Clash of Champions VII: Guts N Glory

Clash of Champions VII
Fort Bragg, NC
June 14, 1989

Match #1: Tag Team Title Tournament Semi-Final: The Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin) v. The Dynamic Dudes

Say what you will about the brutally cheesy Dynamic Dudes gimmick, this is a pretty good tag match. The Freebirds are ones uncorking the big angle though, unveiling Garvin as the newest member of the faction. The Dudes are the cinderella team here, as Ross puts them over as the more inexperienced and undefeated team that's managed to earn a few surprise wins here and there to get themselves here. Still, they're huge underdogs.

The match starts out with some good cheesey heel stalling from the 'Birds before we get into the meat and potatoes of it all. The Birds looked rather surprised right off the bat and surprisingly, despite the organization being as great as it was, Hayes and Garvin are obviously inexperienced in terms of tagging with EACH OTHER, so this works ok.

Once the Freebirds start playing the numbers game, it's just a matter of time and sure enough, they cheat and cheat and cheat to maintain their advantage. Eventually Shane Douglas gets the big hot tag but the fun doesn't last long, as Terry Gordy super-involves himself, distracting the ref long enough for Hayes to absolutely murder Douglas with a nasty implant DDT to win the match.

Overall, this is surprisingly strong but is just agreat showcase of how freaking good the Freebirds are at making a team look good. Not that the Dudes get dragged to something decent, as they definately carry their weight here, but everything they do is magnified times seven thanks to Hayes, Garvin and Gordy. **1/4

Match #2: World Tag Title Tournament Semi Final: The Midnight Express v. The Samoan SWAT Team

This match is basically the Clash VI match with a HELL of a lot more intensity. Both teams go through their stuff for extended periods of time before we get a hot tag. The hot tag sequence comes off well until all hell breaks loose and Cornette's being a douche, Paul E. Dangerously is being a douch, hell, it's a douche-fest.

The end though, is dirty, dirty, but sets up the final well. The Road Warriors hate the SWAT's and Dangerously too, and feel the need to inerject themselves in the match and do quite gloriously. Thanks to the leg up, the Midnights win.

This isn't anything super spectacular, but it's amazing how much better this comes across with a hot crowd behind it. The hate works better, Cornette is a better douche, same with Dangerously.. just everything works better. **1/4

Match #3: Ranger Ross v. The Terrorist

Ranger Ross is basically here to pop the army boys and go home. That's basically, err, literally all that happends. Ross comes out, waves a flag and kicks a terrorist. *******3/4.2's

No really, probably 1/4* for practically nothing happening except a kick-y.

Match #4: The Ding Dongs v. Cougar Jay & George South

Good lord fuck. I never imagined i've EVER review a Ding Dongs match, but hell is a chilly place today.

It's AMAZING how bad the crowd shits on these guys. Like amazing. They're also amazingly annoying with the dinging bell in the corner and not being particularly in sync at all. In fact, had Cougar and South not sold their backsides off, this could have been a nuclear-disaster type bad match. The Dongs blow a ton of spots in a relatively short period of time and spend the rest of the time shedding little bells all over the ring. Funniest part of the mat is Jay leaning down and going 'what the fuck' when picking up the bells on the mat. Honestly, for that moment alone, this isn't a total dud, but it's DAMN close. 1/4*

Match #5: Steve Williams v. Terry Gordy

Ah man, I love these two in a match. Any match. Even in a spaghetti eating contest.

This starts off super fast and super intense with these two basically beating the fuck out of each other with lots of big man super fun. Both struggle to move the other man around the ring at will and both aren't easily able to eat the other guy's offense. Big man matches are best when it's like two bricks clacking off each other. The beginning of this is all that.

Then it plateaus big time unfortunately. Not that anything's bad, but the crowd chills five minutes into this and Gordy and Williams struggle to get them back into it, despite even fighting into the crowd, which of course causes the countout, but still, you'd have figured that'd have done them SOME good.

Overall this is fun, but doesn't go long enough for it to go to the next level and they lose the crowd pretty quickly. The good sequences are awesomely awesome though. **1/4

Match #6: The Varsity Club (Mike Rotundo & Kevin Sullivan) v. The Steiner Brothers

This is a really good short match. Basically Scott's come to the NWA to give his big brother some backup against the cocky Varsity douches. Thus, the Steiner Brothers are born.

Anyways, this match is awesome with the Steiners coming out to Hot Stuff. They surprise the Varsity Club clowns early in the match, especially Scott, whose looking pretty plucky. Eventually though, Scott gets caught and basically gets wrecked by Sullivan. This is the best part of the match and Scott plays an excellent babyface in peril here as the Varsity Club subject him to all sorts of dastardly treatment, including a nasty table bump and a particularly stiff shot with some wooden ring steps.

The hot tag sequence is done well and the Varsities cutting it off and getting the cheating win, over Scott no less, leaves the door open for more stuff down the line as well as something for Scott and Rick to continue to strive for. Very well structured short match. **1/2

Match #7: NWA World Television Championship: Sting v. Bill Irwin

This is another short, utterly pointless match on this card. By now, the crowd's starting to get a little sick of getting good initial stuff and losing it as we get into the match. This only goes about three minutes and is a cute Stinger squash, who brings some ok stuff here, but really, it's still pretty bleh. *

Match #8: NWA World Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: The Freebirds v. The Midnight Express

How can you NOT get up for THIS? I'm betting there'll be a lot of hip swiveling and cock thrusting here in a non homosexual way.

Unfortuantely though, this doesn't really deliver at all. They start with a fantastic premise. Paul E Dangerously jumps Jim Cornette with a loaded rackett and leaves him mildly retarded on the floor. The Dynamic Dudes help Cornette to the back, leaving the Midnight Express in deep trouble, as they're up against the numbers of the Freebirds. Basically, they're done before the match starts.

They do some sorts cardboard tag stuff, of course executed well, but nothing mindblowing before heading into the "Bobby Eaton is a punching bag" part of the match. Eaton's one of the best sellers the business ever had and is outstanding here and the crowd gradually gets behind him. They play to the numbers thing with Lane CONSTANTLY protecting him on the outside as often as possible.

Then, they just don't do much with it, or at least from the babyfaces perspective. Basically Lane gets the hot tag and we're working the SAME EXACT formula we've used in TWO previous tag matches in the night where it gets cut off, Gordy interjects himself and then that's it. Now, playing to the numbers in that respect works ok but I feel empty here for whatever reason.

I REALLY think this could and would have benefitted greatly from Cornette coming back from the locker room or the Dudes or some other babyface team coming to the corner of the Midnights while they're in peril. They never really worked beyond that. Lane's hot tag gets a big pop, but his offense looks awkward in that role and of course nothing really ever gets going with it, as we do the dirty finish we've done twice already tonight, which is frustrating in a way.

This goes about ten minutes and hell, it didn't need anymore time to be great, it just lacked a real swerve or hot spot to get it really going. Normally I wouldn't give a crap if it wasn't two of my favorite tag teams of all time meeting for the first time. Regardless of that, I can't really FAULT them for it in the match, but dammmit I feel like they could've gone the extra mile with it, even with the time alotted to them. **1/2

Match #9: Norman the Lunatic v. Mike Justice

Ah, Bastion Booger pre-Bastion Booger days. It still blows. 45 seconds of Herd crap. DUD.

Match #10: Ricky Steamboat v. Terry Funk

Finally, a match i've REALLY been waiting to see and FINALLY, a match that doesn't really dissapoint.

