Sage Cortez
Alright, so as stated previously…this will be December and January 1987 from the NWA! I considered watching one little match from November, but I changed my mind. There are a few super long matches in this bunch, but that’s fine with me! It’s a bit of a transition period, and there isn’t much of their TV available for fans to have now, so I’ll review what I can over the next few months until we get to later years.
– Taped to air December 6th, 1986 on World Championship Wrestling, from WTBS Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
Manny Fernandez & Rick Rude (W/Paul Jones) vs. The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express for the NWA World Tag Team Championships
Pre-Match Thoughts: I’m sure there are a lot of commercials during this match, but at the time of beginning to watch it, there were around 55 minutes left in this episode of the show. In case anyone doesn’t know, during Rude’s short NWA adventures, he teamed up with Fernandez…and it was a really good team. Hence this match.
Match Review: Fernandez is so good as a heel. Morton has an injured left arm from Starrcade, and he tries a cross-body anyway, which gets 1. Fernandez dodges a charge to the corner, gets elbowed in the face, and retreats to his corner. Morton gives him a hip-toss and backdrop, then draws Rude into the ring and they nearly brawl. Hm. Rude and Gibson are in now, and Rude misses a few charges at him, then gets monkey flipped. After some dropkicks, Fernandez rushes in and is given a hip-toss, then whipped into Rude, knocking him out of the ring. Great pace to this. Everything settles down, and Gibson gives Rude a fist drop when Rude tries a monkey flip. Rude is then given an armbar by Gibson, who tags in Morton. Morton begins to favor his arm after an arm drag, then tags out. Rude makes a tag as well, and Fernandez tries an elbow drop from the second rope, which misses. Morton tags in, and takes Fernandez down with an arm drag, hurting himself. Hm. Gibson tags in and holds the arm, then he and Morton cheat a little bit. That’s weird. The Express continues with an armbar for a little while, then Gibson lets go and gives Fernandez yet another hip-toss. A double team elbow follows, as Morton tags in. Then we go to break.
Back from that break, Morton tries a cross-body, which gets 2. And again, he gives Fernandez an arm drag. Gibson tries a roll-up for 2, and Rude gets to tag in after that. Rude works over Gibson’s leg, then tags out, and Fernandez comes in with a knee drop to Gibson’s leg. He locks up that leg for a little while, but Fernandez kicks his way out…only for Rude to tag in and resume punishment. Fernandez and Rude do a switch with the referee having his back turned, and claim they’ve made a tag. Why are babyfaces never allowed to get away with that? It’s one thing about wrestling that I’ve never understood. It’s so unbelievably stupid. Gibson gives Fernandez an enziguri, but turns towards the wrong corner and can’t make a tag. David Crockett is going crazy during this. Fernandez puts a spinning toe-hold on Gibson, and he kicks free, but of course Rude tags in. Rude continues to hold onto Gibson’s leg, until…wow, this goes on for a long time. Gibson gives Rude a huge backdrop that nearly tosses him over the ropes, and makes the tag. Morton and Fernandez are win, and Morton gives Fernandez a backdrop as well. Fernandez grabs Morton’s arm, and we go to a commercial break!
After the second commercial break, we come back with Rude and Fernandez working over Morton’s arm. They get Paul Jones involved in the act, and begin to tear a bandage off of Morton’s arm. Once it’s off, Fernandez gives him multiple knee drops on it for a 2 count. Morton tries to fight away from Rude, but winds up getting slammed on his arm. Rude lands a fist drop from the top rope, getting 2. I would have bought that as a fake finish years ago. Fernandez goes back to the arm of course, and once again the challengers do the switch. That’s such an annoying wrestling quirk. Morton tries to beat up Rude in the corner now, but misses a charge into the other corner. Bad idea. David Crockett is hilarious during this match, once again. The heels are double teaming like crazy and he sounds like he’s on the verge of crying. Fernandez draws Gibson into the ring again, and this time Rude comes down with an elbow from the top. Now we’re cutting out to a third commercial break.
After the break, Fernandez and Rude are still working over Morton. Man, this is face in peril overkill. Fernandez throws Morton to the outside, and then Rude puts him into the ring post. That cannot be good for the champions. Jones kicks Morton in the face as the official is distracted, and Rude elbows him from the apron. Whenever Morton does something, the challengers go straight back to working on his arm. There’s really not any other way this can go, is there? To another commercial we go!
