NWA (JCP) World Championship Wrestling (November 2, 1985)

Original Airdate: November 2, 1985 (taped October 27)

 

From Atlanta, Georgia; Your Hosts are Tony Schiavone and David Crockett

 

We start with footage of a double KO finish in a battle between NWA United States Champion Tully Blanchard and Magnum TA on October 19, and we learn that Magnum has challenged Tully to settle it in an I Quit match at Starrcade

 

Manny Fernandez v Tommy Lane: I know it’s considered a classic set, but I always found studio setup to look extremely low rent and cheap. Kind of crazy to think that Tony is still doing commentary on weekly wrestling TV 36 years later. Manny is moving well this week, and a jumping forearm finishes at 1:44. This was energetic. ¼*

 

Crockett caught up with NWA World Champion Ric Flair a few days ago, and Ric isn’t too worried about NWA Television Champion Dusty Rhodes returning to action, because his dad was the top physician in all of Minnesota, and he knows a rushed recovery when he sees one

 

Tony brings NWA National Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson and Ole Anderson out to the desk to talk about Dusty as well, and Arn has Dusty’s TV title, which he’s now decided is his, thanks. Speaking of 36 years, someone they’re still using that same belt design here in 2021. Not that that’s a bad thing, it’s a great design. Between Flair and Arn, the jewelers around the territory must have been making a killing in 1985

 

Buddy Landel v Tony Zane: Buddy goes to town in the corner to start, and a bodyslam sets up a kneedrop. Meanwhile, the announcers ignore the match to talk about the world title program, like it’s Nitro in 1997. It’s more forgivable since it’s a squash anyway, and not some great cruiserweight action that they’re talking over, but they really should be using the time to give Landel (or whatever program he’s in) their attention. Buddy with a figure four at 0:58. Kind of weird that they’d have two guys with blond hair calling themselves ‘nature boy,’ and finishing with a figure four. And JJ Dillon is managing this one, too! Afterwards, Buddy stops by the desk, and he’s ready to take the NWA National title from Terry Taylor. God, we’re fifteen minutes into this episode, and we’ve already heard about, what, five titles? Just how many belts did they have at his point? ¼*

 

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express v Mike Davis and George South: The crowd is all excited for the Express, and I know this was well before my time, but how in the world were these two seriously considered sex symbols in 1985? Maybe it’s a generational thing, maybe it’s a geographical thing, but either way, it’s a confusing thing. Tandem dropkick finishes South at 2:32. Great sell by South on the finish. ¼*

 

Tony brings NWA United States Champion Tully Blanchard and Baby Doll out to the desk to talk Magnum, and as great and enduring as that TV title design is, it’s a good thing they replaced that US belt with the more colorful version. Tully is all ready to accept Magnum’s challenge, of course, but shucks, NWA President Bob Geigel won’t sanction it! And Tully’s even got video evidence to prove it! So, sorry Magnum, he’d totally give you the match, it’s just that dag gum Geigel standing in the way. So, Magnum ought to go back to the farm, because Tully will have to wrestle a more suitable opponent at Starrcade

 

Billy Jack Haynes v Black Cat: The enhancement guys on this show look straight out of that (terrible) wrestling arcade game they had at my local Pizza Hut circa 1990. I can’t remember the name of it, but even to a super fan who loved anything that even resembled wrestling, it was a hard sell. Not that I didn’t waste bunches of my (parents’) money on it anyway, don’t worry. Haynes works a chinlock for what feels like forever, before finishing with the full-nelson at 4:26. Is that all? Felt like an hour. Haynes looked grumpy here. Who can blame him, there’s like 256 titles in the promotion, and he isn’t even in the running for one. DUD

 

Back on October 18, Tony caught up with Dusty’s doctor to talk about his recovery, and he brings along a specially made boot that will protect Rhodes’ leg when he gets back into the ring. I’ve always enjoyed segments like this, they do a great job of adding to the realism, and layering the story

 

Magnum TA v Keith Erich: I like how to the point this show is, but would it kill them to do ring entrances? And speaking of ‘to the point,’ Magnum wipes him out with the belly-to-belly suplex at 0:15. He’s definitely not getting paid by the hour out there. DUD

 

Superstar Billy Graham stops by the desk to talk about his arm wrestling prowess, but Paul Jones interrupts, and issues a challenge from Abdullah the Butcher for a match right here, right now

 

