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Post by loadedglove on May 6, 2013 19:39:26 GMT -5
FINALLY, I have the UWF shows for Oct 87, week 2 ...
3. UWF (TBS Sun night) – 1 hr
Jim Ross and Magnum TA welcome fans to the show, and Magnum says he’s glad to be back, but he still can’t believe Dream turned on him that way. And now, the “Midnight Rider” is U.S. champ, but Magnum says he knows from personal experience that Nikita Koloff is a dangerous, tenacious foe! As for the UWF action, we have a barn burner of a show – capped off by a rematch of the TV title bout from two weeks ago, Ted DiBiase vs Owen Hart! DiBiase and UWF Commissioner Bob Roop are at ringside with our hosts, and Roop says that this entire Midnight Rider fiasco is being reviewed by the UWF and NWA, the sanctioning bodies that will soon merge into WCW, and the U.S. title could wind up vacant, since it is OBVIOUS that the Rider is simply Dusty Rhodes behind a mask. DiBiase: “Bob Roop, that is SLANDER, and if the board of directors want to make an issue of it, then my lawyers will have them for BREAKFAST! The fact is, there is ZERO PROOF that Dusty Rhodes and the Midnight Rider are the same man, and to show that they are not, on today’s show, Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch were supposed to be up next, wrestling Chris Adams and Brickhouse Brown, but if the commissioner here is OK with it, The Outlaws will make a substitution, and Dusty Rhodes WILL TEAM WITH The Midnight Rider against Adams & Brown!” Roop says that’s fine, but he’ll be watching for any funny stuff.
*BREAK*
Dusty Rhodes & The Midnight Rider beat Brickhouse Brown & Chris Adams in 5:50, when The Rider pinned Adams after a brainbuster (**). As you’ve likely guessed, The Rider now wrestles a LOT like Dick Murdoch. Post-match, the ref hands The Rider the belt and he immediately hands it to Rhodes, who starts to put it on for a second before acting like he just remembered something, at which point he hands it back to the Rider. The Rider (who also talks just like Murdoch) comes to the announce table, and DiBiase whispers something in his ear. Then, the Rider says he has a major announcement to make next week, on the Saturday TBS show! Ted DiBiase says he’ll be back soon to take Owen Hart’s TV title, and the Outlaws walk off.
*BREAK*
Sting & Rick Steiner beat Powers of Pain in 3:52, when Steiner pinned Warlord after a Steiner Line (*). Ross sells the idea that the Powers are Gilbert’s goons, and he has likely coached them extensively on Sting and Steiner, yet the babyfaces trounce them handily, and then they chase Gilbert from ringside, up the aisle.
*BREAK*
Main event: Ted DiBiase challenges Owen Hart for the TV title. Ross says we have some excellent standby bouts, including Hacksaw Duggan and World Champ Steve Williams versus The Funks, in case we have time after this match. However, we don’t. DiBiase and Hart go back and forth for 28 minutes, until Ross says we’re out of TV time. Throughout the match, Ross says Owen’s almost an underdog, even as champ, as DiBiase is one of the top grapplers on Earth and one of the greatest scientific wrestlers ever. Still, Owen counters DiBiase even more than DiBiase does likewise, and as we run out of TV time, with the credits running, Owen has reversed the figure four and broken the hold just enough to shift his legs and turn it into a sharpshooter! DiBiase is screaming, but NOT submitting, as Ross says we have to go, and the bell starts to ring to signify the end of the TV time limit … On the off-chance you were wondering, the match got a *** rating.
4. Power Pro (UWF) (syndication) – 1 hr
Jim Ross welcomes fans, and says we have a WILD main event, ordered back by the UWF: The Freebirds defending the six-man titles against The Outlaws. But before we go to that match, a little background: video replay of the last bout, where Roberts got piledriven by the Midnight Express. Now, we go to Magnum TA in the locker room, where Bob Roop is saying that, even though the Outlaws are demanding an immediate rematch, UWF officials were willing to put off the rematch for a couple of weeks or allow the Birds to make a substitution, in light of Buddy’s injury – he’s been diagnosed with a concussion and a “stinger,” a neck injury that’s much more serious than the name implies. Behind him, Buddy’s seated on a bench, wearing a neck brace, while Michael is telling him, “Don’t be crazy, baby! We can beat up those Texas idiots anytime – it’s not worth putting your neck on the line!” But Buddy shoves Michael aside, grabs the mic and shouts, “FORGET IT, MICHAEL! WE’RE THE FREEBIRDS! AND I DON’T NEED NO DELAY, AND I DAMN SURE DON’T NEED SOMEONE CARRYING THE LOAD FOR BUDDY JACK ROBERTS! WE’RE GOING, AND WE’RE GOING NOW!” Michael shakes his head and says, “OK, Buddy, if you’re ready, we’ll take those suckers down Bad Street! (Looks at camera) And that’s BAD news for you, Outlaws! Because NO ONE tops The Freebirds when it comes to nasty tricks, or revenge! You may think you have us backed into a corner, but that just makes us more dangerous! Tonight, The Freebirds take you OUT! And Cornette, don’t THINK we’re forgettin you, daddy! You and that Express of yours have some dues to be paid!” Magnum throws it back to Ross, who says we’ll be right back with that bout …
*BREAK*
6-man title: Stan Hansen, Dick Murdoch and Terry Funk beat The Freebirds in 14:20, when Terry repeatedly piledrove Buddy Roberts, until Michael Hayes threw in the towel.(****) The Birds start out strong, outbrawling the Outlaws and sending them out of the ring to regroup, more than once. However, over the course of the match, Gordy and (especially) Hayes absorb a lot of punishment due to their refusal to tag in Roberts. Finally, with Hayes a bloody mess and woozy from a series of slams, punches and suplexes, he swings wildly and then falls back against the ropes, near his own corner. Buddy reaches over and slaps Hayes’ back, effectively tagging himself in. Murdoch’s the legal man, and Roberts wins an initial flurry, but when he turns away for a second to work the crowd, Murdoch delivers a running kneesmash from behind. Murdoch then delivers a brainbuster, as Ross screams about permanent injury that could occur here. Murdoch tags Terry, who piledrives Roberts and goes for the pin, but Ted DiBiase (at ringside) is yelling, “NOT YET! FINISH HIM ONCE AND FOR ALL!” Terry then lets Buddy up at two and delivers three more piledrivers, while an enraged Gordy has run around ringside to attack DiBiase. Terry lifts Buddy for another piledriver, when Hayes takes his Badstreet T-shirt and throws it in the ring. The ref looks over, Hayes is yelling and waving his arms, and the ref calls the bout for the Outlaws, your NEW 6-man champs! Almost immediately, Hacksaw Duggan, Steve Williams and Owen Hart are out to prevent any more destruction, and the Outlaws take the belts and walk off, gloating.
*BREAK*
Jim Ross says we’ll hope to have a condition update on Roberts, next week. Now, we have our Starrcade Update Center.
*BREAK*
Magnum TA is at ringside with UWF World Champ Steve “Dr Death” Williams. Magnum says that having faced both Doc and Ric Flair on numerous occasions, both men could be in for the fight of their lives at Starrcade, and he asks Doc about his training for the match. Doc says, “Well, Magnum, let me first say that if I don’t have a very, uh, eloquent answer, it‘s because my mind is on worrying about how Buddy Roberts is doing – you know, the Freebirds and myself have had many battles in that ring, but I learned to respect them, as opponents, and it’d be a shame for it to end for them, like this. “But as for Ric Flair, well, I’ve been working hard, hard at the gym, hard on the mat, sparring on the mat, and some of my best preparation has been defending this belt, right here! I’ve fought men like Ted DiBiase, Terry Funk, Buddy Landell, men who have a lot of technique, and they also know how to break a rule or two, to get things going in their favor. But Dr. Death is no stranger to bending a rule or two, myself! Now, I’ve heard Ric Flair say that he’s a 60-minute man, that he can get Dr. Death in the ring and wear me out, over time, but I promise you people out there, whether I was playing college or pro football, amateur wrestling at University of Oklahoma, or in this professional wrestling ring, there’s not a man ALIVE who can say that he wore out Steve Dr. Death Williams! So Ric Flair, you bring your dirty tricks and all your experience, bring them on down to that ring, and watch Doctor Death stampede you right through the mat! And then there’ll be one world champion, and you’re lookin’ at him!” With that, Magnum says, let’s go back to the ring! Hacksaw Duggan pinned Buddy Landell with the spear, in 16:24 (*** ¼). During commentary, Jim Ross says we’ll try to have a condition update on Buddy Roberts after this match, but as time winds down, it becomes apparent that there will be no post-match segment, so Ross says he’s getting word that our doctors are examining Roberts now, and the only thing clear so far is that he will not be back in the ring anytime soon … Duggan pins Landell and hops out of the ring, arms raised, as Ross says we’re out of time this week!
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Post by loadedglove on May 19, 2013 19:32:53 GMT -5
Cable shows for Oct, week 3 (syndicated up soon)...
October 1987, Week 3 1. WCW (TBS Sat Night) – 2 hr We open with a video clip of the last seconds of last week’s Main Event show, where Luger and Wahoo had their confrontation. David and Tony welcome fans to the show, and Tony says we’ll be revisiting that situation later in the program, as a lot more happened between those two men after Main Event went off the air. That also leads us to one of our TV main events today, Lex Luger versus Bob Armstrong. First, however, the championship situation is getting very heated as we approach Starrcade, the birth of WCW live on pay per view, when we will consolidate some of the top titles in the entire wrestling world. As viewers of last week’s Power Pro Wrestling are already aware, The Outlaws have captured the six-man titles from The Freebirds, further injuring the already-dinged Buddy Roberts in the process. This brings Ted DiBiase, Dick Murdoch, The Funks, Stan Hansen and Dusty Rhodes out. DiBiase says between this and the U.S. title win that their other member, The Midnight Rider, scored last week, their plan to take over the wrestling world continues. David Crockett asks where the Midnight Rider is, and Dusty Rhodes says The Rider had to take a later flight because he was “takin’ care of some bid-ness, you understand,” but will be here later in the show, for a very special, major announcement, for which The Outlaws want NWA President Jim Crockett to be present. DiBiase says, “And for now, that’s all you need to know,” and the Outlaws start to walk off. Tony starts to ask another question, but Hansen gets right in his face and SCREAMS, “He said that was ALL you needed to KNOW!” After explaining that Roberts insisted on wrestling despite his previous injury at the hands of the Midnight Express, a tobacco-spattered Schiavone says we’ll now go to the closing moments of that title-changing bout. The clip leads right into our first …
*BREAK*
Squashes/promos include: Midnight Express (Cornette promo: “Last week, we cut off the head, and now the mindless body that is the Road Warriors will die! As a student of professional wrestling, I had long ago concluded that as powerful as Hawk and Animal are, Ellering was the man with the plan, and that made hyim the most dangerous one of all! But he’s now out of commission, and you people better get used to Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express, because after we become unified tag champions, you’re going to have to admit this is the greatest tag team in the world!” Cornette also noted that he was fined for orchestrating the attack, but that money’s no object for him, especially in light of some good business deals he has recently made); Bam Bam Bigelow (He and Sullivan say he’s the most dangerous big man in wrestling, with his speed/sgility); Stan Hansen/Ted DiBiase (no promo – we’ll hear plenty from them later).
Luger is at the desk with Tony and David. Tony says we will show the tape of what happened after Main Event left the air, last week, as narrated by Lex Luger. Main Event ended with Luger slapping Wahoo and then reeling from a slap from Wahoo given in retaliation (Luger: “You see, I’d finally decided to be my own man, and knowing what I was about to do, I let Wahoo get that slap in, only so I could measure him”). Wahoo then shouts at Luger, who begs off and seems to indicate he only wants to apologize and get back with the big Chief (Luger: “And Tony, it amazed even the Total Package that someone with so much experience in the wrestling sport of professional wrestling could fall for such an obvious ploy.”). Wahoo finally holds out a hand to shake, and Luger glances down at it, then LAUNCHES a clothesline that floors Wahoo. Luger puts the boots to him (Luger: “You know, Tony, when they call me The Total Package, what they’re referring to is, I have the power, the wrestling skill, the speed and the mind that formulates plans and executes them against my enemies!”) Luger says he’s no longer a Horseman, no longer a protégé, but his own man. And his first act, he says, was to seek and receive a world TV title slot against Brad Armstrong! But today, he has BOB Armstrong, and Luger reminds everyone when he first got here, he spoke up wanting to clear out the old guard that has dominated the top for years, but that wasn’t ONLY aimed at Flair. It was also for Guys like Bob Armstrong, Wahoo, Ron Garvin, Ivan Koloff – ANYONE Luger sees as standing in the way of the next generation he represents. Luger (while flexing in a crab pose): “And the new generation steps up NOW! The TV title is only the first step! The Total Package will walk into Starrcade and leave as unified TV champion, and then it’s onward and upwards for the Total Package!” Schoavone says, let’s go to the ring …
Squashes/promos include: Ric Flair (promo only: Flair gives one of his wild-eyed speeches about how he’s king of the mountain, and no PUNK coming into his turf is going to change that. “Steve Williams, you were a great amateur, but Ric Flair is the GREATEST professional, the greatest of all time. And at Starrcade, I’m going to take you to the limit, and then the Nature Boy is going to go just a little bit farther …”); Ron Garvin (he’s determined not just to beat, but to hurt Barry Windham); Bad News Allen (no promo, he was out w/ Sullivan & Bigelow); Tully & Arn (Arn says they don’t care who comes out of Starrcade with the belts; they want the 1st shot).
*BREAK* Starrcade Update Center: So far, we’ve been focused on the title unification matches, but there’s also to be some issues settled at Starrcade. This week, we’re talking about two of them – Ronnie Garvin versus Barry Windham, and Eddie Gilbert & Terry Taylor versus Sting and Rick Steiner. We go through the history of both feuds, with Sting and Steiner starting out under the tutelage of Gilbert, with Sting breaking off first, followed by Steiner. We also get clips of the Garvin-Windham history, starting with them as partners, going through Garvin’s role in Windham’s title loss and Windham brutalizing Jimmy Garvin. Jim Ross reveals that the match has been signed as a taped fist match – NO DQ, NO countout, and the only way to win is by pinfall or 10-count knockout.
*BREAK*
Dusty Rhodes, Dick Murdoch and Ted DiBiase are at the podium. DiBiase says The Outlaws have an important announcement. He hands Dusty the mic. Dusty: “You know, The American Dream Dusty Rhodes has been up and down some hard roads, where friends are hard to come by. A few years ago, when The American Dream Dusty Rhodes was forced out of Florida, a friend came along, The Midnight Rider, and he took up the American Dream Dusty Rhodes’ cause in Florida! Now, when The American Dream Dusty Rhodes was unjustly barred from challenging for a championship, The Rider came back and stood TALL for his friend, the American Dream Dusty Rhodes! But time is a man’s greatest opponent, and I’m sad to say the Midnight Rider’s time is drawing near. Pain and hard times have caught up with him, and he called the American Dream, and he said, ‘Dream, baby, I’m hurtin’. You know I’ve always been there for you, but I just can’t go anymore!’ So, my friend the Midnight Rider wanted to come out here, one last time, to speak to the wrestling public, if you will.” With that, The Midnight Rider comes out. Strangely, The Rider seems to have grown six inches since last week, and he’s wearing a suit and a porkpie hat atop his mask, and he’s accompanied by Jim Cornette. Cornette says he’s handling some investments for the Rider, and wanted to speak on his behalf. Basically, Cornette says, The Midnight Rider has had to deal with the brutal, roughhouse tactics of the Koloffs and their ilk, and it’s taken a physical toll. So, since he’s physically unable to compete, The Rider is awarding the U.S. title to the man in whose honor he won it, Dusty Rhodes! Dusty takes the belt, shakes the Bubba-Rider’s hand and then HUGS Cornette. Tony says Dusty having the belt is in violation of his punishment for assaulting Magnum TA. Cornette jumps in and says, “Wait a minute, Tony! My mother’s attorneys reviewed that document, and it says Dusty Rhodes cannot receive a title shot! There’s nothing in there saying he cannot be awarded a title!” The heels get a few seconds of gloating time. Finally, Jim Crockett comes out and says he is sick and tired of this mockery, and that he says as of now, the U.S. title is vacant. The Outlaws (and Cornette) are enraged, but Crockett says, “Clearly, one of two things is true. Either Dusty Rhodes posed as the Midnight Rider in the match with Nikita Koloff, in violation of the restriction against Mr. Rhodes getting a title shot (with Dusty shouting, “You can’t prove that!”), in which case his title win was invalid, OR The Midnight Rider legitimately won the title, in which case he vacated it as soon as he tried to GIVE it to Mr. Rhodes. In either case, the United States championship is hereby vacant, and Dusty Rhodes, you can either hand over that belt right now, or both you and the Midnight Rider will be suspended for one year!” A grumbling Dusty Rhodes hands over the belt. With that, we go to break.
*BREAK*
TV Main event: Lex Luger makes Bob Armstrong submit to the torture rack, in 7:01 (**). Luger refuses to break the hold, until Brad Armstrong runs in and drills him in the gut. Luger and Armstrong duke it out, and Brad actually drives Luger from the ring! He is tending to his father as Tony says we’re outta time …
3. UWF (TBS Sun night) – 1 hr Jim Ross welcomes fans to the show and says the show will start off with a bang, as Ted DiBiase has demanded more time for his TV title challenge to Owen Hart, after last week’s time limit draw, and the UWF has granted that request. Ross goes over last week’s six-man title change situation, and then we go straight to the ring.
UWF TV title: Owen Hart vs. Ted DiBiase: Owen outquicks DiBiase in a series of armdrag exchanges, hip tosses, and when he misses a clothesline and DiBiase goes for a powerslam, Owen slips behind him and goes for a rolling reverse cradle that gets two. Owen hits an enzugiri, and Ted staggers back, against the ropes. Owen charges towards him, but DiBiase pulls down the top rope, and Owen goes over, and out, grabbing his knee after his landing. The ref threatens DiBiase with DQ, but Ted insists he was just trying to pull himself up. We’re now about eight minutes in, and we go to a …
*BREAK*
We’re back, both men are in the ring, and Ross explains that DiBiase has been working over Owen’s leg through the break. DiBiase puts on the figure four, and Owen tries to turn it over, but fails. He keeps fighting and eventually scoots backwards to the ropes, forcing a break. DiBiase goes to pick him up, but Owen snags him in an inside cradle for two, but DiBiase reverses and gets two, then Owen turns it back, but they’re in the ropes, and the ref doesn’t count. BUT Terry Funk runs down to ringside and rings the bell. The ref turns, sees him and orders Terry back to the dressing room, but Owen thinks he has won and turns from DiBiase with his arms raised. DiBiase clips his bad leg from behind, and then clamps on the figure-four again. Owen fights and struggles and won’t give up, but after about a minute and a half, Owen stops struggling, apparently unconscious, and the ref counts his shoulders down for three. Result: Ted DiBiase beat Owen Hart for the TV title, in 15:40 (****). Jim Ross notes that this makes a BIG change to the complexion of Starrcade …
*BREAK*
Starrcade update center replay – Sting/Steiner vs Gilbert/Taylor, Windham/Garvin. Back at the desk, Ross says we’ll see one of the participants in that tag match next …
*BREAK*
Sting made Buddy Landell submit to the scorpion, in 6:02 (**). After the bout, Terry Taylor and Eddie Gilbert run in and attack Sting, and Gilbert starts rubbing off his paint, when Steiner and Duggan run out; the heels flee.
*BREAK*
Ross recaps the US title situation, then says we have a special NWA-UWF challenge match.
Ivan and Nikita Koloff battled to a double countout with Dory and Terry Funk, in 5:37 (* ¾). It spills into a brawl around the ring, and after the 10-count, Dusty and Murdoch come out, followed by the other Outlaws. Their advantage is brief, as Doctor Death, The (two remaining) Freebirds, Duggan, Sting and Steiner come out, and now, there’s chaos EVERYWHERE. Gilbert and Taylor come back out to target Sting, but the babyfaces maintain the edge. It helps that Duggan has a board, and he smacks Dory Funk with it, as Dory is trying to run Hayes’ head into the post. Ross says we’ll try to restore order and be right back.
*BREAK*
Ross says we don’t have time for another match, but Steve Williams has something to say. Doc says he and the others have had ENOUGH of these gang-up tactics, and they’re going to be watching each others’ backs, because it’s the only way to survive. “And Ric Flair, that means you’d better be ready for a one-one-one match, because if those Horsemen stick their nose in, they’re in for a nasty surprise! And if you don’t believe me, ask Dory Funk!” With that, Ross says we’re out of time …
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Post by loadedglove on May 19, 2013 22:30:34 GMT -5
By the way, I know the timeline's not 100% clear, in terms of TV scheduling, but as they state, the Sat Night NWA and Sun Night UWF shows happen evenings one weekend, and then the syndicated shows appear sometime in the next 7 days, prior to the following cable shows.
It's like, in Houston, where I grew up, we'd get TBS Saturday Night's WCW show in the 1980s, and the concurrent syndicated World Wide show would run one week later, but Saturday mornings, BEFORE the following week's TBS show.
Does that make sense to anyone but my own, warped self?
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Post by loadedglove on May 27, 2013 0:37:02 GMT -5
OK, I finally have Main Event done, and tomorrow will have Power Pro and some house show results, and then we'll actually start pretty soon thereafter with Oct Week 4, as Starrcade looms closer ...
2. NWA Main Event (Synd) – 1 hr
Bob Caudle welcomes fans to the show and says we have a WHALE of a main event today, but first, it’s been one of the most hectic weeks that Bob can EVER remember, in the sport of professional wrestling. Bob announces DiBiase as UWF TV champ, meaning as of now, the Starrcade bout is DiBiase vs Brad Armstrong, although even that could change, as today, Brad defends the NWA TV title against the awesome LEX LUGER. Bob takes us to a brief package starting with last week’s post-show action of Luger turning on Wahoo McDaniel, and showing Luger’s apparent attempt to injure Brad’s dad on this week’s TBS show. Caudle says we have comments from both men, in separate video clips … Luger: “I’ve said it before and I say it again – This sport of professional wrestling is a man’s sport. And let me tell you, of all the men in professional wrestling, let me tell you, The Total Package is just a cut above. I have the power, the knowledge of intellect and let me tell you, I have the athletic ability. Now, I admit, for too long, I let myself stand in the shadows of others, as I sought experience, but NO MORE! Let me tell you this, The Total Package is taking over pro wrestling, and it starts with the NWA TV title. Brad Armstrong, you may be a great athlete and all that entails, but The Total Package is a little faster, a little smarter, and a LOT more powerful, and that belt is coming to ME! And if you don’t believe I can do it, just ask your old man how his back’s feeling!”
Brad: “You know, Lex Luger, I may not be able to stand up here with huge muscles and a tan, but brother, when we get into that ring, you’re going to be dealing with B.A., who can go move for move with you, and when it’s all over, you’re going to heading to the locker room with knots on your head but WITHOUT this world television title belt!”
*BREAK*
Caudle says the TV title situation is far from the only major news from the past week. We get short clips of the six-man title change, as well as the US title vacancy. Bob says he’s been alerted that we’ll have decisions on the US title and some MAJOR news on the future of the new WCW, next week. But now, we go to this week’s Starrcade Control Center update (replay of segment from TBS).