We’re definitely nearing the end now. Rude still has Morton’s arm barred up, but is given an inverted atomic drop. Morton MAKES THE TAG, and Gibson is a house of fire. Backdrop for Fernandez, a dropkick too, and he puts a sleeper on him. Morton gives Rude a dropkick now, but he hurts his arm. As the referee is ushering him out, Gibson puts Fernandez in a rolling cradle. The official should be counting, but he’s not, so Rude gives Gibson a clothesline. Fernandez turns Gibson over, and PINS HIM WHILE HOLDING HIS TIGHTS. We have NEW CHAMPIONS at 26:58!
After the match, Jones, Rude, and Fernandez have some comments. Obviously, they’re very happy.
My Thoughts: Man, if I didn’t know, I would have been shocked. This got Rude and Fernandez over as being such a legitimate duo. Not just because they beat up Morton, but because after Morton made the tag, they pinned Gibson. That’s one of the more important details here. Another one meriting mention is that this match would have gone over a lot better outside of the studio. Granted, they wanted the match to have the larger TV audience, but I don’t think the placement of it was the right thing. Lastly, it should be mentioned that Rude’s physique is a bit different than the rest of the wrestlers in this promotion. It really stands out in this context while watching so many other wrestlers in one promotion. As for the match, the arm work went on for a really long time, and the match needs to be rated in the context that it went on for 50 MINUTES of TV time. It was a good, energy preserving style of match, and it told a story. There weren’t too many bumps taken for the time that the match lasted. That takes some off for me. I also believe that 50 minutes of that match may have been quite repetitive and hard to pay attention to. For example, Dave Meltzer stated in the WON that he fell asleep during the match. I’m going to give this ***1/4 and in good conscience I can’t recommend it. The other 25+ minute tag team matches with great reputations, were better than that. The ones that I’ve seen anyway. Perhaps the RnR’s match with the Russians was poorly rated by me. That may have been better too.
– Taped to air December 13th, 1986 on NWA Pro, from the Memorial Auditorium, in Spartanburg, South Carolina
Ron Garvin (NWA Mid-Atlantic Champion) & BARRY WINDHAM vs. Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khruschev for the NWA United States Tag Team Championships
Pre-Match Thoughts: Barry Windham is here! That merits capitalization in the title of the match, does it not? Windham has been in the promotion for like a week prior to this match.
Match Review: Windham is being pushed as a top athlete. As such, to start the match, he uses that great athleticism and gives Ivan a backdrop. Then he gets out of a head-scissors and gives Ivan an atomic drop. A bodyslam follows as well, and Garvin tags in, to help give Ivan a double back elbow for 2. Garvin gives Ivan an atomic drop as well, then covers for a 2 count. Khruschev tags in now, and is given a backdrop. Windham tags in to give him a suplex, and follows with a gutwrench suplex for 2.
After the commercial, I assume this has been clipped heavily, as we come back with Khruschev having Garvin in a bear hug. Garvin misses a charge to the corner on Ivan, and Ivan goes for a knee drop from the top rope, which misses. Good heat for this match. Khruschev and Ivan exchange tags, and Ivan covers for 2 after a double axehandle from the top rope. Garvin makes the tag after a boot to Khruschev’s chest, and Windham is a house of fire. He gives Khruschev the big LARIAT, but the cover gets broken up. They all fight in the ring, and Khruschev grabs the chain, and hits Garvin in the back with it while the referee isn’t paying attention. He goes to hit Windham with it as Windham is standing on the apron, but Windham blocks it, sunset flips Khruschev, and wins the titles for his team! I don’t have a time for it.
My Thoughts: Well, I find it a bit strange that the titles changed to a random team like this one. I also find it strange that they were changed to two singles wrestlers. But hey, I can’t complain too much. These guys were better workers than Ivan and Khruschev. Shortly after this, the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title was vacated, and we’d never see it again. Too bad, not so sad. **1/4 for the match. It was obviously ripped to shreds in editing. Not long after this, Krusher Khruschev got upset with his Starrcade payout and left. To replace him, Crockett brought in a huge roid machine Russian named Vladimir Pietrov. They had planned for him to feud with Nikita, but uh…that didn’t happen.
– Taped to air December 27th, 1986 on World Championship Wrestling, from WTBS Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette & Big Bubba) vs. Barry Windham & Ron Garvin for the NWA United States Tag Team Championships
Pre-Match Thoughts: Yes! This is the shit I want to see. Before the match, Ron Garvin is made to choose which of his two titles he’d rather keep. Of course, the Mid-Atlantic Title goes into the bin.
