SUMMARY: APPROX. RUNNING TIME: 20:40 Min.
Following the NWA/WCW’s Chi-Town Rumble Pay-Per-View on February 20, 1989, “The Total Package” Lex Luger had become a two-time U.S. Champion at ex-partner Barry Windham’s expense. Meanwhile, at the same show, Ric Flair lost the NWA World Title to Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. Backed by manager Hiro Matsuda, Flair & Windham (effectively the Two Horsemen) would seek to take out their recent frustrations on “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. Accordingly, he would team with the Horsemen’s worst nemesis, Luger.
This bout from The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia, was either taped or aired on NWA Main Event on March 12, 1989. The match commentator is Jim Ross.
Note: Windham subsequently left the NWA/WCW within days of this match.
REVIEW:
Inevitably, one must compare this tag-team showdown to its predecessor from a few months before where Gilbert & his mystery partner (Ricky Steamboat) stunned Flair & Windham in a televised upset on an episode of World Championship Wrestling.
While Luger & Gilbert’s tandem doesn’t live up to an electrifying Steamboat single-handedly smoking Flair & Windham multiple times, this bout is still plenty good. Gilbert’s spunky cruiserweight style, in that sense, is a surprisingly good fit with Luger’s powerhouse presence against the Horsemen’s reliable villainy.
Even a standard-issue NWA cheap finish is not really a problem for this bout. Its combined star power delivers all the necessary goods making it a Late 80’s wrestling treat worth re-discovery.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
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