NWA (JCP) World Championship Wrestling (March 22, 1986)

Original Airdate: March 22, 1986 (taped March 16)

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

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express join us right away, all excited because they’ll be announcing all the teams for the Crockett Cup on today’s program

Jimmy Valiant v Kent Glover: Did people really like Jimmy Valiant? Like, those smiles were all unironic? Jimmy with an elbow at 2:11. Aaannnnndd DUD

Ron Garvin is out to explain how cat and dogs don’t like each other. And he wants Ric Flair in a cage for the NWA World Title

We get clips of Black Bart taking the NWA Mid-Atlantic title off of Sam Houston

Jim Cornette is out to bitch about the Midnight Express not getting the number one seed in the Cup. I mean, he’s got a point… they are the world tag champs, after all

The Midnight Express v Ray Traylor and Phil Brown: Cornette stays on commentary for this one. The NWA World Tag Team title is not on the line here, since there’s no justice for poor Ray Traylor! He’s having hard times! The Express at 5:35. This was really long. ¼*

Leo Burke v Don Graves: The announcers hype up the tournament, and note that Koko B Ware will be a participant. That one kind of shocked me, I forgot that he wasn’t in the WWF yet at this point (he’d come in over the summer). Leo with a big boot at 3:15. Ah, but after the commercial break, Tony announces that Graves wins by DQ, since Burke used an illegal move (the piledriver). So congratulations to Don, you champ, you. DUD

Jimmy Garvin stops by to talk about “that sneaky little Indian” Wahoo McDaniel. 1986 was a very, very long time ago

Jimmy Garvin v Bill Mulkey: Give Garvin credit, he went all in with his gimmick. Garvin with a brainbuster at 4:23. DUD

Dusty Rhodes joins us to do what Dusty do

Wahoo McDaniel v Bob Owens: The announcers are extremely excited that Wahoo is here. Like, David sounds like he’s moments away from needing to change his pants. McDaniel with a chop at 2:38. DUD

Dale Brown (LSU coach) stops by, and he seems like a really nice, chill dude, even if his appearance here was pretty pointless

Paul Jones leads Baron von Raschke and Teijo Khan out to rant about how great 1986 is going to be. It’s already late March, dude

Baron von Raschke and Teijo Khan v Italian Stallion and Tony Zane: Even David sounds bored with this one, which is never a good sign. Or, maybe I’m just projecting. Baron with the claw at 5:48. Long, long, long. DUD

NWA World Champion Ric Flair joins us to perk things up a little. He doesn’t have all that much to say, but it’s a lot of fun listening to him say it

Nighthawk comes out to introduce himself, but Jim Cornette steals his time just to be a jerk

The Rock 'n' Roll Express v Larry Clarke and Paul Garner: Oh no, I sense seven minutes of armbars and googly eyes coming my way. The Express with the stereo dropkicks at (a pleasantly brisk) 3:33. DUD

Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard v Mike Somaini and Ron Rossi: Flair does commentary for this one. The Horsemen with a combo at 4:34. Arn and Tully were working so fast and crisp here, so of course, we get four and a half minutes instead of letting them just steamroll the jobbers in two. ¼*

Wahoo McDaniel is sick of telephone tough guys like Jimmy Garvin

Magnum TA v Dave Dillinger: The NWA United States title is not on the line. Well, at least we can count on Magnum to put shit away quick. And, indeed, the belly-to-belly suplex does it at 0:31. Afterwards, Magnum stops by the desk to join forces with Wahoo. DUD

The Russians come out to… wait is Nikita’s accent Italian now?! Seriously, how did people buy this guy as a Russian?

Ivan Koloff v Rocky Kernodle: Yeah, Rocky! Stand up for America! We’re putting all of our faith in… ah shit, Ivan with the pin at 5:04. DUD

Jimmy Garvin and Precious are back to respond to Wahoo’s bullshit, and honestly, how was Jimmy the heel? I mean, I get that he’s a ‘bad guy,’ but who on earth would cheer 1986 Wahoo McDaniel over these two? I guess ‘people from Atlanta’

Jim Cornette is back, but now Nighthawk comes out to steal his time back. Is it stealing if it was his to begin with? Let’s check with OJ. Anyway, the Midnight’s show up to back Jim, so the Rock ‘n’ Rolls come out to chase them off

Ron Garvin v Brodie Chase: Garvin with the knockout punch at 2:53. DUD

NWA Television Champion Arn Anderson and NWA National Champion Tully Blanchard are back to talk shit about Dusty

BUExperience: Sure.