Steamboat really brings the good here and Funk is Funk. The story here is that Funk's an unstoppable psycho and Steamboat ain't gonna be intimidated by him. The strikes from Steamboat really have some, uh, steam behind them and he seems totally content to work the wild style Funk wants.

The thing I love about this is that it's a wild brawl without one really crazy spot, fighting into the crowd, or baging of heads off of tables. Just punches and chops gallore and a whole lot of 'tude. NO ONE worked that match as well as Funk and everything he does makes him look like a killer and totally out of his mind.

Oddly enough though, as Funk tends to do, his performance fades to the background and his craziness just amplifies the sympathy Steamboat is able to garner by eating so many of Funk's big moves like the pile driver, the pile driver on the floor, etc. He comes off as a pseudo badass even, as Funk bounces around and sells his tail off for Steamboat all while maintaining and enhancing his maniac persona.

This is a real treat on a lot of levels and it's worked tightly, which works well. The fourteen minutes is the perfect ammount of time because they minimize the chances of the crowd ever fading out of it. This is a really great match i'd say is probably in my top three, but I still can't decide if I like the Midnight-Flair/Windham tag better. It's tough call. ***3/4

Overall: This is probably the weakest Clash show i've seen yet, although it is entertaining and a good show all around. I guess the biggest thing about this show is that many of the match ups prove to be really dissapointing. Gordy-Williams never takes off, the Midnights-Freebirds never get going, etc. It's like everyone sat in the back and were like, 'ok, we've got a limited amount of time for our matches, let's work five great minutes and then just work in a finish'. The main event is really worth going out of your way to see though, while the crap is awesomely crappy in a way that only the Jim Herd run WCW could be. Overall, a dissapointing show, but not entirely bad on any level. C+

Clash of Champions On Going Top 10 (Through Clash VII)
1. Ricky Steamboat v. Ric Flair, World Hvt Title, Clash VI *****
2. Ricky Steamboat v. Terry Funk, Clash VII ***3/4,
3. The Midnight Express v. Ric Flair & Barry Windham, Clash IV ***3/4
4. Sting v. Ric Flair, World Hvt Title, Clash I ***1/2
5. Midnight Express v.The Fantastics, US Tag Titles, Clash I ***1/4
6. Sting v. Barry Windham, US Title, Clash III ***1/4
7. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard v. Barry Windham & Lex Luger, World Tag Titles, Clash I ***
8. The Fantastics v. Ron Simmons & Eddie Gilbert, US Tag Titles, Clash IV **3/4
9. Road Warriors v. The Varsity Club, World Tag Titles, Clash VI **3/4
10.The Fantastics v. The Sheepherders **1/2, Clash II

Dropping Out
Mike Rotundo v. Brad Armstrong, TV Title, Clash III **1/2

Clash of Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun! Review

It's almost embarassing for me, as someone whose been a wrestling fan for many-a-year and has seen almost everything once, that despite the number of times i've watched this main event, i've yet to see ANYTHING else from this card. Not one other match. That, my friends, is about to change.

Clash of the Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun
Superdome, New Orleans, LA
April 2, 1989


Match #1: The Midnight Express v. The Samoan Swat Team

I wasn't overly wild about this, which is a little difficult for me to say, as I love both teams quite a great deal, especially the Paul E. Dangerously version of the Swat team. This is a REALLY flat tag opener considering the participants. In fact, i'd say the match they have at the NEXT Clash show is leaps and bounds ahead of this one in terms of quality.

Here, they just seem to be aiming to establish the Samoans as the latest stooges that Dangerously will use to get Jim Cornette. The ending to this is pretty great and lays the ground work nicely for the rest of the 'feud', but to be honest, this is pretty bleh for the most part. The Midnights do their thing, the Samoans theirs. Hot tag cooled off in a big way with a dirty finish which is a good thing. Just relaly formulaic and no one is particularly eye popping in this other than the sheer amount of time they gave this. *3/4

Match #2: The Great Muta v. Stevin Casey

This feels like it should have been on the last show. It's a pretty straight forward Muta exhibition of his creepiness. The bell doesn't even ring before he spits the good ole green mist in Casey's eyes and pretty much puts a major league beat down on the youngster from there on out. There's a great commentary job on the part of Ross here, putting him over as a unique act unto himself, which is really appropriate, considering just HOW different Muta was from anything else on the card at the time. Other than that though, this is a pretty basic extended squash. *1/4

Match #3: Butch Reed v. The Junkyard Dog

Ah, the midsouth goodness is revived! Unfortunately for us, this ain't Mid South. This is probably what a few thousand fans saw during their touring days together. Not that it's bad on any level, just VERY a-typical JYD-Butch Reed stuff. JYD interacting a lot with the crowd while Butch does his cocky heel stalling for three quarters of the match. Again, nothing dreadful here by any stretch of the imagination but I feel like i've seen them go with this formula six hundred times or so in the past. *3/4

Match #4: Cowboy Bob Orton, Jr. v. Dick Murdoch

Of all the matches I saw on this card, this was the one I was probably looking the most forward to. Now granted I knew it wouldn't be mind blowing or anything like that. Given the place these guys were given on the card, it'd be unrealistic to expect that. Regardless, it's these two in a match so it's got to be fun on some level.

This runs around ten minutes or so, and basically ,we get a fun old school headlock fest. JR keeps repeating constantly that these two are mirror images of each other and on a certain level, he's right, and for the purposes of this match, he's very right. They counter in and out of headlocks early on before going to each other's arms. Then we're back to the headlock struggles again before going for a solid old school finish. Murdoch hoists Orton up to give him a suplex and the dastardly Gary Hart snags his leg long enough to trip him up, then holds it as the official counts to three. The execution is reasonably good here, the selling is fun and the offense though basic, is still fun.

My beef with this match is the crowd they're playing to. That kind of stuff, while good for what it is, just totally lost the crowd. Extended headlock sequences and armbar sequences are good if you're going broadway, but in the middle of a REALLY big crowd in a dome and wrestling the fourth match of the card, it's kind of awkward. Sometimes you just need to be cognisant of the crowd you're working in front of. Despite all that though, this is fun mid card, old-school stuff. *3/4

Match #5: World Tag Team Championship: The Road Warriors v. The Varsity Club

I liked this match a lot. Like probably a lot more than I should have, given the fact that they don't do a whole heck of a lot differently from the last match, but the incredible levels of heel douche bag-ness in this match rule to a point where they can't be ignored.

Teddy Long has been the subject of storylines recently and how appropriate is it that this is his first real piece of character development. These two teams are full of bullies. The Road Warriors don't wear the belts, Paul Ellering, their bitch does. They also wear spikey shoulder pads. Steve Williams looks like everyone's worst nightmare at a truck stop. Mike Rotundo is the all american bully. Kevin Sullivan is looking especially evil tonight, because he's wearing his wrestling tights and a turtleneck sweater. Fuck yeah for turtleneck sweaters. I need me some.

This is just a total slug fest from bell to bell and the kind of smash mouth, kick a puppie stuff you'd expect from these two teams. There's a great close up of Williams brigning the hate with a stomp right on Animal's jaw. Rotundo looks slightly overmatched here as he's the fourth potato in the ring, but there's nothing really wrong with that when you're in a fist fight with Hawk, Animal and Steve Williams.

