Through the Years: NWA Matches & Angles from Halloween Havoc to Starrcade 1990

 

To talk about the matches between Halloween Havoc and Starrcade and not mention that I found out whose idea it was to do the Halloween Havoc main event finish would be pointless. I’m going to start with it. Apparently the idea for that match was Barry Windham’s. I have no idea why they’d use it, but I guess they trusted him. Okay. That’s hardly the only thing worth mentioning. Jim Cornette and Stan Lane quit the company after Halloween Havoc. In the WON, it said that Cornette was being ignored when he was trying to talk to Ole Anderson. So, Ole told him if he didn’t like it he could leave, and he left. It also said that Stan Lane wanted to take a break. As was becoming standard practice in the business, just like when Rick Rude quit the WWF, the NWA enforced the contract of Jim Cornette and Stan Lane, so they weren’t allowed to work anywhere else.

 

– Taped to air November 3rd, 1990, on World Championship Wrestling

 

Michael Hayes (w/Little Richard Marley) vs. Ricky Morton

Pre-Match Thoughts: This is a good way to start this article. No Garvin is an addition by subtraction, I think. With Robert Gibson out, we’ll see how long Tommy Rich sticks around as Morton’s partner. I really have no idea at all. Hayes and Morton had promos before the match, Morton’s was quite funny.

Match Review: Finally this match starts, and Morton rams Hayes into the buckle quite a lot. Morton then knocks Hayes out of the ring with some punches, getting a decent ovation. Hayes gets back in there, and these guys lock up, leading to Morton landing more punches to knock Hayes out of the ring. Hayes gets in and rakes the eyes, then goes to work with his own punches. Morton comes back with a backdrop, and knocks Hayes out of the ring again. Marley winds up distracting Morton, which leads to a big left hand from Hayes. Hayes goes to work on the leg by wrenching it into the post, that’s very smart. After kicking it a bunch, he trips Morton and continues to wrench it. Morton fights out, but Hayes takes him back down, only to miss a knee drop. These fans are massively behind Morton here. Morton tries a backdrop, but Hayes tries the DDT, and Morton pushes him away. Morton the punches Hayes around a bit, and puts him in tree-of-woe position. Morton stomps on Hayes, but here comes Jimmy Garvin for the DQ at 5:58.

Tommy Rich runs out and throws Garvin out of the ring, then they give Hayes a double suplex. Morton and Rich now want to do what Hayes and Garvin did to Gibson, but Marley pushes Morton off the top rope, so that’s not going to happen. This isn’t over though! The Freebirds are at the podium with Jim Ross, and Jimmy Garvin is going crazy. Ricky Morton grabs the microphone in the ring, and calls them back down there. IF THEY GOT THE GUTS. Apparently they do have the guts, but it’s 3 on 2. They get in the ring, and Marley does not, so I guess it’s 2 on 2. Okay with me! Both teams keep fighting, and the babyfaces get the better of it! Now, for whatever reason, EL GIGANTE walks out there, and deals with Marley right as the show runs out of time.

My Thoughts: This was a fun match, but it was window dressing for everything that happened after it. Too short to give a good rating to, but it would seem that Morton is still going to be fun even with his partner not being around. I’m happy about that. *1/2.

 

– Taped to air November 10th, 1990, on World Championship Wrestling, from Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia

 

Bobby Eaton vs. Sting (NWA Champion)

Pre-Match Thoughts: Cornette’s gone, and this isn’t a title match. What it is, is a hell of a matchup. I don’t really care about Cornette being gone or it not being a title match when that’s the case. Eaton getting a singles chance to have a match like this is awesome in my book, he definitely earned it. The crowd has their Sting chants going and all.

Match Review: Eaton’s right hand does nothing to the Stinger, but Sting’s hip toss does do something for sure. Eaton stalls a little bit, then has a headlock slapped on him. Sting follows with some shoulderblocks, then there’s a monkey flip. Back to the headlock again, and Sting follows with a bodyslam that clears Eaton from the ring. Eaton comes back in and knocks Sting out of the ring with a knee, then Eaton goes for a double axehandle to the outside, only for Sting to hit him on the way down. Eaton then posts Sting, but misses a charge and hits the post, then is given a hip toss on the floor. Nice action here. Sting throws Eaton from the apron to the railing, that was really cool looking as well.

