NWA (JCP) World Championship Wrestling (January 17, 1987)

 

Original Airdate: January 17, 1987

From Atlanta, Georgia; Your Hosts are Tony Schiavone and David Crockett

Dusty Rhodes is out right away, and he wants Ivan Koloff to just leave Nikita alone!

Rick Rude and Manny Fernandez v Rocky King and William Tabb: The NWA World Tag Team gold is not on the line here. Rude picks up the pin at 3:18. Afterwards, the tag champs swing by the desk, and they’re game to put the belts up against the Road Warriors. DUD

Barry Windham is out, and he knows he can take Ric Flair to the limit, and next time, he’ll get the belt

NWA World Champion Ric Flair is out, and he thinks Windham impressed him, but, he didn’t beat ‘the man’

The Kansas Jayhawks v Alan West and Eddie Roberts: Bobby Jaggers scores the pinfall here at 3:53. DUD

Newcomer Lex Luger is out, excited to make his debut later today. Lex looks like a young John Cena here. He thinks he’s going to be so impressive that the Four Horsemen are going to let him in their group

Barry Windham v Thunderfoot #2: Windham with a jumping clothesline at 2:16. Afterwards, Barry swings by the desk, disappointed that Luger wants to join a group like the Horsemen. DUD

The Horsemen are out, and they’re going to put Barry in his place

Dick Murdoch and Baron von Raschke v Randy Barber and Gary Royal: Murdoch with a brainbuster at 5:27. DUD

The Road Warriors are out, and they’re sick of Rude and Fernandez acting like tough guys, since they don’t have ‘credentials.’ They’re literally the world champions! What else do you want, their library cards?

Six-Man Tag Team Match: Bobby Eaton, Dennis Condrey, and Big Bubba Rogers v Davis Isley, Larry Stephens, and Ronnie Angle: Jim Cornette sits in on commentary for this one. They actually cut to commercial right at the top of the match, which is pretty crazy for a nothing squash. Bobby scores the pin following a rocket launcher at 4:46. Afterwards, the Express swing by the desk to make fun of Dusty Rhodes’ breath. Rude. DUD

Ivan Koloff and Vladimir Petrov are out to promise pain for Nikita Koloff

Vladimir Petrov v Zane Smith: Petrov makes short work of Smith with a 2nd rope clothesline at 0:36. Afterwards, they swing by the desk, since apparently they didn’t get enough jawing in before the match. DUD

JJ Dillon is out, and he’s flattered that Luger is interested in their social club

Lex Luger v George South: This is Luger’s debut for the promotion. They cut to two women ‘in the audience’ admiring Luger, and one of them is a young Terri Runnels with giant hair, and way too much makeup. Dillon stays on to do commentary here, and he’s still ‘flattered.’ Lex with the torture rack at 1:26. Afterwards, Lex swings by the desk to continue his flattery, so Windham comes out to try and talk some ‘sense’ into him. Yeah, who would want to be in the Horsemen? Shit. DUD

Tim Horner v Thunderfoot #1: Couldn’t they have put the Thunderfoots out there in order? No one wants unordered Thunderfoots! Horner with a bridging cradle at 5:10. DUD

Jimmy Valiant is out, and offering to have dinner with his fans. I’ve never felt so vindicated in my hate of Jimmy Valiant

Jimmy Garvin v Bill Mulkey: It sounds like Crockett is lusting for Precious here, which says a lot about what Atlanta must have been like in 1987. Garvin scores three at 3:04. DUD

Brad Armstrong v Vernon Deaton: This parade of high level matches continues, uninterrupted! Armstrong with the Russian legsweep at 2:58. DUD

Nikita Koloff and Dusty Rhodes are out, and they don’t like what Ivan and Vladimir were saying about Magnum TA earlier. And, as usual, Nikita expresses his rage by ripping off his shirt. The man just hates tops

Flair is back out to show off his shoes. Lizard this week

NWA Television Title Match: Tully Blanchard v Randy Mulkey: Once more, Tully is offering $10,000 along with the title, should Mulkey beat him. Blanchard with a slingshot suplex at 2:33. Afterwards, the Horsemen swing by the desk, since we haven’t heard enough from them yet on this episode. DUD

BUExperience: I have not idea why everyone romanticizes this era of the show. The one genuine highlight was Lex Luger’s arrival. He felt like a star from the jump, and his flirtation with the Horsemen (and Windham’s protests of it) make for an interesting thread.