Superstar Billy Graham v Abdullah the Butcher: Abdullah attacks on the floor as Graham is getting his shirt off, and he goes to work as they head inside. Billy fights him off in the corner, however, and a series of chops put Abdullah on the outside. Billy posts him out there, and he decides to choke him with some cable for good measure. Abdullah fights him off with a shot to the throat on the way back inside, and he ropechokes him, testing the limit of the referee’s count. Billy fights back with his own choke, and he grabs a bearhug, but Abdullah goes to the eyes to escape. That allows him an elbowdrop, but Billy dodges, and dives right back with more chokes until Barbarian runs in for the DQ at 3:26. This was really bad. Afterwards, Abdullah and Barbarian beat Billy down, until some babyfaces rush the ring to make the save. DUD

 

Pez Whatley v Benny Traylor: This is a ‘stand-by match’ since the attack by Barbarian prevented the scheduled arm wrestling match against Graham. Again, nice touch, adds realism. It’s such minor stuff, but so important. Though, wasn’t the match against Abdullah an unscheduled one to begin with? Shouldn’t everything just balance out? Pez with a jumping headbutt at 7:49. Match was a seven minute headlock. DUD

 

Tony brings Black Bart and JJ Dillon back out to hype the Bullrope match with Ron Bass for Starrcade. And, boy, was that one a stinker

 

Jim Crockett Jr stops by to hype up next week’s card, where Billy Jack Haynes will face Thunderfoot. For a title? No, silly. He also announces a Mexican Death match between Manny Fernandez and Abdullah the Butcher for Starrcade. Where was this guy when Bob Geigel was ruining everyone’s fun earlier?

 

We take a look back to October 22, when Baby Doll came out to confront Magnum TA (I think, the sound is terrible, and you can’t even make out what they’re saying), but he didn’t like what he had to say, so he just forced himself on her, and ripped her clothes off. Luckily, Tully made the save. Oh, and now Crockett decides that’s good enough reason to sanction the I Quit match, and it’ll be in a cage for good measure. Well, I certainly agree that Magnum deserves to be locked up after his behavior in that clip

 

NWA United States Title Match: Tully Blanchard v Denny Brown: Brown is the NWA Junior Heavyweight champ, but that’s not on the line. Poor Billy Jack, ducked again. He should jump to the WWF and job to Hercules, or something. That’ll show ‘em. Tully is understandably upset following the announcement, and poor Brown takes the brunt of it. Tully just brutalizes him here, gobbling up his comeback attempts, and slamming him around with fury before finishing with the slingshot suplex at 3:37. Blanchard’s energy was great here. ½*

 

The Anderson’s return to complain about Jim Crockett on Tully’s behalf. It’s a shame Ole is so hated by everyone (and the most important of ‘everyones’) that he’s basically been written out of history, because he’s a great promo, and a major historical figure

 

Nikita Koloff v Mac Jeffers: More belts, as Nikita holds half the NWA World Tag Team Title, and a third of the NWA Six-Man Tag Team Title. Koloff is in full superman mode tonight, and he wrecks Jeffers with the Russian Sickle at 1:55. Gotta love that big Koloff energy. Afterwards, Koloff (along with Ivan and Krusher Kruschev) stop by the desk to hype Starrcade via series of growls. Krusher’s Russian accent is somehow even less believable than Nicole Kidman’s in Nine Perfect Strangers. ¼*

 

Ivan Koloff and Krusher Kruschev v Ricky Reeves and Jerry Garmon: The Russians don’t have that same big Koloff energy, but they’re focused, and work well with quick tags here. Garmon eats a clothesline from Kruschev at 3:06. DUD

 

Jimmy Valiant v Jimmy Black: Valiant must be on some premium sugar this week, because he’s moving like a man of a spry fifty five years of age, and not his actual… wait, he was only forty three at this point? Valiant works a nervehold on Ringo, but a man (dressed as a woman) comes in and kisses him to break the hold. Well, that was certainly random. That allows Black a comeback, but then the intruder knocks him out, and Valiant scores the pin at 1:26. DUD

 

Jim Cornette comes out to the desk, and it’s nice to see Cornette in a time and place where he was actually a fish in water. Enjoy it while it lasts, Jimmy. Unfortunately, he gets chased off by Valiant, still fuming at what happened moments ago

 

BUExperience: This episode was nicely focused on Starrcade hype, with lots of developments ahead of the big show, though two hours of mostly squash matches feels like a lot to take.