The slow Teddy Long turn evolves over the course of the match as he botches some calls just enough so you believe that it's all just a mistake on his part. After that, he increasingly becomes distracted more and more with the Road Warriors, who aren't really willing to play by his rules. Eventually Animal vaults him across the ring, and that doesn't sit to well with Long, who not only allows himself (literally) to be distractred and cause interference, but he also fast counts the final fall and costs the Road Warriors the belts. Wicked fun stuff here as we get good character role playing made better by throwing a third story in there to mess the whole world up. I MIGHT be a little high in rating this, but it just really clicked for me. **3/4

Match #6: US Tag Team Championship: The Varsity Club (Sullivan & Dan Spivey) v. Eddie Gilbert & Rick Steiner

This is another one that's fun for what it is. To be honest, it's worked REALLY well, considering the crowd they're playing to and whose involved. The bulk of the match is built around Gilbert and Spivey. Spivey's easily the worst worker in this group so you might as well let him run through his power spots and let the best seller (Gilbert) flop all over the ring for you and make you look like a million bucks. Basically that's all we get here with some brief hot exchanges between Sullivan and Steiner, who still don't like each other very much. Jumble that altogether and you get a fun match.

The ending takes it out of the totally average category though and bumps it up slightly as Missy Hyatt involves herself in the proceedings and we get a nice purse shot to Sullivan's face to send the fans home happy. **

Match #7: The Iron Sheik v. Ranger Ross

Here's a little filler before the main event. Sheik is always fun on some level and totally carries this guy to a fun USA v. The World short shot. Sheikie jumps him at the bell and does a pearl harbor job on him for a while before Ranger Ross makes the comeback. Things look like they're in hand before Rip Morgan, designated anti-american flag bearer, comes in and whacks Ross with a flag to cause the DQ. The heels put a nasty beat down on Ross before JYD comes out and makes the save and everyone cheers. Basic, filler stuff here. *

Match #8: World Heavyweight Championship, 2/3 Falls: Ricky Steamboat v. Ric Flair

I'm not going to go into a lengthy review here because everything about this match has been said a million times over by people who could speak to it far better than I could. This MIGHT be the best match in North American Wrestling history, or at least that there's footage of. In fact, this whole series is beyond great, but I think this is just the one that everyone walks away from going 'wow' once they go back and watch it again.

The energy these guys have is just different and something that's really impossible to create, you just have to be kinda lucky. Rock-Austin had that sort of energy and Misawa and Kawada did, but I can't think of any other tandem that came close. Whether you're a casual fan, a MOVEZ~ guy, or a guy who just genuinely enjoys wrestilng, you'll like this. Heck, if you don't like wrestling I don't get how you'd dislike it.

This goes roughly an hour and there isn't a down spot, or if there is, it doesn't come off FEELING like a downspot. The struggle for every little piece of ground is great, Flair is stoogie when he needs to be, an assassin at other times. Steamboat kind of gets knocked off his feet in the first part of the match, not excpecting Flair to be coming at him so hard. Then Steamboat 'settled down' a little bit, gets an advantage and just begins tearing Flair to pieces in a way Flair has been worked over. The end of the second fall is exceptionally shocking, as Ric Flair rarely, if ever in a major storyline to that point, submitted. It was one thing for Steamboat to come back from losing the second fall, but it's another thing to completely squash and steamroll the guy who is the greatest on the planet at the time. The third party is even steven down the line to a controversial finish that sets up the third match where Flair finally wins his belt back.

The selling is the best i've seen in a wrestling match. The strikes are intense and you can feel the compedetive hate between the two. While the first match is really sort of a big dick jousting contest between the two, this is more of the respectful top this kinda ting. This is as good as it gets. I've given four matches this rating, ever. *****

Overall: This is a must own if for nothing more than the main event, which is probably the best match to ever take place on this side of the pond, if ever. The rest of the show though, is a real mixed bag and even the better stuff won't be for everyone. Even I had a hard time getting through this show which REALLY seemed like traveling through a swamp up to your knees. This is a good show for what it's worth, but it's certainly not going to be an edition of the Clash that's for everyone, save for the final match of course.


Clash of Champions On Going Top 10 (Through Clash VI)
1. Ricky Steamboat v. Ric Flair, World Hvt Title, Clash VI *****
2. The Midnight Express v. Ric Flair & Barry Windham, Clash IV ***3/4
3. Sting v. Ric Flair, World Hvt Title, Clash I ***1/2
4. Midnight Express v.The Fantastics, US Tag Titles, Clash I ***1/4
5. Sting v. Barry Windham, US Title, Clash III ***1/4
6. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard v. Barry Windham & Lex Luger, World Tag Titles, Clash I ***
7. The Fantastics v. Ron Simmons & Eddie Gilbert, US Tag Titles, Clash IV **3/4
8. Road Warriors v. The Varsity Club, World Tag Titles, Clash VI **3/4
9. The Fantastics v. The Sheepherders **1/2, Clash II
10. Mike Rotundo v. Brad Armstrong, TV Title, Clash III **1/2

Dropping Off The List:
9. Ricky Morton v. Ivan Koloff, Russian Chain Match, Clash III **1/2
10. Dusty Rhodes & Sting v. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson **1/2, Clash II

Clash of Champions V: St. Valentine's Day Massacre

Clash of Champions V: St. Valentine's Day Massacre
February 15, 1989
Cleveland, OH

So here's the show that kicks off 1989, only a week away from the big Chi-Town Rumble pay per view....

Match #1: The Midnight Express v. The Russian Assassins

This is pretty much a glorified squash without being overly squishy. The Russians look good enough to maintain some credibility while the MXE look awesome. The end comes a bit out of nowhere, especially considering that the match isn't all that fast paced, but it does the trick I guess. They go for the hard sell for the pay per view with lots of intervening cut shots of Paul E. Dangerously talking trash here and there. Nothing more than a really well done squash. *3/4

Match #2: Butch Reed v. Steve Casey

For something that at first, strikes you as totally useless filler, it's pretty good. I mean this isn't super spectacular, but it's Butch Reed putting on a freaking bitchin' heel performance while Casey follows along. Like the match before it, this is basically another not so squishy squash, as Casey and Reed are both billed as being undefeated on TV leading into the match, giving it some sort of importance.

Reed's a guy who I think is utterly underrated in terms of how effective he was as a heel. Some of his stuff in mid south is can't miss and unfortunately he didn't much of a push in the WWF, so most of what we get is stoogie bad ass Butch instead of straight bad ass Butch.

JR does a great job of getting Butch's heel-ishness over as him being a guy who REALLY doesn't have to cheat to win matches, but does anyways because he's got an attitude problem. Reed cheats pretty much everytime he possibly can. This doesn't do much for Casey, who by 10 minutes is an afterthought in the match, as just about everyone in the crowd wants Reed dead. Casey TRIES the whole 'keep the big man on the mat to negate the strength' thing, but Reed uses some cunning underhanded tactics to gain the advantage and makes the poor guy his woman, just out muscling him the whole match.

Again, this is an extended squash, but Reed looks pretty great here and that deserves some credit in and of itself. *3/4

Match #3: Lex Luger v. The Blackmailer

Yet another extended squash here. Basically the small story is that the Blackmailer (pun intended) is being sent to hurt Lex before his big US title match with Barry Windham at the coming pay per view. Luger though, thwarts him at every attempt and basically bats him around the ring with ease. The end is a nice little set up for the pay per view, as Luger ends the match with the super plex, Barry Windham's finishing move. Now if that doesn't send a message, I don't know what does. *1/2

Match #4: US Tag Team Championship: The Varsity Club v. The Fantastics

Mike Rotundo is subbing for Kevin Sullivan here. This isn't much more than the Starcade match a few months prior to this. Basically, this is the rematch from that match and it plays out very similar, with the big bully Williams/Rotundo tandmen putting a hurt on the poor Fantastics.

