NWA (WCW) Clash of the Champions VIII (Version II)

Original Airdate: September 12, 1989

From Columbia, South Carolina; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Jim Cornette

We start with a look back at the crazy brawl between Ric Flair and Sting against Terry Funk and Great Muta that closed the Great American Bash, as tonight all four of those men collide in our tag team main event!

Backstage, Gary Hart immediately throws cold water on any rumors that he's got dissention in the ranks of his J-Tex Corporation

Opening Match: The Road Warriors v The Samoan Swat Team: God, the Warriors are jacked! I'm surprised Vince McMahon didn't roll up on these guys in a dump truck full of money well before he actually did. Though, in all honestly, he probably DID, but the Warriors' likely held off signing any deals that conflicted with their Japanese commitments. Animal blitzes Fatu to start, and powerslams him, so Samu runs in - Animal clotheslining him right back out! The Swat Team regroup on the outside, and the dust settles on Hawk and Samu. Samu tries getting cute with some Freebirds-style stall tactics, but that doesn't fly with the Warriors, and he gets thrown around. Tag back to Fatu, as the Warriors continue to completely squash the Swat Team. Hawk with a clothesline for two, but he misses a cross corner charge and goes flying to the outside - Samu quick to capitalize with an attack out there! One thing I especially miss about these old Southern shows is those older ladies in the front rows who are just absolutely LOSING THEIR MINDS trying to alert the official to cheating by the heels. It's still real to them, damn it! That kind of fan kinda faded away once the Attitude Era came around, but I remember even well into the 90s seeing one such old lady nearly deck Hulk Hogan on an episode of Nitro after the heel turn in 1996. You just don't see that kind of passion from the fans anymore, and I miss it! The Swat Team cut the ring in half on Hawk, but a flying splash from Fatu hits boot, and Animal gets the hot tag! He's a pharmacy of fire, and Roseanne Barr the door, we've got a kettle on! The Swat Team try to use manager Paul E. Dangerously's Zack Morris phone in the chaos, but it backfires, and the Doomsday Device finishes Fatu at 6:46. Afterwards, the Swat Team breakup with Dangerously. Nothing special, but it's always fun watching big heavies toss each other around. * ¼ (Original rating: ¼*)

Halloween Havoc promo

Tom Zenk v Cuban Assassin: Also known as the 'Apocalypse Now match' - pitting the 'assassin' against the 'errand boy.' This is Zenk's NWA debut. Note: my computer crashed right after I finished this match, and it ate it, so I'm copying and pasting from the Version 1 review, but with my revised rating. Problem with that? Send your complaints directly to Double M's inbox for him to punt off a balcony. Thanks! Zenk wins an early criss cross with shoulderblocks and armdrags, and then dropkicks Assassin to the floor to assume control. Assassin fires off a closed fist to try and turn the tide, but Zenk blocks a backdrop attempt with another dropkick, and hooks the Assassin in an armbar on the mat. Assassin tries to make another comeback with a bit of token punch-kick offense, but again gets fucked when he bends over for a backdrop (not literally - Zenk just counters into a sunset flip), and Tom finishes him off with a sleeper at 3:37 ½* (Original rating: DUD)

South Carolina Governor Carroll Campbell declares today Ric Flair Day. There's a joke in here about the state then promptly going bankrupt and having to stand in North Carolina's corner to pay its debts, but I won't make it

Sid Vicious v Ranger Ross: I don't like Ross's chances here, guys. Sid wastes no time in being awesome by throwing Ross out of the ring and then slamming him into the guardrail. Man! Back in, Ross tries to make a comeback with the Combat Kick, but Vicious promptly shrugs it off with a DDT, and adds a spinning powerbomb before finishing him with a standard version at 1:10. Total and gleeful squash! ¼* (Original rating: ¼*)

