NWA (WCW) Power Hour (March 23, 1990)

 

Original Airdate: March 23, 1990 (taped March 13)

From Columbus, Georgia; Your Hosts are Jim Ross and Gordon Solie

The Rock 'n' Roll Express v Cuban Assassin and Ned Brady: JR is still very excited about ‘Nasty’ Ned. I feel like there’s an inside joke here, and it’s probably one I’m glad to stay firmly on the outside of. The Express with a combo on Ned at 5:45. Too long for what it was. ¼*

Solie is in the studio for Wrestling News Network, which is mostly updates on various guys who are injured

Cactus Jack v Eddie Gilbert: Jack attacks from behind, though not before the bell, technically. Gilbert was just dumb enough to have his back turned, which even the announcers note. Jack backdrops him, and chokes Gilbert down, but gets reversed on a turnbuckle smash. Gilbert with a corner whip that sees Jack take a big bump over the top, and Eddie dives after him with a flying axehandle. Jack manages to slug him into the corner as they go back inside, and Cactus unloads with a ten-punch. Gilbert manages an inverted atomic drop to shake him off, and a standard atomic drop leads to a dropkick to put Jack on the outside. Back in, Gilbert nails him in the jaw with a right hand, and he grabs a standing side-headlock from there. Gilbert holds onto that for a little while, but Jack escapes, and wins a reversal sequence with a side suplex. Jack adds a flying axehandle, and he smashes Gilbert’s face into the mat before covering for two. Jack pops him with a headbutt, and a snapmare sets up a chinlock. Gilbert fights free, so Jack dumps him to the outside, and quickly dives from the apron with a dropkick. Gilbert beats the count, so Jack feeds him with a turnbuckle smash, and he adds a backelbow for two. Jack with a Russian legsweep for two, and he goes back to the chinlock. Jack goes up with another flying axehandle, but Gilbert blocks him this time, and goes on the comeback trail. Gilbert misses a corner splash, allowing Jack to dump him to the outside, but a charge misses, and Jack takes a bump over the guardrail. Gilbert suplexes him back to ringside, and tries a sunset flip on the way back in, but Jack blocks. Gilbert hooks a small package for two instead, but telegraphs a backdrop, and Jack counters with a swinging neckbreaker for two. Gilbert with a backslide for two, but they collide during a criss cross for a double knockout, as time expires at 15:00. They relied maybe a little too heavily on restholds in the middle (chinlock and headlock, respectively), but this was good action. ** ½ 

Jim Cornette hosts the Louisville Slugger, with guests Mike Rotunda and Norman the Lunatic, who are sick of Kevin Sullivan’s machinations. They also reveal a giant box, which supposedly contains a ‘friend,’ though we don’t find out who (or what) is inside of it here

NWA United States Title Match: Lex Luger v Samu: NWA World Champion Ric Flair is out to do commentary here. Lex dominates a test-of-strength to start, but Samu dumps him to the outside, and turns the tide out there. It’s shocking how dull Flair is on commentary, despite being one of the best promos in the history of the game. Inside, Samu hammers away, and works a headvice. Lex escapes, and looks for a comeback, so Samu forces him into a chase, and nails him. Samu uses a bodyslam to set up a flying splash, but Luger dodges, and gets the torture rack on for the win at 6:34. Not much of note here. ½*

Ric Flair swings by the commentary position to cut a promo on Luger, putting him over as a very credible challenger, while also making sure to note that he has no chance. As only Flair can

BUExperience: Solid episode this week, especially with the very enjoyable Jack/Gilbert match.