NWA (JCP) World Championship Wrestling (January 25, 1986)

Original Airdate: January 25, 1986 (taped January 19)

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

NWA United States Champion Magnum TA stops by to note that while he’s impressed by Nikita Koloff, he’ll never allow him to take the US title back to the Soviet Union

Barbarian v George South: South looks like a high school kid, not a pro-wrestler. Barbarian with a slow, methodical squash here, ending with 4:41. This felt endless. DUD

Manny Fernandez, who backs down to no one, according to Schaivone, is weasel hunting. Maybe he should stop by the WWF

NWA Television Champion and NWA National Tag Team Champion Arn Anderson stops by to clarify that his legs are not broken. Did he owe the mob money, or something?

Ron Bass v Mike Somaini: Oh man, I’m sensing another long, dull squash coming up. Bass with the clawhold at 2:46. I was right. I hate being right. DUD

Ron Garvin isn’t trying to embarrass NWA World Champion Ric Flair. But he is going to take that title belt from him

Ivan Koloff v Pat Tanaka: These are not getting better as we go on here, are they? Koloff with a clothesline at 5:22. Not every squash needs so much time. Just get your stuff in and go home! DUD

NWA World Champion Ric Flair joins us to bring things up a little. This guy was so consistently entertaining from week to week - either on the microphone or in the ring, didn’t matter. He’s great

Manny Fernandez v Tony Zane: Fernandez is another guy from this era that I just don’t ‘get.’ Doesn’t have a good look, isn’t a strong promo, isn’t interesting in the ring. I just don’t see what the deal with him was, but maybe you just had to be there. Fernandez with a jumping forearm at 3:00. DUD

NWA National Champion Dusty Rhodes and Baby Doll join us, and Dusty is shilling skis via his hat this week. I’m having a hard time picturing Dusty on skis. At least he didn’t talk about Rufus at Home Video Solutions 

The Rock 'n' Roll Express v Bob Owens and Thunderfoot: The NWA World Tag Team title is not on the line tonight. The Express with the stereo dropkicks at 3:43. This was the usual thing. DUD

Jim Cornette stops by to let us know how cool he is

Nikita Koloff v Bob Brown: You’d think this would be the very formula for a big, bold squash, but they actually book a commercial break in the middle of it. Just so odd. Clothesline finishes for Koloff at 3:16. Afterwards, Nikita, Ivan, and Baron von Raschke stop by the desk to talk trash about the Road Warriors. DUD

Jimmy Valiant v Paul Garner: Speaking of guys I just don’t get, Manny Fernandez ain’t got nothing on Jimmy Valiant. Valiant with an elbowdrop at 2:04. At least this was relatively quick. Still a DUD

Tully Blanchard and JJ Dillon join us to rant about Dusty Rhodes. Pretty sure Danny McBride based half his act on 1986 Tully

Bobby Eaton v Wee Willie Wilkins: Jim Cornette sits in on commentary, of course. Bobby with the flying legdrop at 2:39. Afterwards, Dennis Condrey comes in for a beatdown, but the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express make the save. DUD

Barbarian and Paul Jones come out, and Jones is offering $10,000 to anyone who can match Barbarian in a feat of strength 

Ron Garvin v Mark Hawk: This show just goes on and on and on. Garvin with a punch at 2:58. DUD

Ron Bass is back out to respond to Paul Jones’ $10,000 challenge, which Bass thinks is hot air. No, pretty sure it’s cash money. Air is not currency, Ron

Black Bart v Josh Stroud: I swear, I need a cheat sheet to tell Bass and Bart apart. Also, that rhymes. You should pay extra for that. Bart with a 2nd rope legdrop at 2:48. DUD

Magnum TA is back to talk more trash about Nikita Koloff. Did he really need another segment to say the same stuff he said earlier?

The Russians stop by so Nikita can cut his promo on Magnum. Why couldn’t we just go right to that? Magnum already said the same stuff in the opening segment, didn’t need another one before Nikita’s bit

Baron von Raschke v Rocky King: Ivan Koloff is doing commentary here. Baron gets the submission with the clawhold at 1:30. DUD

Ric Flair is back, and hey, I’ll allow it. He’s entertaining enough that he can have every segment 

Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard v Don Kernodle and Italian Stallion: At least we finish up with interesting characters. The jobbers actually get a significant amount of offense here, before Stallion eats a gourdbuster from Anderson at 8:54. They were having an actual match here. ¾*

BUExperience: DUD