SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 34:00 Min.
Recorded live on July 23, 1989, for the NWA’s Great American Bash ’89: Glory Days PPV from Baltimore, MD, this showdown begins with pre-match promos from both sides. The combatants are:
- The Road Warriors: Hawk & Animal, with manager “Precious” Paul Ellering; “Dr. Death” Steve Williams; and The Midnight Express: “Sweet” Stan Lane & “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton, with manager Jim Cornette,
vs.
- The Samoan Swat Team: Samu & Fatu, with manager Paul E. Dangerously (aka Paul Heyman); & The Fabulous Freebirds: Terry “Bam Bam” Gordy and WCW World Tag Team Champions Jimmy “Jam” Garvin & Michael “P.S.” Hayes.
A few notable changes are made re: this two-ring, roofed double-steel cage ten-man grudge match. First, the supposed coin toss occurs off-screen beforehand, so it’s announced which side will have the handicap advantage going in. There’s also now an inside-the-ring camera, which proves a big boost to viewers.
The teams still pit their initial two combatants in a five-minute one-on-one brawl before more teammates enter at two-minute intervals. Once all ten men have entered the double-cage, there’s no escape, as the losing squad is forced to either submit or surrender. Tommy Young is the main referee while Jim Ross & Bob Caudle serve as the co-commentators.
In 2013, the WWE released this match as part of a collection of War Games matches (in DVD and Blu-ray formats) entitled WWE War Games: WCW’s Most Notorious Matches.
REVIEW:
This battle is worth the wait after lengthy pre-match promos, particularly with a grouchy Hayes mouthing off seemingly forever. To its credit, WCW gambles on a mid-card War Games, and, considering the players involved, this underrated slugfest proves near-flawless. One doesn’t have to stomach any gory blood-letting this time, and even some villainous humor is thrown in for good measure.
Another welcome element, along with the cool in-ring camera work, the match’s chemistry/heat/choreography is so remarkably good that its actual plotting seems much less predictable. Part of that quality is attributable to long-time enemies Road Warriors and Midnight Express teaming up, let alone shifting the defunct UWF’s Williams/Gordy rivalry to War Games. Some obnoxious tidbits from perennial motormouths Heyman & Hayes (along with a little straight-faced help from Tommy Young) add a touch of comedy to the constant mayhem.
Lastly, don’t turn click off the remote prematurely – as there’s a post-match beatdown. Yet, considering one can’t get past a blocked cage door or climb in over-the-top, viewers might wonder why, in order to quickly save their pal, the irate teammates don’t storm the cage through the door on the other side. Even if that idea is left unexplained, this segment concludes a well-played gem meriting re-discovery by wrestling fans.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8½ Stars
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