*BREAK*
NWA TV title: Brad Armstrong pinned Lex Luger with a reverse cradle, in 10:02 (***). Luger overpowers Brad in the early goings, but Brad continually outquicks him and starts working the head and neck, with headscissors, neckbreakers and, to escape a bearhug about five minutes in, a series of elbows to the top of the head. Finish comes when Armstrong misses a charge off the ropes, turns and gets clotheslined by Luger. Luger gets him up in the torture rack, but Brad has room to give a couple of short forearms to the side of Luger’s head, and he drops Armstrong. Armstrong quickly recovers and gives him the footsweep, but Luger kicks out at 2. He picks up Luger, who stuns the champion with a couple of forearms. Luger whips Brad into the ropes and catches him with a powerslam. Luger pops up and motions with his arms that it is time for a second torture rack. But, he is gesturing with his back to Armstrong, who gets up, catches Luger from behind, pushes him into the ropes and rolls him up for 1 … 2 … 3! Armstrong rolls out, grabs the belt and hold it up, in triumph, as Caudle says we have time for more action, and we’ll be right back!
*BREAK*
The Garvin Brothers beat Kevin Sullivan & Bam Bam Bigelow by DQ in 0:39 (*). This bout barely gets started before all four Horsemen run in and attack the Garvins, particularly Ronnie. Brad Armstrong run in for the save, but Sullivan crony Bad News Allen also runs in. Wahoo McDaniel follows, which brings in Luger, and it’s a huge melee. The Koloffs finally run in, evening the odds, and the heels eventually filter out. One key shot has Wahoo and Luger at ringside, trading punches and chops, as Caudle notes how quickly these two got heated. Caudle on commentary gets across that Windham is looking to take out Garvin, and that he’ll have his chance, at Starrcade.
*BREAK*
Caudle is at ringside, and he says order has been restored, but he wanted to invite the Horsemen back out, as so much of the wrestling world still revolves around this elite group of athletes. Each takes his turn, but in brief, Arn says they’re focused now on getting Flair ready for the undisputed title, after which The Horsemen will continue to dictate terms, and ALL the titles will be coming back to them, soon enough. Tully says people should never overlook ANY of the Horsemen, as they are the four elite performers in this industry. Windham says he’s going to finish off Garvin once and for all, at Starrcade. Flair says, “STEVE WILLIAMS! I have watched you with interest, as you have taken on some of the top names in our sport: Ted DiBiase, Terry Funk, Terry Taylor, Dick Murdoch. And so you think you’re a world champion! Well, make no mistake, YOU’RE LOOKING at the world champion! Youre looking at Ric Flair, the man who’s beaten them ALL! All over this world, the best professional wrestlers in the world all have one thing in common … THEY’VE ALL BEEN TAKEN TO SCHOOL BY THE NATURE BOY! And, pal, when I’m done with you, you’re going to be looking up at the lights, and you’re going to be saying, ‘Wow, THAT’S a world champion!’ Because, like I said, I’ve been watching you, and you’re damn good, but the Nature Boy is the greatest EVER! WOOOOOOO!” With that, Bob says we have several minutes left, so let’s go back to the ring …
Wahoo McDaniel and Big Bubba Rogers battled to a TV time-limit draw, after about six minutes of action …(* 1/2)
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Post by loadedglove on May 27, 2013 15:23:08 GMT -5
4. Power Pro (UWF) (syndication) – 1 hr
Jim Ross and Magnum TA welcome fans to the show, and they update everyone on the title changes since last week. Ross says we originally had planned a big main event for today, a dream match, of sorts, with The Freebirds against The Four Horsemen. However, Ross says Buddy Roberts has sustained jammed vertebrae and possibly a loose bone fragment in the spinal column. What that means is that one more bad shot to the neck, and Roberts could be paralyzed. As such, With that, we go to a pretaped interview with Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy. Hayes says the Freebirds are the greatest team in the history of wrestling, and they have been all over the world, beating the best that every place had to offer. Hayes: “And as ANYONE who follows this sport can tell you, The Freebirds not only innovated rock & Roll in wrestling, and we also innovated every dirty trick that there is. Ted DiBiase, this is for you and your crew of cowboys – you hit us HARD, but lots of people thought they had the Freebirds down and out, only to find out THE HARD WAY how wrong they were! We’re THE FREEBIRDS, Jack! And we’ve left a trail of broken bodies and shattered dreams behind us for nearly a decade! And if these Outlaws think they’re going to put an end to that, well, you’re DEAD WRONG! The doctors tell us Buddy cannot wrestle again, can’t get in the ring again, but guess what?! Buddy Jack Roberts WILL be back, and The Freebirds will have their revenge! And until Buddy’s ready to come back, we have a friend, a good friend who goes back years with The Freebirds, who will be stepping in. Ted DiBiase, Dick Murdoch, and anyone else who wants a piece of the Freebirds – say hello to our good friend, Hacksaw Jim Duggan!” Duggan says no one knows DiBiase like he doesn, having teamed or feuded with him for most of the past five years, and he and the Birds are going to stamp out the Outlaws, and their bully tactics, once and for all! But today, we’re dealing with another bunch of bullies – The Four Horsemen! But after this bout, Duggan says, they’re just going to be a couple of donkeys!
*BREAK*
Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard & Barry Windham beat Michael Hayes/Terry Gordy/Hacksaw Duggan in 19:09(****), when Windham pinned Hayes after a superplex. Commercial break happens about 10 minutes in. Back and forth bout, and the finish comes when Hayes has Windham in the corner, Hayes climbs to the second turnbuckle to deliver 10 punches, as the fans chant along, counting to 10. However, Arn Anderson scoots along the apron and grabs Hayes’ hair, pulling him over the top rope and onto the floor, as the ref’s attention is diverted by Blanchard and Duggan both trying to come into the ring. JJ Dillon grabs Hayes, runs his head into the post, and Windham tosses him back into the ring, leading to the superplex and pin. With that, we go to another pre-tape, with Sting saying he’s worked long and hard, starting from the bottom and getting into title contention through hard work and beating some of the toughest guys in wrestling, but today, it pays off, as he is set to challenge Ted DiBiase for the TV title … NEXT!
*BREAK*
UWF TV title: Ted DiBiase, accompanied by Terry Funk, beats Sting by countout in 6:20 (**). Sting totally overpowers Ted early, and has him bumping around the ring like a pinball. DiBiase gains a brief advantage with a low blow, but after working the knee for a couple of minutes, he goes for the figure-four, but Sting kicks him off with such force that DiBiase falls out of the ring. Funk hops onto the apron to demand a DQ, but as Ross and Magnum make clear, Sting did NOT deliberately send him over the top. However, while this argument ensues, Terry Taylor and Eddie Gilbert come to ringside and assault Sting! Owen Hart and Rick Steiner come down the aisle to save, but Gilbert has station the Powers of Pain in the aisle, and they brawl, keeping Owen and Steiner from reaching ringside! Taylor and Gilbert lift Sting over the guardrail and drop him onto it, CROTCH FIRST! The ref counts 10 and awards DiBiase the match, as Gilbert and Taylor laugh, as they head up the aisle. Magnum says something has to be done, to bring this situation to a head.
*BREAK*
Ross says we have just enough time left for this week’s Starrcade Update Center, so we end the show with a replay of the segment, as it aired on TBS.
HOUSE SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
“A” Show
Owen Hart beat Terry Taylor with the enzugiri, in 9:36 (**** ¼).
Tully Blanchard pinned Wahoo McDaniel with the slingshot suplex, in 22:21 (DUD).
BADSTREET MATCH: Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy beat Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch in 25:21, when Gordy pinned Murdoch with a powerslam, in 25:42 (***).
NWA World tag titles: Road Warriors beat Eddie Gilbert & The Barbarian in 23:38, when Eddie Gilbert was counted out (** ¼).
UWF World title: Steve Williams beat Ted DiBiase by DQ, in 12:39 (***).
“B” Show
Kevin Sullivan pinned Tom Zenk with a double footstomp, in 4:49 (**).
Big Bubba Rogers pinned Jimmy Garvin with the Bubba Slam in 4:08 (**).
Bam Bam Bigelow pinned Chris Adams with the vault, in 1:30 (*).
Barry Windham pinned Ronnie Garvin with a piledriver, in 13:17 (****).
Brad Armstrong & The Southern Boys beat The Rockers & Bad News Allen in 15:01, when Steve Armstrong pinned Michaels after a missile dropkick. (***)
UWF Tag titles: The Midnight Express beat Chavo & Hector Guerrero in 16:15, when Eaton pinned Chavo after a rocket launcher (*** ¼).
NWA world title: Ric Flair beat Sting with a reverse cradle, pulling the trunks, in 22:02 (***).
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Post by loadedglove on Jun 3, 2013 0:27:41 GMT -5
OK, we're on October week 4, and here's the Sat night TBS show. Am hoping to have other shows up within the next 2 days.
Oct 1987, Week 4 1. WCW (TBS Sat Night) – 2 hr
Tony and David welcome fans to the show and promise a brief show (we’re down to one hour this week, because of Atlanta Hawks basketball), but a good one. We’ll have a major announcement about WCW, as the NWA and UWF will combine to become at Starrcade, and a Starrcade update center that will answer the question many in wrestling have been asking – what is going on with the United States championship? But right now, since we have no time to waste, let’s go right to the ring …
Garvin Brothers tag squash. Post-match, Ronnie says Windham is going to pay, and Jimmy says once they put this business with the Horsemen behind them, nothing can stop the Garvins!
*BREAK*
Starrcade Update Center: Jim Crockett, Bob Roop and Wahoo McDaniel are at the podium, with Tony. Today, we’re doing the update in-studio, and there’s a lot to get through. First off, Jim Crockett says he will be stepping down after Starrcade, and Bob Roop will become the OFFICIAL “matchmaker” of WCW, the man who assembles matchups and is present at (nearly) every event to handle any matter that may arise (if any of you were Mid-South fans, Roop will basically be doing what Grizzly Smith did in Mid-South). That leaves one question – who will be WCW President? Crockett says the NWA and UWF boards have effectively merged, and their first act was to install one of the most decorated wrestlers in the sport’s history – and as it turns out, WCW will not just have a president; it will have a CHIEF! New WCW President Wahoo McDaniel thanks Crockett and says he’s looking forward to working with Roop to bring these great fans the greatest wrestling action in the world! Wahoo: “As WCW President, my first issue is the United States belt. This is a prestigious title that has been contested among some of the greatest wrestlers this sport has ever known – from Johnny Valentine and Harley Race, to Rick Steamboat and Sgt Slaughter, to Magnum TA and Nikita Koloff. This is a championship that I myself have held, and as someone who appreciates the prestige of the United States championship, I am DISGUSTED at the chicanery of the past few weeks. And so, we will settle it in the ring; as eight contenders have been selected to participate in a tournament for the United States championship, with the finals occurring at Starrcade. Six of those men are Bam Bam Bigelow, Ron Garvin, Terry Gordy, Terry Taylor, Barry Windham and (Wahoo makes a disgusted face) Lex Luger. The other two were to have been Nikita Koloff and Dory Funk. However, Mr. Koloff, who in my mind has the best claim on the championship, has refused to participate if Dusty Rhodes was not allowed into the tournament, simply because he has been denied any other chance to get his hands on his former Super-partner in a singles situation. Therefore, despite the protests of some on the board, Dusty Rhodes has taken Funk’s spot in the tournament. We will have the first round of the tournament on today’s broadcast, when Barry Windham faces Bam Bam Bigelow.” Wahoo starts to walk away but then turns and says, “Oh, and in terms of this tournament’s possible effect on Starrcade, if Windham or Garvin win, their taped-fist match will become the US title finals … and if Lex Luger somehow finds himself in the finals, he will be wrestling TWICE that night, as Chief Wahoo McDaniel will be having his retirement match at Starrcade, against Mr. Luger! And Luger, my last act as a professional wrestler will be to teach you some respect!” Tony says the Windham-Bigelow match is next!
*BREAK*
Barry Windham pinned Bam Bam Bigelow with a claw, in 20:18 (***). We go through a commercial break, and the finish comes when JJ Dillon trips Bigelow, causing the ref (who, of course, JUST missed seeing the trip) to threaten DQ and causing Kevin Sullivan to start chasing him around the ring. Bigelow squashes Windham in the corner but takes a second to reach outside the ring to swipe at JJ, who avoids him, but gets nailed by Sullivan. Windham takes the seconds to recover, and when Bigelow tries a second charge into the corner, Barry stops him with a claw to the head, and it eventually puts Bigelow down for the 1-2-3. Tony says Windham will meet either Nikita Koloff or Lex Luger, but up next, there’s time for more action!
*BREAK*
Southern Boys tag squash. The Boys say they don’t care WHO gets the shot at Starrcade; they’re proud to be fighting champs who represent ALL these great fans! Back to the ring … Ted DiBiase squash. The UWF TV champ says fans tuning in to this show had better get used to seeing him, as after Starrcade, he’ll be the ONLY TV champion left! He notes that in 1984, he took the National title from Armstrong, in 1985, he took the North American title from Armstrong, and at Starrcade, he’ll complete the hat trick by taking Brad’s belt a THIRD time! DiBiase also says Stan Hansen was REALLY sorry about “accidentally” spitting on Tony last week and had offered to have Tony’s necktie dry-cleaned, if he was having trouble getting out the tobacco stains. Tony thanks Ted for those nice words and says we should have time for just ONE more match, after our last …
*BREAK*
Nikita Koloff (30-second) SQUASH. Ivan and Nikita at the podium say that Nikita is glad Dusty’s in the tournament, as Nikita is going to teach the Dream what it means to betray Nikita Koloff—it means PAIN! Nikita flexes, as Ivan Koloff smiles and says, “I almost feel sorry for this Dusty Rhodes …” and Tony says we’re outta time!
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Post by loadedglove on Jun 7, 2013 23:22:39 GMT -5
OK, I have Main Event and UWF shows. Should shortly have up Power Pro, plus this week's house shows.
3. UWF (TBS Sun night) – 1 hr
Jim Ross and Magnum TA welcome fans to the show, and with them is Jim Cornette, who says he’ll take over right now. He advises the new WCW to go ahead and start changing the promos for Starrcade to reflect its new main event of Ric Flair vs. Big Bubba Rogers, because in just a few minutes, the baddest man in wrestling is going to show the Oklahoma “so-called powerhouse” what real power is. Cornette hops into the ring, where Bubba is waiting, and Ross says we are kicking off in a big way, with a world title match, right here on TV! UWF title: Steve Williams pinned Bubba Rogers with the Oklahoma Stampede, in 7:56 (** ½). Match is designed to be a showcase for Doc, who at one point presses Bubba over his head and does does military-press style reps with the 350-pounder! After an eye gouge, Bubba capitalizes on his advantage by clamping on a bearhug, but Doc gets his feet on the mat and inches his way back into the ropes, where the ref orders the break. Bubba doesn’t immediately break the hold, so the ref gets between them and starts to count. Bubba breaks and steps back, and the ref is admonishing him. Cornette takes advantage of the distracted ref, by jumping up onto the apron and WHACKING Doc on the back of the head with the racquet. Ross and Magnum both FREAK OUT when, instead of falling down as nearly everyone else ever has, Doc briefly goes down to one knee, then stands back up, turns and grabs a now-terrified Cornette by the lapels. Bubba sees this and charges, but Doc ducks, and Bubba knocks Cornette off the apron! Bubba turns just in time for Doc to scoop him up and PLANT him with the Stampede, for the three-count. Doc is triumphant, and the Midnight Express have come to ringside to get their manager out of there. Stan starts jawing at Doc, who jaws back, and Bubba hits him from behind. Stan tells Bobby to get in there, while Stan works to get a groggy Cornette to his feet. Bobby comes in with the racquet, and Bubba is behind Doc, pinning his arms behind him, but Doc kicks Bobby in the gut, flexes his arms to break free of Bubba and grabs the racquet. Doc cracks it over Bubba’s head, and Bubba goes down like he’s been shot, in contrast to Doc’s almost superhuman reaction. Cornette, now shaky but upright, hollers instructions to Stan and Bobby, and they both hold up their hands to Doc, as in surrender, and each grabs a leg of Bubba’s and they get him out of there, while Doc stands in a “batter up!” position with the racquet. As the heels leave, Doc breaks the racquet over his knee and leaves it in the ring.
*BREAK*
Jim Ross says Eddie Gilbert vs Owen Hart is scheduled next, but Sting is in the ring, saying he has an announcement to make, and he refuses to leave until he has his say. Owen is also in the ring, awaiting his opponent. First we get a brief video clip of last week’s Gilbert & Crew attacking Sting. Sting, wearing a neckbrace, calls out Gilbert, but says it’s not for the reason people think. Sting says that he has a two-time UWF tag champ when he worked for Gilbert, but since he went against him, he has yet to wear championship gold. He says being a crowd favorite has its appeal, but he’s in the sport of wrestling to WIN, not to make friends. He’s also tired of the Pearl Harbor attacks and the injuries (noting his knee injury of months back, as well as the neckbrace he’s wearing now, after last week’s attack) and so he wants Gilbert to take him back. Rick Steiner and Jim Duggan come down the aisle to ask Sting what he’s thinking, and Owen is asking the same thing. Sting says he’s made his decision, and he respects Hart, Duggan and Steiner for standing by him, but he has to think about his career and go back to what made him successful. Owen has, by now, hopped onto the corner and sits atop the top turnbuckle, as if watching this unfold in disbelief. Finally, Gilbert comes down, and Steiner and Duggan actually give him a berth to peaceably reach the ring. Sting tells Eddie he knows Gilbert plucked him from obscurity and made him a star, and he wants to go back to the days of them dominating the competition. Gilbert looks out into the crowd, smiles and says, “Welcome back!” The two men embrace, as Ross notes Owen’s disgusted expression. Sting says he has a gift for Gilbert, a way to say thanks for all he’s done. Gilbert, giddy like a kid on Christmas, asks what it is … and Sting CLOTHESLINES him nearly out of his boots. Sting picks him up, whips him into the corner and delivers a Stinger splash, as the Powers of Pain try to get to the ring to rescue him, but Duggan and Steiner are running interference, and they pummel Barbarian and Warlord! Sting rolls out of the ring, as the ref asks Gilbert if he can wrestle. Gilbert nods his head, perhaps absent mindedly, and the ref calls for the bell. Gilbert has just enough time to yell, “NO! WAIT!” but Owen now stands, delivers a missile dropkick and gets the pin, in 11 seconds!
*BREAK*
Ross is at ringside with Sting, Owen, Duggan and Steiner. Sting says he DID learn a lot from Gilbert, including the old “phony truce” trick. Ross remembers Gilbert leading an attack on “Cowboy” Bill Watts in such fashion and says Gilbert has finally gotten a taste of his own medicine. Sting says when he was with Gilbert, he had partners, but only one friend (points at Steiner). But now, he has friends, and they’re going to defend each other, and Gilbert has only BEGUN to get what he has coming. With that, the guys leave, and Ross says it’s time for the … Starrcade update center – same TBS deal, with emphasis on the new WCW power structure and the US title situation.
*BREAK*
The Rockers beat The Rock & Roll Express in 22:07, commercial break midway thru, when Jannetty pinned Gibson after a piledriver (**** ½). Fast-paced, back and forth, with Ross on commentary talking about the top-flight teams battling for the titles, and wondering who’s going to be challenging the Southern Boys at Starrcade. Ross says Eddie Gilbert had wanted to respond to Sting, but there's almost no time after the finish of this bout, so Ross says we'll have it next week ...
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Post by loadedglove on Jun 9, 2013 15:22:44 GMT -5
4. Power Pro (UWF) (syndication) – 1 hr
Jim Ross welcomes viewers and says we have a big show today, with a TV title defense and some major news about the United States title. First, we have a locker-room interview recorded earlier with Ted DiBiase, Stan Hansen, Dick Murdoch, Terry Funk and Dusty Rhodes. DiBiase says (as we have an inset of this week’s Main Event altercation) that Armstrong is going to learn what it means to take on a technical wrestler who can do anything Armstrong can do, only better, as well as a vicious opponent who will do whatever it takes to win. Funk, flanked by Murdoch and Hansen, says they have destroyed the so-called greatest six-man team of all time, The Freebirds, and promise destruction for any team that challenges them for the six-man titles at Starrcade. Rhodes says he taught Nikita everything he knows, but not everything the Dream knows, and he can only HOPE Nikita makes it to the finals, because The American Dream KNOWS that HE will be there. With that, we go to the ring for our championship match … UWF TV title: Ted DiBiase pinned Brickhouse Brown with a Russian Footsweep, in 10:06 (****). Brickhouse shows flourishes of speed and power, but these are mainly done to let Ross say that Brown is a similar type of competitor to Brad Armstrong, in terms of athleticism and explosiveness. Mostly, we see DiBiase demonstrating dazzling technical wrestling, including a sequence where he goes for an atomic drop, but Brickhouse spins out, goes for a hiptoss. DiBiase blocks the hiptoss, hooks both arms and goes for a back slide, but Brickhouse powersback down to his feet and goes for a back slide of his own. But DiBiase shifts and uses the momentum to go all the way up and over, then twists Brickhouse’s position until he’s in an abdominal stretch. Brickhouse strains to free himself, but DiBiase shifts his weight back, and they fall back into a leg-trap cradle, for a 1 .. 2 … -- Brown kicks out! Finish comes when Brown hits DiBiase with a flurry of dropkicks, then mounts the second turnbuckle and hits a flying sunset flip, but DiBiase quickly on the way down hooks Brown’s legs, squats and has Brown’s shoulders down for another two count. Brown powers out, but DiBiase kicks him in the gut and hits the footsweep. He gets the pin, as Jim Ross yells that he’s using Brad Armstrong’s finisher, as if to illustrate his “can do it better” point!
*BREAK*
Starrcade update center – leads to Ross noting that the fourth and final bout of the U.S. title tournament’s first round is up next …
*BREAK*
US title, 1st round: Dusty Rhodes vs. Terry Gordy. Gordy starts out like a house afire, unleashing a flurry on Dusty, as well as drilling Dick Murdoch, who hops onto the apron to protest Gordy’s roughness. Ross on commentary notes that Gordy is like a bull who sees red every time he sees one of the Outlaws, in light of Buddy Roberts’ injury. After a few minutes of brawling, Gordy goes for the piledriver, but Dusty reverses it and backdrops Gordy. Dusty then goes for the piledriver, but Gordy backdrops him. Unfortunately, they are near the ropes, and Gordy’s backdrop sends Dusty over the top. Dick Murdoch hops onto the ring apron to argue that this should mean a DQ. The ref goes over to order him down, and when Murdoch keeps arguing, the ref orders him back to the locker room. However, while this argument goes on, Ted DiBiase comes to ringside and appears to pass something to Dusty, still on the floor at ringside while Gordy recovers in the ring. Dusty seems to take the item and put it in his elbowpad. He rolls back in and starts his old “jukin’ and jivin’” routine, ending with a (quite possibly loaded) elbow to Gordy’s head. Gordy collapses, and Dusty goes for the pin. He gets a two count, gets up and immediately drops three more elbows onto Gordy, then goes for the pin again … and gets it! Dusty Rhodes pinned Terry Gordy after a series of elbows, in 6:15 (** ¼). Dusty walks out, as Ross screams that there must have been something in that elbow pad, and our last shot is of a now-bloody Terry Gordy, lying in the ring, with Michael Hayes running in to tend to him.
*BREAK*
Hacksaw Duggan/Sting/Rick Steiner beat Powers of Pain & Terry Taylor when Duggan pinned Warlord after a spear, in 14:04 (*). Gilbert runs in after, bringing in Owen Hart to even things up, and all eight men brawl for a few minutes until we head into the …
*BREAK*
Jim Cornette is in the ring, on mic to introduce his team as “the men who gave the Road Warriors brain damage, by taking out the only mind those two musclebound nitwits had!”
