NWA (JCP) World Championship Wrestling (January 11, 1986)

Original Airdate: January 11, 1986 (taped January 5)

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

Ron Garvin stops by, and he’s kind of annoyed that he hasn’t made $27,000,000. Well, aren’t we all. But, he thinks he can pick up $500,000, because that’s what the NWA World champion makes in a year, and he’s coming for Ric Flair. This was a good promo. Short, had a point, had proper motivation, and made the title seem important. Good stuff

Ivan Koloff and Nikita Koloff v Rocky King and Italian Stallion: Could King and Stallion not have found different colored gear for this? Everyone in red is a bit much. The Koloff’s, being good heels, make sure to cheat and take cheap shots despite easily wrecking the two goofs. Nikita with the clothesline at 4:36. Afterwards, the Russians are joined by NWA Mid-Atlantic Champion Krusher Kruschev at the desk to cut their usual promo on the Road Warriors. ¼*

Tully Blanchard v Mac Jeffers: Apparently Tully, now allied with JJ Dillon, has formed ‘Tully Blanchard Enterprises.’ Was that the parent company of the Four Horsemen? Maybe that’s how WWE lost the rights to the name. “Here’s where he’s at his best: the elbowdrops.” Quite the commentary on Tully’s skill there, Tony. Blanchard with a slingshot suplex at 4:19. These squashes feel so long. ¼*

Tony brings NWA Television and NWA National Tag Team Champion Arn Anderson out, and he’s got so many belts that the poor guy running the screen graphics doesn’t know what to do. Arn promises to be a fighting champion, and will defend the TV title every week on this program

Barbarian v Art Pritts: Paul Jones looks like such a poor man’s Bobby Heenan. Also, what a terrible jobber name. Sounds like something third graders would make up to make fun of a second grader. Which, I guess kinda fits, since Pritts looks like a second grade art teacher. Barbarian with a flying headbutt drop at 3:03. I’m surprised they could even dives in this venue without smacking their heads on the rafters. DUD

Magnum TA v Thunderfoot: Magnum's NWA United States title is not on the line. Apparently they call Magnum ‘the Boss,’ according to Crockett. Like Springsteen? Would that make Dusty Little Steven? Because I kinda see it, actually. Magnum sinks his teeth into an armbar for a while, so Thunderfoot goes to the eyes, and manages to unload in the corner. Cross corner whip gets reversed on him, however, and Magnum plants him with the belly-to-belly suplex at 3:36. I dig how Magnum would bust his finish out of nowhere, like Diamond Dallas Page and Randy Orton would with their cutters later. DUD

Pez Whatley v George South: The announcers straight up call Whatley ‘one of the greatest wrestlers in the world,’ without even a hint of irony. Pez with a jumping headbutt at 4:55. Afterwards, Whatley swings by the desk to do his Dusty Rhodes impression. ½*

NWA National Champion Dusty Rhodes and Baby Doll come out so Dusty can clarify that Doll is a ‘good jezebel.’ Also, Ric Flair is living proof that ‘white people ain’t got no rhythm.’ What about Greg Valentine?!

The Rock 'n' Roll Express v Randy Mulkey and Vernon Deaton: The NWA World Tag Team title is not on the line. The female fans are very into the Express, proving, once again, that there is truly no accounting for taste. Especially during the 1980s. These Express squashes are super dull, with them just working the arm, and working the arm, and working the arm every time. The stereo dropkick finishes Randy at 5:52. DUD

Tony brings Tully Blanchard and JJ Dillon out to show clips of Tully attacking Jimmy Valiant during a match between Valiant and Black Bart, with Tully giving Jimmy a piledriver on the concrete. Why weren’t they filming this show in venues like wherever this match was? It’s hardly Madison Square Garden, but it looks much better than this silly TV studio

Ron Garvin v Paul Garner: Garvin v Garner? Are they just trying to piss Vince McMahon off now? The announcers send well wishes to an older fan who is always seated in the front row whenever they have shows at the Omni, which is the kind of great touch from the days before everything became national. Garvin with the punch at 2:23. DUD

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express come out to send a message to Jim Cornette and his Midnight Express. Or, well, Robert Gibson does. Ricky Morton just stands there looking like a moron

Tony brings Cornette out to respond, and he actually brings up the same point!