Missy Hyatt and Robin Green take a limousine on a shopping spree, with Green gleefully spending all of Rick Steiner's money on clothes and jewelry. Well, not 'all.' It is still Columbia South Carolina, after all. How much trouble could they possibly get in? I like how they come out of the jewelry store carting armfuls of 'expensive merchandise,' but all in giant brown paper bags. Way to make use of that Turner budget, guys

Backstage, the Fabulous Freebirds are feeling fabulous. Well, thank God! No one wants to see the Alright Freebirds

Halloween Havoc promo

NWA World Tag Team Title Match: The Fabulous Freebirds v The Steiner Brothers: Michael Hayes starts with Scott Steiner, and it's stall city, bitch. Criss cross goes Scotty's way with a pair of armdrags and rollup for one, but a corner charge ends badly. Hayes goes up with a flying bodypress, but Steiner rolls it through for two, and clotheslines him down. That brings Jimmy Garvin in illegally, but Scott feeds him a clothesline as well - cleaning house. Dust settles on Garvin and Steiner, and Scott wins a criss cross with a hiptoss and an armdrag into an armbar. Cross corner whip sets up a nice German suplex, and Scott grabs a half-crab before tagging out to brother Rick Steiner. Rick wins his own criss cross with a Steinerline, then passes one out to an incoming Hayes as well to clean house! Dust settles on Michael and Rick, and it's back to stall city. Fucking Freebirds, man. Criss cross goes Rick's way with a nice powerslam, so Garvin comes off the top with a cheap shot - only for Rick to catch him in a powerslam as well! Ten-punch in the corner sets Hayes up for a cross corner whip and another Steinerline, followed by a release overhead suplex. Cross corner charge misses, however, and Garvin gets the tag - dropping Rick with a DDT for two. Now firmly in control, the Freebirds cut the ring in half on Rick, but he snapmares his way out of a sleeper, then counters a DDT with a vertical suplex. Tag to Scott, and he starts throwing out Frankensteiner’s like they're armdrags! Brawl breaks out, and Roseanne Barr the door, we've got a kettle on! Hayes is in trouble, but Scott gets 'accidentally' tripped while running the ropes by either Robin or Missy and Michael DDTs him to retain at 10:25. They play up a big controversy over who tripped him, but if you watch the replay (the one right after the pin, not the doctored one after the break) you can obviously see Missy's bright pink dress on the other side of the ring, so it couldn't have been her. But then, this was 1989, and people had smaller and much less highly defined screens in those days, so maybe no one noticed. Good match, too! *** (Original rating: *)

Brian Pillman v Norman the Lunatic: Pillman is accompanied by an entire squad of high school cheerleaders here, since what's more appropriate to mix into a 1980s pro-wrestling locker room than underage girls in cheerleader costumes? It's like cookies and milk, peas and carrots! Points for effort to whoever was responsible for planning THAT particular fieldtrip. Norman pounds on Brian's head during before the bell, but Pillman fires off a dropkick, and vertical suplexes the Lunatic. Air Pillman puts Norman on the floor, and Brian goes after him with a flying bodypress out there, but gets avalanched in the corner following a distraction by Teddy Long. Norman adds a flapjack and a corner whip to setup a 2^nd rope flying splash for two, and Pillman takes a powder on the outside. Norman goes after him with an avalanche against the ring post, but a second go misses, and Brian catches him with a missile dropkick on the way back in. Bodyslam and a backdrop follow, as I marvel at Norman's selflessness in letting the much smaller Pillman throw him around like that! 2^nd rope bodypress gets countered with a scoop powerslam for two, however, and Norman clobbers him with a clothesline for another two. Again, but this time Brian is ready with a counter in the form of a crucifix for the pin at 3:31! Excellent while it lasted! This is actually a tough one to rate, as three and a half minutes isn't really long enough to warrant a three-star rating, but at the same time, the level of work was so good that it wouldn't be fair to shortchange it with anything less. *** (Original rating: **)