There's some good character work here as Rotundo plays the hate-able leader of the bunch with the smirks and flat out, outclassing both of the smaller Fantastics in the ring. Williams is a total bulldozer and runs em over. Once the Fantastics finally catch a break, Teddy Long gets distracted trying to herd Tommy Rodgers out of the ring while Rotundo plants a knee to his partner's head.

Here's another match that's fun for what it is, but like the Starcade encounter, just never gets out of second gear for me. **

Match #5: Ricky Steamboat v. Bob Bradley

This is all about putting over Steamboat one more time before heading into his title win over Flair at the pay per view that coming Monday. Steamer looks GREAT here, fluid and totally on top of his game. He sort of ran through his move set and called it a day, but everything looked good here from Steamboat. This IS probably the worst match of the night, but it's not a bad one, just a really simple little squash match. *1/4

Match #6: Rick Steiner v. Rip Morgan

This match would've been AWESOME had it been a spelling bee.

These two are clearly the most mentally retarded members of the NWA rosters and in a good way. Steiner, despite being incredibly stupid, is an incredible wrestler and that shines through here as Morgan bumps all over the ring for him. Morgan's a good opponent considering the booking here, as he's the perfect guy to react in a goofy way to Steiner's even goofier persona. That's pretty much it though, another fun squash. *1/2

Match # 7: World Six Man Tag Team Championship: The Road Warriors & Genichiro Tenryu v. The Varsity Club

JYD, Sting and Michael Hayes WERE supposed to be the original challengers here, but Kevin Sullivan locks them in the basement so I guess that's off. It's all about bullys man.

Hawk, Steve Williams, Animal, Kevin Sullivan AND Tenryu all in the same ring. Fuck this is going to hurt to watch. These guys just beat the fuck out of each other. That's all. Honestly. Hawk stiffs Williams, Animal stiffs Sullivan, they come back, Tenryu comes in and kicks people in the head and Rotundo tries not to die. Whose the asshole that signed HIM up for this smash your face fest?

This breaks down, um, pretty much the whole time. We get about 15 seconds of tag wrestling before everyone attempts to kill each other. To add to the total chaos of this, Hayes, Sting and JYD are busy getting some dork to clip the chain that's bolted them in the basement and eventually break loose. They come storming down to the ring and it's just a fucking free for all.

Honestly, this isnt a match, more like an extended fight between nine guys who just all want to kill each other's children just because. It's a fun, hot way to end the night and get people amped about the promotion as a whole and want to buy Chi-Town Rumble. **1/4 for fun and totally unnecessary violence.


Overall: They REALLLLLLY went for a super hard sell on the pay per view here. If you've watched any of the recent Saturday Night's Main Events, this has that sort of feel, where you get a lot of good squash matches and a fun blow off angle at the end of the night to get everyone feeling good about the promotion as a whole.

What makes this show totally watchable though, are the SEGMENTS. Freaking Rick Steiner delivers probably two of the best retard promos anyone's EVER given. There's of course the imfamous Steamboat-Flair angle where Flair fights Steamer in his bananna hammock after asking him why he only sleeps with one woman. Sting's promo is super humanly bad and watching Hayes bail him out, only to have it ruined further by some weird JYD rambilng, AND THEN bring it all back in again, is fun too. So if you like great segments, you'll like this.

Overall, this entire show has a REALLY different feel to it than the previous four in the series. The overall presentation is far more modern and sleek while this is more geared towards selling the pay per view than others were. The in ring action isn't anywhere NEAR the level of the previous shows, but it's not altogether bad and at least keeps you around watching.

So again, here's a show that's way different and shows the NWA in clear transition into the WCW years. C

Clash of Champions On Going Top 10 (Through Clash V)

1. The Midnight Express v. Ric Flair & Barry Windham, Clash IV ***3/4

2. Sting v. Ric Flair, World Hvt Title, Clash I ***1/2

3. Midnight Express v.The Fantastics, US Tag Titles, Clash I ***1/4

4. Sting v. Barry Windham, US Title, Clash III ***1/4

5. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard v. Barry Windham & Lex Luger, World Tag Titles, Clash I ***

6. The Fantastics v. Ron Simmons & Eddie Gilbert, US Tag Titles, Clash IV **3/4

7. The Fantastics v. The Sheepherders **1/2, Clash II

8. Mike Rotundo v. Brad Armstrong, TV Title, Clash III **1/2

9. Ricky Morton v. Ivan Koloff, Russian Chain Match, Clash III **1/2

10. Dusty Rhodes & Sting v. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson **1/2, Clash II

Starcade '88 Review

So as a little reprieve from the Clash set, which i'll be watching more of tonight, i'm tossing this bitch out there, because 1.) It's motherfucking awesome and 2.) Why not stop off at the pay per views along the way... eh? So anyways, let's get to the poundage.

MATCH #1: US Tag Team Championship: The Fantastics v. Steve Williams & Kevin Sullivan

Half of this rules, half of it sucks. The Fantastics were as good a team as there ever was and had they not waltzed into the same division that the Rock N Roll Express, The Midnight Express, Tully & Arn and The Road Warriors inhabited, then I think anyone could make a feasible argument for being one of, if not THE best tag team of this period. Much like Matt Hardy works within a strict formula but manages to still rule, The Fantastics sorta do that in a tag team in the 80s sorta way. These guys usually get the shit pounded out of them for like 15 mintues, tease great comebacks, maybe let someone work a limb here or there, then fly to a great flash-type finish.

The problem with the formula is that when it's with a great team, it's great to watch. When the other team ain't on the same page with ya, it can be pretty bland stuff, and that's kind of what we get here. The first part is pretty great and like most Fantastics matches, everyone sort of picks a role and goes with it. Sullivan plays the cheating, sinister and easily frustrated heel to start things off while Williams is the unbeatable ass kicker. The military press spot where he slams Fulton flat out through the damn mat after TOSSING HIM IN THE AIR a few times is pretty sweet.

From there it's more Fantastic flop fest sort of stuff, which always works. But then something goes wrong here because Williams and Sullivan don't look like they're much into behaving here. The offense really weakens up on their end for whatever reason and the match frequently breaks down in odd places. That leads up to a weird finishing sequence where Fulton basically just gets sling shotted into the ropes and then pinned, which REALLY doesn't work given the kind of match they were going for. This kid was basicaly nuked the entire match and all it takes is him running chest first into the ropes a bit awkwardly to do the trick?

As I said, this match has it's VERY bright spots, but gets real weird at points and prevents it from really going from a decent opener to a good one. **1/4

MATCH #2: The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette) v. The Original Midnight Express (w/ Paul E. Dangerously)

This is just filled with awesome hate. Seriously, this match is an absolute gas, ESPECIALLY if you're a MXE maniac like I am. Basically, all you need to know is that Condrey and Eaton were partners in the NWA. Condrey left for the AWA and Stan Lane replaced him in the Cornette stable. Randy Ross was Condrey's original partner and they first used the MXE name. So anyways, business blew in the AWA so the Originals came sauntering over to the NWA under the guidance of Paul E Dangerously and began feuding with the modern Midnight Express.