The Midnight Express v Bill Mulkey and Bill Tabb: Cornette introduces his team as the ‘rightful tag team champions of the world,’ and he sits on commentary to let his mouth run a little more. Two Bills? Again, were they trying to kill poor Vince McMahon? The Express finish Mulkey with a combo at 3:01. ¼*

Bill Apter is in the studio with Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Scouting Report, with guest Magnum TA. Associating with PWI was a cool way to make this seem more legitimate. Bill wants to talk about the NWA Television Title Tournament, and we get clips, leading to Bill noting that new champion Arn Anderson will now be a top contender to the US title, and since he’s pals with Tully Blanchard, he might be trying to avenge him. I like where they’re going. This was a good segment, but like many other things on this show: way too long

Baby Doll is out again, and she’s upset that Arn Anderson told her to get back into the kitchen and make babies. Maybe she just needs a better recipe 

NWA Mid-Atlantic Title Match: Krusher Kruschev v Sam Houston: Kruschev with a waistlock takedown right away, and he tries for an armbar, but Sam is hard to hold. Kruschev uses a shoulderblock, but Sam manages to stay vertical, so the champ gets him in a standing armbar. Sam manages to force a criss cross, but Kruschev barrels into him with a shoulderblock, and the challenger regroups. Kruschev with a wristlock, but Houston reverses, only to eat another shoulderblock when trying to criss cross. Another criss cross allows Sam to pull out a drop-toehold, and he grabs a toehold to try and keep the big champion grounded. Kruschev powers free, but an attempt at a kick gets caught, and Sam sweeps him into another toehold. Houston shifts into a leglock, but Kruschev fights free, so Sam tries a standing headlock, but Kruschev powers out. Sam responds by sweeping the leg back into a toehold, and he shifts to a half-crab to try and get better footing, but Kruschev is too strong. Kruschev tries an elbowdrop, but Sam dodges, and gets him back in the toehold. Sam with some right hands, but another criss cross allows Kruschev a pop-up press-drop, and that rattles the challenger. Kruschev is slow to follow up, selling the leg, but he manages to keep Houston down in the corner. A backbreaker gets the champion two, and a snapmare sets up a stomp to the face. Houston slugs at the leg to try and buy time, but Kruschev is relentless. Sam manages to dodge a corner charge, but Kruschev dumps him to the outside before he can capitalize, and the champ follows for a press-drop on the floor! Kruschev seems to have a countout, but he pulls Sam back in to hit with a bodyslam. To the top with a flying clothesline, but Kruschev’s leg is battered, and he’s slow to cover - allowing Houston enough time to recover, and he kicks out at two. Meanwhile, the Road Warriors show up to brawl with Ivan and Nikita at ringside, and Animal ends up throwing Houston at Kruschev - then holding Kruschev’s ankle while Sam gets the pin at 9:21. Wow, really making Sam look strong there. This was a good, storytelling focused match, but man, that finish was horrible. ***

The Road Warriors swing by the desk to gloat about costing Kruschev the title

NWA Television Title Match: Arn Anderson v Jim Jeffers: Hey, maybe we’ll see two titles change here tonight! The good jezebel comes out to do commentary on this one, since she just can’t leave well enough alone. That distracts Arn enough for Jim to schoolboy for two, but that just infuriates the champion, and Jeffers takes a gourdbuster at 1:28. Afterwards, Arn goes after Baby Doll after the match, which draws Dusty back out, but Anderson backs off. DUD

BUExperience: I enjoyed this episode. I still have a lot of issues with the general format, but the storylines are getting better, which is carrying the bulk of things in a good way.