Match Review: Windham and Condrey are going to start the match, right as we are blessed with Jim Cornette’s presence on commentary. Windham has Condrey in a head-scissors, but Condrey quickly reaches the ropes. That happens twice, then Eaton tags in and is taken down by his left arm. Garvin tags in now, and he’s ready for a fight. He drives Eaton back to the corner, and punches him. Condrey tags in and puts Garvin in a front face-lock, then after a bit Garvin small packages him for 2. Eaton comes in, and gets hip-tossed. Garvin gives him a flying head-scissors, and tags in his partner, as we head to a commercial.
Back from it, Windham is giving Condrey the business. A dropkick, bodyslam, and a headlock takeover. Eaton comes in and gets taken down as well, then is given a hip-toss. Eaton comes back with a kick to the chest, but misses an elbow drop and Garvin tags in to give him a TOP ROPE SUNSET FLIP. BRILLIANT. It only gets a 2 count. Condrey tags in, and Garvin gives him a suplex for 2. Eaton comes back in and starts choking Garvin, then locks his head up. Poor Garvin. Eaton continues with chinlocks and front face-locks, then with the referee distracted, Big Bubba punches Garvin. Condrey and Eaton work Garvin over, and after an elbow, we go to another commercial. Drat.
It appears that Windham has made the tag, and is beating up Eaton. Windham misses a charge though, and the Midnight Express gets control again. Condrey gives Windham a suplex for 2, then the referee gets distracted again and Bubba hits Windham in the face. Condrey gives Windham an atomic drop, follows with a clothesline, and tags out. Windham makes the tag, and who knows what happens now. He gives Eaton a backdrop, but the Express gets control quickly and Condrey gives Garvin a suplex. Another Eaton elbow gets 2, and he puts Garvin in an abdominal stretch. Eaton turns it into a pinning combination for 2, and there are three minutes left in the time limit. An Eaton small package gets 2, and he starts poking Garvin in the eye. Sounds like a plan. One minute left, and it’s time for something awesome. Condrey gives Garvin a powerslam, and they follow with a ROCKET LAUNCHER. Somehow that only gets a 2 count. 30 seconds left, and Garvin is given a brainbuster. During the cover, the bell rings, and that’s the 20 minute time limit draw. Well done.
Of course, after the match, Cornette hits Garvin in the gut repeatedly with the tennis racket. Windham gets tossed out of the ring, but he gets back in and clears it. Guess we have a feud.
My Thoughts: I enjoyed this match quite a lot, more than the first match in this article at that. It wasn’t about moves, but about these guys working very hard. It was a good way to kick off something new. ***1/2. I feel like Windham may be wasted in a tag team role, but hey, that’s their choice. It’s not like they have a ton of babyfaces available to challenge Ric Flair, so that’s at their peril.
– December 29th, 1986, from the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California
THE BUNKHOUSE STAMPEDE
Pre-Match Thoughts: Our participants are the MOD Squad, Dick Murdoch, Teijo Khan, Ken Timbs, the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, the Road Warriors, the Midnight Express, Manny Fernandez & Rick Rude, Sam Houston, Barry Windham, Pat Rose, the Warlord, and the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. I’ve never seen one of these before so I don’t know what to make of it.
Match Review: So, everyone starts fighting while wearing street clothes. Except for the Road Warriors, who wear their ring gear. Haha. This match gives people a good chance to see the lack of depth in the NWA roster. Robert Gibson starts whipping Manny Fernandez with a belt, then gives it to Animal who does the same thing. There’s brawling going on at ringside too, but this really doesn’t seem to be any different than a battle royal. It looks like Arn Anderson has bladed, which is cracking me up. Bobby Eaton may have done so as well. He and Paul Ellering start brawling on the floor, then Windham atomic drops Eaton into Ellering, and hits Eaton with a microphone. A few guys tumble out after that, and it looks like the eliminations have begun. They all happen so quickly that I can’t list them, but in short time we’re down to the point where only the Midnight Express and Road Warriors are left. Condrey sets Animal up for a big shot, but gets hit and tumbles out of the ring. Eaton gets knocked out as well, and it seems as if the Road Warriors are going to fight. Instead, Ellering instructs the refere to flip a coin. Well, damn. That sucks. Hawk wins the coin flip, and subsequently the match at 7:30.
