Month: May 2022

SUMMARY:                                   RUNNING TIME: 15:01 Min.

Taped April 23, 1988, in Greensboro, NC, at the third annual Crockett Cup, the tournament finals pits Lex Luger & Sting, with Magnum T.A., vs. the NWA World Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard of The Four Horsemen, with J.J. Dillon.

The quick backstory is that Sting, having previously lost tag partner Ronnie Garvin, to ‘injury’ would create a makeshift super-team with Luger, who lost his own partner, Barry Windham, to betrayal (along with the NWA World Tag Team Titles) a few days earlier. Hence, Luger is seeking some redemption against the Horsemen, as Windham shockingly accepted Luger’s previously vacant slot in the nefarious stable.  

Commentators Tony Schiavone & Jim Ross are present at ringside.  At stake for the winners is a huge silver trophy and a supposed one million dollars in prize money. 

Note: Pro Wrestling Illustrated journalist/photographer Bill Apter makes a cameo appearance.  Also, in a bit of irony, as partners representing the Horsemen, Luger & Blanchard lost in the previous year’s Crockett Cup finals to Dusty Rhodes & Nikita Koloff’s ‘Super Powers’ duo. 

REVIEW:

Impressively, this bout opts for an even keel throughout, as both sides dominate for short stretches.  Yet, there’s no mistaking what the match-making formula really is, with fan favorites Luger, Sting, & guest manager Magnum T.A. being presented as the NWA’s worthy equivalent of the WWF’s Mega-Powers (Hulk Hogan, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, & Miss Elizabeth). 

Suffice to say, this energetic tag bout is a well-played and crowd-pleasing gem.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                        8 Stars

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SUMMARY:                            RUNNING TIME: 30:48 Min.

Recorded September 28, 1985, at Chicago’s outdoor Comiskey Park, SuperClash ’85 – Night of the Champions was an NWA/AWA co-promotion meant to challenge the WWF’s popularity under their short-lived alliance known as ‘Pro Wrestling U.S.A.’ Interviewed separately by the AWA’s Larry Nelson, the combatants would then wrestle in a red-white-and-blue AWA ring.  Meanwhile, continuing his lengthy pursuit of the flamboyant “Nature Boy,” Magnum T.A. seeks a decisive victory to at last claim Ric Flair’s elusive NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

The solo ringside commentator isn’t identified, but a reasonable guess is Ken Resnick. Rod Trongard is the show’s credited announcer. 

Notes: The match’s official running time is 19:10. At least once, Resnick, Trongard, or possibly some other unidentified commentator mistakenly refers to the event as “StarClash ’85.” 

REVIEW:

In a terrific showdown, the athletic Magnum T.A. appears as a logical candidate to end Flair’s title reign.  As one can imagine, the ever-savvy NWA World Champion ensures that their playing field subsequently tilts in his own favor.  This bout benefits from excellent visual quality, good camera angles, and a remarkably articulate commentator (probably Ken Resnick). 

Though supposedly attended by an audience of approximately 20,000 fans, only Comiskey Park’s baseball field appears populated.  Hence, camera angles revealing innumerable empty decks throughout the stadium offers an otherwise bleak vibe.

Still, this underrated NWA World Title match delivers the necessary goods.  Flair, in particular, is on his game playing up Magnum T.A. as a most formidable challenger.  Magnum T.A. (aka Terry Allen) reciprocates in kind, as one of the industry’s most clichéd finishes is somehow made to appear spontaneous.  Their entertaining battle proves worth re-discovery.         

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                   8 Stars

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SUMMARY:                        RUNNING TIME: 16:51 Min.

Recorded on November 26, 1987, at Chicago’s UIC Pavilion, this NWA/UWF six-man tag bout served as the opener for Starrcade ’87: Chi-Town Heat – Glory Bound. The villains are: NWA veteran Larry Zbyszko (with Baby Doll), along with UWF stars “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert & Rick Steiner.  Opposing them are the strutting/moonwalking Freebird Michael “P.S.” Hayes, “Gorgeous” Jimmy Garvin (with his valet, Precious), and rising UWF powerhouse Sting — Gilbert & Steiner’s former associate.

Jim Ross & Tony Schiavone are the ringside commentators.  This match’s running time includes the entrance of Sting’s team.

Notes: With Jim Crockett Promotions having purchased Bill Watts’ Universal Wrestling Federation, this Pay-Per-View signified the UWF’s merger into Crockett’s portion of the NWA. Also, this ill-fated Starrcade’s same-day Pay-Per-View competition was the WWF’s inaugural Survivor Series.  

REVIEW:

Apart from unflattering camera angles revealing empty seats starting a few rows up, this six-man tag bout effectively gets the audience involved.  The combined in-ring chemistry will entertain all-age fans, even if the match is merely killing the clock towards its miniscule fifteen-minute time limit.  Exuding raw star power, in his Starrcade debut, a young Sting predictably lights up the crowd. It’s left up to his savvy partners (mostly Garvin) doing the harder work. 