Non title: The Midnight Express and The Sheepherders go to a no-contest in 3:11, when The Road Warriors run in (* 1/2). All we really get out of this is some tentative exchanges of heel tactics, before the Warriors run in. The Sheepherders look like they’re ready to fight Hawk & Animal, as well, but Hawk makes them a “beat it” gesture with his thumb, and they flee. Hawk and Animal decimate the Express, and even give Bubba Rogers the Doomsday Device when he runs in. Then, they point at Cornette, at ringside, as Ross notes Cornette’s already had a rough last few days, thanks do Doctor Death. Cornette starts backing down the aisle, until he backs into … Precious Paul Ellering! Ellering pummels Cornette, stripping him to his heart-adorned boxer shorts, and he and the Warriors stand in triumph.
*BREAK*
Ross says we have just about 60 seconds left, so let’s have a word with the L.O.D. Ellering says the rumors of his demise have been GREATLY exaggerated, but that the demise of Cornette and the Express is only a few weeks away, and that while they tried to destroy the Warriors’ “brain,” Hawk and Animal are going to destroy THEM, body, mind and soul!
Ross says that’s all the time we have …
HOUSE SHOWS OK, we’re finally to the point where we’re at one set of house shows, for reasons I’ll get into later.
Bad News Allen and Nikita Koloff battled to a no-contest/double DQ, in 3:50 (1/2*).
Dusty Rhodes pinned Ivan Koloff in 1:33, with the bionic elbowdrop (**).
Owen Hart battled Terry Funk to a 15-minute time-limit draw (** ¾).
Chavo & Hector Guerrero beat Rock & Roll Express in 25:47, when Chavo made Gibson submit to a bow & arrow (****).
US tag titles: The Southern Boys battled the Rockers to a double countout, in 18:19 (***).
The Garvins/Rick Steiner/Sting beat Arn Anderson/Tully Blanchard/Powers of Pain in 7:55, when Sting pinned Tully with the Stinger splash (**).
UWF title: Steve Williams pinned Dick Murdoch with the Oklahoma Stampede, in 0:53 (*).
NWA tag titles: Road Warriors beat Kevin Sullivan & Bam Bam Bigelow in 22:02, when Animal pinned Kevin after a powerslam (** ½).
NWA title: Ric Flair pinned Brad Armstrong by reversing a flying bodypress into a cradle, in 14:42 (***).
UWF tag titles, Cage: Midnight Express beat Freebirds (Hayes & Gordy) in 11:16, when Eaton pinned Hayes after a rocket launcher (****).
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Post by cardsflyinhigh on Jun 11, 2013 15:35:27 GMT -5
You've done a real good job covering a very wide scope here. Though I will be looking forward to post Starrcade when everythings combined and things look to be simplified.
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Post by loadedglove on Jun 15, 2013 17:25:18 GMT -5
You've done a real good job covering a very wide scope here. Though I will be looking forward to post Starrcade when everythings combined and things look to be simplified. Thank you! And i can honestly say, I am also VERY much looking forward to the simpler, post-Starrcade world. Also, I wanted to let folks reading this circuit to know I am running a couple of days even later than usual, as this weekend we're doing my kid's (or, as I call him, Little Glove) birthday party, plus family get-togethers for Father's Day (and Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there!). However, I can share one thing from our alternate-universe, right now. From the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, publication date Oct. 1987, Week 4 (publication dates are different in the alternate universe): "There is some behind-the-scenes wrangling going on in the cable industry, with plans for Starrcade. Not only is the WWF putting on Survivor Series to compete with Starrcade (WCW's first foray into PPV), but McMahon has given cable operators an ultimatum -- if they carry Starrcade, they not only don't get Survivor Series, but they will not be offered Wrestlemania IV, next spring. Our sources indicate that Ted Turner's part-ownership role in WCW is making the difference here, as most cable companies would have caved in to McMahon's demands, if not for the power Turner wields within the industry. As it is, one-third to half of cable companies might refuse to carry Starrcade, rather than risk losing next year's Mania. Also from the Observer: "We have as-yet unconfirmed reports that when Lou D. Glove, WCW's executive in charge, found out about McMahon's efforts to kill Starrcade, he called McMahon's office, direct. We're not sure whether Glove and McmAHON SPOKE, or if Glove simply got a message to McMahon, but one source claims that Glove told McMahon that if he didn't back off the ultimatum, Glove and WCW would start fighting back, in a major way." OK, shows will be up shortly.
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Post by loadedglove on Jun 15, 2013 18:33:35 GMT -5
Whoa! Just realized -- I failed to post Oct Week 4's Main Event, our NWA syndicated show, so here it is:
2. NWA Main Event (Synd) – 1 hr
Bob Caudle welcomes fans to the show, says we have a big one today, with two bouts that have championship implications – a TV title match and TWO U.S. tournament bouts: one between two former National champions, Ron Garvin and Terry Taylor, and the other between Lex Luger and ex-champ Nikita Koloff! Bob says we’ll have more on the US title situation shortly, but right now, Bob says we have a videotaped interview with JJ Dillon, manager of the Four Horsemen, about today’s TV title match. JJ, flanked by Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson, says the Horsemen have always stood for excellence and for winning, and sometimes, winning requires throwing your opponents a curve. JJ: “And, since stealing the world television title from Arn Anderson, Mr. Brad Armstrong has managed to hold onto that title against Mr. Anderson, excaping by the skin of his teeth. And Mr. Armstrong thought he’d be doing it again today, but the Horsemen have other plans – Tully Blanchard will be taking Arn Anderson’s place as the challenger today, and Arn Anderson and myself have been preparing Mr. Tully Blanchard for this challenge – that championship is coming back to the Horsemen, and we will head into Starrcade riding high, as the Horsemen always do!” Arn briefly says that he is only too happy to give his shot to Blanchard, because the Horsemen will sacrifice for the good of the unit, and that’s what makes them the most dangerous force in this entire sport!
TV title: Brad Armstrong pinned Tully Blanchard with the Russian footsweep, in 7:44 (*** ¾). Tully actually dominates the early goings, seemingly anticipating some of Brad’s moves, until he snap mares Armstrong and clamps on a chinlock. Armstrong powers himself up and charges into a corner, ducking and letting Tully’s head slam into the turnbuckle. A series of dropkicks later and Tully spills out of the ring to take a powder. He confers with Arn and Dillon, then heads back in. He offers Brad a test of strength, and the instant Brad hesitates, Arn at ringside squawks loudly and flaps his arms, chicken-style. Brad glances over, and that’s all the opportunity Tully needs to clothesline Brad and then hit him with a flurry of punches, until the ref’s count gets to 4 (one shy of the 5-count needed for a DQ). Tully breaks and then dives back down and clamps on a front facelock, as the ref steps away for a second to order Arn away from ringside. Bob Caudle on commentary notes the ref did the right thing, between Arn not being a licensed manager and the ref not wanting to tolerate distractions at ringside. But the ref stepping away gives Tully a chance to turn his facelock into a blatant choke. He continues to dominate the action until he hits Brad with a slingshot suplex! He goes for the pin, and the ref counts ONE … TWO … THR—Armstrong’s foot is under the bottom rope! Whether it was inadvertent or intentional, Brad’s foot broke the plane of the ropes, and the ref has no choice but to stop the count. Tully doesn’t realize that, though, as he comes up, arms raised in victory! Dillon’s trying to get his attention, but Tully is facing the other way. Armstrong makes it up, and Tully is just starting to turn around when Brad comes up from behind, hits the footsweep and gets the pin! As Tully and JJ go up the aisle, Tully’s clasping his head in pain, but he’s also clearly seething at the outcome. Caudle says to stay right where you are, fans, as the United States championship situation is up next!
*BREAK*
Starrcade update center: Same segment as on TBS
US title, 1st round: Nikita Koloff beat Lex Luger with the Russian sickle, in 8:32 (* ¼). Luger gets the early power advantage in tests of strength, but Nikita fights his way up. Luger kicks him in the gut and takes over. He repeatedly slams Nikita into the corner and drills him with forearms to the back, as Caudle notes he must be setting up for the torture rack. When he finally goes for it, Nikita shifts his weight and hits Luger with a quick sickle, for a two-count. Nikita picks him up, whips him into the ropes. Luger goes for his own clothesline, but Nikita ducks and springs off with a second sickle that puts Luger down for the three-count.
*BREAK*
Stan Hansen & Ted DiBiase beat Hector & Chavo Guerrero in 8:21, when DiBiase pinned Chavo with the figure-four leglock (** 1/2). Caudle notes these are some of the UWF stars who will help make WCW into the most action-packed wrestling in the world. He also notes that Chavo is not 100% since the damage by the Midnight Express, and the match bears that out, as the Outlaws pretty well dominate, with DiBiase clamping on the figure-four and Hansen hitting the lariat on Hector when he tries to save his brother. After the win, DiBiase refuses to break the hold, until finally Brad Armstrong runs in. He pries DiBiase’s legs to get Chavo freed, and when Hansen runs over, Brad ducks his charge and dropkicks him out of the ring. DiBiase takes a swing, which Brad also ducks, and he hits DiBiase with the Footsweep! He helps Chavo out of the ring, and as keeps turning back to the ring to exchange threatening shouts with DiBiase and Hansen as he and the Guerreros go.
*BREAK*
US title, 1st round: Ron Garvin beat Terry Taylor in 9:42 (**), reversing a rollup with the tights pulled into his own rollup, ALSO with the tights pulled. Post-match, Gilbert and Taylor protest to the ref, but to no avail, as a laughing Garvin goes up the aisle.
*BREAK*
Caudle says we only have a couple of minutes left, not enough for another match, but Ted DiBiase is at ringside, with something to say. DiBiase says until now, he’d only looked at Armstrong as another piece of business, another obstacle to overcome, and one he’d easily overcome more than once previously. But now, it’s apparent that Armstrong thinks he can stand up to the most devastating assemblage of talent the sport’s ever seen, the Outlaws! So he has a challenge for Brad -- DiBiase tells Armstrong to get a partner and face him and Hansen, next week, right here on Main Event!
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Post by loadedglove on Jun 23, 2013 15:24:44 GMT -5
OK, since November 1987 (week 1) is finally upon us, before we get to this week's shows, we have rankings. This post also contains a TBS Saturday show, while the other 3 shows should be coming pretty shortly.
************************************ SINGLES
NWA World Champion: Ric Flair UWF World Champion: Steve Williams U.S. Champion: VACANT NWA TV Champion: Brad Armstrong UWF TV Champion: Ted DiBiase
1. Arn Anderson 2. Stan Hansen 3. Nikita Koloff 4. Barry Windham 5. Dusty Rhodes 6. Rick Steiner 7. Owen Hart 8. Tully Blanchard 9. Sting 10. Bam Bam Bigelow
TAG TEAMS
NWA World Champions: The Road Warriors (mgd. by Paul Ellering) UWF World Champions: The Midnight Express (mgd. by Jim Cornette) U.S. Champions: The Southern Boys
1. The Rockers 2. Hector & Chavo Guerrero 3. Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy 4. Rock & Roll Express 5. Eddie Gilbert & Terry Taylor
Nov 1987, Week 1 1. WCW (TBS Sat Night) – 2 hr
Tony and David welcome fans to the show and plug both Starrcade, and a VERY special show, slated for next week. For tonight, we have a big TV main event, a US title semifinal bout! Next week’s TBS Saturday show will be pre-empted for Atlanta Hawks basketball, BUT Superstation TBS will be holding a special, LIVE, prime-time event next Friday, the first-ever “Starrcade Showdown!” The special will focus on some of the huge stars and matches slated for Starrcade, and one very unusual challenge has already been made … more on that, later in the show. Right now, let’s go to the ring!
Squashes/promos include: Rock & Roll Express (they respect the Southern Boys, but they want that US tag title match at Starrcade, and they promise to win the belts for “all these nice people who have supported Robert and myself for all these years”); Dusty Rhodes (after hearing Nikita’s promo last week, Dusty’s also glad Nikita’s still in it, because The American Dream is going to finish off this nightmare, once and for all); Wahoo McDaniel (he’s honored that they’ll hold his retirement ceremony at next week’s “Starrcade Showdown” special, and he’ll be even prouder to end his career by showing an arrogant “new generation superstar” like Luger that this old chief still has some fight left).
*BREAK*
Starrcade update Center: It’s the big one! This is the week we discuss the main event, the battle for the undisputed world championship – NWA Champ “Nature Boy” Ric Flair versus UWF titleholder Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. Jim Ross runs down the tale of the tape (NOTE: We’re getting a video package, while the announcers talk, showing clips of both men that relate to what’s being discussed): Both men are 6-foot-1, but Doc has a weight advantage, weighing 275 to Flair’s 238. Ross notes that the weight is NOT merely bulk, but muscle mass that goes to perhaps Williams’ single biggest advantage over Flair, power. It is NOT hyperbole to say that Williams is recognized as one of the strongest wrestlers in the sport’s history. (Video clip shows Doc slamming 500-pound One Man Gang, stampeding King Kong Bundy back in 1983, doing multiple-press slams of Big Bubba Rogers, Terry Gordy and others) Tony Schiavone notes that Flair has a major advantage himself, one of experience. He has been a pro for 13 years, compared to five for Williams. He also has a lot more experience on the world-title level than Williams, who only won his first world title earlier this year. Schiavone notes that operating on such a high level carries a pressure that is unique to world-title-level competiton, and Flair has come up with the win time after time, in such situations (clips of Flair winning title from Dusty in 1981, from Race at Starrcade 83, Flair holding belt and trophy after beating Kerry Von Erich in Japan, in 1984). Ross says Flair also has more experience and success in singles competition, and particularly championship competition, as Williams’ only title wins had been tag team titles (two UWF/Mid-South tag title reigns, plus this year’s Crockett Cup tournament win), in all cases teaming with Ted DiBiase. Schiavone then says both men are among the toughest in wrestling, both mentally and physically. Tony says Steve Williams has rightfully earned his “tough man” reputation, noting that the “Doctor Death” name originated when Williams was in 8th grade! Doc had broken his nose, heading into the finals of a high-school tournament, and rather than forfeit the finals, he wore a protective facemask, causing fans to yell out, “Look out! It’s DOCTOR DEATH!” Jim Ross affirms that story, but adds that the mockery ended seconds later, when Doc had decimated the rival wrestler to win the tournament. Ross also tells the story of Doc taking 108 stitches in and around his eyeball after an elbow to an eye in an afternoon bout in 1985. The doctor stitched him up and advised him not even to exert himself for at least six weeks and consider retiring from wrestling entirely. Instead, Doc drove 250 miles and wrestled that same night! “However,” Ross says, “Ric Flair is also incredibly tough,” leading to the 1975 plane crash story, where Flair broke his back and was told he’d be paralyzed for life, only to mount a wrestling comeback, scant months later. Schiavone noted that people tend to notice Flair’s flashy wardrobe and his slick in-ring arsenal, but don’t tend to think of him as a “tough guy,” when in fact, Flair is just that. Ross then says that both men are in tremendous condition, but having talked to Flair, knows that Flair feels he has the edge, that if he can get Doc past the 20-minute mark, all that mass will become very heavy, and he’ll be too exhausted to stop Flair’s assault. Schiavone follows by saying, “And Jim, there’s no polite way to put this … one of the areas where Ric Flair holds a distinct edge is in craftiness and, shall we say, a mastery of how to shade the rules to come out on top. The NWA champion is the SELF-DESCRIBED ‘dirtiest player in the game,’ and that is a title that fits Ric Flair.” (Video clips show various low blows, eye gouges and ropes-assisted abdominal stretches, plus his cheat-filled title win over Dusty Rhodes from August 1986). Ross agrees and notes that while Doctor Death has been known to toss out the rulebook, on occasion, he is no match for Flair when it comes to dirty tricks, particularly in light of the final Flair advantage we’ll be discussing today – while he has friends, Steve Williams fights alone, while Flair has the Four Horsemen in the wings, and this powerful faction has helped its members win more than one title bout. Schiavone says, that’s why each champion has requested special stipulations, in the contract negotiations for this bout – Steve Williams wants the match inside a steel cage, just like when he won the UWF belt the first time, while Flair wants a best-of-three falls match, apparently aiming to make the bout a long one. Ross says the two sides continue to wrangle over the specifics, but the match is definitely set as Starrcade’s main event, where history will be made! Schiavone says that this Friday night, on the Starrcade Showdown special, we’ll have a special face-to-face interview with both men, but today, we have a man with us a uniquely qualified to discuss this showdown – the only man in history to have been both NWA and UWF world champion (even though in the latter case it was only a day), TERRY FUNK! Ross says, “And Mr. Funk, we understand that you have studied both these great champions and are willing to offer a prediction. Is that correct?” Funk: “Yes, I have a prediction, so why don’t you open up your chubby little sausage fingers and release that microphone, and give it to a man who has some true insight, a man such as myself! (Terry takes Ross’ mic). Not only have I proudly held both these world championships, I have battled both these men, and I am here to tell you simple-minded people that they are tough. Even though Ric Flair is some kind of apparition who would NEVER be welcomed in Texas, with his pretty-bleached-blonde hair, his sequined robes … he likes like some kind of disgusting old BROAD (in the background, Tony and Jim are saying, “Please, Mr. Funk …,” trying to keep him on point), I will give him credit – he is a TOUGH old broad. Don’t let Ric Flair’s fancy dress, his tan and his hair fool you; that is one dangerous individual, in that ring. If there is a way to win, Ric Flair will find it, whether that means breaking a rule, whether it means injuring his opponent, whether it means endangering his own body, Ric Flair will do what it takes to win! “BUT … my prediction is that Steve ‘Dr. Death’ Williams will win the match and become the undisputed world champion. I may not like the Oklahoma egg-sucker, but he is the most powerful individual I’ve ever wrestled against. And for all you two sissy-boys (Tony and Jim) talked about the … HA! … Four Horsemen, let’s face it: I won the UWF belt through some very clever strategy, a plan devised by the Outlaws, a force that’s certainly more dangerous than Ric Flair’s cronies. And he STILL managed to take it back, the very next night! Now, of course, I went into that match with a 105-degree fever and a dislocated kneecap from an auto injury, and my breathing was impaired because I’d resuced some children from a burning schoolhouse, and I’d been up all night trying to nurse a sick horse back to health, but I’m not making excuses. Steve Williams beat me, that night. So, what I am saying to you is, two things: FIRST, if the Outlaws couldn’t keep that title off of Steve Williams, then no Four Horsemen is going to be capable of doing the job, so mark it down – as sickening as it is for me to say this, Steve Williams will beat Flair to become the unified champion. SECOND, it doesn’t matter which one wins, because that undisputed world title will be around the waist of one of the Outlaws within a few months, and 1988 will be the YEAR of the Outlaws!”
*BREAK*
Arn Anderson squash. Afterward, the Horsemen (with Dillon) collectively are at the podium. David Crockett asks if we’re seeing the last days of the Horsemen, between Flair facing perhaps his biggest test ever, at Starrcade, and the other Horsemen going from holding ALL the belts, a few short months ago, to being without any championship gold. Tully starts to answer, but Flair says, “Hold on a minute, Tully! I know you have some things to say, but I just want to respond to something that just aired – TERRY FUNK! I have always respected your family and your status as a former world heavyweight champion. But, PAL, when you start questioning the abilities of *WOOOOOO* the Nature Boy and the Four Horsemen, well, my friend, you have clearly spent too much time in the sun on that ranch of yours! Steve Williams is one of the strongest men I’ve ever seen, but Ric Flair has taken muscleheads to school more than once, and when the smoke clears at Starrcade, YOU’RE LOOKING at the man who will be the champ!” From there, Tully says all great athletes hit a slump at one point or another, but the Horsemen have been the dominant force in the NWA, “or WCW, or whatever you want to call it,” for years to come. Arn says that people have counted out the Horsemen more than once, but they’ve always come back and ended up on top! And we’re about to see another example of this, as Barry Windham is about to carry the Horsemen standard into the finals of the US title tournament, after battling Nikita Koloff in the semis, next!
*BREAK*
US title semifinal: Nikita Koloff vs. Barry Windham. Nikita dominates the early goings, and Dusty Rhodes comes to ringside. He starts clapping for Koloff (?!), and JJ Dillon walks around from the opposite side of the ring, asking Rhodes what he’s even doing out here. Dusty waves him off, as Nikita slams Windham off the top rope. He charges in, and Windham catches him with a punch to the gut. Windham socks him in the head, and Nikita goes down. Windham looks over at Dusty, and as soon as he sees The Dream, Dusty elbows JJ Dillon! As Tony notes that Dusty is wearing the same black elbowbad that drew blood last week on Terry Gordy, Windham heads out of the ring, but when he pops his head through the ropes, Dusty blasts him with the elbow, in FULL view of the referee. The ref calls for the bell, and Tony says Nikita must have been DQ’d, (in 5:50), but Ivan Koloff is out arguing with the ref, and Tony says we’ll hope to have a decision.
*BREAK*
The ref is at the podium with Tony, David and Bob Roop. Roop says he has talked to the referee, and the ref’s decision was to declare the match a no-contest (similar to a double DQ – no winner declared), since Dusty Rhodes’ intention was clearly to get Nikita disqualified. Roop says that he agrees with that decision, and that all referee decisions are final in any event, so we must now discuss what happens next. Both Windham and Nikita are ready and willing to proceed, so we are going to rematch them, RIGHT NOW.
US title semifinal: Nikita Koloff vs. Barry Windham. This time, Ivan Koloff is at ringside, in Nikita’s corner, with Dillon in the opposite corner. Nikita takes over again with power, eventually putting Windham into a bearhug. Dusty Rhodes comes to ringside and starts jawing with Ivan Koloff. In the ring, Windham claps Nikita’s ears to escape the hold. Nikita goes down to one knee, but then starts to stand up. Windham springs off the ropes for a lariat, but Nikita quickly ducks and hits the ropes himself, as Windham is bouncing off the other ropes. Nikita hits the SICKLE! Before he can go for the pin, he sees that, at ringside, Stan Hansen, Ted DiBiase and Dick Murdoch have attacked Ivan Koloff. The Outlaws take his own Russian chain, wrap it around his neck and drag him behind the curtain. Nikita looks down at Windham, mlying on the mat, but then hops out of the ring and charges after Ivan and the Outlaws. The ref has no choice but to count 10, meaning WINDHAM WINS VIA COUNTOUT (in 4:21)! Barry Windham will face either Ronnie Garvin or Dusty Rhodes in the U.S. title finals!
*BREAK*
Midnight Express squash. Post-match promo: Jim Cornette says that he had an idea after last week’s UWF show, when Doctor Death made the HUGE mistake of putting his hands on a Cornette. Since Williams and Flair (Ric Flair walks up to the podium) are having difficulties agreeing on stipulations, and there are similar discussions going on between Ellering and Cornette, Cornette had a thought, which he then shared with Ric Flair: Flair and the Midnight Express will battle Steve Williams and The Road Warriors, in a six-man bout for this Friday’s Starrcade Showdown. The winning team gets their desired stipulations. Specifically, if the bad guys win, the world title match will be a best of three falls match, and the tag match will be a no-DQ match. If Doc & The Warriors win, the world title will be a one-fall, steel cage match, while the tag title match will be a TRUE rematch of last year’s Starrcade – a scaffold match! That’s the challenge. Paul Ellering comes out, holding a rolled up newspaper (as he did in his early days of managing). Bubba Rogers gets between him and Cornette, but Tony says Paul maybe shouldn’t have come out here now, as he’s faced off with Flair, Bubba and the Midnights. Ellering motions for the mic and says he has talked to the Warriors and Dr Death, and has only one thing to say: “WE ACCEPT!” With that, he whacks Bubba on the head with the paper, and Bubba plops down onto his butt. The Midnights and Flair advance on him, but Steve Williams and The Road Warriors spring onto the scene, and the six of them brawl all over the studio, until the heels gather up Bubba and beat a hasty retreat, as a clearly terrified Cornette begs them to get him out of there. Tony says that’s all the time we have today, fans, but tune in Friday, for STARRCADE SHOWDOWN!