My Thoughts: I can’t believe this match ever drew money. Not only was it too short, but it was frankly boring. I hope that the Bunkhouse Stampede PPV of 1988 will have a better one involved. Never seen it, don’t know what happens. 1/2*.
– Taped to air January 3rd, 1987 on NWA Pro, from the Memorial Auditorium in Greenville, South Carolina
Robert Gibson vs. Rick Rude (NWA Tag Team Champion) (w/Paul Jones)
Pre-Match Thoughts: Quite awesomely, Rude enters to ‘We Will Rock You’. I wasn’t expecting that!
Match Review: Rude and Gibson start the match by fighting over holds, which Gibson gets the better of in the end. Rude wants a test of strength, but Gibson kicks him in the gut and takes him down with a headlock. Rude hurts his knee on a leapfrog attempt, and sells it to great degree. Nearly to the degree that I’d buy it as being a legitimate injury. This is playing off Morton having had the injured arm when Rude & Fernandez won the belts. Of course, Gibson works over that left leg of Rude’s, then we go to commercial.
Back from the break, Rude’s trying to stand up. Obviously he hardly can. Gibson gives him an atomic drop, but Rude rakes Gibson’s eyes during a leg-lock. Rude tries hitting Gibson with a knee and hurts himself, then gets taken down yet again by a drop toe-hold. It’s weird seeing the babyface in control of the match like this. After Gibson holds Rude down for a while, Rude gets up and knocks Gibson out of the ring. He quickly bashes Gibson’s face into the canvas, and tosses him back in, where Paul Jones punches Gibson in the face as the referee is distracted. That’s very nice of Rude to do that. Rude now has Gibson in a toe-hold, but Gibson fights out and gives him a cross-body from the 2nd rope for a very close 2 count. Gibson also gives Rude a small package for 2, and a backslide as well…which gets a two count as the bell expires due to the time limit. Don’t know what the time limit could have been.
Manny Fernandez runs out from the back and they set Gibson up for their huge tag team finisher, but Ricky Morton runs out from the back as well. And the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express clears the ring to huge cheers!
My Thoughts: I thought this was okay, and it was weird to see a heel in peril match that didn’t involve Ric Flair. It isn’t that common from this promotion for that to happen. **. This has all the makings of a great feud between these two teams, but a lot of things happened to stop it from having a conclusion. It will be talked about in future articles.
– Taped to air January 3rd, 1987 on World Championship Wrestling, from WTBS Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
Tully Blanchard fighting with Barry Windham
I only have a look back at what happened. Blanchard vs. Horner wasn’t something I could find. Anyway, at the end of the match, Barry Windham protested the referee’s decision in that bout. So, Tully attacked Tim Horner, and Windham wanted to take care of that shit. Instead of taking care of it, the Horsemen all got in the ring and kicked Barry’s ass. Poor fella.
– Taped to air January 17th, 1987 on World Championship Wrestling, from WTBS Studios in Atlanta, Georgia
Barry Windham (United States Tag Champion) vs. Ric Flair (w/JJ Dillon, Tully Blanchard, & Arn Anderson) for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: This was quite impromptu! It’s taking place from Spartanburg, South Carolina, and being shown on World Championship Wrestling as a look back.
Match Review: Our video takes off with Windham beating the tar out of Flair. He gives Flair a dropkick, and here comes support for Windham! The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express and Dusty Rhodes come out to make sure that the Horsemen can’t interfere! That’s what I want to see. Imagine being in the arena for this super hot angle. Even the cops look excited. Windham gives Flair the 10 punch combo in the corner, then shoots him overe to the other corner and down to the outside. Flair’s selling here is amazing. Windham suplexes Flair back into the ring, and follows with a knee drop for 2. Flair headbutts Windham in the balls to get clear of him, then tosses him out of the ring. He throws Windham into the guardrail, then sends him back into the ring after a chop. Then Flair and Windham brawl, and Windham gets the better of it. He drops an elbow and punches Flair repeatedly, then knocks him over the top rope. Dusty throws him back into the ring, and now this is basically a lumberjack match. Flair and Windham then choke each other, and it’s clear that Flair has been busted open hard-way by Windham. Windham blocks a knee drop, knocks Flair down, and locks in a FIGURE-FOUR as the crowd is going crazy. JJ rakes Windham’s eyes as Tommy Young isn’t paying attention, then Flair drops Windham crotch-first on the top rope. Windham lands a cross-body on Flair for 2, then sends him to the outside. Flair comes and goes up top, getting slammed down by the challenger. Windham heads up top, and comes down with a missile dropkick. That was beautiful. Flair kicks out at 2, but winds up getting thrown into the corner. He comes out of the corner, and Windham gives him the LARIAT. Windham goes for the cover, and everyone runs into the ring! That was 7 minutes of greatness.
