NWA (WCW) Power Hour (June 29, 1990)

 

Original Airdate: June 29, 1990 

Your Host is Jim Ross from the studio

Teddy Long shows up in the studio, complaining that the timekeeper was biased, and that’s why Doom went to a time limit draw with the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express. Kind of weird that they’re giving the finish away before showing the match

Doom v The Rock 'n' Roll Express: The NWA World Tag Team title is not on the line, and this originally aired on Pro on June 23 (taped June 11) in Fort Pierce Florida. It’s non-title, since they’ve already announced a title match between the two teams for the Great American Bash. That feels kind of backwards. Usually, a time limit draw on TV sets up a rematch on pay per view. Butch Reed knocks Ricky Morton around to start, so Robert Gibson comes in, and the Express clean house. Lots of posturing, with the Express using their speed to frustrate the champions by avoiding getting isolated. The Express kick it up a notch, and use a combo to get a two count, and they isolate Reed. They dominate him with quick tags, but Butch catches Ricky with a sidewalk slam. Reed looks for a splash, but hits the knees, and both men tag. Gibson runs wild on Ron Simmons, but Simmons escapes a crossface chickenwing with a jawbreaker. Gibson fires back with a slingshot sunset flip for two, and he tags out. Ricky hooks Simmons in a sunset cradle for two, and Ron is boiling. Both guys tag, and Reed plants a clothesline on Gibson. A bodyslam sets up a 2nd rope elbowdrop, but Robert rolls out of the way, and tags. Morton misses a dropkick as he comes in, so Reed tries a piledriver, but Morton backdrops him to block. Tags all around, and Gibson looks for a headlock, but Simmons pounds him into the corner. Robert shakes him off, and schoolboys for two, and both tag. Reed drops Morton with a swinging neckbreaker for one, so Ricky hooks a small package for two. Tag to Gibson for another small package for another two, and a backslide for two, as time expires at 12:28. This was fast and fun, and set up an even better match at the pay per view. What more do you want? ** ½ 

Gordon Solie is in the studio for Wrestling News Network, which is just Bash hype

Jim Cornette swings by, noting that the Southern Boys are fake rednecks. That seems like a very Jim Cornette type of thing to say

The Fabulous Freebirds v The Southern Boys: From Clash of the Champions XI on June 13 in Charleston South Carolina. The Freebirds attack from behind before the bell, but the Boys quickly clean house. Wow, the crowd is really into the Southern Boys' act. Two white boys covered in Confederate flags, what's not to love, right? That was sarcasm, by the way. Even for 1990, it's surprising that a national company owned by Turner Broadcasting would attempt to dress up two white guys as Confederate Civil War soldiers, and try to pass them off as babyfaces. Not to mention positioning the Freebirds (two men wearing mascara and acting effeminate) as heels. But then, this is the same company that initially brought Harlem Heat in wearing shackles, and being led to the ring by a white plantation owner. So, maybe it's not that surprising after all. Jimmy Garvin starts with Tracy Smothers, and bodyslams him for two, then passes over to Michael Hayes to unload in the corner, but Steve Armstrong comes in illegally with a flying bodypress to save. The Freebirds manage to take over on Armstrong and cut the ring in half, and the crowd is just on fire the whole time! It's not everyday you keep people engaged with armbars, let alone going wild. Hayes gets slammed down off the top to allow the hot tag to Smothers, and Roseanne Barr the door! Tracy looks to put Garvin away with a rollup, but Hayes saves with a lariat, and Jimmy goes for the kill - only for Armstrong to come flying in with a splash to give Smothers the pin at 7:25. The Freebirds are so much more tolerable when they aren't working twenty minute matches, aren't they? **

Paul E. Dangerously swings by, promising that Mark Callous will become US champion at the Bash, since it’s a stepping stone to greatness

Mark Callous v Joe DeFuria: From the June 23 Pro. Mark with the heart punch and a ropewalk flying elbowdrop at 2:15. Interesting that he dropped both of those moves entirely once he went to the WWF. DUD

Cornette is in the studio to host the Louisville Slugger with guest Buddy Landel, who thinks there’s a conspiracy to bring down the Four Horsemen. Does this guy think he’s Ric Flair again?

NWA Television Title Match: Arn Anderson v Tom Zenk: From World Wide Wrestling on June 23 (taped June 11) in Fort Pierce. Zenk sinks his teeth into a side-headlock right away, and dominates on the mat, despite Anderson’s best efforts. Arn hangs with it, until he manages to sucker Zenk into snapping his own throat across the top rope while trying a rollup, and the champ covers at 5:51. There wasn’t much action to it, but the psychology was cool. ½*

NWA World Champion Ric Flair and Ole Anderson aren’t worried about whatever stipulations get added to the Flair/Sting match at the Bash, because Ric has got this wrapped

BUExperience: Good episode this week, even if it’s all recaps.