EDIT: Forgot to mention that after Ellering hits Bubba with the paper, the newspaper outside falls away, revealing that he had a lead pipe concealed within the paper.
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Post by loadedglove on Jun 30, 2013 23:22:09 GMT -5
Howdy! We have NWA Main Event and the UWF TBS shows ready, and Power Pro & house show results up very soon!
2. NWA Main Event (Synd) – 1 hr
Bob Caudle welcomes fans and says we have some major news about Starrcade; our taped-fist bout between Ron Garvin and Barry Windham will be a loser-leaves affair. Loser of the match leaves WCW for at least 90 days! And depending on the outcome of this next match, that match could also be the finals of the US title tournament!
US title semifinal: Dusty Rhodes vs. Ron Garvin: Garvin starts out wanting to fight, as Caudle on commentary notes that Ronnie was among the many friends of Dusty to feel betrayed by his recent switch. However, every time Garvin clenches his fists, Dusty backs off into the ropes, waving Garvin off and yelling at the ref to get Garvin to unclench and wrestle fairly. Dusty does all his preening and strutting after every series of moves that goes his way, and after Garvin finally unloads with punches, Dusty takes a powder outside the ring. But as the ref backs Garvin away from the ropes, to allow Dusty back in, Dusty loads the elbow pad and delivers a savage series of elbows that leaves Garvin bloody, and easy prey for a pin.
RESULT: Dusty Rhodes pinned Ron Garvin with the (loaded) bionic elbowdrop, in 11:02 (* ¾).
*BREAK*
Caudle announces that he’s just gotten a message from WCW President Wahoo McDaniel that, since the finals of the US tourney are will be Dusty versus Windham, that rather than disrupt the planned Windham-Garvin grudge match for Starrcade, the Windham-Dusty U.S. tourney final will be at a house show this week, in Charlotte, NC. Starrcade update center: We get a slightly abbreviated version of the TBS segment, plus a very brief recap of the way the six-man Starrcade Showdown main event was challenged and accepted.
*BREAK*
Caudle is at ringside with NWA world champ Ric Flair. Flair starts his promo about how he was winning world titles when Steve Williams was still figuring out whether he had enough credits to graduate from Oklahoma University, when TED DIBIASE strolls into the frame. DiBiase says he has offered Flair his services as a consultant for the Starrcade match, since NO ONE knows Steve Williams better. Flair says, “Ted DiBiase, I recognize you as one of the finest technical wrestlers Ted DiBiase & Stan Hansen beat Owen Hart & Brad Armstrong, when DiBiase pinned Armstrong after punching him with the loaded glove, in 15:54 (*** 3/4). Long sequence of getting heat on Owen, as Caudle remarks how tough this young Canadian athlete is, as he even kicks out of the lariat, at one point! Hansen is shocked! Hansen tags DiBiase just as Owen tags Armstrong! Ted and Brad slug it out, and DiBiase comes out on the short end of that stick. Hansen comes back in, and Owen does likewise. It’s a four-way melee, and as the ref gets Owen out, Hansen lariats Armstrong. Brad goes down, as Ted loads up the glove. DiBiase picks up a groggy Brad, who block’s Ted’s punch and punches back, and DiBiase bounces back off the ropes, and this time, he NAILS Brad with the loaded glove! He gets the pin, as Caudle notes that if he pulls that off in the title match, DiBiase will be the unified TV champ!
*BREAK*
Standby match: Bam Bam Bigelow vs Jimmy Garvin: We get about four minutes of Bigelow-dominated action before Caudle says we’re out of time …
3. UWF (TBS Sun night) – 1 hr Jim Ross welcomes fans, and with him is STING and RICK STEINER! Ross says we have a heck of a main event today, as The Rock & Roll Express have returned to UWF television for possibly the last time, to challenge the Midnight Express for the tag belts! Ross reminds fans of the bitter history between the teams. Sting says it feels good to get a little payback on Gilbert (as we play a short clip of last week’s incident) for all the heartache he’s caused, but he and Steiner know that they will never truly be able to rise to the top of the wrestling world until they are free of Gilbert once and for all. Thus, Sting has an offer for Gilbert. Starrcade is slated to feature Sting and Steiner versus Gilbert and Taylor, and Sting says we should make it a loser-leaves-WCW match! Very simply, the losing team leaves WCW for no less than six months! Ross asks Steiner what he thinks of such a risky proposition, and Steiner says, “Well, I don’t like Eddie Gilbert, but I DO like beatin’ people up! So if we can’t beat him and Taylor, then I’ll just go beat people up somewhere else, and in six months, if I ain’t in jail, I’ll come back and beat people up here again!” Sting says, “Rick’s still working through the finer points of the contract, but the challenge is there, and Eddie Gilbert, prepare to get stung!!!” Steiner grabs the mic: “And STEINERED, TOO!” Ross says we’ll be right back with Sting and Steiner in action, against Gilbert’s hired thugs …
*BREAK*
Rick Steiner & Sting beat Powers of Pain in 2:31, when Steiner pinned Barbarian after a belly-to-belly suplex (*). In our limited time, we want to make this a showcase for Steiner; Sting has had plenty of chances to show off his athleticism and charisma, but Steiner’s been stuck playing second fiddle, and here, Ross calls special attention to him throwing those incredible suplexes on these two massive beasts. At the finish, Gilbert hops onto the apron as Warlord comes in for a save, but Sting clotheslines Gilbert back to the floor and quickly gives a Stinger splash to Warlord, splattering him in the corner. After the match, Sting and Steiner face into the camera and tell Gilbert he’s NEXT! We then go back to the locker room, where The Rock & Roll Express say they wanted to return to the UWF for one last shot at the Midnight Express. Morton says, “Even if we’re not able to win those belts, we wanted to appear one more time to say thank you! You fans of the UWF, back when it was still Mid-South Wrestling, you were the ones who first believed in Robert and myself, and we thought nothing could be nicer than to beat the Midnight Express one more time, and go into Starrcade as the UWF champions, to represent all you nice folks!”
*BREAK*
Bad News Allen beat Hector Guerrero by countout, in 9:06 (**). Bad News inadvertently crushes the ref into the corner, and then he and Hector spill outside. As they’re fighting at ringside, Kevin Sullivan comes over to make it a double team, but Chavo comes out to save his brother. Next thing you know, THE ROCKERS are out, which brings out the Southern Boys, but Tracy Smothers accidentally (?) hits Chavo when Shawn Michaels ducks his charge, and it devolves into a three-way brawl, as Sullivan pulls out Bad News and has him get up into the ring, as the ref wakes up. The Rock & Roll Express come in to break it up, and THEY get punched by all three other teams! It’s an out-of-control brawl, as we go into …
*BREAK*
Jim Ross says the ringside doctors have checked the Rock & Roll Express after that scuffle, and they are injury-free and clear to wrestle.
UWF Tag: Midnight Express beat The Rock & Roll Express in 15:57, when Eaton pinned Ricky Morton after a flying cross bodyblock (***). This is the fast-paced bout that fans of these teams are familiar with; the key to the finish is that the Midnights win with a minimum of cheating. The R&R toss Stan into the ropes for the double dropkick, but Eaton from the outside grabs Stan’s waist to stop him bouncing back, and Ricky & Robert hit only air. Gibson’s momentum causes him to roll out of the ring, while Eaton tags Lane’s back, climbs to the top and bodypresses Morton for the win.
*BREAK*
Starrcade update center: We get a slightly abbreviated version of the TBS segment, plus a very brief recap of the way the six-man Starrcade Showdown main event was challenged and accepted.
Coming out of the Starrcade Update Center, Jim Ross and Magnum TA say there’s only a couple of minutes of airtime left, not enough for a match, but they will use the time to run down the lineup of action slated for this Friday’s STARRCADE SHOWDOWN spectacular! Slated for the show:
• Midnight Express & Ric Flair vs. Road Warriors & Steve Williams (Winning team’s members get to pick their Starrcade stipulations) • Brad & Bob Armstrong vs Ted DiBiase & Terry Funk • The Koloffs vs Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch • Terry Gordy vs. Stan Hansen (no DQ bunkhouse brawl, come as you are, falls count anywhere) • No. 1 contenders’ bout, for shot at US tag titles: Chavo & Hector Guerrero vs. The Rockers PLUS: We WILL have the promised face-to-face interview of world champions Ric Flair and Steve “Dr. Death” Williams!
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Post by loadedglove on Jul 4, 2013 11:53:23 GMT -5
OK, I have now brain-farted two consecutive weeks. In the NWA Main Event show, there's a Ric Flair interview segment right before the DiBiase/Hansen vs Owen/Armstrong match, but I somehow clipped out most of the content.
HERE is that interview segment, in its entirety:
Caudle is at ringside with NWA world champ Ric Flair. Flair starts his promo about how he was winning world titles when Steve Williams was still figuring out whether he had enough credits to graduate from Oklahoma University, when TED DIBIASE strolls into the frame. DiBiase says he has offered Flair his services as a consultant (at a very reasonable price) for the Starrcade match, since NO ONE knows Steve Williams better, but Flair hasn’t even returned his calls. Flair says, “Ted DiBiase, I recognize you as one of the finest technical wrestlers in the world and one of the finest tactical minds I’ve ever encountered, but I haven’t returned your calls because I don’t want your help. I don’t NEED your help, and I won’t take your help. And you wanna know why? Because Ric Flair knows a thing or two about planning for powerful opponents, because the Horsemen have access to THE sharpest mind in wrestling, Mr. James J. Dillon, and because without going into a lot of details, Mr. DiBiase, you and I have some fundamental philosophical differences that we don’t need to get into, here. So thank you for your kind offer, but the world champion will handle his own business!” Flair looks at Caudle and says, “Bob Caudle, I’ve said all I need to say, except that Steve Williams had better be ready for the battle of his life! WOOOOOO!” Flair walks off, DiBiase looks furious, but hops into the ring for his tag bout.
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Post by loadedglove on Jul 4, 2013 13:15:07 GMT -5
And now, to close out the first week of November, here are Power Pro Wrestling and the week's house show highlights. 4. Power Pro (UWF) (syndication) – 1 hr Jim Ross & Magnum TA welcome fans to the show and say the countdown is on to Starrcade, the most historical night in wrestling history, the night wherein world titles will merge, and only the best of the best will still be standing. So far, we know of Flair-Williams, Warriors-Midnights, a US title match that will be either Windham-R. Garvin or Dusty-Nikita, Hayes/Gordy/ versus T. Funk/Hansen/Murdoch for 6-man titles, Armstrong-DiBiase and, time permitting, a US tag title bout. We then go to the locker room, where Michael Hayes says that the Birds’ mystery partner will be revealed soon, and the Outlaws are in for some serious payback, Badstreet style, when later on this show, the Funks face Hayes and Gordy! *BREAK* UWF TV: Ted DiBiase pinned Jim Duggan with a fistdrop, in 14:55 (****). Duggan starts strong, bumping DiBiase all over the ring with punches and clotheslines. Duggan misses a running tackle into the corner and plows into the post, through the turnbuckle. From there, DiBiase takes over with an armlock, pounding the injured shoulder. DiBiase sadistically runs Duggan’s shoulder into the turnbuckle, and it finally takes a flurry of punches from Duggan’s free arm to free himself. Finally, Duggan starts his stomp and unleashes a series of blows. He whips DiBiase into the ropes, and DiBiase comes back with a clothesline attempt, but Duggan ducks, DiBiase spins around, Duggan catches him and brings him down into an atomic drop! DiBiase springs off and tumbles over the top rope. This brings out Dick Murdoch and Terry Funk, who at ringside are arguing that the ref should call a DQ. However, Ross notes Duggan CLEARLY did not mean to send DiBiase over the top. Murdoch hops up to the apron to continue the argument and Duggan slugs him, knocking him back down (DiBiase is rolling back into the ring). Funk hops up to the apron, Duggan comes over and swings at him, but Duggan blocks it and WALLOPS Terry, sending the Funker back to the floor (DiBiase is loading his glove). Duggan turns back to DiBiase, who swings with the gloved hand, but Duggan blocks that and punches DiBiase. He whips DiBiase into the corner and goes down for the spear, but DiBiase ducks, and Duggan AGAIN hits his shoulder into the corner. He turns around just in time for DiBiase to nail him with the gloved hand (which Ross reminds us is loaded). Duggan goes down, and DiBiase delivers a fistdrop with the loaded glove, getting the pin. DiBiase gets the TV title belt, Murdoch and Funk, and they leave, gloating. *BREAK* The Freebirds (Hayes & Gordy) beat the Funk brothers by DQ, in 6:41 (** ¼). The Freebirds charge in, and they dominate early brawling, as Ross notes there is a LOT of bad blood here. The finish comes when DiBiase (on the outside) loads up the glove and punches Hayes, whose head was on the ropes after the ref pulled off Terry Funk from choking Hayes on the ropes. As with the Roberts injury, they won’t go for the pin, only inflicting punishment. Hayes is bloody, and Gordy finally charges into the ring, tag or no tag. He double clotheslines the Funks, and his moment of domination is enough to let Hayes get back to his feet, albeit a little wobbly. The Birds double clothesline Dory, who rolls out of the ring, and then pick up Terry for a Gordy piledriver, spiked by Hayes. DiBiase and Dory BOTH roll into the ring, which leads the ref to DQ the Outlaws. However, their numbers advantage is only momentary, as BUDDY ROBERTS rushes the ring, steel chair in hand, and he BLASTS Terry, Dory and DiBiase. The Outlaws roll out of the ring and scurry away, as Ross says it’s now pretty obvious who the third man on the Freebirds team will be, come Starrcade. *BREAK* Before we go to the update, we get an interview with the Birds, where Hayes says it’s obvious that the new WCW is NOT going to be big enough for both the Freebirds and the Outlaws, so their Starrcade title match should be a loser-leaves affair, with the losing team out for at least 90 days. Ross says Starrcade (with an increasing number of bouts featuring that loser-leaves clause) is looking to be not only the birth of a new era, but also the ultimate feud-settler, as we go to our … Starrcade update center: We get a slightly abbreviated version of the TBS segment, plus a very brief recap of the way the six-man Starrcade Showdown main event was challenged and accepted. *BREAK* Chavo Guerrero and Eddie Gilbert wrestle about six minutes, until Jim Ross says we’re out of time … HOUSE SHOW HIGHLIGHTS Terry Funk pinned Bob Armstrong with the piledriver, in 5:22 (* 3/4). Kevin Sullivan pinned Hacksaw Duggan with the double stomp in 13:51 (*** ¼). Eddie Gilbert & Terry Taylor beat Rick Steiner & Owen Hart in 15:06, when Taylor pinned Owen after a piledriver (* ½). Rock & Roll Express beat the Rockers in 25:39, when Morton pinned Michaels after a top-rope legdrop.(**** ¼). Stan Hansen pinned Nikita Koloff with the lariat, in 9:59 (**). US tag title: Chavo & Hector Guerrero beat The Southern Boys for the titles in 7:34 (***), when Hector pinned Smothers with a victory roll. Arn Anderson pinned Ronnie Garvin with the gourdbuster, in 21:16 (** ¼). US title tournament finals: Dusty Rhodes defeated Barry Windham with the (loaded) bionic elbow, in 13:40 (** ¾). Steve Williams & Sting beat Ric Flair & Tully Blanchard in 16:40, when Williams pinned Blanchard with the Oklahoma Stampede (*** ½).
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Post by loadedglove on Jul 14, 2013 19:16:36 GMT -5
Sorry for the even-longer-than-usual delay, but Starrcade Showdown turned out to involve more writing than I'd first thought it would. So here's the Showdown, and I'll be back in a day or two with this week's UWF show (for info on the syndicated shows, see below):
************************************************* Nov 1987, Week 2
Well, it’s Friday night, so it must be time for … STARRCADE SHOWDOWN! 1. STARRCADE SHOWDOWN (TBS Sat Fri Night) – 2 hr
Jim Ross and Bob Caudle welcome fans to the first ever STARRCADE SHOWDOWN! We have what promises to be an action-packed main event, a six-man war with UWF world champ Steve Williams and NWA world tag champs the Road Warriors on one side, facing NWA world champ Ric Flair and UWF world tag titlists The Midnight Express! That’s just part of this action-packed lineup, which has also been subject to some late changes. First, the contenders’ match for the US tag title shot at Starrcaed will not be held, since one of that match’s two teams, Chavo & Hector Guerrero, CAPTURED the US tag belts at a live event this past week, in El Paso, Texas! Also, the Armstrongs-Outlaws tag match will not take place, as Bob Armstrong suffered an injury while training at his home, in Marietta, Georgia. Instead, the two TV champions have agreed to an interesting challenge: each will defend against the other’s next scheduled challenger! That means Brad Armstrong defends the NWA TV title against former UWF TV champ Owen Hart, while Ted DiBiase defends the UWF TV title against Barry Windham! Speaking of Windham, Ross noted that the US tag belts were NOT the only titles to find new owners, as DUSTY RHODES defeated Barry Windham in the finals of the US title tournament. The win was somewhat controversial, Ross says, but Dusty Rhodes himself has joined Ross and Caudle at ringside and tells him to run the footage. Ross says we’re looking at the closing moments, wherein Rhodes and Windham clothesline each other and both go down. Rhodes rolls over onto Windham, but before the ref can count, JJ Dillon jumps up onto the apron to holler at the ref. Windham pushes off Rhodes after what would have been a one-count, anyway, (Dusty voiceover: “As you can see, the American Dream had young Barry Windham down and out, baby! You could have counted to 40! That’s devastation, baby! That’s RISKY BID-NESS!”). Rhodes rolls to the apron, where Dick Murdoch appears to pull off Dusty’s elbowpad and replace it with a bulkier one (Rhodes: “Now, here you see Dicky Murdoch, with that heart of compassion that makes him such a sportsman, seeing that the Dream’s elbowpad is not fully operational, if you will, to provide that needed protection. Now, I know you and Bob Caudle, just like all the couch potatoes watching at home, have no idea what it’s like to be a fine, conditioned athlete like The American Dream Dusty Rhodes and the Outlaws, but speaking as a great athlete, I assure you, the right protective gear is very important!”). Dusty adjusts the pad, and as Dillon is back down on the floor, the ref turns just in time to see Dusty BLAST Windham with a bionic elbowsmash. When Ross asks if that elbow was enhanced by a foreign object in the pad, Rhodes says, “Mr. TV Announcer, you are lucky that I am restraining myself from giving any more announcers the smack in the mouth you need! There is NOTHING foreign here, baby – it’s all AMERICAN! As in, The American Dream, Dusty Rhodes! Now, if you’ll excuse me, The American Dream has to get ready for his match tonight, baby! We don’t want to disappoint all the Dream’s fans!”
Jim Ross’ eyes roll as he says we’ll see that match a little later, but when we return, we’ll have our first big match, Lex Luger versus Sting, plus some words from WCW President Wahoo McDaniel!
*BREAK*
Sting is in the ring, and Lex Luger is walking the aisle, as Caudle is at ringside with Wahoo. Caudle says, “Wahoo, I’ve known you for a lot of years; I’ve seen you wrestle what seems like every star in the NWA over the past two decades, and you were always one of the toughest wrestlers I ever had the pleasure of announcing … and I gotta be honest with you, it gives me kind of a sad feeling to see your great career come to an end!” Wahoo: “Well, Bob, I thank you for the kind words, but I have no complaints. You know, I played pro football for a few years before moving into wrestling, and people used to ask me why I switched. Well, the truth is, I craved the challenge, because pro wrestling was and is the toughest sport in the world! I know we get knocked sometimes because there are a lot of, uh, colorful characters in wrestling, but this is the toughest, most physically demanding sport in the world, and I am proud of everything I’ve accomplished in wrestling! But, Bob, there comes a time in every athlete’s life where he must decide whether to try to prolong a career as long as possible, or go out while you’re still operating at a top level. Well, I may have lost a step over 20 years in pro wrestling, but I still feel like an athlete, like a man who can still go out any give anyone the fight of his life, and –“ Luger butts in, saying, “I’m sorry, excuse me for interrupting, but I cannot believe what I’m hearing! Chief Wahoo, in case you were wondering, it’s 1987, not 1977! It’s a new era, and ANYONE can look at you, with your doughboy body, and then look at THE TOTAL PACKAGE (Luger gives us a crab flex), and easily figure on which of us the athlete and which of us should be retiring on a pension! And you know, a lot of people don’t know this, but I beat Wahoo McDaniel in my FIRST professional match, in 1985, and at Starracde, it’s going to come full circle, when I beat you in your LAST match!” Wahoo says, “I might not have your big, pretty muscles, but at Starrcade, you’re going to find out that all the tanning beds and barbells in the world are no match for pure guts. I can’t believe I wasted my time trying to help such an arrogant punk –“ WHAM! Luger slaps Wahoo! Wahoo doesn’t even take a step back from it, but responds with one of his trademark chops that sounds like a gunshot and staggers Luger, who clutches his chest. Wahoo is yelling that Luger had better get in the ring and worry about tonight’s opponent, and Luger rolls in the ring to do just that. Sting immediately takes over where Wahoo left off, by blasting Luger with a series of chops to the chest. He whips Luger into the corner, bounces off the ropes and catches Luger (staggering out of the corner) in a bulldog-style faceslam. Sting picks Luger back up, but Luger rakes the eyes and takes over with an armbar. Sting escapes by balancing Luger ONTO HIS SHOULDER and standing up, WITH LUGER STILL ON HIS SHOULDER! Sting simply drops back, which makes the drop for Luger like that of an electric-chair drop (if such a thing existed in 1987). Luger grabs his knee upon landing. Sting picks him up and whips Luger back into the corner, but Luger reverses the whip. Luger charges in for a clothesline, but Sting ducks, and Luger falls, grasping his knee, as if compounding his previous problem. Smelling blood, Sting steps in, applies the scorpion. Luger screams for a few seconds, but the hold is too much for his already-damaged knee, and Luger gives it up! Your official result: Sting made Lex Luger submit to the scorpion, in 3:26 (* ½).
*BREAK*
Jim Ross says it’s now time for the first of our two TV title matches, both of which could have major impact on the Starrcade lineup. Ross notes that we are now getting the scientific matchup we’d originally anticipated for Starrcade!
NWA TV title: Brad Armstrong and Owen Hart wrestled to a 20-minute time limit draw (**** 3/4). It’s a dazzling technical display, with Armstrong dominating on matwork, but Owen gaining the advantage several times, with his speed and agility. Highlights include Owen coming off the top, but Brad springing up and nailing him with a dropkick as he descends; Owen reversing the Russian footsweep into a kind of half-magistral cradle; and Brad kicking out of Owen’s moonsault after a count of two and 63/64. At the close of the bout, Brad catches Owen in a reverse cradle, which Owen reverses, and they reverse each other as the final seconds count down. When the bell rings, they break, embrace and raise each other’s arms, as Jim Ross notes that WHOEVER comes out on top at Starrcade, Owen Hart is going to be a serious title threat for someone as 1987 comes to a close and 1988 opens up!
