SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 14:58 Min.
This six-man tag team bout was taped on March 31, 1988, for the NWA Main Event TV series premiere. The venue evidently is the Memorial Auditorium in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The TV episode subsequently aired on April 3, 1988, on Ted Turner’s WTBS network.
As the heroic babyfaces, Sting joins his allies: the newly-crowned NWA World Tag Team Champions “The Total Package” Lex Luger and Barry Windham. Opposing them are the nefarious Four Horsemen (presently missing a fourth member): NWA World Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and the vengeful ex-NWA World Tag Team Champions: Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard. The Horsemen are accompanied by J.J. Dillon.
The ringside commentators are Jim Ross & Tony Schiavone.
Notes: The bout’s finish could be construed as a subtle hint towards Windham’s shocking betrayal of Luger in their televised World Tag Team Championship rematch loss to Anderson & Blanchard a few weeks later.
REVIEW:
Vince McMahon’s WWF house show circuit would have a hard time surpassing this audience’s high-octane enthusiasm — even if the venue seems rather small. With terrific in-ring chemistry, all six participants ensure that fans get a worthy sequel to the NWA’s first Clash of the Champions (from March 27, 1988).
It’s a bit surprising that arena chants of “Barry! … Barry! … Barry!” suggest that the low-key Windham’s popularity rivaled that of his flashy teammates. Also, considering the youth, muscle, and sheer size of their competition, the comparatively average-sized Horsemen still believably shape the match’s twists into an even-odds showdown. Accordingly, the match’s NWA star power is very much on its game.
Utilizing a standard-issue NWA cheap finish, what this smartly-played bout achieves is keeping fans coming back for more. In spite of the crowd’s enthusiasm, one shouldn’t assume a decisive babyface win will be a given.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
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