Backstage, Gordon Solie is still interrogating poor Gary Hart, this time about whether or not Terry Funk is actually in the building to wrestle in the main event tonight. It depends on what your definition of the word 'is' is

Mike Rotunda v Steve Williams: Williams chases him around the ring to start, and catches up with a clothesline on the way in. Five-pump press-slam sets up a three-point stance, but a second one is countered with a nice lariat from Rotunda. Mike tosses him to the outside for some mounted punches, and he snaps Steve's throat across the top rope on the way back in. Abdominal stretch, but the referee catches Mike using the ropes for leverage, and Steve is able to hit a sunset flip for two. Rotunda cuts him off with a high knee, and a snapmare sets up an elbowdrop for two. Chinlock time, but the referee catches him using the ropes again, and Steve uses a stunner to escape. The more I watch him, the more it becomes obvious that Rotunda was really much better suited to tag team wrestling. Elbowdrop misses, and Rotunda pulls a weapon out of his kneepad to bash Williams with. He gets off a few more shots without the referee getting wise, and a pair of bodyslams setup a trip to the top - only for Williams to slam him down! Oh daddy, Steve is HICKING UP!! Ten-Punch Count! Cross Corner Whip! Rotunda tries a desperation jumping clothesline, but Steve ducks, and Mike goes flying out of the ring! Williams tries bodyslamming him back in, but Mike holds on to the top rope and topples him - only for Steve to roll through for the pin at 7:04! Nice finish! Afterwards, Rotunda attacks him, but Williams HICKS UP!! again, so forget it. Solid effort here. ** ½ (Original rating: *)

Backstage Lex Luger is doing what he can for the environment by foregoing the use of oil on his chest tonight. What a guy!

Halloween Havoc promo. I'm sensing a theme here, guys

NWA United States Title Match: Lex Luger v Tommy Rich: Someone in the crowd gets a SICK BURN on Luger by noting that he's the 'UNtotal Package' via a sign. That's harsh, redneck lady. How do you sleep at night? Feeling out process to start, until Rich starts throwing some wild(fire!) punches, and cross corner whips Luger into a backdrop. Bodyslam follows, and Lex hides in the corner to break the momentum. Lex responds with a power display via a shoulderblock, but runs into another right during a well timed criss cross, and Rich armdrags him over into an armbar. Another criss cross ends in Tommy bodypressing him for two, so Lex resorts to hair pulling to turn the tide, but misses a cross corner charge, and gets schoolboyed for two. Rich adds an inside cradle for two, and he armdrags the frustrated champion into another armbar. Tommy with another backdrop, but Luger manages to dodge a dropkick, and this time is able to follow-up with a powerslam for two. Lex starts working the back with forearms and a series of pointed elbowdrops for two, but Rich blocks getting tossed to the floor, and dives at Lex with a slingshot sunset flip for two. That serves to piss the champion off, and he charges in a rage, but Tommy sidesteps, and Lex goes flying out himself! Irony, thy name is Luger! Tommy tries a vertical suplex back in, but ends up getting toppled for two (they almost botched that one, with Rich coming close to dropping Luger on his head in a scary moment), and Luger hits a sidewalk slam for two. Motivated Luger is such a thing of beauty. Lex with a powerslam, but Rich blocks the Torture Rack - only for Luger to block a rollup! Lex decides to punish this smartass with a superplex, but Tommy kicks out at two! Now Lex is just plain pissed, and he heads up for a flying splash, but Rich rolls out of the way! He makes a comeback with a pair of backelbows and a 2^nd rope fistdrop for two. Thesz-press gets two, and Luger bails to break the momentum, but Rich is on him on the outside! He tries dragging the champion back in from the apron via a sleeper, but Lex drops his weight to snap Rich's throat across the top rope for the pin at 10:38. Man, Luger was on fire during this period! *** ½ (Original rating: * ½)