After a commercial, Sting has a wristlock on Eaton that is transitioned to an armbar. Eaton fires off a back elbow at his first chance, then takes Sting down with a neckbreaker. Eaton heads up top again, this time he comes down with a FLYING ELBOW for 2. Eaton then takes Sting out with a clothesline for 2 again, then he dropkicks Sting’s leg. I haven’t seen that kind of attack a single time when watching these matches, and I’ve watched over five years worth. Always something new to see. Eaton uses the ropes to work on the knee, then locks that left leg up. Now there’s WEIRD MUSIC being played in the arena. Oh boy. Sting looks around the arena for something, but doesn’t find it, and tries a STINGER SPLASH after running across the ring on one leg. He puts Eaton in the SCORPION DEATHLOCK, BUT THE BLACK SCORPION’S VOICE IS BEING PLAYED IN THE ARENA. HOW CAN HE CONCENTRATE? Eaton then attacks Sting and takes him down for a 2 count, as the Black Scorpion continues to rant. Sting backdrops Eaton, then backdrops him again, throwing him over the top rope in the process. I guess that’s a disqualification at 11:04, but the selective application of that rule is amazing. Two random guys run into the ring to attack Sting, but he fights them off as a world champion should do. Would have been awful if he didn’t. That was part of the angle.

My Thoughts: This match was going really well, but went to shit at the end when that Black Scorpion stuff started playing in the arena and the match turned into a series of snap mares until the whole thing was thrown out. Too bad. Eaton did great, he gave Sting a hard match, and could have been built up into a worthy challenger. Instead, they didn’t do that, and that was really up to them. Until somebody else was in charge and they did. **3/4, I know they had a match in 1995, and maybe it was better. Probably not, but one can hope. I’ll watch it when it comes time, I believe.

 

Rip Rogers vs. Brian Pillman

Pre-Match Thoughts: I’ve heard this was good, and I haven’t watched a Pillman match in a little while thanks to Ole Anderson completely burying him. That’s really all I’ve got. Rogers is decked out in pink.

Match Review: Due to Rogers being decked out in pink, Pillman is doing the limp wristed thing. These guys lock up, and exchange slaps. Then they exchange chops, and Pillman leaps over a Rogers charge, which leads to a Pillman hip toss, dropkick, and arm drag. Pillman drops a leg on the arm, and cradles Rogers up for 2. Pillman takes him down with another arm drag, and starts leading a “faggot” chant. Wonderful. Pillman charges to the corner, gets flipped onto the apron, and flies up to the top for a double axehandle that gets 2. Pillman goes back to the armbar, but gets tossed into the corner and has his face raked. A lot. Rogers then throws Pillman to the outside, then climbs up top and comes down with a double axehandle. Rogers then posts Pillman, and sends him back in. Rogers heads up to the second turnbuckle for another double axehandle, then rakes Pillman’s back. Pillman misses a charge to the corner shortly afterward, and gets nailed with a back elbow that gets 2. Pillman comes back with a sunset flip that gets 2, and follows with a bodyslam. He misses an elbow drop, so Rogers covers for 2. Rogers goes for a bodyslam, but Pillman falls on top for 2. Rogers then puts a sleeper on Pillman, which draws the crowd into making more chants. Very nice of them. Pillman then dodges a charge to the corner, and gives Rogers a flying head-scissors to send him to the outside. Pillman then flies to the outside with a springboard cross body, and chops Rogers before giving him an atomic drop. That’s followed with a clothesline, and Pillman sends Rogers back inside. Rogers was ready, and blocks a backdrop. He then tries a suplex, which Pillman reverses. Pillman then heads up top, and Rogers hits the ropes to crotch him. How mean. Rogers goes up for a SUPERPLEX, but Pillman knocks him down and comes down with a cross body that gets 3 at 8:25.

