NWA (JCP) World Championship Wrestling (March 15, 1986)

Original Airdate: March 15, 1986 (taped March 9)

From Atlanta, Georgia; Your Host is Tony Schiavone

Tully Blanchard v Don Turner: Blanchard’s NWA National title is not on the line. Tully with his usual cockiness, and he finishes with the suplex at 4:37. Afterwards, Tully and JJ Dillon swing by the desk so Blanchard can continue to be full of himself. DUD

Jimmy Valiant v Bob Owens: Once again Valiant is crazy over with this crowd. I will never understand it. What was up with David Crockett’s random absences all the time? Couldn’t they find anyone to sit in for him, at least? It’s not like David’s a great commentator, but one man commentary is the worst (even with someone better than Tony), so he’s missed. The WWF never would have allowed that to happen. Even if they had to replace him with someone terrible, they’d never go out there with dead air like that. Valiant with an elbowdrop at 2:32. DUD

NWA United States Champion Magnum TA is out, and Nikita Koloff hasn’t signed the contract for the match yet because the money isn’t right, apparently at the direction of the Kremlin. This is like an 80s version of the I feel sorry for you/I don’t think about you at all meme

Jimmy Garvin v Bill Mulkey: Garvin’s got a weird Santa thing going on this week. Like a Santa/Michael Jackson mashup, which is… uncomfortable. Garvin with a side suplex at 2:22. DUD

Baby Doll comes out to throw shade

Jim Cornette is out, and he certainly doesn’t miss David Crockett

The Midnight Express v Phil Brown and Lee Peak: The NWA World Tag Team title is not on the line, and Cornette hangs out to do commentary with Tony for this one. The rocket launcher finishes at 6:07. As usual for either of the Express teams, just way too long. Like, a quarter-star (or even DUD level) match is fine for a two minute squash, but once you’re going over five minutes, you better have something behind it. ¼*

We get some of the press conference announcing the Superdome in New Orleans Louisiana as the site of the Crockett Cup. Plus, the announcement of the top ten seeds by Pro Wrestling Illustrated, based on their rankings. We even get an appearance by Bill Watts at the conference (who was apparently part of getting the show into New Orleans), and Watts announces that Ric Flair will defend the NWA World title against Dusty Rhodes at the show. This was good stuff, making the Cup show seem important 

NWA Television Champion Arn Anderson announces that, since Flair will be defending the title at Crockett Cup, he will team with Tully Blanchard for the tournament instead

NWA Television Title Match: Arn Anderson v Mike Jackson: Arn makes this a title match on the fly, since he isn’t a paper champion like Dusty Rhodes was. Arn knocks him around to start, and offers Jackson the opportunity to forfeit, but Mike refuses. Jackson manages a headscissors takedown to send a fuming Anderson to the outside, and he complains of a hair pull to try and throw Mike off his game. Mike stays focused with a headlock, so Anderson tries forcing a criss cross, but Jackson throws a dropkick, and takes him to the mat in another headlock. Arn fights up, so Mike uses a backslide, then a small package for two. Anderson bails to regroup, and the crowd is into Jackson’s hopes big time. Anderson responds by knocking him silly with a right hand on the way back in, and the champion takes control of the contest. Arn works an armbar, but Jackson escapes, and manages a backdrop for one. He keeps coming with rights in the corner, but runs into an elbow on a charge, and Anderson delivers the gourdbuster at 12:33. This was okay, though I never really bought into Jackson’s chances. * ¾ 

Dusty Rhodes and Baby Doll stop by the desk, and he’s threatening to get naked again. This needs to stop

Jimmy Garvin and Precious come out to remind us that they are shameless. But, thankfully, the Santa fetish stuff is over with for tonight

Wahoo McDaniel video package

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express swing by to ‘whoo’ 

Manny Fernandez v Tony Zane: We haven’t seen Fernandez on this show in a while. What a special time it was. Manny with a jumping forearm at 2:41. I refuse to call it the ‘flying burrito,’ sorry. DUD

Arn and Tully rejoin us to show off their belts, and apparently they (along with Flair) are the ‘three horsemen.’ Yeah, I think they’re almost there. Missed it by that much. Baby Doll doesn’t like it, however, and comes out to challenge JJ Dillon to get in the ring right now. Dillon is happy to accept, but it ends up being a distraction for Magnum and Dusty to run out to attack. And they do a number on them, trying to break both of their legs before the heels manage to escape

Manny Fernandez and Jimmy Valiant swing by, and apparently they’re a team now. Well, if it means they spend less overall time on my screen, I’m all for the merger

Ron Garvin v Kent Glover: Apparently, everyone loves Ron Garvin. I beg to differ. But, hey, at least we didn’t have to listen to him telling us about how he’s an electrician for five minutes tonight. Garvin with the big punch at 4:52. DUD

Anderson, Blanchard, and Dillon are back out, fuming about earlier

The Russians swing by, and they want monies. Just like true communists

Black Bart v Carl Styles: Bart’s almost worse than Undertaker when it comes to wasting time getting all of his entrance gear off. But, at least, he doesn’t also couple it with a ten minute entrance. Bart puts it away at 4:17. DUD

Ron Garvin is back, and oh shit, he’s gonna talk about panel boxes, isn’t he? Luckily, he opts to discuss Ric Flair instead

BUExperience: A couple of decent segments, but still not enough to carry a two hour show. It just no work, Maria. It just no work.