January 5, 2008
Matt Peddycord

NWA World Championship Wrestling
April 1, 1989
Atlanta, GA
WTBS Studios

Your hosts are Jim Ross and Michael PS Hayes. A historic program, as its the last show to air from the old WTBS Studios.

Shane Douglas vs. The Raider

Tons of returns on the show this week. The first would be Shane’s return to wrestling here after leaving to earn his teaching degree. Wonder why he doesn’t do that now instead of managing a Target? Douglas has a little trouble with Raider, but surprises Raider with a rollup for the 1-2-3. (4:51) Not much for Shane to do right now, but business would pick up for him once he joins up with Johnny Ace.

Bob Orton Jr. vs. DeWayne Bruce

This is Bob Orton ‘s return to the NWA after he left five years ago for the WWF. DeWayne Bruce is Buddy Lee Parker, by the way. I forgot all about that. Not a super exciting squash, but much more technical than the last one. JR & Hayes pimp the Orton/Murdoch match set for tomorrow’s Clash. SUPERPLEX puts Bruce away. (5:05) Gary Hart comes out and congratulates Orton on the win, beginning their relationship.

NWA U.S. Tag Team Champions Eddie Gilbert & Rick Steiner (w/Missy Hyatt) vs. Kevin Sullivan & Dan Spivey – non-title match

Steiner and Spivey start the match. They get into a shoving contest. Steiner then hits a powerslam and doesn’t follow up. Spivey hits a corner clothesline and tags in Sullivan. Steiner catches him with a sunset flip and tags Gilbert. The VC cheat a little bit with a choke. That leads to a Spivey/Steiner confrontation while Sullivan posts Gilbert on the outside. Back in, Steiner gets a tag, but takes a Bossman Slam for 1-2-NO! Backbreaker followed by a clothesline gets two. Spivey weakens Steiner down to the mat with a bearhug to set up the DOUBLE STOMP. Cover, 1-2-NO! Spivey tags back in for the SIDE SLAM and tries to smash Steiner’s face into the turnbuckle, but that never works! Steiner punches back and makes the hot tag. Gilbert hits the HOT SHOT on Sullivan and that causes a pier-six brawl. During the chaos, Sullivan grabs at Missy and pisses off Gilbert. He tries to check on Missy, but Sullivan knees him from behind and sends him into the ringpost! Sullivan rolls up Gilbert and gets 1-2-3. (7:42) This sets up the title match for tomorrow’s Clash, which Gilbert and Steiner win in a much quicker “fashion”. If you’ve seen Clash VI, then you should get the silly pun.**¼

Interview with the First Family: TOMORROW! SULLIVAN! SPIVEY! NEW ORLEANS!

The Danger Zone

Today, Paul E has THREE guests! Gary Hart, Great Muta (Mota) and Hiro Matsuda. This is the first interview where Gary Hart claims that Muta is the son of the Great Kabuki. Paul E believes Muta is WAY better than Kabuki ever was. A much shorter edition of the Danger Zone this week, but just as monumental.

Clash 6 ad airs. It just feels epic.

Ron Simmons vs. Bucky Seigler

Another returning star to the NWA is Ron Simmons. Seigler was a baby face jobber like Casey where you think he might have a chance of winning, but never does. Simmons hits a Spinebuster and a Powerslam early on, then stretches Seigler out on the mat. Seigler grabs an armbar, but Simmons powers out with a double-arm suplex. Simmons delivers a paralyzing looking piledriver. After some more back punishment, Simmons finishes Seigler off with the SPINEBUSTER. (5:09) Much like the Shane Douglas return, Simmons has nothing going on until he picks up a tag partner.

Interview with the NWA World Champion Ricky Steamboat: He says maybe he was just lucky in Chicago, so he needs to win tomorrow to prove to the world that he IS the best.

NWA World Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors (w/Paul Ellering) vs. John Brewer & Snake Brown

LOD storms the ring and kills Brewer off with the powerslam from the middle rope. (0:45) In the post-match interview, Hawk says he’s sick of the Varsity Club and it will end in New Orleans. I don’t know about that, Hawk.

The Samoan Swat Team (w/Paul E. Dangerously) vs. Jim Bryant & Troy Alridge

Hayes calls the SST the team of the ‘90s. Of course, this is 1989 and a few months before Scott Steiner was full-time in the NWA. Not to say the SST weren’t great, but they’re no Steiners. The SST trade tags hitting their usual on Alridge until Samu delivers the DDT out of the corner (Alridge can SELL!) for the win. (2:57) Afterwards, Fatu gives Bryant the FLYING SPLASH. You know , just so Bryant doesn’t feel left out.

