NWA (JCP) World Championship Wrestling (January 18, 1986)

Original Airdate: January 18, 1986 (taped January 12)

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

Ron Garvin v Palbo Crenshaw: Crenshaw is dressed like 1990 Sting here. Apparently, Ron is a ‘very polite man’ outside of the ring, which apparently is important to know. Tony and David also discuss Superstars on the Superstation, which is going to be loaded with dream matches. And they actually delivered on that promise, too! Garvin with a punch at 3:12. Afterwards, Garvin stops by the desk to issue another challenge to NWA World Champion Ric Flair. DUD

Ivan Koloff v Benny Traylor: Koloff was a good character, but his work is so boring. He’s fine in a team where one of the younger guys can carry things, but I really don’t want to watch him working for five minutes solo. Koloff with a clothesline at 4:41. DUD

Jimmy Valiant stops by the desk to talk about his boogie nights. Let’s not

Jimmy Valiant v Golden Terror: Oh man, two Valiant segments? He goes for Terror’s mask, but can’t even manage to deliver on that, before finishing with an elbowdrop at 3:38. If I never see another Jimmy Valiant match in my life, it’ll be too soon. DUD

NWA World Champion Ric Flair swings by to wash the taste of Jimmy Valiant out of our mouths

NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champions Ivan Koloff and Nikita Koloff come out to cut their usual promo on the Road Warriors, when Paul Jones shows up, offering Baron von Raschke to be their manager. He’d do it himself, but he knows they wouldn’t want an American manager. So he offers a German? Does he not know even the most basic history?

Baron von Raschke v Tony Zane: The Russians are still ranting at the desk, so consider them the guest commentators here. “Nothing will stop this big German,” notes Ivan. Except winter? Also, age? Because he looks at least sixty here. I was shocked to learn he was just in his mid-forties. The clawhold finishes at 2:32. Afterwards, the Russians welcome Baron with open arms. DUD

Sam Houston v Art Pritts: The NWA Mid-Atlantic title is not up for grabs. Even after all these years, I’m still having trouble reconciling Houston as Jake Roberts’ half brother. I can’t see it at all. He also has the dullest squashes imaginable for a guy who can actually work. Week after week of long matches with longer armbars. Bulldog finishes at 6:50. I get that he’s kind of an underdog character, but I don’t need seven minute squash matches every time with him. Tell that story in three or four minutes, and leave me alone. DUD

Dusty Rhodes and Baby Doll stop by, and I like Dusty’s sweater! Not much here, just rubbing it in Tully Blanchard’s face

Barbarian v Ray Taylor: Taylor is a young Ray Traylor, and he really looks like a kid at this point. It’s hard to believe he was over as a mean prison guard just a couple of years after this, he’s so baby faced here. Barbarian with a flying headbutt drop at 4:07. ¼*

NWA United States Champion Magnum TA joins us to offer his thoughts on this Russo-German pact

Magnum TA v Lee Peek: The NWA United States title is not on the line. As usual, Magnum makes short work of it, ending with the belly-to-belly suplex at 0:29. ¼*

Tony recently caught up with Dusty Rhodes’ doctor, who announces that Rhodes is now fully recovered from his ankle injury. I’m guessing this guy is an actual doctor, because he’s got no screen presence whatsoever 

NWA Television and NWA National Tag Team Champion Arn Anderson joins us to react to the news about Dusty, and he thinks Rhodes has been better for some time, and has been using that medical boot as a weapon

The Rock 'n' Roll Express v Jerry Garmon and Larry Clarke: The NWA World Tag Team title is not on the line. The Express fall into that same category with Houston of guys who bore me the most with their extended squashes from week to week. I mean, I detest Jimmy Valiant, but even he’s just terrible, not boring. Boring is worse. The stereo dropkicks put this to bed at 4:20. DUD

The Midnight Express and Jim Cornette swing by so Jim can complain about all the letters he’s been getting from Rock ‘n’ Roll Express fans, asking them to leave their team alone. Giving Jim and microphone and letting him cut loose is never not good

The Midnight Express v Bill Tabb and Larry Vickery: Cornette stays on commentary to keep ranting as the match takes place. Rocket launcher puts this away at 5:08. Another really long squash. ¼*

Tully Blanchard v Gene Ligon: Blanchard attacks before the bell, and goes to work, as JJ Dillon sits in to do commentary. Tully with the slingshot suplex at 4:42. DUD

Ron Garvin comes out to talk about Ric Flair again, complete with extended clips of their match from the December 28 episode. So this draws Flair himself out, and he clocks Ron with a sucker punch, and then into the ring to deliver a proper beat down. Flair caps it off by stealing Garvin’s arrogant cover, but makes the mistake of gloating instead of finishing the job, and Ron comes back with a vengeance! That draws Arn and Tully out to back Ric up, so Magnum, Houston, and Rhodes make the save, and Garvin ends up knocking Flair out! Good segment

Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard stop by the desk (sans Flair, since he’s still out cold somewhere) to complain about how Garvin obviously took a cheap shot at the champ when he wasn’t ready. Obviously

Nikita Koloff v Mac Jeffers: Jeffers tries sneak attacking, and you can guess how that goes for him. The announcers keep talking about how Superstars on the Superstation will now have four dream matches instead of one, due to the enormous fan response they’ve received. But wait, didn’t they announce it as four matches when they originally unveiled the concept at the end of ‘85? Koloff with the clothesline at 3:41. Afterwards, the Koloff’s and Baron swing by the desk to cut yet another promo on the Road Warriors. This show is so repetitive. ¼*

BUExperience: You know, if you’re going to fill your show exclusively with squash matches, two hours may not be the format for you.