Crockett Promotions, but I find it to be a relevant show. While trying to keep this constrained to what would become WCW, any show that the NWA Champion wrestles on is relevant in my eyes. I gather that Harley Race was substituting for Bruiser Brody, because Brody no showed. If that’s true, imagine that advertised match. The novelty factor is obvious. Harley and Hansen enter to “Bugler’s Dream”, which cracks me up. The Road Warriors enter to “Iron Man”. Gordon Solie on commentary is always great. Let’s go!
Match Review: This thing starts off with an epic brawl. Race is paired with Hawk, and Hansen with Animal. Race bashes Hawk in the head with Hansen’s cowbell, and Hansen throws Hawk into a table. Hawk then does the same, as Animal and Race are fighting over that cowbell. Once the official restores order, Race and Hawk are the two men in the ring. Hawk gives Race a big kneelift, and a fistdrop. Cover gets a 1 count. Animal tags in, Hansen runs into the ring, and we’re brawling again. Hawk hits Hansen with a big elbow, and goes to the outside to brawl with him. Hawk gets hit with a chair, hits Hansen back, and goddamn if that doesn’t look like a real fight. In the ring, Animal slams Race, and once his partner gets back to his corner, tags in Hawk. Race trips Hawk, lands an elbowdrop, and tags in the big cowboy. Hansen slams Hawk, drops an elbow of his own, and only gets a 2 count. Hawk slams Hansen after a little struggle, and only gets a 1 count. I’ll be damned if that isn’t Bill Alfonso as the official. Hansen shoots Animal into the turnbuckle, but misses a charge, and Animal locks on an armbar. Hansen armdrags Animal, and back to the outside we go. Hell yes. Hansen gets run shoulder-first into the ringpost, and goes back in for some respite. Unfortunately, he gets attacked by Hawk, but he gives Hawk a back suplex. Race and Animal are brawling outside of the ring at this time. Race gets back in the ring, and shortly gets chinlocked by Hawk. Harley powers out, lands a big back suplex on Hawk. Hansen tags in and goes for a piledriver on Hawk, and LANDS IT. Cover only gets 2. He and Race now double team Hawk, and Race gives Hawk a suplex upon tagging in. Another 2 count. Hawk fights back, and gorilla presses Race, at least until he messes up and drops him on his leg. Dangerous mistake there. Animal tags in and elbows race, before applying a chinlock of his own. The Road Warriors switch places, and Hawk tries to give headbutts. Not that those would hurt Race. He slams Race, misses an elbowdrop, and Hawk backdrops Race over the top rope. Hansen tosses the official out of the way, and WE’RE BRAWLING AGAIN. Both teams get counted out at 11:05, and the broadcast heads to a commercial.
My Thoughts: Other than the dangerously botched press slam that could have blown out one or both of Race’s knees, I thought this was a really good match given the time constraint. Great brawling with great characters, really stiff stuff. My only regret is that this match never happened again, I’m sure they could have burned the house down. **3/4, highly recommended for the novelty factor. This match could not have happened anywhere else.
Unfortunately, that’s just about all I could dig up. AWA Superclash 1985 is in September, but it will be reviewed in its own article. No worries there. That will come after the next WWF article. As of yet, it’s unfair to say who’s doing better in all the aspects of creating and running a good wrestling promotion. Of course, Mid-Atlantic is still just a territory, but it’s a very hot territory. Looking forward to seeing more. I did find a LOT more for later on.
Best: Magnum TA vs. Ric Flair. All of it.
Worst: Great American Bash 1985 tape. Come on guys, 30 minutes? So disappointing.