My Thoughts: This was solid stuff, I can see why this match has been recommended. The most obvious reason was that Rogers was a low-level territorial wrestler who was given a chance to work. The other reason is that the match was just good. They worked a basic style, but everything was smooth and looked good. They also utilized nice high spots and the match was treated like it mattered by the wrestlers. That’s always nice. ***, good finish and a lot of stiff chops in this one.

 

Michael Hayes (w/Little Richard Marley) vs. Ricky Morton

Pre-Match Thoughts: Same as the earlier match, but with more story behind it after what happened the previous week. I like these TV feuds that are actually furthered along with matches as opposed to the house shows being the place where the feud happens. I generally can’t stand the latter.

Match Review: Morton runs straight down to the ring, eschewing the introduction, so we’re underway. He attakcs Hayes, and takes him down with a drop toe-hold. He wants to take that leg out, you see. After leg dropping the leg, Hayes leaves the ring to prevent further attacks. When he gets back in, Morton resumes his attack, and takes him to the corner for some punches. Morton gets clocked with a big left, so Hayes heads up top. He comes down with a punch, then drops an elbow on Morton. Hayes then goes to a chinlock, but lets go quickly. Morton misses a dropkick, so Hayes drops a leg on him. He distracts the referee so Little Richard can help him out with a choke, then Hayes goes to work on the left leg of Morton. He stomps away at it, but Morton rams his head into the buckle a bunch. Hayes stops that with an elbow, then covers for 2. He goes back to the chinlock, which Morton powers out of again. They trade punches, then Morton takes Hayes down with a knee lift. Now Little Richard trips Morton, but Hayes misses an elbow drop. Morton takes Hayes down with a cross body, and Garvin runs out for the DQ at 6:22, breaking up that cover.

Tommy Rich runs out there to join the fight, and here comes Bobby Eaton. This is too weird. Morton and Rich get beaten down for a while, but here comes EL GIGANTE to scare them out of the ring. He winds up giving Eaton a gigantic bodyslam, and that’s the end of it all.

My Thoughts: This match wasn’t as good as the previous, but they were building to something more meaningful. El Gigante being involved was mostly to remind people that he was still around. It’s funny to see him show up there, though. Match was worse than the first, so *1/4.

 

– Taped to air November 24th, 1990, on World Championship Wrestling, from Cobb County Civic Center in Marietta, Georgia

 

RUNNING THE GAUNTLET: Ric Flair vs. Ron Simmons (NWA Tag Team Champion, w/Teddy Long)

Pre-Match Thoughts: To start this edition of the gauntlet, Ric Flair beat Buddy Landel. I’m surprised they’d book this for Ric Flair, it would seem that he’s above it, but I suppose not. Perhaps it gives some legitimacy to the entire thing. Flair’s victory over Landel was very weak, a floatover pin after a back suplex. Simmons cut a promo before the match, it was pretty good. HE’S PROVEN HIMSELF. Flair also cut a promo, and things were still staying heel based as Simmons wasn’t slapping hands. That’s funny.

Match Review: Flair attacks Simmons from behind, so here we go. He tries to work him over, but Simmons nails him with a clothesline. That’s followed with a press slam, and a second one by Simmons. Flair goes to the outside, but Simmons hits him with another clothesline. that looked impressive. Flair throws Simmons into the barricade, but it does nothing to Simmons, who gets poked in the eyes. That did something. Flair tries to hit Simmons with a chair, but it gets taken away from him, so he sends Simmons back into the rail. Back in they go, and these guys trade punches, with Simmons getting the best of it. He throws Flair into the corner and out to the floor as a result, then Flair’s chops do nothing to him. Simmons then beats Flair up, and brings him back in again. Flair knees Simmons, but Simmons comes back with a flying clothesline. Now Arn Anderson runs to the ring, which leads to a DQ at 3:26. Flair failed to run the gauntlet! Butch Reed comes out to even the score, and these guys fight until some officials come out to separate them.