The babyfaces clear the ring after the match, and of course, Windham has a few things to say.
My Thoughts: Windham gives a great short promo. Now I’m wondering why they never gave Windham the opportunity to be a top guy as the years went on. Windham had only been in the promotion for a matter of weeks, and they got him over to huge degree. The impending fracture of the Four Horsemen is also very apparent. Ole wasn’t even there! It can be hard to rate such a good short match, but I’d give this ***1/4. Like I said, 7 minutes of greatness. Recommended.
George South vs. LEX LUGER
Pre-Match Thoughts: The Lex Express has arrived! The segment starts with Lex being introduced by Tony Schiavone and David Crockett. Then Lex cuts a promo. He claims that he’s going to become one of the Horsemen. The reaction from our commentators is one of surprise. JJ Dillon comes out later in the show, saying that he’s interested in having a look at Lex Luger. So, here the match is.
Match Review: Well, I did say earlier that Rude was the only person in the promotion with this kind of physique. That didn’t last long! Luger pushes South to the ground, and follows with a dangerous looking choke lift. Luger gives South a suplex, and a big powerslam. Luger puts George South in the TORTURE RACK, and that is all. Match went like a minute. Luger has a few things to say about himself after the match, too. Barry Windham comes out to confont him, and says that Luger doesn’t want to be a Horseman. Luger says that this is about money. I love quasi-shoot comments like that.
My Thoughts: Luger is really impressive and the females like his body. I don’t rate squash matches, but this guy does seem like someone who belongs in the Four Horsemen.
– Taped to air January 20th, 1987 on Worldwide Wrestling, from Cumberland County Coliseum, in Fayetteville, North Carolina
Barry Windham (US Tag Champion) vs. Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Pre-Match Thoughts: Yes, this is that match. Despite Crockett’s excursions to the western part of the territory, the location of this taping illustrates that this is still a territory. Dusty Rhodes is on commentary, and this angle is really hot, so this should be a great show all around. The time limit is 45 minutes, and this was the entire episode of Worldwide.
Match Review: They shake hands at the start of the match, that’s respect brother. Windham takes Flair down with a hard shoulderblock, and then they do some great chain wrestling. Windham gets the better of it by putting Flair in a hammerlock, then transitions to an armbar. Windham and Flair fight over a headlock now, and Flair lays in some chops in the corner to break free. However, he gets whipped into the other buckle and given a hip-toss along with a bodyslam. A headlock takeover by Windham gets a 2 count, as they work that hold for a little bit. Flair gets out, takes Windham down with a shoulderblock, then goes for another one and Windham gives him a drop toe-hold. Nicely done. Dusty is rambling like crazy on commentary. Tony’s non-reaction to it is making me laugh. Again Flair and Windham exchange shots, which Windham gets the best of before giving Flair a hip-toss. Then he gives Flair a great looking dropkick, and knocks him out of the ring. Flair takes a walk, and surprisingly isn’t mobbed by the crowd. Some well behaved people here. What’s changed? Flair gets bested again during some chain wrestling, and taken down with a shoulderblock. This time, instead of getting trapped, he flapjacks Windham onto the top rope.
After a commercial, the two men are clearly in the middle of some grueling wrestling. Flair reaches the ropes to break a head-scissors, and Windham responds by going back to the trusty headlock. Windham takes Flair down again, and once again Flair uses his brain and Windham’s momentum to toss him out of the ring. Flair beats Windham up on the outside, and sends him into the post. Nice to see Flair finally get some offense in one of these matches. Its been a LONG TIME since he’s had this much offense in any match of his that I’ve reviewed. Flair hauls Windham into the ring, and goes to work on the arm that he threw into the post. Dusty’s commentary, I mean….it’s killing me. Tony hardly even gets the chance to speak. Tommy Young unclenches Barry Windham’s fist for him, and that allows Flair to keep control. Don’t like that spot. Flair continues with the armbar, and shoots the half for a 2 count. Flair tries cheating by putting his foot on the ropes, but Windham’s shoulder won’t stay down that long. Flair continues to beat Windham up in the corner, but Windham fights back with some punches. He gives Flair 10 in the corner, and the crowd thinks Flair is nearly finished. He’s not, but Windham continues to beat him up. Flair’s trick is to roll Windham up and put his feet on the ropes, which gets 2. Flair gets sent into the turnbuckle and over the top, and Windham follows him to the outside.