*BREAK*
It’s now time for the face-to-face between Ric Flair and Steve Williams. Both are in the ring, Doc in a track suit, and Flair in a three-piece suit and black fur coat, with sunglasses. Ric Flair offers a handshake, and after staring for a minute, Doc reluctantly extends his own hand, but Flair pulls his hand back, smooths his hair with it and laughs. Jim Ross starts by running off a list of challengers Flair has turned back since his first title win in 1981: Harley Race, Jack Brisco, Roddy Piper, the Von Erichs, Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, Wahoo McDaniel, Sting … a veritable Who’s Who of pro wrestling. However, Ross notes that Flair has NEVER faced Williams in a singles match and wants to know if he’s taking special preparation for this match, or if Flair (as a master of being in the pressure cooker) is simply looking at it as another title match. Flair: “You know, Jim Ross, I’ve been saying for years that THIS (Holds out NWA belt) is the richest prize in our sport, because of the rich history of this championship, the great champions who have held it, but most of all, because … WOOOO! THE NATURE BOY represents the NWA with this belt, as the greatest champion in the world, the greatest in history! I’m the man who travels the world, facing the top wrestlers in this sport! I’m the 60-minute man, and I’m the man who knows how to exploit my opponent’s weakness, whatever that may be. But that knowledge comes at a price – you people watching Slick Ric at home, you see the glamour, you see the $5,000 suits and the $10,000 coats, you see the beautiful women – but you don’t see the hours that your world champion puts in at the gym! You don’t see the hours that I spend studying my opponent, so I can know him better than he knows himself! So, Jim Ross, to answer your question, there is NO SUCH THING as ‘just another title match!’ I’ve kept this world title by being the best – not just the smoothest, not just the best-conditioned, but the smartest! And, Steve ‘Dr. Death’ Williams, you, my friend, are in for a LONG night at Starrcade, especially since, once the Midnight Express and myself beat you and those two face-painted goofs tonight, Ric Flair gets to call the shots and make our Starrcade match a best of 3 falls affair!” Ross asks Steve Williams about his preparation for Flair. Williams: “You know, Jim Ross, I’m not as smooth a talker as Ric Flair, but I’ll tell you this – RIC FLAIR, I give you credit for being a conditioned athlete, as well conditioned as anyone I ever saw. But don’t make the mistake of looking at me and seeing just a big man with power. I also know the importance of conditioning, and I got THESE (holds out his fingers, each of which is adorned with an All-American ring) by beating and by outlasting everyone I wrestled! And I got THIS (points to UWF title belt around his waist) by outlasting everyone who faced me in this ring! You want a long match? All you’re gonna get for that is a long night of pain! Because I’ve been working out, I’ve been watching films of Ric Flair, and I’ll be ready, come Starrcade!” Flair says that he knows Doc is well conditioned, just as Doc should not think Flair is not tough. Flair: “You say there’s more to you than those muscles, big man? Well, rest assured, there is more to the Nature Boy than these fine clothes and the smooth wrestling I’m known for! You think you’re the ONLY tough guy in our match? You, my friend, would be making a deadly mistake by underestimating the toughness of the Nature Boy. I’ve seen enough of you to know that you are one of the toughest men in the world, but Ric Flair came back from a plane crash that broke my back! The doctors told me I’d never walk again, but a few months later, The Nature Boy was winning championships in this ring! THAT is tough! And it’s something I see in YOU, Steve Williams, and I respect you for it! You know, I know some people are not going to be thrilled with me for saying this, but that toughness is something I see in you, and it’s something I see in one of my most ferocious opponents, a man I came to respect a great deal – Magnum TA! Magnum is a man who, as we all know, was in a horrific auto accident that he was not expected to survive, but he defied every expectation, and not only did he survive, he re-learned to walk, and he has found a way to continue contributing to this great sport! Now, I faced Magnum TA more times than I care to count, for this title, and we fought tooth and nail. And he and I are not likely to become lifelong friends, but that man has the heart of a lion. THAT’S the kind of toughness I respect, and I see it in you, but make NO MISTAKE – as bad as you are, I’m just a little bit badder, and at Starrcade, when you’re tongue’s hanging out of your mouth, and you’re fighting for every breath, and your chest is beet-red, and you’re lying on the mat, watching me proudly display both of those belts which will signify me as the ONLY world champion, you’re going to be saying, ‘That Ric Flair is a hell of a man!’ WOOOOOO!” Doc just shakes his head, laughs, and says, “I don’t see it that way. I see you trying to dig yourself out where I plant you, halfway through the mat, after the Oklahoma Stampede, and I see myself with that big pretty belt.” Flair starts poking Doc in the chest and says, “Look, pal! You think you’re gonna –“ Doc grabs his finger and says, “No, YOU look! I’ll go RIGHT NOW –“ Flair slaps Doc! Doc rares back and slaps the glasses off of Flair’s head. The two are grabbing each other, and the Horsemen come in, but so so Duggan, Sting and Owen Hart, pulling their respective friends apart, as Jim Ross says we’ll be right back!
*BREAK*
We open away from the arena, in a studio where a young man with long hair, dressed in a suit, is holding a clunky, cordless phone. He says, “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul E. Dangerously, and as a manager, I represent some of the top talent in the wrestling world. In the coming weeks, you’re going to be seeing a little more of me, as I bring in to the fledgling WCW the hottest free agent in wrestling, and a tag team that will stand ready whoever’s left standing with championship belts after Starrcade. To everyone in World Championship Wrestling, I say, have a lovely Thanksgiving, because after the dust clears, Paul E. Dangerously and the Dangerous Alliance are coming, and NONE OF YOU ARE SAFE. Thank you for your time.”
We’re back in the ring for a grudge tag encounter … Ivan & Nikita Koloff beat Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch, when Nikita pinned Murdoch after a sickle, in 6:07 (**). The Outlaws bring a bullrope to the ring, while the Russians bring their chain. Lot of brawling to open up, but once it settles down to a standard tag, Dusty makes every effort not to be in the ring the same time as Nikita. Finally, Ivan Koloff is in with Dusty, when Dusty attempts a vertical suplex on Ivan, who has by now been punished for a couple of minutes straight. Ivan blocks and then reverses it, vertical suplexing Dusty. Ivan takes advantage of Dusty being stunned from the move, and tags Nikita. Nikita cleans house, even giving Murdoch a sickle when he comes in. Unfortunately, Murdoch splatters into the ref, sending him to the concrete floor. Ivan is recovering on the apron when he sees Dusty retrieving the bullrope. Dusty clocks Nikita with the cowbell, puts Murdoch on top of Nikita and then goes to revive the ref. Ivan grabs his own Russian chain, wraps it around his arm and drops it on Murdoch, knocking him silly. By the time the ref gets back, both men are flat on their backs. Both struggle to rise, but Nikita gets up first and delivers a Russian sickle on Murdoch, just as Murdoch gets to his feet and turns to face Nikita. Nikita goes for the pin, and Ivan runs in to stop Dusty from making the save, and we have a three-count! In the ring, Dusty is furious, while Ivan and Nikita are happy and making their way up the aisle.
*BREAK*
We’re in the locker room, where Schiavone is interviewing Nikita Koloff. Koloff says he and Dusty cannot co-exist, and this situation must end. Nikita has already signed for a US title match, and he has an offer for Dusty – let’s make it a chain match, and in exchange, if Nikita loses, he will LEAVE WCW! Back to the ring … NO DQ, falls count anywhere Bunkhouse match: Stan Hansen vs Terry Gordy. These two don’t even start out in the ring, as Hansen clobbers Gordy as the Freebird is coming up the aisle. Jim Ross notes that these two represent the big guns, so to speak, of their respective teams/factions. They fight all the way up into the stands, and Gordy snatches a beer cup from a fan and splashes Hansen in the face with it. They brawl up the aisle and back down, until they get back to the place where the beer splash occurred. Hansen delivers a low blow and then grabs the cup from the beer that was used on him, crumples it up and grinds it into Gordy’s face. Over the course of this fight, we see pin attempts in the aisle, in front of the ringside table and in front of a popcorn vendor. They make it back to ringside, where Hansen grabs the ring bell and swings it at Gordy, who’s propped up against the corner post of the ring. Gordy moves and the ring smacks into the post. Gordy, still feeling the effect of the low blow, floors Hansen with a series of punches, then vertically suplexes Hansen onto the concrete! Ted DiBiase walks down the aisle, but Michael Hayes comes up behind him and blasts him! DiBiase and Hayes are duking it out, when Terry Funk and Dick Murdoch join in. Gordy sees this and heads over to help Hayes. Buddy Roberts comes out from the dressing room with a chair, and the Outlaws scatter. Roberts helps Hayes back to the dressing room. Gordy goes back to Hansen, at ringside, but Stan has recovered and grabs Gordy’s hair, running him headfirst into the post. Gordy, now bleeding staggers around and throws wild punches at the air, but Hansen times it right and lariats him, going for the pin almost right in front of the announcers’ table. 1-2-3! Official result: Stan Hansen pinned Terry Gordy with the lariat, in 7:30 (****).
*BREAK*
Jim Ross says we’re now having the second half of the TV title challenge, UWF TV champ Ted DiBiase against NWA TV title contender Barry Windham, and we’re joined on commentary by Windham’s Starrcade opponent, Ron Garvin. Windham has early advantages, and even proves adept at using DiBiase’s own rulebreaking tactics against him. He hits a superplex, for a near fall, as Garvin says, “Yep, he’s a tough one, but I got his number!” DiBiase fights his way back up, and battles Barry back against the ropes, then charges in for a clothesline that sends them BOTH tumbling over the top. As they battle around ringside, they come near the announce table, prompting Garvin to stand up and start yelling at Windham, taunting him about how he likes having brutal tactics used on HIM, for a change. Windham kicks DiBiase in the gut and throws him back in the ring, then turns to Garvin and SLAPS him. Windham gets back in the ring, but Garvin throws off his headset and follows. Windham, in the ring, turns around to face Garvin, who pops Windham with his patented punch. Windham Staggers back, and DiBiase capitalizes by rolling him up into a schoolboy cradle, for 1 … 2 … 3! Official result: Ted DiBiase pinned Barry Windham with a schoolboy, in 8:16 (** ¾). Garvin is laughing at ringside, holding up his fist and yelling, “That’s the punch, Barry Windham! Lots more where that come from!”
*BREAK*
Ted DiBiase is at ringside, telling Jim Ross to note that – single-handedly, through nothing but the use of his own God-given talents – he BEAT Brad Armstrong’s challenger, while Brad could only get a draw out of DiBiase’s challenger, the very man Ted BEAT for this title. Ted says it shows that “Armstrong is a GOOD wrestler, but I am a GREAT wrestler, and at Starrcade, the GREAT wrestler will prevail!” He walks off. Ross says it’s now time for our main event … MIDNIGHT EXPRESS & RIC FLAIR VS ROAD WARRIORS & STEVE WILLIAMS: Caudle reminds us the stakes are high, as the winning team gets the Starrcade stipulations they wanted (Doc wants a cage, but Flair wants 2/3 falls; Warriors want a scaffold match, while the Midnights want No DQ). Lane and Hawk start. Hawk offers a test of strength, and Lane actually looks like he’s about to try it, but kicks Hawk in the gut at the last second. Lane peppers Hawk with a series of side- and spin-kicks, but after initially doubling over, Hawk straightens up, and the last couple of kicks only get stares. Hawk unleashes a flurry of punches, then whips Lane in and shoulder-tackles him. He lifts Lane for a press slam, but Eaton and Flair run in. Animal and Doc meet them, and within seconds, all three babyfaces are press slamming Eaton, Lane and Flair. The heels go out to regroup. Order is restored, and Lane and Hawk go until Lane rakes the eyes and then finally drops Hawk with a series of kicks that concludes with a crescent kick to the back of the head. He clamps on a headlock and tags Flair. Flair climbs to the second turnbuckle, and drops an elbow on Hawk, still trapped in the headlock, and Hawk goes down. Flair mounts Hawk and hits him with a flurry of punches. He steps off and struts around the ring, turning back around just in time to run into Hawk, already back to his feet. Hawk scoops him up for a side-backcreaker and tags Doctor Death. Doc is pumped up and bumps Flair around the ring with a series of running shoulder tackles. Flair lands near the corner, quickly climbs to the top and leaps off for a flying bodypress (admit it – you thought Doc was going to stop him at the turnbuckle, didn’t you?). He flies and hits Doc … who catches him! Doc staggers back a step or two, but then props him up, poised for the Stampede! But they are near the ropes, and Flair grabs the top strand. When Doc steps off, Flair slips from his grasp, and from behind, he clips (or “chock-blocks,” or however you spell that) Doc’s leg. The next several minutes have Flair working on the leg, until Doc kicks him off when Flair attempts the figure four. Flair is launched, but lands near his own corner and tags Eaton. The next few minutes is all three heels working over Doc’s leg with frequent tags, until Lane finally tags Eaton, and they double whip Doc into the ropes. Doc stops himself on the ropes, and as the Midnights approach, he grabs BOTH in a bearhug, and walks them over to the Warriors’ corner, where he tags Animal. Now, all six men are battling in the ring, until Cornette trips Hawk from the outside, which gets managers Ellering (and then Dillon) involved. As all hell is breaking loose at ringside, Doc and Flair are left in the ring. Doc hits him with another running shoulder tackle, then scoops him up for the Stampede! Doc runs, but Flair is able to shift his weight so he slips down and behind Williams. Flair grabs Doc from behind, pushes him into and off of the ropes and down into a rolling reverse cradle for 1 (Jim Ross notes that Flair might have a handful of tights, but it’s not entirely clear) … 2 … 3! YOUR WINNERS: The Midnight Express & Ric Flair beat Steve Williams & The Road Warriors when Flair pinned Williams after reversing the Stampede, in 16:48 (*** ¾). Bob Caudle says we still have a few minutes of TV time left, and we have a standby match ready to go, up next!
*BREAK*
The Garvin Brothers beat Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson by DQ in 1:18, when JJ Dillon pulled down the top rope, causing Ron Garvin to spill outside, onto the floor. Dillon puts the boots to Ronnie after he falls, while Arn and Tully double up on Jimmy, culminating in a double slingshot-suplex that leaves him laying. Ronnie is just starting to come back on Dillon when Arn & Tully roll out, and sure enough, here comes Barry Windham. He slugs Garvin twice, as his fellow Horsemen hold Garvin, and then he directs traffic as Arn holds up Ronnie’s arm, placing his right hand (the knockout punch hand) against the corner post. Windham takes a chair and blasts the post with it, apparently crushing Garvin’s hand, in the process. A horde of babyfaces run out for the save (albeit a few seconds late), AND Garvin is helped to the back, hunched over, clutching his hand. Ross says we’ll be right back to wrap up …
*BREAK*
At ringside, the Horsemen (now joined by Flair) are exultant, for a final ringside interview with Jim Ross. Windham says he can’t wait for Starrcade, where he will FINISH destroying what’s left of Garvin. Tully says it’s an insult that he is not a part of Starrcade, “and Arn too, for that matter,” but as always, The Horsemen will persevere, and will come out on top, when all is said and done. Flair is maniacal: “WOOOOO! STEVE WILLIAMS! Like I said, I have been studying films of your matches for months, and the one thing I haven’t seen anyone do in half a year is PIN YOUR SHOULDERS TO THE MAT! Well, guess WHAT, Big Boy?! IT JUST HAPPENED! And that means Starrcade, best of three falls, you belong to the NATURE BOY! You, my friend, are in for the LONGEST … NIGHT … OF YOUR … WRESTLING … LIFE!!! WOOOOO!!!”
We end with a short music video/graphics package that lays out Starrcade:
• For the undisputed world title, best two of three falls, NO time limit: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. Steve “Dr. Death” Williams • For the undisputed world tag team titles, NO DQ: Hawk and Animal, The Road Warriors (w/ Paul Ellering) vs. Stan Lane & Bobby Eaton, The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette) • U.S. title (Bullrope/chain match, possibly?), loser leaves: “The American Dream Dusty Rhodes vs. “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff • For the undisputed world TV title: “The Million-Dollar Outlaw” Ted DiBiase vs. Brad Armstrong • Retirement match: “Chief” Wahoo McDaniel vs. Lex Luger • World six-man titles, loser leaves town: The Freebirds (Hayes/Gordy/Roberts) vs. The Outlaws (Hansen/Murdoch/T. Funk) • Texas Tornado match, loser leaves: Sting & Rick Steiner vs “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert & Terry Taylor • Taped Fist match: Ronnie Garvin vs. Barry Windham • (Just signed!) U.S. tag team titles, four-corners tag showdown: Chavo & Hector Guerrero (champions) vs The Rockers vs. The Southern Boys vs. The Rock & Roll Express
2. NWA Main Event (Synd) – 1 hr This show and Power Pro this week will be recaps of Starrcade Showdown, with this show using the NWA TV title match as a main event, and Power Pro using the UWF TV title match as its main event. (Sorry; I’m really not trying to chintz readers out of content; the idea is that I need for my syndicated viewers to get the major happenings from the TBS special).
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Post by loadedglove on Jul 22, 2013 23:06:40 GMT -5
OK, here is our week's only remaining TV show, and a house show summary. Soon, we'll be onto Weeks 3 and 4 of November, after which comes Starrcade!
3. UWF (TBS Sun night) – 1 hr
Jim Ross welcomes us to the show and says we have a good one today, as we go through the major events of the Starrcade Showdown, continue the countdown to Starrcade and offer some wild in-ring action. NEXT week, we’ll have a very special look back – as the end of the UWF as a separate entity approaches, we want to take a look back at some of the greatest champions and competitors in the history of this promotion, which historically has been known for having the toughest athletes and toughest competition around. But for today, we have what promises to be a wild main event: a six-man tag bout between Kevin Sullivan’s Brotherhood (Sullivan, Bam Bam Bigelow & Bad News Allen)! We’ll also have . PLUS, Magnum TA has some post-Starrcade Showdown comments from world champions Steve Williams, Ric Flair, The Road Warriors and Midnight Express. Ross notes we have a lot to get to, so without further ado, let’s go to the ring … Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson beat the Sheepherders in 5:17, when Tully pinned Luke after a slingshot suplex (* 1/2). Ross notes that this was a match the Sheeps demanded, after the Horsemen assaulted them on TBS, several weeks ago. But the key here is that the Horsemen manage to out-dirty-trick the Sheepherders at EVERY turn, especially Tully Blanchard. Tully spends most of the match in the ring and is even somewhat reluctant to tag Arn; Jim Ross notes that strategically, this makes sense, since Tully and the Sheepherders both competed in the same Texas promotion for more than a year, thus Tully is going to be more familiar with their tactics. The finish comes when JJ Dillon grabs the New Zealand flagpole at ringside, only to have Butch Miller clock him from behind and take it. However, as Miller is climbing into the ring with it, Arn Anderson swings around the apron and punts Miller in the head, sending him sprawling to the floor. Arn comes off the apron with a double axehandle onto Butch, and as the ref leans out of the ring to tell Arn and Butch to get back to their respective corners, he fails to see that Tully has picked up the flagpole. Luke Williams, along the ropes, comes at Tully, but Dillon (still groggy, but just functional) trips him from the outside, and Tully blasts Luke Williams with the flagpole, then tosses the flagpole out of the ring. He hits the slingshot suplex for the pin.
*BREAK*
Tully, Arn and Dillon are at ringside, with Ross. Arn says the Horsemen just sent a message to everyone on the UWF side of the WCW equation and that, once WCW is a single promotion, everyone else left standing is going to get a less-than-gentle reminder as to why the Four Horsemen are the most feared unit in wrestling. Tully says, “What Arn Anderson says is true, and that’s all good and fine,” but it’s disgusting that Tully Blanchard has been left off Starrcade. Tully says that people seem to have forgotten what he and Dillon (and Arn) are capable of, but a lot of people in wrestling are going to have to reckon with Tully Blanchard Enterprises, and, of course, the Horsemen. Ross says it’s now time for the … Starrcade Update Center: Segment summarizing Starrcade Showdown, briefly covering all the major happenings and giving the Starrcade lineup. Ross then says Magnum TA caught up with some of the Showdown participants after the show, and filed this report. Magnum says what an amazing night for this great sport it was, and then says to Steve Williams that this must have been a sobering night for him. Doc says, “You know, Magnum, even the best athletes, the best teams in the world, in any sport, they don’t win them all, but even though Ric Flair got his hand raised tonight, and he IS a great champion, but even though, Doctor Death is gonna win the big one, at Starrcade. Ric Flair, you might have put my shoulders down tonight, and I respect you for it, but tonight, I learned just a little bit more about what makes you tick, and come Starrcade, I’ll be ready!” We hit a cut and then Magnum is with Ric Flair. Magnum congratulates Flair on the win and says, “On a personal note, I wanted to thank you for the kind words. I know you and I never saw eye to eye, but you always had my respect as a great champion.” Flair: “Well, Magnum TA, you and I were about as opposite as could be. You, with the blue jeans and motorcycles, while I am still custom made from head to toe, a limousine ridin’, Lear jet flyin’, son of a gun! But you were a great competitor, and you fought your way back from life-threatening injuries, just like I did! And, you know, I might as well address this right now, because I’ve had people asking me all week – ‘Champ, why wouldn’t you accept Ted DiBiase’s help as you prepare for the fight of your life against Steve Williams?’ Well, there are a number of reasons, but right at the top of the list is that DiBiase is affiliated with Dusty Rhodes! Rhodes, you and I have never been friends, but I never thought you would stoop so low, as to assault THIS man (points to Magnum)! What kind of ‘man’ attacks an announcer, someone who might be tough as hell, but whom has been robbed of his ability to be at his physical peak? You can say a LOT about the nasty things the Horsemen have done to people, but at least we keep it to our opponents!” Magnum says he appreciates it, but before they go too far afield, he wants to ask about Doctor Death – how will Flair overcome the wrestling skills and monstrous power that combine to make Williams one of the most dangerous wrestlers in history. Flair: “When you’re the world heavyweight champion, you get the very best coming after you. I’ve gone up against the strongest, the toughest, the most technically proficient, and I’ve come out on top! My stamina has always been one of my strongest suits, and I don’t mind tipping my strategy to Steve Williams a bit – now that our match is two out of three falls, I am going to take him to the absolute limit! One thing about these powerhouses is, they come out strong, but by the 40-minute mark, their tongues are out, and they’re gasping for air! Well, guess what? THAT’S when Ric Flair is kicking it into third gear! So Doctor Death – I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: pack a lunch, big man, because it’s going to be a LOOOOONG night! WOOOOOOO!!!”
*BREAK*
Rock & Roll Express and Jim Duggan went to a double countout with Kevin Sullivan, Bad News Allen and Bam Bam Bigelow in 4:59 (* ¾). It’s a brawl from start to finish, and there’s no keeping track of legal men in the ring, because they’ve fighting in the ring, outside the ring, up the aisle. Finish comes when Sullivan has a chair and is about to whack Robert Gibson with it, but Duggan from behind grabs it as he rares back. Duggan tosses down the chair and he and Duggan brawl all the way up the aisle, and out of sight. Jim Ross says we have time for more action, so we’ll be right back …
*BREAK*
Owen Hart and Dory Funk wrestle for about 11 minutes before Ross says we’re outta time …
HOUSE SHOWS
Rick Steiner beat Terry Taylor by countout, in 1:00 (*). Two Steinerlines, and Taylor fled the ring.
Ted DiBiase & Terry Funk beat Bob & Brad Armstrong, when Funk put out Bob Armstrong with a sleeper, in 22:01 (** ¾).
Owen Hart pinned Dory Funk after an enzugiri, in 16:18 (***).
Stan Hansen pinned Michael Hayes with the lariat, in 14:01 (**).
The Southern Boys beat Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard in 10:53, when Tracy Smothers pinned Anderson with a second-rope elbowdrop (*** ¾).
Eddie Gilbert beat Ron Garvin with the claw, in 5:46 (** ¾).
US Tag Titles: The Rockers beat Chavo & Hector Guerrero for the titles in 10:07, when Michaels pinned Hector after a flying forearm (***).