Meanwhile, Gary Hart is proud to present Terry Funk as promised... via videotape, from a hospital bed in Louisiana. Funk is absolutely hilarious here, vowing revenge on Ric Flair in between sobbing about what he did to him

Ric Flair and Sting prepare for the tag main event, and Flair is jealous that that PUNK Funk got to 'take a trip' at the hospital

Main Event: Ric Flair and Sting v Great Muta and Dick Slater: Slater is subbing for Funk here, of course. Sting immediately enjoys the benefits of tagging with Flair, as he gets his own chick to accompany him to the ring as well. Well, I think we finally solved the mystery of why Sting kept falling into Flair's various traps so many time over the years, guys. It wasn't that he was so much stupid as really, really horny. Sting starts with Muta, fresh off of Muta winning the held up TV Title from Sting earlier in the month. Criss cross goes Sting's way with a clothesline, so Slater rushes in, but eats a clothesline as well - the heels bailing to regroup. Back in with Sting and Muta criss crossing again, and the Stinger armdrags him, but Muta refuses to stay down for a wristlock, and slugs free in the corner. Sting reverses a cross corner whip and backdrops him into the armbar anyway, then passes to Flair to school this guy with some chops! Tag to Slater, so Flair feeds him some chops as well, with Dick doing some quality overselling. Cross corner whip gets reversed, with Flair flipping onto the apron, then running across to blast Muta with a chop, then to the top for a flying elbowsmash on Slater! Now THAT'S how you Flair Flip! My next partner gonna invite me to his barbeques and shit, though. A kick from Muta puts Ric on the floor, however, and Muta dives after him with a plancha - Sting promptly following onto Muta with a plancha of his own! The camera totally misses all of it, however. All four brawl on the floor to tremendous crowd heat, with the faces controlling, and taking the high ground. Dust settles on Flair and Sting working Slater's arm, and Sting vertical suplexes him for two, but Muta gets the tag. They double-up on Sting in the corner, but the Stinger fights them both off, and press-slams Muta. Tag to Flair with a side suplex on Muta to setup a kneedrop, so Muta goes to the eyes to stop the barrage, and hits the handspring elbow. Tag to Slater, and he absolutely UNLOADS on Flair in the corner, and drops the Nature Boy with a swinging neckbreaker. The heels cut the ring in half on Flair, and HOLY FUCK is Muta a crisp motherfucker! Flair manages to escape a nervehold with an inverted atomic drop to get the tag to Sting, and he comes in hot with bodyslams, but gets quickly trapped in the wrong corner. He fights Muta off with another press-slam and a Stinger Splash sets up the Scorpion Deathlock, so Gary Hart rushes in to break it up - the referee distracted by a Flair/Slater brawl on the outside. Muta covers for two, and delivers a sloppy powerbomb for two. Man, watching guys nearly paralyze each other while working the kinks out of powerbomb spots throughout 1989 has been nerve wracking. Slater tags in to snap Sting's throat across the bottom rope with a slingshot, then takes him out to the floor for a bodyslam. Muta hops off the apron to abuse him as well, and back in Slater tries a sleeper, but Sting escapes via a stunner. Popular spot tonight! Dick keeps after him with a piledriver, but Sting counters again with a backdrop, and that's enough for the hot tag to Flair! He's a frat house of fire, and Roseanne Barr the door, we've got a kettle on! Boiling point comes as Flair goes for the Figure Four on Muta, but Slater throws the referee out to save - and get disqualified at 19:08. And here comes Terry Funk! Funk rushes the ring and attacks Flair with a plastic grocery bag, wrapping it around his head and literally trying to kill the Nature Boy! Not surprisingly, that particular angle got them into some serious hot water with TBS at the time. ** ¾ (Original rating: **)

BUExperience: A really excellent Clash, with a bunch of strong matches and hot angles. Even the matches that weren’t that great were short and purposeful. I wasn’t nearly as enthusiastic about this one during the Version I review, but it’s definitely worth firing up the Network to check out