NWA (JCP) World Championship Wrestling (November 29, 1986)

 

Original Airdate: November 29, 1986 (taped November 23)

From Atlanta, Georgia; Your Host is Tony Schiavone and David Crockett

Jimmy Garvin is out right away, and he’s already pivoting to the Bunkhouse Stampede 

Bill Dundee v Alan Martin: The fans chant ‘we want Sam’ to taunt Dundee, which may be the only time in history anyone has started a chant in honor of Sam Houston. Dundee with a flying elbowdrop at 2:10. He was definitely no Bobby Eaton or Randy Savage with that move. DUD

Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express are out, and they’re also all about the Bunkhouse Stampede

The Midnight Express v Bill Mulkey and Randy Mulkey: I get that this was taped before Starrcade, but booking the Express here effectively no sold the big gimmick match they just had with the Road Warriors. Cornette dancing around in perfect condition feels like an especially glaring gaffe. The Express dump one of the brothers out, but Big Bubba Rogers catches him before he hits the ground. Well, he was due. The Express put this away at 3:27. The Mulkeys could always be counted on to bump around. ¼*

Brad Armstrong is out, and he wants to win the Stampede, because there’s a lot of money involved. Dad Bob Armstrong comes out as a surprise, and Brad is thrilled, so they go off to catch up

Barbarian v Paul Garner: Barbarian is a favorite for the Stampede, they say. And he finishes Paul off with a flying headbutt drop at 2:36. Afterwards, Barbarian and Shaska Whatley swing by the desk to talk shit. DUD

Tim Horner v Art Pritts: “Tim Horner, who has won many matches?” wonders Schiavone. He was making a statement, but the way he said it sounded like he was openly asking. Horner with a bridging cradle at 2:54. DUD

The Kansas Jayhawks are out to show off the weapons they’ll be bringing to the Stampede 

Don Kernodle v Randy Barber: I get why they don’t talk about Starrcade in the interviews that the crowd can hear, but couldn’t they at least tape commentary to cover the event? If I was tuning in to this back in 1986 and was looking for Starrcade results and/or fallout, I would be extremely disappointed here. Kernodle with a flying clothesline at 2:49. DUD

The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express are out, and they don’t even have the tag title belts with them. Were they originally booked to lose them at Starrcade, and plans changed? 

Cornette is back out, and he smashes up a toy pumpkin in response to the Road Warriors. To promote Bunkhouse Stampede, of course. Not the Scaffold match at Starrcade 

The Kansas Jayhawks v Bill Tabb and Phil Brown: “The Kansas Jayhawks! Bunkhouse Stampede!” declares Crockett. Take my money now, with that kind of marketing. The Jayhawks with a combo at 3:52. DUD

The Armstrongs are back out, and throw out a challenge to Garvin and Dundee for right now. Bob doesn’t have gear, but is ready to work in jeans. Well, that fits with the Bunkhouse theme, at least

Jimmy Garvin and Bill Dundee v Bob Armstrong and Brad Armstrong: Everyone slugs it out as we get going, with the Armstrongs dominating. They take their time before cleaning house, and things settle on Bill and Brad. Brad dominates, and a standing dropkick puts Dundee on his ass. Tag to Bob for a double team, but Garvin manages to tag. Bob dominates him, so Bill runs back in, and Roseanne Barr the door! The heels isolate Brad, and manage to knock him silly, and the referee restores order with Garvin holding a front-facelock. The heels work Brad over, until Bill misses a dive, and Brad manages a missile dropkick for two. That draws Garvin in, but here comes Bob, and Roseanne Brr the door again! The Armstrongs get all fired up, but no one is listening to the official, and he throws the match out at 13:58. This was solid. Afterwards, the Armstrongs swing by the desk, promising to finish them another time. But not at Starrcade. *

BUExperience: This was taped before Starrcade, but aired after, which made for kind of a weird vibe, with everyone talking about the Bunkhouse Stampede to avoid talking about Starrcade. It got the point where ‘Starrcade’ as a dirty word, or something.