Cornette and Dangerously hate each other and they spend the entire match goading each other and creating mayhem for their opponents, like to the point where it's almost distracting. NO ONE plays the goading manager like Cornette. NO ONE plays the offended and aggitated heel manager like Dangerously. Cornette cheating by hitting both Condrey and Ross with the rackett and Dangerously being so pissed off and ringing the bell... I could watch it all day.

Oh yeah there's a match goign on too, and it's pretty much old school greatness. Eaton and Lane are really athletic and fun to watch while Condrey and Ross are just great characters. It mixes so well too, as Condrey and Ross play OUTSTANDING chicken shit heels and use eye rakes, time out cheap shots and goofy bumps to really ham it up out there. Their reactions to everything Lane and Eaton do is just what makes this perhaps the most fun match on the card.

There's no way in fuck they could've done a clean ending for this, as it's one of those matches that would have been HURT by one. Of course Cornette interferes and of course Dangerously uses his Zak Morris phone... it's a damn shame this feud never got blown off appropriately, but still, this still feels somewhat satisfying. ***1/2

MATCH #3: Ivan Koloff & The Junkyard Dog v. The Russian Asassins (w/ Paul Jones)

This is kinda filler stuff and isn't much more than just being a formulaic Russian Asassins match where they get beat up, Jones stooges it up and then they stick something in the mask and win. Granted Koloff and JYD make it fun with their cartoony stuff that is altogether enjoyable, but if you've seen one Russian Asassins match, you've seen all of em. *1/2

MATCH #4: World Television Championship: Mike Rotundo v. Rick Steiner

Here's another insanely good, basic wrestling match. If i've said it once, I feel like i've said it a million times; Wrestling is best when it reflects real life. The best feuds are the ones that people can relate with and here's an example of that.

Steiner has been hanging out with the heelish Varsity Club for a while now. Rotundo and Williams are sorta those guys you know in high school that dump milk on people's heads and stuff nerds like you in lockers. Steiner's the mildly retarded jock of the group, whose really a good guy, but just not really capable of thinking on his own. Eventually though, the good side in Steiner comes out as he gets sick of being picked on by Rotundo and company, and turns on the faction, thus setting this batch of fun-ness up.

Rotundo is the antithesis of Steiner, the guy whose sleek looking and a heck of a smart wrestler. Steiner is just the dumb animal and is the clear #3 in the faction so the loveable underdog thing is on times 400 for this. There's no way you won't love Steiner and hate Rotundo. The odds however, are at least a little more even, since manager Kevin Sullivan will be suspended above the ring in a cage. Awesome.

The early part of this just plays to that whole dominant champ v. dumb but plucky challenger thing. Rotundo basically out does Steiner in every way imaginable. Steiner isn't able to get anything going and anytime Steiner begins to fight back, Rotundo outsmarts him and rubs it in everyone else's face. Steiner's comebacks aren't really progressive nor are they all that frequent, and this just helps paint the picture that much better.

Rotundo uses the little stuff but eventually decides it's time to go home and begins throwing the big boms: His belly to bellys and lariats. However, Steiner keeps on kicking out, because, as we found out before the match, he wants to win for mommy. Imagine crazy Perry Saturn meets Eugene meets Kurt Angle. That's basically where Steiner's at.

Since Kevin Sullivan can't interfere, it's up to one of the other Varsity Club members to help Rotundo steal a victory, so Steve Williams decides to trot down to ringside. While he's on his way down to the ringside area, Steiner's actually sorta beginning to mount something resembling offense, so it's evident Rotundo's beginning to tire. Steiner hits his belly to belly, which is his finisher, and Williams rings the bell at 2, confusing Steiner (which isn't hard to do). Steiner thinks he's won the match as Williams leaves for the back.

Sullivan is being lowered onto the floor and gets up on the ring apron to create some more confusion. While he's doing that, Rotundo pearl harbors him and goes for an irish whip. Steiner reverses it though and sends Rotundo clattering into Sullivan and they knock heads long enough to daze Rotundo enough to be pinned and that's exactly what happends. Holy crap, the crowd explodes as stupid Steiner runs around the ring with the belt screaming "I beat you!" as Rotundo looks totally shocked and beside himself.

Mike Rotundo was awesome as TV champ all through 1988, but it's the match where he loses the title that takes the taco as the best one. Steiner's great as the loveable babyface. This is a great formula and toss it in there with an angle that EVERYONE who ever went to high school saw in real life and you've got a lot of fun. All you have to do is go out there and not stink the joint and like most Rotundo stuff, this is worked so smart that it's impossible not to love it. This is super awesome. ***1/2

MATCH #5: United States Championship: Barry Windham v. Bam Bam Bigelow

I guess the hits just keep on comin'.

Here's another match that got a pretty 'big match' build leading up to it. Windham had been flat out dominant as US Champ throughout '88 and if you were to ask most of us who know what we're talking about, would say was probably the back bone of the promotion that year, as he wrestled everyone and their mother and dragged something good out of them to boot.

Bigelow really got a decent little push in the WWF from 87-88 but sort of leveled off midway through the year. Bigelow saw the writing on the wall and left for greener pastures. So here he shows up with lots of credbility (giving Andre a run for his money at Survivor Series a year earlier for example) so why not toss him in the ring with Windham? Ah, I love the times where people didn't give a crap if a guy got a title shot right off the bat......

Anyways, the early part of this is insanely good. NOTHING Windham can toss at Bigelow even phases the monster babyface. He drops Bigelow on his head, it doesn't do anything, hits the lariat, Bigelow laughs, etc. In fact the best part of the early going is when Bam Bam eats a back drop driver, no sells it and hits a standing drop kick on Windham, who rolls to JJ Dillon's arms screaming 'crap!'

Bigelow completely dominates the early exchanges, and Windham does his best to flop around and look clueless. Windham eventually fights out of a chin lock and looks to be getting somewhere when he flings Bigelow to the outside. Bigelow twists his knee up a bit and you'd tink this will help Barry but it doesn't do much for him as Bam Bam starts hitting him with head butts and a sling shot big splash, which was unheard of then.

Bigelow though, gets so dominant, that he starts getting over confident and makes some horrible decisions. After the sling shot, he doesn't go for the cover and instead goes for the flying headbutt, but misses it by a mile. Here's the big transition point in the match.

Windham has been let back in and he hulks up and actually gets a pop despite being the heel. He picks Bigelow up and gives him a smirk and a pat on the chin before taking his f-ing head off with a lariat. A back drop driver later and it looks like Windham might be getting somewhere. A drop kick of his own (nice revenge spot) sends Bigelow to the outside and Windham began to knock his head off the post.

Windham singnals for the claw and slaps it on. Bigelow's head though is one of his biggest weapons and it isn't likely to have the effect on Bigelow that it would have on others. Windham is so emotional here with rage screaming "that belt is fucking miiiiiiine!" to the crowd. Windham rules. Windham does what he said he'd do before the match and body slams Bigelow.

Then HE gets stupid and misses the flying elbow off the top. Bigelow makes a sensational babyface comeback that gets cut a shade too short. Bam Bam is looking for a lariat, but Windham thinks body block and the two roll over the top rope to the floor. Bigelow hits a fun atomic drop but when he charges at Windham, Barry side steps him and he smacks into the ring post. Barry realises the ref's counting and sneaks into the ring and Bigelow gets counted out.

If you're going to make a match between two dominant guys, they need to both dominate. Bigelow makes Windham his woman in the early going, putting on a nice exhibition of how good he is. Windham returns the ass-rape-age and shows how good he can be. They hit a stalemate and Windham gets the win, but not in a way where he looks much better, if better at all.