Texas Tornado, barbed wire: Steve Williams & Nikita Koloff beat Dusty Rhodes & Dick Murdoch in 15:22, when Williams pinned Murdoch after a rolling reverse cradle that sent Murdoch into the barbed wire (** ½).
Steel cage: Ric Flair/Barry Windham/Midnight Express beat The Road Warriors and The Garvins when Barry Windham pinned Jimmy Garvin with a piledriver, in 17:58 (*** 3/4).
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Post by loadedglove on Jul 30, 2013 12:34:52 GMT -5
Here we go, with NWA shows for Nov 1987, week 3 (UWF shows up in a couple of days): Nov 1987, Week 3 1. WCW (TBS Sat Night) – 2 hr We open with a brief clip of Flair reversing the Stampede and pinning Steve Williams, from the Starrcade Showdown. Opening titles play, then Tony and David welcome us to another great show. We have today a bout that was originally set to be a US tag title match, but earlier this week, The ROCKERS regained the belts, beating The Guerreros. So, today we’ll have the Guerreros against Kevin Sullivan’s Brotherhood, plus a tag match that now IS a US tag title bout: The Rockers against Jimmy and Ronnie Garvin! Tony says we have the closing minutes of the title-change bout on video … We get the finish, which saw Marty laid out after a double suplex by the Guerreros. While the ref is putting Chavo out of the ring, since Hector’s the legal man, Shawn grabs Marty’s leg, pulls him out of the ring and lays down in the same spot. Hector comes over to go for the pin, apparently oblivious of the switch, so when he gets in close enough, Shawn snatches him for an inside cradle that gets a two count. Hector kicks out, But Shawn is coming off the ropes and hits him with a flying forearm, just as Hector is turning around to face him. Back at the podium, Tony and David have been joined by the Four Horsemen (w/ JJ Dillon). Flair says, “Tony Schiavone, we are less than two weeks away from history, and as I prepare for one of the biggest matches of my life, I keep hearing questions! Questions about my refusal of Ted DiBiase’s offer of help against UWF champion Steve Williams, questions about Ric Flair stating publicly his respect for Magnum TA … questions about whether Ric Flair is going SOFT! Well, pull that mic in close, because I want everyone around the world to hear this: Ric Flair is a LOT of things, but SOFT has never been one of them! Now, even within the Horsemen, some of my recent statements have been questioned (Tully Blanchard rolls his eyes), but what it boils down to is this: YES, I respect Magnum TA as a man and as one of the toughest challengers I ever had, before his tragic car accident. And YES, I told Ted DiBiase I didn’t want his help or insights into Steve Williams, even though DiBiase knows that man better than anyone else in our sport. But there’s one thing you might be overlooking – I didn’t take DiBiase’s help because I don’t NEED his help! All I need is the support of the only friends, the only advisors I have – The Horsemen, and our guiding light, Mr. James J Dillon! The Nature Boy doesn’t NEED HELP! That includes DiBiase, or ANYONE ELSE! I pinned Steve Williams, the so-called UWF ‘World’ champion, last week on national TV, and I did it without anyone’s help! And at Starrcade, Doctor Death, you’re going to get another painful, exhausting lesson about who you are, and WHO THE NATURE BOY IS! WOOOO!” Tony notes that we’ll be seeing all Four Horsemen in action this week on Main Event (check your local listings), in a huge 8-man tag match! As for right now, The Nature Boy and his compatriots are going to sit back and watch the big man of the Horsemen destroy another chump, right after the … *BREAK* Squashes/promos include: Barry Windham (clips of Windham injuring Ron Garvin from Showdown is played, as Barry says he can't wait to be done with Garvin, once and for all; beyond that, Dusty Rhodes has not heard the last of BW, and that US title is coming home soon), The Rock & Roll Express (they’re going to be part of the four-team challenge at Starrcade, and they’ll be bringing home the gold), Sting (he’s excited to get rid of Eddie Gilbert, once and for all). *BREAK* Wahoo is in the ring, and Schiavone apologizes to him, on behalf of WCW, as Lex Luger’s interruption of Wahoo’s retirement ceremony. Wahoo says, “Tony, I could give another big speech, but what it all boils down to is, thank you to all the fans out there, because without your support, us wrestlers would be nothing!” Tony says the fans also wanted to say thanks to Wahoo; a group of fans had contacted the office of Jim Crockett Promotions, and in recognition of the fact that Wahoo was one of the greatest U.S. champions in history, the fans have prepared this display case, which contains the very U.S. belt that Wahoo won (the physical belt, now held by Dusty, had since been replaced), along with photos of Wahoo inaction against main rivals Johnny Valentine, Ric Flair and others. Wahoo holds up the display for the fans in the studio, but when he turns towards the section of the fans opposite the entrance curtain, his back is to that curtain, and that’s when Lex Luger pounces, nailing him from behind, hitting him in the lower back with a lead pipe! Wahoo drops the display case and falls to the mat. Luger grabs the display and smashes it on Wahoo’s head! Wahoo is bloody and groggy, and Luger picks him up, putting him in the torture rack! He keeps Wahoo in the rack for a LONG time, screaming, “WHO’S THE LEGEND NOW?!” He drops Wahoo and turns to leave, but stops and grabs the old US belt that had been presented to Wahoo. He holds up the belt, yelling, “THIS is what a champion looks like!,” as he leaves the ring and walks to the back. *BREAK* Bad News Allen & Bam Bam Bigelow beat The Guerreros when Bigelow pinned Chavo after a nuclear splash, in 19:49 (**) (with a commercial break in the middle). The Brotherhood dominates at the start, but Chavo & Hector take over by ducking an enzugiri from Allen. They tag in and out quickly, working Bad News’ leg, until Bad News uses what appears to be a judo chop to the throat on Chavo. Bad News uses headlocks to control Chavo, switching to chokes every time Bigelow or Kevin Sullivan (at ringside) distracts the ref for a second. Finally, Bigelow is in with Chavo, and he whips Chavo into the corner. He follows in for an avalanche, but Chavo moves, and Bigelow crushes himself in the corner. He staggers about, as Chavo ascends to the top. He comes off with a moonsault bodyblock, but Bigelow CATCHES him! Bigelow plants Chavo with a standing powerslam, then climbs to the top and delivers the big nuclear splash for the pin; Bad News runs over and forearm-checks Hector, to prevent the save. *BREAK* Sullivan, Bigelow and Allen are at ringside. Sullivan says his Brotherhood is coming together like never before, that they’ve overcome the moments of dissension that every family has, and become stronger. He also says that SOON, the Brotherhood will be getting even stronger. Sullivan: “I have meditated in the desert of despair for 40 days and 40 nights, and I have eaten the leaf of the betel root, and I have seen the visions! Visions of my Brotherhood, this family (points to Allen and Bigelow) growing stronger and stronger! Visions of the dark prophet who has pointed the way – Master Singh!” Tony asks who this Master Singh is, and Sullivan says, “Master Singh is my spiritual advisor, a man who abides in the frozen wastelands of the north and directs me to dominance! And Brad Armstrong, you could have been part of the master’s plan, but YOU had to do things YOUR way! And so, Brad, my beloved tag team partner, as much as it hurts me to do so, I must destroy you. And I will be rooting for you every step of the way, and on Starrcade night, NO ONE will be cheering Brad Armstrong more loudly than Kevin Sullivan and this Brotherhood! Because if you survive that night, you will be once more facing me … and this brotherhood, the closest I have to children! And if you’re lucky, Brad, I might even introduce you to the family pet!” Sullivan leads his troops off, laughing maniacally and singing the words to “How Much is that Doggy in the Window?” A spooked Tony Schiavone just shakes his head and says, “Fans, let’s go back to the ring.” Owen Hart squash. His post-match promo is fairly uneventful, simply saying he is looking forward to being a big part of the combined WCW that we’ll have after Starrcade. *BREAK* Starrcade Update Center: This week, we’re just rehashing Starrcade showdown and giving the match by match breakdown of the big PPV, which is now a mere 12 days away. Jim Ross notes that even though we have new US tag champs, the four teams set for the 4-way title match at Starrcade will stay the same, although if the Garvins win the belts on today’s show, WCW President Wahoo McDaniel has said he would reconfigure that situation, as circumstances dictated, although Wahoo says his goal is to disrupt the present Starrcade gameplan as little as possible. Lastly, Jim Ross says fans should tune into this week’s Main Event and Power Pro shows for a unique view of history, as we prepare to close one chapter of that history, and start a new one. *BREAK* TV Main event: US tag titles: The Rockers beat The Garvins in 16:30, when Michaels pinned Ronnie after a double superkick (*** ½). Barry Windham is with Tony at the podium, offering his “expert” guest commentary. It’s typical heel “nice move, of course, he couldn’t do that to me.” Most of the match is the Rockers double-teaming and getting heat on Jimmy. At one point, Shawn Michaels tosses out and then planchas Jimmy Garvin, causing Barry to go into high-mocking mode. Barry actually comes from behind the podium and starts jawing at Jimmy, who gets up finally and smacks Windham! Barry responds with a punch. Precious, Jimmy’s valet, sprays Barry’s eyes with her aerosol can, and he blindly swings at nails HER! Jimmy is now outside, tending to his wife, while Ronnie is in, dealing with both Rockers. He ducks a double dropkick, but is momentarily distracted by Jimmy screaming at Barry while he picks up Precious to take her to the back. Ronnie turns back around just in time to catch a double superkick from Shawn and Marty, for the pin. *BREAK* Tony says we have just a few seconds left, so we’re here with the Rockers. Tony says it appears Barry Windham is being checked, but it appears no permanent harm has afflicted his eyes. Precious also suffered no serious injury. Shawn Michaels assures Tony no one cares, and we should be focused on the fact that the US tag belts are back with the rightful champions, and at Starrcade, the Rockers are going to destroy three otgher teams, and then start looking at the world champs, maybe finding a partner for the six-man belts, and who knows where else the Rockers might set their sights? Tony says that’s all the time we have, fans … 2. NWA Main Event (Synd) – 1 hr Bob Caudle welcomes us to another exciting show and says we have a dynamite main event, plus the first half of a historical retrospective. Bob reminds us that the era of the NWA is, in a way, coming to an end, and so today we look back at some of the great tag teams that have been champions, in the NWA’s rich history. Bob notes we have new US tag champs, The Rockers, and we see the closing seconds of that title-changing bout. Bob says this change will NOT affect Starrcade, as the Guerreros and Rockers already were slated for the four-corner elimination tag challenge. Speaking of that tag challenge, two teams involved in it are in today’s featured bout, a match we’re putting on first to ensure we can show it to you great fans, in its entirety. We get the ring introductions for (one one side of the ring) The Southern Boys and the Rock & Roll Express, and (on the other) Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, Barry Windham and Ric Flair … THE FOUR HORSEMEN! *BREAK* The Four Horsemen beat the Rock & Roll Express & Southern Boys in 23:22 (commercial break in the middle), when Ric Flair pinned Tracy Smothers with an inside cradle (***). After an opening segment where the babyface teams double-dropkick and double-backdrop the Horsemen all over the place, we get Ricky Morton in the ring with Tully Blanchard. Blanchard whips Morton into the ropes, where JJ Dillon trips him. The ref misses it, since he has twice as many guys as usual to keep an eye on, and the Horsemen tag frequently, getting heat on Morton. Finally, Arn has him in the sleeper, and the ref checks Ricky’s arm. Twice, it falls, but the third time … IT STAYS UP! Morton pulls himself forward and launches Arn into a neutral-corner turnbuckle. Morton tags Gibson, even though both Southern Boys have their hands out for a tag. Gibson cleans house, but Tully comes in. He grabs Gibson’s arms from behind, and Arn unleashes an axehandle from the second turnbuckle onto his helpless foe. Tully steps out, and Gibson turns the tables on Arn, with a hiptoss and a side headlock. Arn works his way back up, pushes Gibson off, into the ropes and hits a spinebuster, for a two-count. Gibson manages to roll away, tags Steve Armstrong, and Tully comes back in! Tracy Smothers joins in, and they dispatch Tully & Arn with dropkicks and backdrops. Flair and Windham come in, which brings in the R&R Express. Now, all eight are in, and Jim Ross has called in to let us know it’s breaking down in Charlotte! Outside, Windham is brawling with Steve Armstrong, while Tully is duking it out (and losing) with Ricky Morton. In the ring, Gibson dropkicks Arn, who rolls from the ring. Gibson then grabs Flair’s arms from behind (paralleling what he had done to him earlier), but history does NOT repeat itself. As Tracy Smothers comes off the second turnbuckle, Flair moves, and Smothers clobbers Gibson! Gibson goes down, Smothers is stunned, and Flair takes advantage of Smothers’ distraction by wrapping him up in an inside cradle, for the pin! The Horsemen head out, as the announcement of the winning team is made. At ringside, the Express and Southern Boys are blaming each other for the miscue, and it looks like yet another brawl is going to break out, but the two teams separate, as we go to break. *BREAK* Bob Caudle says we’ll be closing today’s program with a look forward … and a look back. Starrcade Update Center: First, we get an update of what the card looks like, which is like so: • For the undisputed world title, best two of three falls, NO time limit: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. Steve “Dr. Death” Williams • For the undisputed world tag team titles, NO DQ: Hawk and Animal, The Road Warriors (w/ Paul Ellering) vs. Stan Lane & Bobby Eaton, The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette) • U.S. title (Bullrope/chain match, possibly?), loser leaves: “The American Dream Dusty Rhodes vs. “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff • For the undisputed world TV title: “The Million-Dollar Outlaw” Ted DiBiase vs. Brad Armstrong • Retirement match: “Chief” Wahoo McDaniel vs. Lex Luger • World six-man titles, loser leaves town: The Freebirds (Hayes/Gordy/Roberts) vs. The Outlaws (Hansen/Murdoch/T. Funk) • Texas Tornado match, loser leaves: Sting & Rick Steiner vs “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert & Terry Taylor • Taped Fist match: Ronnie Garvin vs. Barry Windham • U.S. tag team titles, four-corners tag showdown: Chavo & Hector Guerrero vs The Rockers (champions) vs. The Southern Boys vs. The Rock & Roll Express Segment host Gordon Solie then notes that as the end of an era approaches, we want to pay tribute to some of the greats of NWA history. Today, our focus is on tag teams, and a team of industry insiders and wrestling fan/historians have helped identify the five greatest tag team champions the NWA has had. #5 – The Midnight Express (Condrey/Eaton) – a dominant, unorthodox team that specializes in some of the smoothest teamwork Gordon has ever seen, and whose manager is one of the most devious ever. Here’s a clip of them in action, against perennial rivals, The Rock & Roll Express: www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOfH7goFd9I#4 -- Rick Steamboat & Jay Youngblood – Although Jay is sadly no longer with us, these two embodied what it meant to be a team of sportsmen who could play by the rules and STILL beat the best cheaters. Here they are, against their fiercest rivals, Sgt Slaughter & Don Kernodle: www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQrha4R8Ylo#3 – The Minnesota Wrecking Crew – Whether Lars & Gene, Gene & Ole (the longest lived version) or Ole & Arn (who briefly held the world tag titles earlier this year), the Andersons pioneered the art of isolating one man and one body part, punishing their way to tag-team dominance. Here, we see Ole & Gene against Tiger Conway and Rocky Johnson, from the 1970s: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NE-_QQpAJrE#2 – The Rock & Roll Express – Ricky & Robert have electrified the wrestling world with their brand of fast-paced, high-flying action. They’re not the biggest guys around, but they have proven time and again that the size of their hearts should never be underestimated. Here, we see a music video highlighting some of their great moments, set to the entirely appropriate “I Love Rock & Roll:” www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JduC54l7T8#1 – They are one of the most influential tag teams in history. They are, perhaps, the strongest, most physically dominant force in wrestling. They are the CURRENT NWA world tag champions. They are Hawk & Animal, The Road Warriors, and in 12 days, at Starrcade, they have a chance to solidify their legacy by unifying the tag titles. Here, we have an awesomely intense brawl of a match from Florida’s “Battle of the Belts” event in Fall 1985, pitting the Warriors against Stan Hansen and Harley Race: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXhz4mJiirEGordon sends it back to Bob, who tells us we’re out of time, but be here next week, as the final countdown to Starrcade gets underway, and we reveal the greatest NWA world champions of all time!
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Post by loadedglove on Jul 31, 2013 23:41:55 GMT -5
UWF shows for Nov week 3 ... 3. UWF (TBS Sun night) – 1 hr Jim Ross and Magnum TA welcome fans to the show, and say we have a HUGE main event today: the LAST UWF tag title defense before Starrcade, as The Midnight Express defend their titles against Sting and Owen Hart! It’s an appropriate match to feature on today’s show, because in today’s Starrcade Update Center, we’ll take a look at the greatest tag champions in UWF (and Mid-South) history. With that, we get a brief recap of Owen Hart’s difficulties with Cornette, including his TV title bouts against and his attacks by Big Bubba Rogers. Ross says that the issue between those two men does NOT appear to be settled, but we’ll be hoping for no outside involvement and an action-packed bout! Prior to the show, Jim Cornette recorded some comments, and we’ll go to those now. Cornette is at ringside, with the Midnights and Big Bubba. Jim Ross says that IF the Midnight Express escape with the titles today, they then have to deal with the Road Warriors. How does Cornette plan to – Cornette snatches the mic and says, “ESCAPE? The only thing escaped today is that suit, Jim Ross! The Midnight Express, the greatest tag team in the history of tag team wrestling, are gonna teach a lesson today to a couple of punks! Owen Hart was the youngest of 12 children, Jim Ross! Did you know that? (Ross starts to say yes, he did, when Cornette pulls back the mic again). Oh, shut up, Jim Ross! This is my time, and you’re here to interVIEW, not interRUPT! Well, Owen Hart, getting picked on by all the older kids was nothing compared to the beating Sweet Stan and Beautiful Bobby are going to lay on you in just a few minutes! And his partner, Sting … with that goofy haircut and face paint, Halloween was LAST month, and your Road Warrior costume leaves a lot to be desired! But since you want a shot at the Midnight Express and since you want to look like a Road Warrior, well, brother, when these men are done with you, you’re going to have the same bumps and bruises that those two are going to have after Starrcade! “And Road Warriors, I hope you’re watching this match VERY closely, because I want you to see what you’re in for! You might think you’re going to treat your many fans to a repeat of last year’s Starrcade, but LAST year, you were up on a scaffold with the Midnight Express, where you didn’t have to BEAT anyone – you just had to avoid falling! Well, this year, the match is taking place in the RING, a place where these two men are artists with no equal! And this year, we’ve replaced the weak link of the chain, and the Midnight Express you’re facing in less than two weeks is tougher, meaner and more dangerous than anything you’ve faced before! You know, I had thought that Precious Paul Ellering was the brains of that outfit, but his quick return after the Midnight Express twisted his spine like a pretzel shows that he’s just as dumb as you two idiots, because he’s clearly a glutton for punishment! Well, Precious Paul, I have good news for you – you’re in for PLENTY of punishment at Starrcade! And when it’s all over, and the Midnight Express are the ONLY world tag team champions, I will look forward to coming back out here and telling all you people, ‘I told you so!’” *BREAK* UWF tag titles: Sting & Owen Hart challenge the Midnight Express. Sting dominates the early goings with press slams on both Bobby and Stan, and when Stan misses a savate kick, Sting works the leg for a couple of minutes before trying to turn Stan over for the scorpion. Bobby climbs to the top rope and axehandles Sting, breaking the hold. As the ref is occupied with getting Bobby back into his corner, Sting staggers back against the ropes, and when he steps forward, Cornette trips him! Sting rolls out of the ring and chases Cornette, until he runs into Big Bubba! Bubba slugs him, and tosses him back into the ring. The ref threatens him and the Midnights with DQ (Ross explains that the only reason they weren’t DQd is that the ref missed seeing the trip, and only saw Sting going after Cornette outside the ring; since Sting instigated the situation and since it happened outside the ring, no DQ, although Ross stresses that it’s the ref’s discretion in these situations). Sting gets worked over for the next few minutes, and on one occasion, when Stan tags Bobby, Stan runs over and slugs Owen before returning to his corner. Owen comes in after him, and the ref focuses on getting Owen back into his corner, missing Cornette tossing in the racquet, with which the Express double clothesline Sting. Finally, Bobby whips Sting into the ropes, and BOTH MEN go for flying cross bodypresses! They collide, and slam to the mat. It’s now a race for the two men crawling to see who will tag his partner first, and it’s STING, by half a second! Owen Hart comes in cleans house, dropkicking both Midnights before jumping up onto Stan for a victory roll! Before the ref sees Stan’s shoulders down, he sees Cornette jump up onto the apron. Cornette seems to be complaining about tights being pulled, and when Owen sees him, Owen jumps off Stan, runs over and POPS Cornette! Cornette falls to the concrete, and Stan goes after Owen, but Owen rolls him up in a small package for 1 … 2 … Big Bubba comes into the ring and smacks Owen with the racquet! The ref calls for the DQ, but as Cornette gets to his feet, the Midnights hit Sting with a series of double-team moves that put him out. Cornette calls for Bubba to hold Owen, while Cornette SLAPS him! Cornette is screaming about how nobody puts his hands on a Cornette, and slaps Owen again! He picks up the racquet and blasts Owen with it. Owen is now bleeding. Before the onslaught can continue, Rick Steiner (with a chair), Hacksaw Duggan (with a 2x4) and Steve Williams rush the ring, and the heels flee. Your official result: UWF World tag titles: Sting & Owen Hart beat The Midnight Express by DQ, when Big Bubba Rogers attacked Owen Hart, in 27:18 (*** ¼) (two commercial breaks in between). *BREAK* Ross is at ringside with Owen and Sting (Steiner, Duggan and Doc in background), and says that the medical staff here wanted to check on and treat Owen, but Owen insisted that he be allowed to make a statement first. Owen: “JIM CORNETTE! YOU AND THAT BIG BUBBA BETTER WATCH YOUR BACK! You know, Jim Ross, I’m not a big talker. I’m not one of these guys who comes out every week and says how bad I am and what I’m gonna do. I just get in this ring and give it my best shot. But I have been back-jumped for the LAST TIME by Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers! So I am putting you on notice: Big Bubba, Cornette and your Midnight Express – Owen Hart is NOT going to let you run roughshod on me! I know everyone’s looking forward to Starrcade, but I want to make an open challenge to ANYONE Cornette manages. Get in the ring with me, one on one, and let’s see what you can do when it’s a fair fight!” Sting says, “And, boys, if you think you can gang up on Owen Hart, or me, TAKE A LOOK, because we have friends, too!” With that, Ross takes us to our Starrcade Update Center, hosted by Magnum TA. This one’s somewhat different than the one on Main Event; we get the same rundown of the Starrcade lineup, but we’re also getting the UWF’s tag-team champion retrospective. Magnum says we’ll have the greatest singles champs next week, but let’s look at the top five tag champs … #5: Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia. Magnum notes that Dog’s power and Olympia’s agility made them a tough team to handle. Here they are in action against another great team, The Rat Pack (Ted DiBiase & Hacksaw Duggan): www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE_gyKIJ8os#4: Another team whose members’ differences complemented one another, the scientific mastery of Ted DiBiase and the raw power of Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. Here, DiBiase & Dr. Death win their first tag team title (and Doc’s first pro championship of any sort) from The Rock & Roll Express on 5/3/85, in Houston: www.youtube.com/watch?v=hC2DFvYzxXI#3: The Rock & Roll Express. They might not have beaten DiBiase & Doc, but the Express dominated the area during their three tag title reigns. Here, we see highlights of the high-flying team, set to the tune of Van Halen’s “Jump.” www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2UciEYaz4c#2: The Freebirds. They’re the team that INVENTED the concept of the “rock & roll tag team,” and they’ve dominated tag team wrestling everywhere they’ve gone, throughout the 1980s. Their careers might be on the line, come Starrcade, but Magnum says the Outlaws need to remember that NO ONE knows more about dirty tricks and tag team tactics than Hayes, Gordy and Roberts. Here, we’ll show highlights of the Birds winning the UWF tag titles from Sting and Steiner (match occurred in April 1987, Week 1, in our parallel universe; we’ll also use the Badstreet USA music as backdrop for this part of the segment, and use the video as the bumper taking us into commercial break; video is here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=emKxRo1a3cs)#1: Midnight Express. The team with, perhaps, the most flawless teamwork in all of wrestling. Here, we’re considering both Condrey & Eaton, and Eaton & Lane. For the former, we get this 1984 tag title defense against the (at the time) Mid-South dream team of JYD & Hacksaw Duggan, found here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qVRSNCcN2UFor the latter version, we get the Midnights’ June (week 1) 1987 tag title win over the Freebirds. Magnum signs off, and Jim Ross says that’s all the time we have this week; next week, we’ll have in action some of the stars we’d hoped to have this week, but for the tag title match running so long, but just as importantly, next week is the FINAL edition of the UWF! There will be a major announcement about the future of Sunday wrestling on TBS, so please join us then. 4. Power Pro (UWF) (syndication) – 1 hr Jim Ross and Magnum TA welcome fans to the show, and say there will be some heathed contests today, as the Outlaws will face the Koloffs in a pair of bouts. Let’s go straight to the action … Non-title: Dusty Rhodes pinned Ivan Koloff with the bionic elbowdrop, in 8:08 (***). Dusty, of course, loads up the elbow pad before landing the fatal blow. After the bout, Dusty keeps dropping loaded elbows until Nikita runs in with his chain and chases Rhodes away. *BREAK* Starrcade Update Center: Same as on the UWF show *BREAK* Nikita Koloff pinned Dick Murdoch with the sickle, in 14:03 (*** ½). Dusty runs in after the bout, but Uncle Ivan quickly follows, and we gets a benches-clearing brawl that encompasses the remaining Outlaws, The Freebirds, Steve Williams, and Jim Duggan. *BREAK* Hacksaw Duggan pinned Iron Mike Sharpe with the spear, in 3:22 (1/2*). Ross says we’re running out of time, but Duggan hits the spear and gets the pin just as credits roll and Ross says, “We gotta go!”
