NWA (WCW) Power Hour (May 4, 1990)

 

Original Airdate: May 4, 1990 (taped April 23)

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

Jim Cornette promises to detail Lex Luger’s strategy for Capital Combat tonight

Eddie Gilbert v Sgt. Buddy Lee Parker: Both commentators seem to have a hard time saying Parker’s full name here. It is a mouthful, admittedly. Gilbert with a hotshot at 6:02. ¼*

Solie is in the studio for Wrestling News Network, focusing on Capital Combat. He clarifies that the event is a ‘pay per view,’ while sounding like my grandmother trying to explain passkeys

The Rock 'n' Roll Express v Ned Brady and Joe Cazana: Gosh, Express squashes are always a thing, and always too long. Some things never change. The Express with stereo dropkicks at 7:23. Where do these two get the balls to do squashes this long? DUD

The Express recently were attacked by the Fabulous Freebirds, but it’s payback time at Capital Combat

Capital Combat ad

Jim Cornette hosts the Louisville Slugger, with guest Lex Luger. As promised, Cornette wants to find out how Luger is approaching the cage match with NWA World Champion Ric Flair. Sadly, Luger won’t reveal anything, though it seems like he’s banking on the cage to keep the Horsemen out of it as his main strategy 

Backstage, Cornette pays Samu and Outlaw Deaton to hurt either Brian Pillman or Tom Zenk tonight. With a check?! And they accepted it?! Clearly Samu had much to learn before he joined the Samoan Gangsta Party

Brian Pillman and Tom Zenk v Samu and Outlaw Deaton: The NWA United States Tag Team title is not on the line. Pillman and Zenk really needed a snappy team name, and I’m surprised they never got one. So the game here is that they need to hurt the champs. Also, besides the fact that Cornette paid by check, why would he give them the full balance ahead of time? Has he never seen the Sopranos? Or, well, actually, he wouldn’t have in 1990, I suppose. Fair. I mean, Goodfellas hadn’t even come out yet at this point. But still! The heels isolate Zenk, and destroy him for a while, until Samu misses a 2nd rope splash, and Brian gets the hot tag! That draws Cornette out, and he knocks Pillman off the top rope with his tennis racket. That allows Samu to cover, but Brian gets a shoulder up at two! Outlaw tries for a bulldog on him, but Zenk sneaks in - dropkicking Brian into toppling Deaton at 12:39. *

BUExperience: This wasn’t the best night of WCW action, but these episodes are really never bad, and that’s enough.