I'm not wild about the finish, because it IS a little out of nowhere, but it makes sense considering the way they were going with things and for Bam Bam to be SLIGHTLY more out of it at this point in the match, makes it ok with me. BECAUSE of the ending feeling weird though, I probably wouldn't go as high for this as I did the other two big matches on the card, but it's still pretty great. ***1/4

Match #6: World Tag Team Championship: The Road Warriors v. Dusty Rhodes & Sting

If there was something that's really lacking in today's wrestling world, i'd have to say it's babyfaces having friends. The one thing I loved about the Orton-Cena segment the other night was the intervention of Cody Rhodes, who like Cena, has a bone to pick with the heel for a common reason. This is basically a big time feud between Dusty Rhodes and the Road Warriors rooted in 'violence for the sake of violence'. Sting's Dusty's wing man here, which is great because Sting's actually the guy whose going to benefit the most here. Talk about a great way to benefit many.

The hate level is super high here, with both teams going right at it before the bell. By some miracle of god, the bell doesn't ring, and we get through introductions before going back to these four murdering each other.

As a tag team match, this sorta sucks, but it's not about tags and rules, it's about everyone beating everyone up. Hawk and Animal are the best bullies, face or heel, that the wrestling world's probably ever seen, or at least here in North America and all their stuff is about hurting people. TONS of stiff forearms, chops, punches, kicks and slams are heaped onto the babyfaces showing that the Road Warriors ain't out here to win a match, they're here to hurt someone.

Dusty only has revenge on the mind and is looking to use his usual stuff long enough to allow him to seriously injure someone. He has chair shots, and most importantly six million thumbs to the eye. However, this match IS for the tag titles and like any good guy team would be, they want those belts. Each and everytime they get away from brawling, they get overwhelmed. Sting and Rhodes CAN trade bombs, but don't seem to anxious to do it, which is a little puzzling.

This match DOES suffer a bit from the fact that by this point, it was practically impossible to hate the Road Warriors as they're just so bad ass that you can't not really like em. They try their hardest but when your largely heel offense gets pops from the crowd, it's hard to combat. Sting keeps things fun with some great high spots to keep them in the match and Dusty goes for frequent revenge spots and it at least keeps the face reactions on Dusty and Sting enough to not be overly offensive.

The ending is ok enough, but considering how this feud was built, this probably should have been it for the program. That's neither here nor there though, as the ending makes enough sense in the context of things, but not enough to really feel any sense of this thing being done yet. Again, this is pretty good stuff for the most part, but is too darn inconsistent for me to call good. **1/4

MATCH #7: World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair v. Lex Luger

The NWA and WCW were always known for their not so subtle booking and a large part of the reason for that was that everything led up to the big main event match at Starcade that was supposed to always be the be all, end all of the year's storylines.

Throughout the years, this had mixed success. They hit the jackpot in '83, '84 and '85, did ok with it in '86 but more or less flopped with the Garvin-Flair main event in '87. This however, was nearly 9 months in the making. Lex Luger joined the Four Horseman organization and was summarily kicked out in favor of Barry Windham. Luger made Flair and his belt the target and impressed enough to earn himself a shot at the belt at the Great American Bash in June/July. Luger lost the match due to 'excessive bleeding' and essentially the Maryland Athletic Comission screwing him over. Luger spent the remainder of the year chomping at the bit to get back at Flair and finally things have come to this. Luger gets a fair one on one shot at the title against Flair. If Flair gets DQ'd, he loses the title.

Smarks seem to crave 'strategy stories' and because of that, there's zero reason they should loathe this match in any way shape or fun because it's REALLY all about strategy. Before the match, Ross and Coddle are clammoring over Flair's strategy and how Luger will elect to wrestle the match.

Things start off basically with Flair just waiting for Luger to make a mistake. He doesn't have much success early on with, well, anything.. and his best hope is to try and survive the Luger onslaught and hope that Luger's abundance of desire will cause him to make a mistake. Sure enough, Luger destroys Flair early in the match, out bombing Flair and shockingly out wrestling him. Eventually Luger misses an elbow and Flair's ready to go to work.

Flair takes things to the outside, where he doesn't have to strike with Luger and pretty much evens up the odds. He double stomps Lex in the ring, but sure enough, as soon as Flair begins striking, Luger no sells it and begins peppering Flair with slams and drops. It looks like any strategy Flair has is pretty much out the window, because Lex surely won't make the mistake again. Or will he?

After pulvarizing the champion for another five to ten minutes, Luger gets frustrated because despite throwing every nuke in his arsenal save for the torture rack, he can't keep Flair's shoulders pinned to the mat. Flair agitates with some stupid chops and Lex bullies him into the corner and begins man-bitching him. Referee Tommy Young steps in to try and break up the party, but Luger shoves him aside. Who cares right?

Well, Flair doesn't get the advantage there, it's JJ Dillon being smart and distracting the referee while he recovers that dramatically and decisively turns the tide of the match. Flair does what he does best and cheats, raking the eyes and then dumps Luger over the top rope (which would be a DQ.. horay for the stip being followed) while the official is distracted. Flair is desperate so he grabs a chair and cracks Luger across the leg with the chair.

Flair zeroes in on the leg of Luger and essentially negates any power or speed advantage he'd have had. Flair double stomps the knee, drops knees on the leg, sits out on it..Basically every basic Flair move set thing is uncorked here, but with Ross and Coddle doing such a good job of selling the devistation of it, and Luger surprisingly selling like a champ, it really bumps the intensity of it all up a few notches.

After surviving and nearly reversing a few Figure Four attempts, Luger's desire to win takes hold and he hulks up and begins laying into Flair with a flurry of offense. Luger's leg can't take much more and Flair's beyond dead at this point, so Luger goes for the kill shot and slaps on the Torture Rack. His leg though, which has been torn to shreds, can't hold Flair and he crumples under the weight. Flair falls on top of him and uses the ropes for some leverage and Luger's dream is dead as a doornail.

This is a really, really fantastic match. Luger looks like a monster, Flair a survivor like you'd expect, but they just take those roles to the next level with some ridiculously sensational performances. This is probably Luger's best match. He gets over his desire to win by uncorking things like cross body blocks and his willingness to not be afraid to wrestle Flair's match. He evolkes sympath with one of the best sell jobs of a leg ever. When he's juiced, the selling is less prominent, but it comes back here and there and it's not in a way that makes you think Luger forgot to do it and suddenly remembered it again. Flair, when in control, looks like a freaking killer. Flair thinks his way through a lot of the match, but it's really luck and an ability to survive that gets him through it. It's not just the typical Flair selling his balls off for someone and finding a way to win. It's Flair thinking, failing, executing, surviving and ultimately getting a little lucky.

Some weren't totally into the idea of Luger losing here, but I think it's a-ok. Luger wasn't ready for that spot, but DOES make you re-consider with his performance in this match, if only for a little while. This ultimately helped him more though, as Luger, for as many shortcomings as he might have had, set himself up for an utterly sensational 1989.