We come back from the commercial with Flair controlling Windham again. Aw. Flair elbows Windham over the top rope and into the guardrail, then hauls him back in with a suplex…nope, Windham reverses and punches him in the face. Had me fooled. Windham covers for 2, but is given a back suplex. Flair locks in the FIGURE-FOUR, and Windham accidentally pokes Tommy Young in the eye during it. I bet that hurt. The hold is broken when Flair is caught cheating, and he gives Windham a shin-breaker anyway. Flair tries for his finisher again, but Windham cradles him for a 2 count. Dusty asks for beer after that. HAHA. Flair throws Windham to the outside again, but Windham lands on his feet, climbs up to the apron, and gives Flair a sunset flip for 2. Wow. Flair puts a SLEEPER on Windham now, but he flops to the ground and kicks Flair to break it. Then Windham lands a clothesline from the 2nd rope, and Flair sticks his foot on the bottom rope to break the cover. This is fantastic. Windham gives Flair a bodyslam now, but misses a splash. Windham gives Flair a suplex though, and goes back to the top rope again. Wonder what he has planned. He went for a huge elbow drop, and missed. That’s a hard bump. Flair goes for a knee drop, and misses as well. Windham punches Flair over the top, follows him and throws him back in, and goes for a figure-four of his own! It’s locked in. Flair reaches the ropes, but he looks wiped out anyway. Right as Flair gives Windham an inverted atomic drop, we go to another break.
We’re back, with both guys trading chops. That’s what I want to see! Windham reverses a hip-toss attempt into an abdominal stretch, then Flair hip-tosses Windham onto Tommy Young. Interesting ref bump there. Windham climbs up top with Flair distracted, lands the HUGE MISSILE DROPKICK, and only gets 2 as Young struggles to make the count. Damn. Windham goes for a sleeper of his own, but Flair reverses it into a back suplex. The old dog knows more tricks than the young one. Windham whips Flair into the corner now, he runs across the ring apron, and climbs up top to give Windham a bodypress. Wow! Windham reverses it into a pin of his own for 2, then puts the sleeper back on Flair. Windham tries a rolling cradle, it gets 2, and then tries the 10 punch combo in the corner again. It works, and Windham covers for a 2 count. 2 minutes are left in the time limit. Windham flies out of the corner with his LARIAT, but he’s too far away from Flair to make a quick cover. Flair scurries to the apron, and Windham suplexes him back into the ring. After a knee drop he covers for 2, and 1 minute is left. Windham tries a backslide now, and it gets another close 2 count. Flair goes up top after an elbow, and Windham slams him all the way down. Windham follows with a powerslam, it gets the closest of 2 counts. Windham signals for the LARIAT, he gives it, but we’re out of time. 45 minutes of THAT. Windham grabs the microphone, and says he’ll win the belt someday. He drops the belt right on Flair, and leaves. That’s respect, brother.
My Thoughts: That is one of the best matches I’ve ever seen. It isn’t just that it was these two wrestlers, who are admittedly among my favorites. It’s the little things. Windham and Flair both going to holds that the other used, like the sleeper. Windham’s lariat constantly taking him too far away from Flair to make a quick cover. Blocking moves that were already used. All those things matter. I’m still wondering how Windham is going to be used, but this mini-feud with Flair was outstanding. They got him over with just a few weeks in the promotion. That’s how you do it. ***** and highest recommendation for a match that will take you around 30 minutes to watch, as the commercials are cut out. If this isn’t a 5 star match, what the hell is? It still holds up without heading into repetition territory as some other Flair matches do.
Great two months here. Fortunately, some of the matches I was having a hard time finding, showed up. That’s not always going to be the case for the year 1987, but it’s nice to be helped out here. Lots of guys made their debut during these two months. Most of them are quality talent, some aren’t, but this format allows me to avoid the ones who aren’t. Despite the lack of footage out there, there’s a lot of good stuff coming up! Next for me will be Saturday Night’s Main Event #9. Now we’re getting to an era where I’ve seen more of this stuff before. See you guys next time!
Best: Barry Windham vs. Ric Flair. All of it, really.
Worst: Vladimir Pietrov. I saw some footage of the guy, chose not to review it. He’s undeniably awful.