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Post by loadedglove on Aug 9, 2013 23:36:43 GMT -5
Nov 1987, Week 4 1. WCW (TBS Sat Night) – 2 hr Tony and David welcome fans to the show, the LAST one before Starrcade, and say that we’ll be featuring all the top stars of the NWA AND UWF this week, as we head into the biggest event in wrestling history, “Starrcade ’87: When Worlds Collide.” With us is world champ Ric Flair, accompanied by Horsemen manager J.J. Dillon. Tony says we’ll hear from the champ in a moment, but first, we have some prerecorded comments by his Starrcade foe, UWF champ Steve “Dr. Death” Williams. Doc says he had wanted the bout to be inside a cage, because he didn’t want such an important match to be ruined by Horsemen interference, but he respects Flair’s pinfall of him at the recent Starrcade Showdown, and he respects the resultant right Flair has to call the shots and set the bout as a 2/3 falls match. However, Doc says, “I’ve been an athlete since I was a child, and conditioning has been a part of my life, ever since. I heard Ric Flair talk about running me out of gas, but I’m an athlete, and Flair, if you think you’re going to wear out Dr. Death, you got another ‘think’ coming!” Back at the podium, Ric Flair says, “Steve Williams, you should know by now that Ric Flair is the man. I have spent most of this decade in possession of this world heavyweight championship, and that should make clear that I don’t need anyone’s help! In fact, James J. Dillon, you’ll be accompanying me to the ring Thanksgiving night, but after you do, all I want from you is to take my robe, wish me luck, and go BACK to the dressing room!” Dillon starts to say that they had not discussed this previously, and that they should probably talk before taking such a drastic step, but Flair waves him off. “You See, Steve Williams? At Starrcade, just five days away, you’re going to step into the ring with the greatest that there has ever been! And when it’s all over, when we have bled, when we have sweat, and when we have paid the price, you’re going to watch Ric Flair walk out of their with that shiny new belt signifying the unified world champion, and you will have NO EXCUSES! You won’t be able to go crying to the promoter and saying, ‘Oh, the Horsemen interfered! I would have won, had it been one on one!’ Because it’s going to BE one on one! And when the dust settles, you’re looking at the man who will be the only world champion left standing! Remember, Steve Williams, to be the man, you’ve got to BEAT the man, and you’ve got to beat him TWICE! WOOOOOOOOO!” They walk off, and Tony says we’ll be right back, after the … *BREAK* Brad Armstrong is in the ring, for his LAST NWA TV title defense before Starrcade! His challenger, Lex Luger, would love nothing more than to force a massive restructuring of Starrcade’s scheduled matches by capturing the belt and taking Armstrong’s place against DiBiase at Starrcade. Alas, Armstrong has other plans. After an opening flurry of armdrags and dropkicks by Brad, Luger catches Armstrong in an attempted flying cross-bodyblock, and powerslams him for a near fall. From there, Luger focuses on the lower back with forearms, a bearhug and, finally, the torture rack. However, Armstrong shifts his weight back, and both men tumble over the top, to the floor, as we go to a mid-match break. Both make it back in, and Luger gets in a second or two before Brad. He greets Armstrong with a series of stomps, then lifts him for a vertical suplex, but Brad floats over, runs Luger into the ropes and back into a rolling reverse cradle, with bridge. Luger kicks out and charges Armstrong, who ducks the clothesline and brings Luger down with a drop toehold. Brad turns it into s ginle-leg crab, and holds on long enough that Luger appear on the verge of submitting, but instead, he gets to the ropes, forcing a break. Both men get up, and Luger rakes the eyes. He then lifts Brad into the backbreaker again, but his leg (the one punished by the crab hold) buckles, and Brad falls on top for a one count. Luger presses him off, and Brad ends up halfway across the ring. Brad is up, but Luger gets up first and nails him with a clothesline. He whips Brad into the ropes for another, but Brad ducks, jumps up to scissor Luger’s arm and brings him down into a pinning position with a crucifix! 1 … 2 … 3! Your official result: NWA World TV title: Brad Armstrong pinned Lex Luger after a crucifix, in 21:26 (***). This means, among other things, that Starrcade’s TV title match is set: Brad Armstrong vs UWF TV champ Ted DiBiase! *BREAK* The rest of our show goes to promoting Starrcade! We get a full rundown of the card, plus Tony Schiavone presents the WCW historical committee’s list of the Five greatest NWA champions: #5 is a bit of a cheat, as we have a tie. First, we have scientific master Jack Brisco. Jack was a great amateur at Oklahoma State University, and he and brother Jerry remain the only brother combination to have held the world’s heavyweight and junior heavyweight championships! Next, tied for the fifth slot, we have the man whose moniker inspired Ric Flair, wrestling’s original “Nature Boy,” Buddy Rogers! Rogers, like Flairt, was a master of the figure-four, and a rough character with a million-dollar mouth! Here, we’ll have an abbreviated clip from this, the 6/30/1961 bout in which Rogers won the world title from Pat O’Connor: www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTDizsQRLmQ#4 is Dory Funk Jr., whose own brand of scientific wrestling occasionally exploded into flashes of offensive fury, as Dory would unload devastating European-style forearm uppercuts on more than one hapless foe. As for why there was no video for Jack Brisco, we wanted to save it for this entry, mainly since the Briscos and the Funks were each other’s top rivals throughout the 1970s, especially when Brisco, Dory or Terry Funk were world champ! Here, we see Dory challenge Brisco for the belt in Japan, in 1974, about 14 months before Jack would lose the belt to Terry: www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_WcpSCfjyM#3 is one of the most decorated champions in history, EIGHT-time champion Harley Race! A pro since he was 14, Race was and is one of the toughest guys in a business of tough guys. He could wrestle, he could fight, and most of all, he could win! Here, Race defends against Ricky Steamboat, in a 1979 (I think) match that was one of Steamboat’s FIRST-ever title shots! www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLVmwXTnEwg#2 Is the man who held the world title for more total days than anyone else in history, the (thank you, Jim Ross) incomparable Lou Thesz! Thesz was a master of multiple styles and represented the NWA and the world of wrestling with class and distinction. Here, Thesz headlines Madison Square Garden to defend his title against one of the top wrestlers of the 1950s, Antonino Rocca: www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvg-qwLvHrE#1: Was there ever any doubt? The current champ, Ric Flair, has dominated the title throughout the 1980s, and as Starrcade approaches, we have a clip of Flair winning his second world championship at the very FIRST Starrcade event, in 1983: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Happ3a5auMWith that, we go to a Flair promo, where he notes that Starrcade has always been HIS event, and that when this year’s edition is over, Steve Williams can go commiserate with Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes and Nikita Koloff, as they will all have in common that they failed to take Ric Flair’s title at Starrcade! Flair says he’s SICK of hearing about Steve Williams being a world champ, and in a mere four days, Williams is going to find out what happens when you get in the ring with the REAL world champ! 3. UWF (TBS Sun night) – 1 hr Jim Ross, in the studio, welcomes fans to the final edition of UWF Wrestling. Ross says that starting NEXT Sunday, we’ll see the debut of an all-new program, “WCW Sunday Night Showdown!” Ross says your favorite stars will still be seen each week, and several bouts are already being negotiated for the first weeks of the new program, as well as several new faces, as some of the top names in wrestling are looking to become a part of WCW. Speaking of new names and faces, we have a new video from a man who claims to be bringing in a top tag team and singles wrestler, after Starrcade. Let’s go to that now … VIDEO: Paul E. Dangerously is standing, flanked by Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond. Dangerously introduces himself again and says, “These men are the finest tag team in the world today. They are Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond, known as Badd Company. These men have captured championships and crippled opponents all over the world. I have bought television time on this program today, to show you a film that should serve to put every team in WCW on notice that Badd Company is a force to be reckoned with.” The video would be similar to this (minus the Dallas Page stuff and with different opponents): www.youtube.com/watch?v=fa_W0T0MXqADangerously continues: “However, they know and I know that even a team with such an elite reputation cannot simply stroll in and get a shot at the world tag team titles. For now, the U.S. tag titles will do. I am hereby issuing an open challenge: I have always kept a close watch on the happenings in the sport of professional wrestling, and I am aware of the intense competition between four teams for these championships. I understand there will be a four-way match at Starrcade, for the belts. My challenge is simple: WHOEVER the winning team is, Badd Company chellenges you for those championship belts! Put up your titles against the most devastating team in the world! In one week, Badd Company debuts, and we will expect an answer! Oh, and also next week, I’ll be bringing wrestling’s hottest free agent to WCW, so be afraid. Be VERY afraid.” Video ends, and Jim Ross says that as big as Starrcade is, there could be even more changes and excitement coming up in the weeks to follow! And speaking of Starrcade, we’ll have a special Starrcade preview coming up, but up next, this final edition of the UWF will present the greatest champions in UWF history! *BREAK* Ross says we looked at tag teams last week, and now, we look at the greatest singles champions, as we look towards crowning a unified world champion at Thanksgiving Night’s Starrcade event. #5 on our list is Magnum TA, who embodies heart and determination. When Magnum arrived in Mid-South (before it became known as UWF), he was struggling to maintain a .500 won/loss ratio, but he took on the legendary Mr Wrestling II as a coach and ultimately defeated II himself to become a dominant North American champion. And here’s Magnum defending the North American title against Ted DiBiase, 5/27/84, in Oklahoma: www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrM5sYq-hXA#4 is Hacksaw Duggan. Duggan was only North American champ briefly, in the months leading up to the retirement of that belt and its replacement by the UWF title in 1986. However, he mixed brawling, power and even the occasional flash of scientific wrestling skill to become the promotion’s #1 hero for more than three years. Here, Duggan is featured in a video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmSSS6YA0b0#3 is the longest-reigning North American champ in history, “Cowboy” Bill Watts. Watts reigned for much of the 1970s and retired in 1982 to focus on leading Mid-South from regional status to one of the top wrestling promotions in the world. As a wrestler, Watts held the Madison Square Garden attendance record for a 1965 match with Bruno Sammartino, and he invented the Oklahoma Stampede running powerslam finisher, which he taught to current UWF World Champ Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, Watts’ personal protégé. Here is a video package on Watts: www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvGU_p8Nevo#2 is current UWF Champion Steve Williams (bet you thought we’d put him at #1, didn’t you?). Williams has six All-American collegiate rankings to his credit (four in wrestling, two in football). One of the most successful collegiate athletes of all time, Doc’s unique mix of physicality, wrestling skill, power and toughness make him more or less the embodiment of everything Mid-South and the UWF have stood for. Here’s a video showing the walking engine of destruction that is Steve Williams: www.youtube.com/watch?v=27b-v8ua42Q (as with the Badd Co. video, the video we show will be the same type of footage, just with different opponents). #1 is the controversial ring general who held the UWF and North American titles more times than anyone: The leader of the Outlaws, Ted DiBiase. DiBiase is renowned as one of the greatest scientific wrestlers ever, but he combines that skill with a viciousness and a bag of dirty tricks that make him one of the most dangerous competitors in UWF, NWA or WCW history! Here’s DiBiase winning his fifth North American title in 1985 from Brad Armstrong, the man he’ll be facing to unify the UWF and NWA TV titles this Thursday: www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0P7XK7qCak*BREAK* Ross runs down the Starrcade lineup once more, and then we get promos from the UWF competitiors involved in the show: The Freebirds (they’ve made the UWF their home since its inception, and they ain’t going ANYWHERE), Ted DiBiase (he understands Brad Armstrong better than anyone else in wrestling, as they’re both second-generation wrestlers who toiled as scientific-wrestling journeymen early in their careers, before hitting their strides, albeit in VERY different ways, but DiBiase reinforces the idea that he’s snatched TWO titles from Armstrong in the past, and at Starrcade, it’ll be three); Steve Williams (he’s an athlete for whom conditioning has been a fact of life since childhood, so if Ric Flair thinks he’s going to wear out Steve Williams, he’s got another “think” COMING). Ross then intros a short video from “Cowboy” Bill Watts. On the final UWF broadcast, Watts says he wants to thank all the great fans who have supported Mid-South and the UWF for all these years, proving to the wrestling world that there’s a place for wrestling that pits great athletes against each other, without becoming some sort of “macabre cartoon” where theatrics overtake athleticism. Watts says he hopes fans will stay tuned as WCW enters a new era. Ross says that’s all the TV time we have, but echoing the Cowboy, Ross thanks the fans for their years of support and invites them to return next week, for the debut of “WCW Sunday Night Showdown,” which will feature, among other things, some of our first looks at our new, unified champions! I’m skipping the syndicated shows this week; in some markets they’d be airing before Starrcade, and after, in others. Thus, the shows are only going to have Starrcade promo pieces (or filler squash matches, depending on the local market’s day of airing for the shows) and the historical pieces. NEXT: STARRCADE ’87: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE!
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Post by loadedglove on Aug 10, 2013 14:43:37 GMT -5
From this week’s (Nov. 26, 1987) Wrestling Observer Newsletter:
“The PPV showdown between WWF, WCW and cable system operators appears to be settled. From what we’ve gathered, McMahon had been threatening to pull not only Survivor Series, but next year’s Wrestlemania, from any local cable system that carried Starrcade. Because of the success of Mania III, McMahon felt he was in the driver’s seat, when it came to dealing with cable systems. However, WCW co-owner Ted Turner, a major presence in cable TV, inserted himself into the discussions with cable operators. Now, it appears most systems will run Survivor Series on Thanksgiving in the afternoon, and Starrcade at night, so fans who really want to make a day of it can watch both, as a sort of double feature. “However, that is likely not the end of the story. Apparently, WCW executive Lou D. Glove was so furious at what he’d been calling ‘predatory business practices’ that he spent much of the past week gathering info on WWF wrestlers, identifying the ones whose contracts were up soon. The end result, we’re told, is that WCW is going to snatch two major WWF stars AND one major backstage figure, in retaliation for McMahon’s PPV stunt. What this means for WCW fans is, expect to see some new faces after Starrcade. As for what kind of difference the backstage figure will mean, only time will tell …”
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Post by loadedglove on Aug 23, 2013 22:34:17 GMT -5
SORRY for the delay; it's been even more hectic than usual around here!
OK, I'll be doing this in a couple of installments, at least, so let's start it out with the pre-PPV show, which will actually carry some action, not just PPV hype (although, even though I don't go into tons of detail on it, believe me when I say there's plenty of hype throughout).
Welcome to Thanksgiving night, and the final Starrcade countdown!
It’s one hour before the start of the biggest of events, and we’re running a preview show (on as many PPV channels as we can manage) that will have the “countdown to Starrcade” clock, counting down from 59:59, all the way to 00:01! We’ll also have the contact info for people to order the show, running as a constant crawl along the bottom of the screen.
We Start out in Atlanta’s Omni, where Jim Ross and Gordon Solie are seated at the broadcast table, at ringside.
Jim Ross: “Welcome, fans, to the Omni in Atlanta, one of two sites for Starrcade 87: When Worlds Collide! I’m Jim Ross, and along with my colleague Gordon Solie here in Atlanta, and Tony Schiavone and Bob Caudle in Greensboro, we’ll be bringing you a great night of action as World Championship Wrestling makes its pay per view debut! We’re about 58 minutes away from the start of the biggest event in wrestling history, and you are watching the ‘Countdown to Starrcade’ preview special! And, Gordon, this is such an important night because it is the birth of a new entity in wrestling!”
Gordon Solie: “Well, Mr. Ross, you are right about that, and it certainly is an honor for me to be here with you, to be a part of this historic night! For decades, the National Wrestling Alliance has represented the finest in wrestling action, the world over, but over the course of the past 20 years, a wrestling promotion that started out as a regional group promoting wrestling in Oklahoma has evolved into the Universal Wrestling Federation, earning the reputation for having the toughest athletes and some of the most brutal competition you could ever wish to see. But tonight, those two groups will start an exciting new chapter, as they will merge into one promotion: World Championship Wrestling, and talking to the WCW officials and the wrestlers, I can tell you that WCW will provide the most exciting wrestling to be found anywhere on this planet!”
Ross: “That’s right, Gordon, but that also means that WCW must crown its own champions. And that’s why tonight, we will see three unification matches, as the NWA and UWF world champions, world tag champions and world TV champions, will face off to see who will become the undisputed champions of WCW!”
Ross and Solie break down the card, and then we go to the ring, for our opening contest!
Atlanta Hacksaw Duggan pinned Dory Funk with the spear, in 7:12 (* 1/2). Ross and Solie talk about how Duggan has been watching the back of his friend, Steve Williams, and along with the Freebirds, has been among the Outlaws’ most persistent foes! Ross notes that all Outlaw foes except for Nikita Koloff will have to have an extra set of eyes in the back of their heads, as Dusty-Nikita (the loser-leaves chain match for the US title) is the only Starrcade bout featuring an Outlaw NOT to be held in Atlanta.
After the bout, Ross and Solie throw it over to Schiavone and Caudle, in Greensboro.
Caudle, at ringside with Ronnie Garvin, thanks them and asks Ronnie, “How in the world are you going to be able to compete against Barry Windham in a taped-fist match with a broken right hand?” Ronnie notes that Barry indeed broke eight bones in his hand in the attack at Starrcade Showdown, but “You’ve known me a long time, Bob, and I’ve never been a quitter! Barry Windham forgot one thing – I’m not known as the Man with the HAND of stone! It’s HANDS of stone, and it’s gonna be a ROCKY night for one Barry Windham!”
With that, we go to the ring for our first championship match of the night:
U.S. tag team titles, four-corners tag showdown: Chavo & Hector Guerrero vs The Rockers (champions) vs. The Southern Boys vs. The Rock & Roll Express. Caudle notes that in this bout, any wrestler can tag any other, and anyone who refuses or avoids a tag, (except that no one can be made to tag in against his own partner), will be disqualified. When a man is pinned, DQd, counted out or submits, he and his partner are eliminated, and the bout continues until only one team remains, that team being the US tag team champs. Schiavone says it’s the perfect type of match to resolve the issue around these belts, as these four teams have been at each other for months, competing for these titles, noting the recent rash of title changes. Hector Guerrero and Shawn Michaels start, and engage in a series of arm holds, reversing one another with a series of armdrags, nip-ups and flips. Hector ends up on top in the situation, holding Michaels in an arm grapevine in which Michaels is prone and must focus to keep his shoulders up. After one too many failed reversal attempts by Shawn, Jannetty runs in blatantly and elbowdrops Hector, then scurrying back into his corner. This does break the hold, and as Hector staggers back, he reaches out and tags Tracy Smothers. Smothers superkicks Michaels who falls back towards his own corner, where Jannetty tags him. Jannetty holds up his hand, as if to offer a test of strength, but then darts backwards and tags Robert Gibson. Schiavone notes that strategically, this was a good move, as you can’t be eliminated if you’re not in the ring. Smothers and Gibson tie up, and Gibson backs Smothers into the ropes where we get a … clean break! Smothers and Gibson exchange armdrags, hiptosses and flying headscissors, until Gibson tags Morton and they DOUBLE DROPKICK Smothers, who falls/rolls out of the ring! Morton works the crowd and then tags Chavo Guerrero. Guerrero goes outside and rolls Smothers back into the ring, but before he can capitalize, Smothers rolls away and tags Jannetty! Chavo dropkicks Jannetty, elbowdrops him and then climbs to the top and delivers a moonsault for 1 … 2 … 3! Shawn tries but fails to save in time. In 9:15, the losers of the first fall, and eliminated from the match, are THE ROCKERS! Caudle notes that this means, no matter what the outcome, we’re guaranteed of a title change here, since the champs are the first ones going back to the locker room. Chavo tags in Hector, as the ref orders Smothers (as the last legal man before the eliminated team) back into the ring. Hector and Smothers bounce off opposite ropes and clothesline each other. Both lie on the mat, each man’s arm over the other, and the ref counts 1 … 2 … both men get a shoulder up! After a series of exchanges and reversals, Hector nails Smothers with a series of dropkicks. He then launches onto the prone Smothers with a legdrop, but only gets a one count, as Tony Schiavone notes that no real wrestler in this day and age is going to get pinned by such a simple move as a legdrop. Hector clamps on an arm bar, but Smothers makes his way up and launches Hector into the ropes, dropping him with a shoulder block when Hector bounces off. Hector gets up just in time to eat a superkick from Smothers, who rolls up the staggering Hector with an inside package for 1 … 2 … Hector reverses the cradle, and now Smothers’ shoulders are down! 1 … 2 … 3! In 13:44, the losers of the second fall … THE SOUTHERN BOYS! It’s down to the Guerreros and the Rock & Roll Express, and Hector tags Chavo, as Caudle notes the brothers are smart to keep a fresh man in, whenever possible. Ricky Morton comes in, and catches Chavo with a flying headscissors. He keeps on the headscissors after they land, untilo Chavo eventually fights his way to his feet. He reaches the ropes, which forces a break, but before Morton can get to his feet, Chavo hits him with a series of stomps, and then hurls Morton into the Guerreros’ corner, where he and Hector (after tagging) hit Morton with a double hiptoss. The next few minutes are heat on Morton; while the Guerreros never go full-out heel, they do aggressively go after Morton, using frequent double teams and keeping him from tagging Gibson. Chavo finally slams Morton and mounts the top rope, but MISSES the moonsault! Ricky crawls over and tags Robert, and ALL FOUR men are now in the ring! After a brief scuffle, The Express double dropkick Hector out of the ring, and Robert attempts to turn a missed clothesline by Chavo into a crucifix, but Chavo fights it for about one second, until Ricky Morton dropkicks Chavo, who goes back into the curifix pinning position for 1 … 2 … 3!