You get everything in this match. Some fun counter wrestling which makes smarky ROHbots swoon, brawling, crowd heat, emotion, etc. Most of all, it's a sensational conclusion to a story that was nearly a year in the making, which is ultimately what a Starcade or Wrestlemania main event should be all about. It's a shame that fans don't have the patience for long, extended feuds like this anymore, because this is what that type of build can be. This is probably my MOTY for '88 and one that every wrestling fan should watch. ****1/2

OVERALL: I'm not a guy who spews stars but this show is one of those exceptions. EVERYTHING on this card was built just so damn well and all the matches delivered on some level. There are four matches on this card that had they been on any other card, probably would have been the match of the night, even during this time period in the NWA, which despite some shoddy booking on the part of Dusty Rhodes, had so much great talent in the prime of their careers that there was just no way in hell they could've sucked. If I were to give the show some criticism though, it would be that not all the major match ups really concluded everything. Not that they HAVE to, but considering the way they built three of the four big matches on the card, you kind of hoped they would have. Even the stuff that's NOT as good (US Tag Title Match, JYD/Ivan-Russians) is at BASE entertaining and fun viewing. This gets a major league reccomendation for me, and to this point was easily the best show the NWA put on top to bottom. 1) I'm not saying the worst all together but as I said before it was an okay show which makes it more of how a fan in takes it in their opinion. When the show is great their can be no arguement (or at least it shouldn't be). But with a show like it was it was more of how the fan looks at it as a whole it's either okay or could have been better. As for Shelton saying he is in my opinion the best pure athlete on Raw doesn't take away from the other guys at all I respect that they ll bust their a**. I just feel Shelton deserves a push at least at the mid-card scene espcially as Jeff is low on contenders. I think Shelton's passion for the buisness is to do bigger things than slip away. He must want to take it to the next level. Everyone wants to one day be the guy to hold the top spot in the company down the line. If you look at when did Shelton ever not take advantage of an oppurtunitiy, with the push from Triple H he had a great IC title run afterward. The HBK match could have been a good tag team run but I guess the creative team scraped the idea before it really got started. Give Shelton the medium ball and the guy can make it happen no on the mic but he can get the ring stuff done. I feel the same goes for Charlie Haas highly under-rated. A

Clash of Champions IV: Season's Beatings

Clash of Champions IV: Season's Beatings
December, 1988
Chatanooga, TN

MATCH #1: US Tag Team Championship Tournament Finals: The Fantastics v. Ron Simmons & Eddie Gilbert

First things first, it was a surprise they went as long with this match as they did. The crowd seems to be definately in the corner of Simmons & Gilbert, despite the Fantastics being uber babyfaces. Both teams adjust well to this dynamic with some good role playing early on as Gilbert establishes himself as the best wrestler in the match, while Simmons is willing to play the bully.

As things move along though, it evolves into something unexepctadly good, and that's Eddie Gilbert playing the babyface in peril, and the Fantastics looking like the dominating and at times ruthless aggressors. Gilbert is probably one of the better pure heels wrestling had in the 80s, while NO ONE played better rag dolls than the Fantastics. So the reverse psychology in a sense, works here.

The finish is built to nicely, with the arm work on Gilbert ending up being his team's undoing. Unfortunately though, it ended up backfiring in the last five minutes, especially the finish, as the crowd was a little TOO behind Simmons and Gilbert winning the match. In wrestling, it's always good to roll with the punches when the crowd is more undecided, but only to a point and I think they might have overdone it here. It's a case of these guys almost being a little too good for their own good, which unfortunately can be the downfall of some dream match up combinations.

Still though, this is a solid offering and a great end to a fun tournament. The roles evolve throughout the match and the boys try to manage the crowd reactions as best they can, even if it didn't end on the note they were looking for. **3/4

MATCH #2: Steve Williams v. The Italian Stallion

This match killed far more time than it should have. Nothing was offensively bad here, in fact Williams looks like a killer as always, but again, guys like Stallion just don't have enough stuff to really fill up a 15 minute match and make it look like they've got much of a fighting chance. There are a ton of spots where you're just waiting for Williams to end it and NOT looking for a Stallion comeback. There are some good spurts for a minute here and a minute there and the transitions are also done pretty well, so again, this isn't entirely un entertaining, but it's nothing overly decent either. *1/2

MATCH #3: Hand Tied Behind His Back: Ivan Koloff v. Paul Jones

Here's another match with just a strange dichotamy. Jones and Koloff are probably two of the most hated heels in the company at this time and it's just plain odd to see Koloff working babyface. Jones heels it up well and Nikita's comebacks are done pretty well so on the surface, this is probably better than most would give it credit for, but it struggles in the sense that no one seems to really be behind Ivan at any one point. Another match that didn't have anything bad, but just suffered from a lack of feel that's important in a good rivalry. *1/2

MATCH #4: Dusty Rhodes v. Road Warrior Animal

This starts off fun, but man oh man is Dusty sloppy in this. I'm not a guy that puts TOO much stock into move execution, but Dusty's so out of place in times, it takes away from my overall enjoyment of things. Just like the Sullivan match from September, it just doesn't last long enough to really start going anywhere. Dusty hits the ring like a ball of fire, awkwardly cleans house, the crowd explodes and everyone sort of gets carried away. Dusty pelts the referee and Hawk interferes before Sting comes in to make the save and we've got the last little bit of build before the big Starrcade grudge match. This doesn't come off like an actual match, but more like an extended continuation of an angle, which I will say is quite good, but again, that doesn't really help the match all that much. *1/4

MATCH #5: The Midnight Express v. Ric Flair & Barry Windham

For a lot of people, this is sort of a dream match up. The Midnight Express are basically kings of the tag division. They've held both the World and US tag titles and at one point, held both at the same time. Flair and Windham are the World and US singles champs, and obviously the superior singles workers, so you know this is set up to be good. It sure delivers in spades.

To this point, I think this is the best match the Clash has produced. The Midnight Express dominate the early going, as they should, this being their environment. Flair in particular, is never given an opportunity early on to figure out either Lane nor Eaton as the Express use a lot of quick tags and double team moves to keep Flair utterly off balance. Windham looks totally lost (in a good way) trying to handle both guys as the Express keep things calm for themselves, as hectic for the Horseman.

Eventually though, the Horseman start thinking and while Flair aren't as accustomed to tag wrestling as Arn and Tully, still know how to take advantage of a situation and Windham turns the tables while the referee is tending to Lane by clocking Eaton with a killer lariat. From there, the Horseman start targeting the head and legs and doing their horseman thing, keeping him iscolated while getting their big shots in while the official is tending to the babyfaces.

Eventually though, Lane gets a killer hot tag and cleans house. Eaton is back in quickly enough and with Windham more or less taken care of, they go for the home run shots on Flair hitting the goozle then an Eaton top rope leg drop. Emotions take over though as Cornette goes ballistic on JJ Dillon on the outside for getting a little overly involved in the match (the goading of Cornette throughout the match is a fun distraction) and Flair's able to quickly turn the tables with a shoe shot to a weakened Eaton's head, draping his partner over Bobby for the victory.

Here's another good match made better by playing to the obvious surface strengths of all four guys in the ring. This is classic Horseman stuff here as they think (and cheat) their way to a win with a super hot crowd.

