NWA (WCW) Power Hour (February 2, 1990)

 

Original Airdate: February 2, 1990 (taped January 23)

From Greenville, South Carolina; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Jim Cornette

Doom v Keith Hart and Italian Stallion: That Keith Hart? According to Cagematch, no. Oh well. Doom finishes him off with a combo at 3:24. Serves him right for confusing me, jerk. DUD

Gordon Solie is in the studio for Wrestling News Network, and he hypes Clash of the Champions, coming up in just a few days. And WrestleWar, later this month, with Ric Flair defending the NWA World title against Sting written in stone for the show

Ranger Ross v Joe Cruz: We’re joined in progress here, as the announcers discuss that Ric Flair will defend the NWA World title against Tom Zenk later, after US Champ Lex Luger fell out in his defense against Zenk. Apparently, Luger just doesn’t feel like it. Ross with a kick at 7:47 shown. We can safely call this a DUD

Terry Funk hosts Funk’s Grill, with guest Arn Anderson. Funk still thinks Ric Flair is a lousy playboy, and he’s tired of it. Funk tries to stir the shit by suggesting that Arn has his eye on Woman, but Anderson shrugs it off. This was solid, but my favorite part was Arn having a microphone taped to his bare chest like an FBI informant

NWA World Title Match: Ric Flair v Tom Zenk: Ric’s got his ugly Green Bay Packers look tonight. They feel each other out to start, with Zenk at first hanging, but eventually actually taking control of the champion. Flair responds by working him over with chops, but Tom fights back, and wins the exchange. Ric responds by bailing, but Zenk is on him, and Flair takes a trip into the guardrail. Zenk with a slingshot sunset flip for two on the way back in, but Flair catches him with a knee. Hiptoss, but Zenk counters to an abdominal stretch, but Ric fights him off, and gains control. Ric with a variety of cradles for near falls, but Zenk gets him in a sleeper. Ric manages a side suplex to escape, and he heads to the top, but Zenk slams him off before he can dive. Ric begs off, but Zenk goes after him with a cross corner whip, and Flair flips over the top. Zenk vertical suplexes him back inside for two, and a shoulderblock follows, then a rollup for two - reversed by Ric for three at 16:26. Solid, but not especially exciting or notable. * ½ 

BUExperience: A solid episode this week, even if the main event was a little disappointing.