Your official result: The Rock & Roll Express won the belts, beating The Guerreros in 22:05, when Robert Gibson pinned Chavo after a crucifix (** ¾).
Tony and Bob recap the Starrcade lineup, including a series of 30-second promos from the champs in the various unification matches. They then send it back over to Atlanta, where Jim Ross notes that the clock is counting down from a mere ten seconds, so if you haven’t ordered Starrcade, call your local cable/satellite provider NOW! Show starts in five … four … three … two … ONE …
(To be continued)
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Post by loadedglove on Sept 1, 2013 0:12:06 GMT -5
*Turner Home Entertainment logo*
STARRCADE ’87: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE!
Tony Schiavone welcomes fans to Greensboro, for “the biggest night in the history of our great sport,” Starrcade ’87: When Worlds Collide! Tonight, the worlds of the NWA and UWF will collide, and when the dust settles, the men who come out on top will represent the greatest assembly of talent in the wrestling world … WCW! Yes, tonight, we not only tip our hats to the great legacies of the NWA and UWF, we witness the birth of World Championship Wrestling! With them is Chief Wahoo McDaniel, the new WCW president, who says that he and matchmaker Bob Roop are getting deluged with inquiries from some of the top wrestlers from all over the world, who want to come and join the cream of the crop in WCW! Wahoo says it’s almost enough to make him wish he wasn’t hanging up his tights tonight. Wahoo: “And that brings us to Lex Luger. Luger, you say you’re the new generation of wrestler, but this old dog is going to show you that he still has a few tricks left!” With that, Tony throws it over to Jim Ross and Gordon Solie, in Atlanta, for our opening contest, a feud-settler between four of the UWF’s top stars, one that will end with only two of them still in WCW.
Atlanta No-DQ Tornado match, loser leaves WCW: Eddie Gilbert & Terry Taylor vs Sting & Rick Steiner. Sting & Steiner start out strong, bouncing the heels like pinballs, all over the ring. Sting press slams Taylor, while Steiner press slams Gilbert, then they pick up their foes and whip them into opposite corners. Sting & Steiner then switch, as Sting delivers a Stinger splash into Gilbert in one corner, while Rick gives Taylor a Steiner line in the other corner. Gilbert and Taylor both fall out of the ring. The Powers of Pain run out, as Jim Ross reminds us that Gilbert has been managing this powerful duo in recent weeks, but Sting and Steiner make quick work of them, with Steiner suplexing Barbarian into next week, while Sting applies the scorpion to Warlord. Sting releases the hold and the Powers take a powder, with Barbarian pulling Warlord out of the ring. They stagger to the back. Unfortunately, this has given Gilbert and Taylor time to recuperate, and they roll into the ring. When Steiner picks up Gilbert, Gilbert throws powder into Steiner’s eyes, and Steiner now tumbles out of the ring. Taylor and Gilbert double up on Sting, culminating in them whipping Sting into the ropes and lifting him up, dropping his throat across the top in a double-Hotshot! Gilbert covers Sting, and Taylor sets down on Gilbert to double up the weight, but Sting STILL powers out at the count of 2! Sting comes back, ultimately grabbing each heel’s head and running them together. They fall, as Steiner makes his way back into the ring. Steiner clotheslines Taylor, while Gilbert drops Sting with a low blow. Gilbert takes a second to shake off the cobwebs, then grabs Sting’s feet for another low blow, but Steiner runs over and Steiner-lines Gilbert! Steiner goes back to Taylor, as Sting applies the scorpion deathlock to a prone Gilbert. Taylor has mounted the ropes to dive onto Sting to break the hold, but Steiner shakes the ropes and Taylor lands groin-first on the top strand. Steiner hops onto the second turnbuckle and belly-to-belly suplexes Taylor from there, as Gilbert fights the scorpion for a few seconds before finally giving in. YOUR OFFICIAL RESULT: Rick Steiner & Sting beat Terry Taylor & Eddie Gilbert in 14:29, when Sting made Gilbert submit to the scorpion leglock. (*** 3/4)
Jim Ross throws it back to Tony and Bob in Greensboro …
Greensboro Retirement match: Lex Luger vs Wahoo McDaniel Luger starts out strong, pressing Wahoo and even no-selling the first couple of chops. But the more Wahoo chops, the more effect they seem to have. Wahoo clamps on a chinlock, but Luger powers up and rams Wahoo backward into a corner. Luger takes over with a side headlock, until Wahoo shoots him off, into the ropes. A Luger shoulderblock knocks Wahoo down. Back into the ropes, and Luger again shoulderblocks Wahoo to the mat, then taunts him with a crab pose. Luger waits for Wahoo to get back to his feet, then levels him with a clothesline. Luger picks up Wahoo for the torture rack, but Wahoo slips down and catches Luger with a suplex. As Luger starts to rise, Wahoo launches off the ropes with a big flying chop that puts Luger down for 1 … 2 … 3! OFFICIAL RESULT: Wahoo McDaniel defeated Lex Luger in 6:13, after a vertical suplex and flying chop (* ½).
With that, we go to David Crockett, backstage, interviewing the Rock & Roll Express about their US title win. Ricky & Robert start talking about facing new challenges and thanking all the nice people, when Paul E Dangerously pops into the frame. Dangerously says he’s been backstage, watching Starrcade, as a manager with wrestlers set to debut in WCW. Dangerously says the Express should sign to wrestle his team, Pat Tanaka & Paul Diamond. Ricky & Robert point out that the championship committee determines top contenders, not them, but they’ll fight anyone, anywhere! Dangerously says they’re hiding behind WCW officials, and Badd Company is not going anywhere. Dangerously leaves, and Ricky & Robert reiterate that they’ll be fighting champs!
David Crockett sends it back to Atlanta, where the six-man title showdown is set to commence!
6-man titles, loser leaves: The Outlaws (Stan Hansen/Terry Funk/Dick Murdoch, accompanied by Dory Funk) defending against The Fabulous Freebirds. It starts out fast, with the Freebirds running into the ring, brawling, and the Outlaws bailing out! The brawl continues around the ring, until Hayes and Murdoch finally roll into the ring. Their partners eventually get to the apron, and our bout is underway. As Jim Ross notes we are truly in Freebirds country here, Hayes and Murdoch exchange punches, but Hayes gets the better of it, and pretty soon, he, Gordy and Roberts are obliterating Murdoch with quick tags, double-teaming and keeping Murdoch in their half of the ring. Gordy nails Murdoch with a short clothesline and a snap suplex, getting a two count until Stan Hansen runs in to break the pin. He kicks Gordy in the back, and Gordy hops up and unloads on Hansen. They brawl, spilling out of the ring. As the ref yells outside the ring and admonishes them to break it up and for Gordy to come back in, Terry Funk hops in, grabs Murdoch’s arm and drags him to the Outlaws’ corner. The ref turns back just in time to see Murdoch in position to tag Terry, and Gordy rolls in to battle the younger Funk brother. Gordy takes it to Terry, ultimately clotheslining him, causing Terry to spill onto the floor. Dory Funk goes over to check on his brother and hands him the Funk branding iron. Gordy reaches down and grabs Terry Funk by the hair, pulling him up. Dory gets to the opposite side of the ring, where he hops onto the apron to yell at the ref about Gordy’s tactics. When the ref goes over to order him down, Terry swings up with the branding iron and clock Gordy over the head. Terry drops the branding iron on the floor and takes over on an increasingly bloody Gordy. Terry Funk focuses on Gordy’s head, with punches and finally, a piledriver. But he only gets a two count, as this time Roberts comes in to break up the pin by kicking Terry Funk. Now, all six are in, and Hayes and Roberts are handling Funk and Murdoch until Hansen comes off the ropes and lariats Roberts, then Hayes. Roberts stays down, but Hayes fights to his feet, and Gordy is now up. But Murdoch hooks Gordy into the brainbuster, and Gordy rolls to the apron, only to be kicked to the floor by Terry Funk. Meanwhile, a groggy Hayes has made it up, just in time to catch a SECOND lariat from Hansen, as Jim Ross notes that even a SINGLE lariat has proven crippling to more than one wrestler. Hansen covers Hayes for 1 … 2 … 3! THE OUTLAWS HAVE RETAINED, AND THE FREEBIRDS MUST LEAVE WCW FOR 90 DAYS!
Official result: Stan Hansen, Dick Murdoch and Terry Funk beat The Freebirds in 19:10, when Hansen pinned Hayes after the lariat (*** ½).
We throw it back to Greensboro, where first David Crockett has brief locker-room interviews with NWA world champ Ric Flair and UWF champ Steve Williams, about their final preparations. From there, it’s back to the ring, for out next exciting bout …
(To be continued)
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Post by loadedglove on Sept 1, 2013 23:47:49 GMT -5
Greensboro Taped Fist: Ronnie Garvin vs Barry Windham Garvin spends the match throwing left-handed punches, favoring the right hand. A couple of times, Windham catches him with a short arm bar (with the right arm) and uses the position to bend back Garvin’s fingers and otherwise punish the right hand. Schiavone notes that these two former tag partners know each other quite well, but since joining the Horsemen, Windham has shown a vicious streak we had not previously seen in him. Finish comes when Garvin rolls out of the arm bar and gives a charging Windham a big backdrop. Windham is up, but Garvin greets him with a series of punches that force Windham back towards the corner. Finally, in the heat of battle, Garvin lets fly a RIGHT-handed punch, but Windham ducks, and Garvin’s already damaged hand hits the turnbuckle. Bob Caudle reminds viewers that the turnbuckle is only a thin layer of padding over a steel hook that keeps the ropes in place. Garvin recoils in pain and grabs his hand, and Windham capitalizes by clamping a clawhold on Garvin’s head. Garvin goes down, Windham stays on him, Garvin’s shoulders are down, and the ref counts 1 … 2 … 3! Official result: Barry Windham beat Ronnie Garvin with the claw, in 10:08 (** ½).
Schiavone throws it back to Atlanta, where Magnum TA is standing by backstage with Hansen, Murdoch and Dory & Terry Funk. Magnum reluctantly congratulates them on their win over the ‘Birds, and Dick Murdoch says, “Don’t worry yourself, Terry Allen – the Outlaws won’t lay a hand on you again! But that only serves to make you just about the safest man in WCW! We’ve got the US title, the six-man titles, and in just a few minutes, we’ll be claiming the world TV title!” Magnum reminds Funk that he’s apparently looking past Nikita, who Magnum can personally vouch for as a tough foe. Terry Funk says, “Yes, he’s a powerful man, but no one else in all of professional wrestling has the championship credentials that The Outlaws have. Now, had you told me a year ago that I would be cheering on Dusty Rhodes, I would have slapped your face! But Dusty Rhodes has seen the light, he has seen that the only people he can trust are his fellow West Texas warriors, and that’s why no one can take the Outlaws – because we are a unit! And it’s only going to get better for us in 1988, and let Big Stan tell you why.” Hansen: “BECAUSE WE DON’T CARE WHO WINS THE UNIFIED WORLD TITLE TONIGHT! WHOEVER IT IS, THEY’RE GONNA FIND THEMSELVES FACING ME! I’M CALLING MY SHOT RIGHT NOW – I WILL TAKE THE WORLD TITLE FROM WHOEVER COMES OUT ON TOP TONIGHT, AND ONCE THE OUTLAWS CONTROL ALL THE CHAMPIONSHIPS, WE’LL BE THE KINGS AROUND HERE!” Terry Funk adds that when that happens, they’ll make sure Starrcade ’88 isn’t held “in some scum pit like Atlanta, or Greensboro, but in some beautiful part of the country … like Amarillo, Texas!” They laugh, and Magnum sends it back to Ross and Solie.
Atlanta World TV title unification: Brad Armstrong (NWA) vs Ted DiBiase (UWF) WCW matchmaker Bob Roop is with Ross and Solie. Bob Armstrong accompanies Brad to the ring, while Stan Hansen accompanies DiBiase. Bob and Stan start jawing at each other, and almost instantly, fisticuffs ensue. The ref tries to separate them, as do Brad and Ted. Roop goes over to the ring announcer and says something. The ring announcer then says, “Ladies and gentlemen, I have just been informed that if Stan Hansen and Bob Armstrong do not immediately separate and return to their dressing rooms, that WCW matchmaker Bob Roop will strip BOTH men of their titles, right now!” This settles everyone down, and within seconds, Brad Armstrong and Ted DiBiase are the only wrestlers in or around the ring. Both men hand their belts to the ref and turn back towards opposite corners, but DiBiase quickly tuns back and nails Armstrong from behind. He unleashes several punches and bashes Brad’s head into the turnbuckle twice. Armstrong falls back, onto the mat, and DiBiase is right on top of him with a fistdrop. DiBiase picks Brad up, whips him into the ropes and catches him with an elbow. DiBiase dives onto Brad with a choke, only breaking when the ref’s count gets to four (five being a DQ, as Ross notes that losing by DQ is still losing and would cost the disqualified person his claim to the unified title). DiBiase climbs to the second rope and comes off with a front elbow, driving Brad down, just as he was getting up. DiBiase goes for the pin, but only gets a one count. DiBiase grabs Armstrong’s hair to pull him to his feet, but Armstrong hooks him into an inside cradle and gets a two count! DiBiase reverses by rolling the cradle to where Brad’s shoulders were down, and also gets a two-count. Armstrong kicks out, and the men untangle. DiBiase is up first and kicks Armstrong in the head. DiBiase then whips Brad into the ropes, but misses this time, when Armstrong ducks – and NAILS DiBiase with three dropkicks! DiBiase rolls out of the ring, taking a powder, but Brad goes out after him. DiBiase runs around the ring, Brad giving chase, and DiBiase makes it back in, and he turns and stomps Armstrong as he slides back into the ring. DiBiase clamps on a headlock, and Armstrong eventually fights up to one knee, then upright, at which point he lifts DiBiase into a rear suplex. Armstrong picks up DiBiase and clamps on a front facelock, but DiBiase drives Armstrong back, into the corner. The ref is trying to separate them, but Ted sends a punch over the ref’s back and right to the side of Armstrong’s head. DiBiase again goes to the second turnbuckle, but this time, Brad catches him with a fist to the gut coming down, and DiBiase hits a flip before landing on his back. Armstrong sends DiBiase flying with another series of dropkicks, then goes for a flying cross bodyblock, but a wobbly DiBiase is against the ropes, and he pulls down the top rope, causing Brad to miss him and fly over, hitting the apron and down to the floor. The ref is threatening DQ, but DiBiase is apparently convincing the ref that he was only pulling on the rope to get himself back up. The ref goes over to check on whether Brad can finish the bout, and DiBiase (behind his back) loads up the glove! Armstrong makes it back in, and DiBiase swings the gloved hand … and misses! He spins, and Armstrong lifts him for an atomic drop. DiBiase goes for another loaded haymaker, and Armstrong ducks AGAIN, this time hooking up DiBiase into the Footsweep. He NAILS it, goes for the pin – 1 … 2 … 3! Official result: Brad Armstrong becomes unified world TV champion, pinning Ted DiBiase, after a Russian Footsweep, in 8:57 (****).
Greensboro U.S. title, chain match: Dusty Rhodes beat Nikita Koloff, in 8:31 (*). Rules are, the first man to touch all four top turnbuckles, starting anywhere but continuing clockwise and reaching all four without interruption by his opponent, wins. OK, let’s be honest here. There’s only ever one finish to a chain match. It’s where one guy is going around touching the turnbuckles, not realizing his opponent behind him is also touching them a second later, and then something happens at the fourth turnbuckle. Here, the guy in the lead is Dusty, dragging Nikita behind him, Nikita touching each turnbuckle right after Dusty. As Dusty goes for the fourth, Nikita runs up and tries to dive over him, but only succeeds in knocking Dusty into the final turnbuckle, winning the match for the Dream! Dusty is STILL US champ, and Nikita must leave for 90 days! Schiavone notes that The Outlaws have succeeded in driving out their foes TWICE tonight. Schiavone then says we’re going to send it back over to Ross and Solie in Atlanta, where we’ll soon have unified tag champs, but first, a message from WCW …
A short video promo that says, “In 1985, there was the Bunkhouse Stampede. In 1987, there were Wargames. And in 1988, WCW presents … BATTLE BOWL. Twenty competitors battle it out for the chance of a lifetime, in a match NEVER before seen! It’s BATTLE BOWL, coming live on Pay Per View, January 24, 1988.” (To be concluded …)
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Post by loadedglove on Nov 28, 2013 0:30:14 GMT -5
OK, fans, hoped you enjoyed that VERY brief intermission, and now, back to Starrcade!
We get a short video promo that says, “In 1983, Starrcade changed the wrestling world with its biggest show ever … In 1987, The War Games changed the rules, with carnage never seen before in a wrestling ring … In 1988, World Championship Wrestling changes the rules AGAIN – BATTLEBOWL is coming, 1/24/88.”
Atlanta No DQ, World tag title unification: Midnight Express, w/ Jim Cornette (UWF champs) vs Road Warriors, w/ Paul Ellering (NWA champs) The Midnights, Cornette and Big Bubba are in the ring, and Cornette swipes the ring announcer’s mic. Cornette: “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the greatest night in the lives of the greatest tag team of all time! Allow me to present to you the men who will finally bring to an end the era of dominance of the Road Warriors, two men so stupid they don’t fully understand how haircuts work! Tonight, these two men make history as they become YOUR world champions, and the ONLY world champion tag team in the world! I bring you Beautiful Bobby and Sweet Stan, THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS!” Cornette hands the mic to Stan, who starts to do his own cheesy intro of “the unofficial fifth member of the Bangles, your friend and mine … MISTER JIM CORNETTE!” The instant he says it, “Iron Man” starts playing, and the Warriors charge the ring, with Ellering sauntering down the aisle behind them. Hawk & Animal are not even waiting for intros, as they bounce Bobby and Stan all over the ring, and out onto the floor. Bubba grabs Cornette and ushers him outside, but turns back around to find he is alone in the ring with two very angry Road Warriors, apparently mindful of the various indignities they’ve suffered at the hands of Cornette and cronies. The Warriors double-clothesline Bubba and then Animal hoists him up onto his shoulders so Hawk can deliver the Doomsday Device, the deadly lariat from the top rope! A stunned Bubba rolls out of the ring, where two officials have come down to help him to the back. Bobby and Stan head back into the ring, but stop at opposite sides of the apron because of their manager’s wailing. Cornette is hysterical, screaming for his bodyguard to return, as Paul Ellering walks up to Cornette and decks him! Bobby jumps down, onto the floor, and Ellering steps away as Eaton tends to Cornette. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to realize he’s left his partner alone with the Warriors, as Stan is still on the apron, hands on the top rope. Hawk grabs the rope and slingshots Stan into the ring, where the Warriors unleash a series of double-team moves on him. The ref finally gets Animal out of the ring, and Hawk ascends to the top once more, this time delivering a top-rope shoulder tackle onto Lane. He goes for the pin, as Eaton has proppsed a woozy Cornette into a chair and has re-entered the ring. The ref counts 1 … 2 … Eaton goes to elbowdrop Hawk, but Hawk moves and Eaton’s elbow lands on Stan. Animal enters the ring and tosses Eaton out, and Hawk goes for the pin again, but Lane gets a foot across the bottom rope at the two-count. Hawk focuses the next few minutes on Stan’s head and neck, clamping a wrenching chinlock on, delivering neckbreakers and finally piledriving Lane. Animal and Eaton eventually make it back to their respective corners, and Lane manages to tag Eaton, who immediately gets press-slammed by Hawk. Eaton appears groggy and has to pull himself up via the ropes, but when Hawk charges in for an apparent shoulder-tackle, Eaton pulls down the top rope, and Hawk goes sailing onto the floor. Cornette wallops him with the racquet, as Ross reminds us that this is a No DQ affair. Eaton gets Hawk back into the ring and goes for the pin, but goes flying when Hawk presses him off after a count of one. Hawk staggers up and forward, but Eaton catches him with a thumb to the eye. Eaton takes over the next few minutes, and makes quick tags with Lane, as the two come in and out, double-teaming Hawk with every tag. Finally, they whip Hawk into the ropes, but Hawk comes off with a double-clothesline, leveling both. Hawk leaps over and makes the tag! Animal comes in and cleans house, punching Lane, then Eaton. Animal takes Lane (the legal man) and powerslams him for a count of 1 … 2 … thr- Lane kicks out! Animal picks up Lane, who jabs a short judo thrust into Animal’s throat, another move that would be match-ending if this were not a no-DQ match. Lane rolls him up, but only gets a one-count. The Midnight Express keeps tagging in and out, and after several double teams on Animal, Hawk can take no more. He comes in and drills Eaton (the legal man) with a dropkick, and all four are in. Animal takes over on Eaton, while Hawk lifts Lane back into a rear suplex. Lane’s shoulders are down, and Cornette is up on the apron screaming, but the ref won’t count! The ref indicates that Animal and Eaton are the legal men, as Ross on commentary notes that no-DQ does not mean that the ref is obligated to count out the illegal man. With Stan obliterated, (and at ringside, Ellering has pulled Cornette down from the apron and is giving him a good thrashing), Animal lifts Eaton onto his shoulders, and Hawk goes up top for the Doomsday Device! However, before Hawk can deliver the coup de grace, Lane charges Animal from behind, clipping his left leg out from under him. Eaton collapses onto him, and the ref counts 1 … 2 … Animal gets a shoulder up! However, Animal’s pain is evident, and Hawk quickly gets to the apron to reach for the tag. Eaton grabs Animal’s damaged leg and tries to drag him to the Midnights’ corner, but Animal kicks him off with the good leg. Both Eaton and Animal are crawling towards their corners for the tag, but Animal gets there first and tags Hawk. As this is going on, Big Bubba Rogers makes it back to ringside and pulls Ellering off of Cornette, punches Ellering and drags Cornette to (relative) safety on the other side of the ringside area. Hawk cleans up on Eaton and Lane, who again bump like pinballs, even moreso once Animal rejoins the action. Hawk and Animal whip Eaton and Lane (respectively) into the ropes and catch them with press slams! However, Animal’s leg buckles once more, and he tumbles down and halfway out of the ring, with Lane tangled up alongside him, as Hawk slams Eaton. Lane gets up and kicks Animal out of the ring, as Hawk traps Eaton in a bearhug. From behind, Lane delivers a Ric Flair-like low blow (as Ross notes that Flair trained Lane), causing Hawk’s grip to loosen. Lane and Eaton each grab an arm of the stunned Hawk, and deliver the double shoulderlock DDT-like maneuver that Cornette calls “Divorce Court,” (because it “divorces the arm from the body”). Eaton goes for the pin as Lane rolls out to stop Animal from saving his partner. 1 … 2 … 3! Your winners, and UNDISPUTED TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD … THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS! Jim Ross notes that for all the chicanery the bad guys attempted, what finally felled the Road Warriors was one of the Midnight Express’ patented doubleteam moves! Official result: The Midnight Express beat The Road Warriors, when Eaton pinned Hawk, after a rocket launcher, in 30:03. (**** ½). Eaton and Lane grab the new, unified belts and help Bubba scoop up a too-groggy-to-celebrate Jim Cornette, and they head to the back.
We now throw it back to Greensboro, for our main event (which, really and truly, will be up Thursday, which is kind of fitting, as Starrcade is the Thanksgiving tradition) …
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