This is a match that anyone looking to become a good tag wrestler should watch. Roles stay consistent and that theme trumps anything else. Flair and Windham look awkward at first, but their sheer ability keeps them in it long enough to buy opportunities to beat a supererior TEAM. This is a brutally awesome match that is a must see and to this point, is the best i've seen on any of the shows thus far. ***3/4


OVERALL: This is two beautiful loaves of bread with some shitty meat in the middle. There's plenty of Starcade build, but they didn't go for the hard sell for the pay per view as much as I'd expect. Everyone, losers included, head into the pay per view looking strong. This isn't consistently good throughout, but it's still pretty great. B

Clash of Champions On Going Top 10 (Through Clash IV)
1. The Midnight Express v. Ric Flair & Barry Windham, Clash IV ***3/4
2. Sting v. Ric Flair, World Hvt Title, Clash I ***1/2
3. Midnight Express v.The Fantastics, US Tag Titles, Clash I ***1/4
4. Sting v. Barry Windham, US Title, Clash III ***1/4
5. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard v. Barry Windham & Lex Luger, World Tag Titles, Clash I ***
6. The Fantastics v. Ron Simmons & Eddie Gilbert, US Tag Titles, Clash IV **3/4
7. The Fantastics v. The Sheepherders **1/2, Clash II
8. Mike Rotundo v. Brad Armstrong, TV Title, Clash III **1/2
9. Ricky Morton v. Ivan Koloff, Russian Chain Match, Clash III **1/2
10. Dusty Rhodes & Sting v. Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson **1/2, Clash II

Clash of Champions I Review

Clash of Champions I
March 27, 1988
Greensboro, NC

MATCH #1 World Television Championship, Olympic Rules: Mike Rutundo v. Jimmy Garvin

This is sort of in the midst of that whole Precious being chased by the obsessed Kevin Sullivan thing, which was, well, pretty awesome. I'm a sucker for both these guys and even though Garvin's actual talent as a worker is probably mid card level at best, the character just rules. Feather boas are manly.

The basically start off with you're typical strong face-heel stuff with Rutundo wearing the Syracuse uniform and in general being a douche. This isn't exactly MOTY stuff and the stipulation is just thrown on there to make the match seem a little bit more important. The real issue at hand is for Precious to get her revenge on Sullivan and she gets that in the end with a really fun 2X4 beat down on Sullivan the crowd goes banannas for. Consider the show opened. *3/4

MATCH #2: US Tag Team Championship: The Midnight Express v. The Fantastics

This is utterly incredible. I'll almost be willing to say the Fantastics might be the best tag team to never fully get their due. These two teams are primarily known for their work IN the ring, but this is an insanely awesome brawl.

Cornette's on the mic before hand to talk shit and be a slime ball. Love the guys in the front row. The two teams go right at it from the opening bell and pretty much this is just bedlam from here on out. There are some pretty wild chair shots for the time and a really cool body slam on a table set up on the outside. Even Cornette is trying to get in on the fun and throws a chair at Fulton like a total sissy and then gets chased. Just wildly entertaining stuff.

Finally the match settles down into a tag team wrestling match around five minutes in. Great iscolation, baby face in peril stuff with the Midnight Express just putting a brutal beat down on poor Bobby Fulton. The back work here is great, and Fulton was one hell of a seller.

The gradual build up of Tommy Roger's wanting to kill the world is great on the outside and when the hot tag is missed by the referee, the crowd just about blows up the arena. Rogers finally tweaks and tossed the official over the top rope and begins cleaning house, saving his partner from a sure fire Cornette racket shot. He tosses his partner off the top rope for the big splash. A new referee runs down, makes the three count, and we've got new champions!

Or not. The old official comes in the ring and takes the belts from the Fantastics, gives them back to Cornette's stooges and raises their hand. Dusty, dusty finish. While i'd certaily say this wasn't the best match between these two teams, it's a darn great match. ***1/4

MATCH # 3: Chicago Street Fight: Dusty Rhodes & The Road Warriors v. Ivan Koloff & The Powers of Pain

Remember that whole hockey mask angle? Yep, this is that match. This was pretty bad. In fact it was woefully bad. Sure, it's a wild brawl and ultimately we want to see the heels get what's coming to them but the fact that this doesn't last much more than four minutes is a real let down, especially considering all the time they spent building this sucker up. Granted, it didn't end here, as this was more of a 'quick, let's use a match to shoot through an angle' kind of thing. And not that there's really anything wrong with that. This is what it is. *1/4 just to sound super picky and important.

MATCH #4: World Tag Team Championship: Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard v. Barry Windham & Lex Luger

This match is SO basic, but SO effective all at the same time. The early going is all the youthful upstarts, overpowering the cagey veteran champions at every turn. Blanchard and Anderson start cheating like you read about and because of it, are able to do what they do best, iscolate a body part and rip it off your body and beat you with it.

When that falls through, you see JJ Dillon start to interject himself in the match and man, is he a heat magnet. Finally, Luger gets a big old hot tag and things tend to go nuts. Dillon tosses a chair in the corner and Anderson looks for the whip, but Luger reverses it and Anderson crashes into the chair. One roll up later, and that's all she wrote.

Anyone who wants to see tag team wrestling at it's most fundamental levels done perfectly, this is probably it. GREAT face-heel dynamic, GREAT comebacks, GREAT hot tag, GREAT finish. Again, this isn't MOTY stuff, but any two young wrestlers who wanna learn how to work a great, fundamentally sound tag match should watch this. ***

MATCH #6: World Heavyweight Championship: Ric Flair v. Sting

This is probably the match that really put Sting on the map as a major player in the NWA/WCW for the duration of the late 80's. Sure, Sting was obviously over before this, but I think this was really his official 'arrival' so to speak and with good reason, as it's a good match, but certainly not in the upper echilon of stuff these two did together but more of the end of the first chapter so to speak.

Much like the tag match that preceeded this was a great example of great fundamental tag wrestling, this is probably the penultimate Flair makes another guy match. Ironically even though it's sort of remembered as that match that cemented Sting as a top flight guy, it was Flair who steals the show here.

The early going is all Sting. Flair tries everything from shoulder blocks, to chops, to raking the eyes, to hip tosses, etc. Everything Flair does, Sting has an answer for. The entire first 15 minutes or so is basically Sting in charge, using the headlock as a launching pad for the bigger bombs he throws. His persistence is what's leading him towards the light and it's when he hesitates, that he pays.

Sting finally breaks a headlock and just like that, Flair rolls out of the way and the match takes a turn for the heelish. Flair of course takes things right to the outside whre if Sting gets the upperhand, he can't pin Flair, thus keepin' the champ safe in a hotly contested title match. Great stuff here as Flair begins battering away at Sting. Being ever resourceful though, Sting comes back with some bombs of his own, finding a way to beat the Flair control segment.

Sting neutralizes Flair a little bit more with some back work and other fun, but then takes a really stupid mistake, showing his youth, when he misses a diving clothesline into the ring post. Flair pounces on the arm like any good champ would and begin taking it apart. Eventually Sting's able to reverse an irish whip and shrug off some Flair chops and here we go to the finish.

The two trade roll ups and all sorts of wild stuff heading down the last 10 minutes and have the crowd going nuts. Like any good Flair draw, it ends with him in a boatload of trouble heading down the final stretch, only to sneak away with the draw. ***1/2

Overall: This is a really great television wrestling show. Like really, really great. Three matches over three stars and while the other two don't bring much inthe way of quality action, they're a boat load of fun and completely satisfying. Ross and SHOCKINGLY Shavone are out-freaking-standing calling the action to boot. This is as good as TV wrestling can probably get.

Clash of Champions On Going Top 10
1. Sting v. Ric Flair ***1/2
2. Midnight Express v.The Fantastics ***1/4
3. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard v. Barry Windham & Lex Luger ***
4. Mike Rutundo v. Jimmy Garvin *3/4
5. Dusty Rhodes & The Road Warriors v. Ivan Koloff & Powers of Pain *1/4
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