On the flip side, an underrated Eddie Gilbert’s athleticism stands out, as neither Zbyszko nor Steiner have sufficient time to contribute much.  Even if the inconclusive finish is forgettable, the players still give fans a solid effort.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                         6 Stars

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SUMMARY:                            RUNNING TIME: 14:57 Min.

This title bout was taped in Memphis, TN, amidst the WWF/WWE and USWA’s 1993 talent swap.  Specifically, ex-WWF World Champion “Macho Man” Randy Savage returns to his old stomping grounds (pardon the expression) to challenge his long-time adversary, Jerry “The King” Lawler, for his USWA Unified World Title. 

Their title showdown occurs inside a steel cage resembling multiple chain-link fences strung together.  With Lawler as the perpetual hometown favorite, the match’s wildcard is “Sensational” Sherri, who was Savage’s nefarious valet a few years earlier. The match’s USWA commentator isn’t identified. 

Notes: Back in 1985, Savage’s departure for the WWF/WWE in 1985 was written off on-screen as a result of a ‘loser-leaves-town’ match against Lawler for the AWA Southern Championship.  Suggesting an apparent discrepancy in the video’s length, the ring announcer repeatedly claims the match’s official length as 15:48.

REVIEW:

Surprisingly, the visual quality (let alone the various camera angles) are terrific.  Some other observations stand out, as Savage & Lawler resume their heated mid-80’s rivalry, without missing a single familiar beat. 

One: the muted crowd reaction (inside what appears to be a converted armory/fairgrounds) predictably tilts towards Lawler.  Yet, neither guy sparks much appreciation from a relatively sparse crowd.  Two: Between the ancient-looking cage, rubbery ring ropes resembling garden hoses, and Lawler’s hideous 70’s-style garb, it’s hard to believe that this bout occurs in the 1990’s!  Aside from the combatants’ forty-something age, the only other clue re: the match’s time period is one of Savage’s typically gaudy, two-piece outfits he liked wearing in the early ‘90s.

Three: Aside from excluding one of Savage’s famous flying elbow-drops, the bout likens to a lukewarm greatest-hits festival between these guys.  Exuding star power, Savage is reliably spry and conniving, but Lawler is mostly lethargic until the match’s closing minutes.  Relying on a cop-out finish in a cage match is disappointing, especially as it spells out how easy a cheapo USWA cage can be breached by supposed outside inference.  

Last and most dubiously, Four: Sherri’s standard-issue double-teaming is sullied by Lawler stripping off her leggings down to her panties … amidst Sherri fleeing a semi-bloodied Lawler’s wrath.  Not only does this misogynistic plot twist repeat Sherri’s sleazy exploitation during the WWF’s Savage-Ultimate Warrior cage matches in early 1991, it’s utterly poor taste resorting to this shock value tactic again. 

Disappointingly, despite an intriguing rehash of Savage and Lawler’s old-school chemistry, this title bout doesn’t add anything remotely new to the table.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                  3½ Stars

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SUMMARY:                         RUNNING TIME: 11:33 Min.

Recorded on December 10, 1987, this WWF grudge match occurred at the Sam Houston Coliseum, in Houston, TX.  The  backstory is that Paul Orndorff had recently spent several months recuperating from a real-life arm injury.  In the meantime, WWF newcomer Rick Rude had usurped Orndorff’s slot in the nefarious Heenan Family stable. 

Turning babyface, Orndorff’s vendetta against Rude included facing off on opposing teams in the inaugural Survivor Series’ main event.  A few weeks later, this match has a resentful Orndorff still seeking fitting payback. 

The commentary trio consists of: Bruce Prichard (the future ‘Brother Love’); ring announcer Michelle “Mike” McGuirk; and pro-heel Pete “Duke of Dorchester” Doherty. 

Note: In early January 1988, Orndorff quit the WWF, due to the lingering arm injury.  He wouldn’t resurface in mainstream pro wrestling until joining WCW come mid-1990.

REVIEW:

No matter how routine it is, this house show bout reminds viewers how athletic and versatile Orndorff was.  Along with Randy Savage, “Mr. Wonderful” merited among the most physically-gifted, smaller adversaries Hulk Hogan ever faced for his WWF World Title.  Working with a ultra-slick Rick Rude, the pugnacious Orndorff is still in vintage form.  Though this match’s finish isn’t surprising, Rude & Orndorff’s feud give fans a worthwhile brawl.

The same, however, doesn’t apply to the commentators.  An articulate Prichard is on a par with fellow mid-level WWF announcers like Craig DeGeorge and Sean Mooney.  Parroting Prichard in sound bites, McGuirk is likable enough, but her less-than-insightful commentary is amateurish.

As for a cringe-worthy Doherty, his nasally sarcasm will grate nerves somewhere between Gilbert Gottfried and actor William Hickey’s ‘Uncle Lewis’ from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.  Despite Prichard’s decent efforts, the distracting commentary does an otherwise solid Orndorff & Rude showdown no favors.  

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING:                       6 Stars

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