The Great Muta (or Mota) (w/Gary Hart) vs. The Cruel Connection

Muta sprays the green mist for the first time and JR swears he does it just like his daddy. He dumps one of the Cruel guys out and gives him a pescado and then gives the other Cruel guy in the ring a missile dropkick! Handspring elbow in the corner connects, followed by a Dragon Suplex for the 1-2-3. (1:38) Sign in the audience says “NWA fans all colors and sizes love cheering”. That has got to be the WORST.

Interview with the Junkyard Dog: He’s going to beat that old Captain Nappyhead Butch Reed tomorrow in the Superdome. It’s okay, he’s one of THEIR kind. As for another black guy in the NWA named Ranger Ross, JYD has taken him under his wing. Speaking of that Ranger Ross character…

Ranger Ross vs. Paul Brown

Stay tuned to find out how you can get your official NWA Old Spice gym bag! Get your pencil and paper ready. COMBAT KICK! (3:09) The Ross/Sheik blow off is tomorrow!

Interview with Paul E. Dangerously: Hayes brings up his issues with Lex Luger to Paul E, saying that he looked at him the wrong way. According to Paul E, “Secret Service” Jack Victory was taught how to pluck a guy’s eye out during his FBI training and after tomorrow night, Luger won’t be looking at anyone and “Secret Service” Jack Victory will be the NEW United States heavyweight champion.

“Secret Service” Jack Victory (w/Paul E. Dangerously) vs. Don Sanders

Sanders can’t slam Victory! Lots of eye-gouging and kicks follow. Sanders tries to fight back, but Victory puts him down with a clothesline. He goes to the floor to get his cap and aviators on so he can deliver the SERVICE REVOLVER (DDP-style pancake) for the 1-2-3. (4:12) JR dares to call Paul E the least athletic man in wrestling.

NWA World Television Champion Mike Rotunda (w/The Varsity Club) vs. Sting

Thanks to JR suggesting that Rotunda was dodging the top talent to hold on to his $10,000, Rotunda now has to face the top TV title contender in the Stinger. He starts off too quickly with Rotunda, so the champ takes a walk for some moral support. Back in, Rotunda catches Sting with a knee. Rotunda charges at Sting up against the ropes, but Sting ducks and Rotunda goes flying out to the Varsity Club. Back in again, Sting takes over, but misses the jumping elbow. Rotunda telegraphs a backdrop and pays for it as he goes out for another walk around ringside. Back in AGAIN, Rotunda uses the ropes and everything he can to pin Sting out of a headlock on the mat. Rotunda finally escapes with a back suplex. He whiffs on a dropkick though and rolls out, but Sting goes out after him and punches him back into the ring. Flying Crossbody from Sting gets 1-2-NO! Back to the headlock, as Luger and Steamboat come down to cheer Sting on and to make sure everything is fair and square. Sting wants the ten-count corner punch, but Rotunda brings him out of the corner with an atomic drop. Sting gets dumped out to the Varsity Club , but Luger and Steamboat keep them at bay. Rotunda pounds away on Sting on the apron, but Sting comes back in with a sunset flip for 1-2-NO! Rotunda catches him with a legdrop for two. Rotunda then grabs a Sleeper and hooks the ropes with his feet for leverage. Ref Nick Patrick sees what’s going on and calls for the break. Rotunda follows up with atomic drops and when Sting starts to punch back, Sullivan slips him some taped knux. Rotunda nails him, but Sting WILL NOT DIE! Rotunda starts to paint brush Sting, which just wakes him up and gets him all excited! Sting fires back and hits the Stinger Splash! SCORPION DEATHLOCK? Yes! Doc tries to get into the ring to distract the ref while Sullivan breaks up the hold with an Austin Powers-like judo chop. Luger pulls Doc out and they get into a little tiff, but Sullivan calms them down while Rotunda covers for 1-2-NO! Rotunda knows he’s got Sting beat, so he delivers the kill with the DOUBLE ARM SUPLEX. Cover, 1-2-NO! Vertical Suplex gets 1-2-NO! They run the ropes, but its Sting who rolls Rotunda up off the ropes for the 1-2-3! (16:30) Sting had been chasing every major belt in the NWA throughout ALL of 1988 and finally wins one. This was everything you want in a TV title match. Great action, great crowd, and enough time given to build up to something worth watching. ***¾

Interview with Ric Flair: He will begin title reign #6 tomorrow, so you better tune in. WOO!

YOUTUBE IT: I don’t believe our good friend AnimeJoe has any April episodes of World Championship Wrestling uploaded just yet. However, I have uploaded what I believe is the best parts of April 1989 on my account. For this episode, there’s the Danger Zone segment and the TV title match. Check it out.

Be sure to stop by my blog at http://wcwrules4lyf.wordpress.com and check out my YouTube account at https://www.youtube.com/wcwrules4lyf. Comments are encouraged and appreciated!