My Thoughts: Flair was clearly not used to working such short matches, as it seemed like these guys ran out of stuff to do. This was a waste of the gauntlet concept, as it seemed they were destined to do just like they wasted everything else. Pretty annoyed by that, all in all. *.

 

MICHAEL WALLSTREET VIGNETTES

 

Hey, there’s stuff from Clash 13 here. I really wanted to avoid that. Anyway, check this out! The first one has a skit where some bankers ask MICHAEL WALLSTREET what he wants to do with his investments. I really like this gimmick, but he didn’t stick around much longer. He needed something like this to revitalize his career though. Also of note is that Alexandra York is here! This also alludes to the computer formula that allows York to predict every matchup, a few months on. I dig this.

 

– Taped to air December 8th, 1990, on World Championship Wrestling, from Dothan, Alabama

 

The Fabulous Freebirds & Bobby Eaton (w/Little Richard Marley) vs. Tom Zenk, Ricky Morton, and George South

Pre-Match Thoughts: So, with George South (ha) in place of El Gigante, this is pretty much how the November 10th episode finished. Time to see that followed up in a meaningful way. It’s really weird seeing Eaton tagging with a different act, he looks way out of place.

Match Review: The bell hasn’t rung, but George South was given a DOUBLE DDT by the Freebirds, and they pretty much destroyed the poor guy. I don’t think he’ll be participating here. So, Tom Zenk runs out to the ring, and takes South’s place in the match! The babyfaces then start beating up the heels, and clear them out of the ring. Eaton and Morton begin the match properly, and Eaton takes Morton down with a shoulderblock. Morton comes back with a sleeper, but Eaton breaks it, only to be rammed into the buckle. Morton then comes off the top with a cross body, and cradles Eaton up for 2, with Hayes breaking the cover. He had tagged in as well, and Morton knocks him down with some rights. Rich tags in for the first time, and trips Hayes, leading to a SPINNING TOE-HOLD. Garvin tags in and gets put in one of those as well, then Zenk makes a switch in. They give Garvin one of those wishbone splits, and Eaton tags in as well. Eaton works Zenk over in the corner, but Zenk gives him a backdrop. That’s followed with a bodyslam, and the Freebirds refuse to make a tag with Eaton. That’s a dick thing to do. Hayes finally does tag in, as does Ricky Morton, and Morton misses a charge to the corner. Hayes throws Morton to the outside, but Morton sends Eaton into the post after a reversal. Garvin tags in and slams Morton for 2, then Morton comes back with a sunset flip for 2. Garvin tags out after a clothesline, and Eaton and Hayes then work Morton’s leg over. Morton does give Hayes an inverted atomic drop, and makes the tag out to Rich. Or not, as the referee didn’t see it. Then the babyfaces run in there, and that’s going to get the match thrown out after about 8 minutes.

My Thoughts: Nice brawl, and they split these six up at Starrcade to create two separate matches. That’s good, as it created the opportunity to see better matches rather than a worse six-man tag. The match was fun, given the angle that kicked it off. On top of that, they’ve gotten me interested in a feud that has Tommy Rich involved. That’s really tough to do, but they did it. ** for this one, and that’s all for the matches here.

 

As I said, that’s all for the matches, but certainly not for the news. One of the first things I saw was that the company didn’t know about Art Barr being a sexual abuser when they hired him. Eventually they let him go, but that seems like a big oversight. In addition to that, they let go of Ole Anderson, and everyone assumed that Dusty Rhodes would be the next booker, which he was. I’m sure Clash 13 played a part in Ole being given his walking papers, but I haven’t watched that yet. In between that and the time Dusty took over, the WON said that Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, Kevin Sullivan, and Ric Flair did the booking. Until Dusty took over, the WWF buried him and had him get pinned repeatedly by Virgil on house shows. In addition to that, the NWA name was being phased out in favor of WCW, so with that situation cleared up, I’ll be calling them WCW from now on. Except during Clash of the Champions 13, which I’ll be reviewing next!

Best: Michael Wallstreet vignette. There’s not much for choice, but this was great.

Worst: There not being much for choice. Booker being removed leads to some weak TV, I suppose.