NWA (WCW) Power Hour (July 13, 1990)

 

Original Airdate: July 13, 1990 (taped July 2)

From Marietta, Georgia; Your Host is Jim Ross

Brian Pillman v Fred Avery: I always get a kick out of it when Ross makes fat jokes about guys. Avery looks like he stole Jim Neidhart’s old gear here. Pillman with a (nicely delivered) flying bodypress at 2:43. ¼*

Stan Hansen is going to ring Tommy Rich’s bell

Gordon Solie is in the studio for Wrestling News Network, and the big focus is on the Great American Bash results - in particular, Sting winning the NWA World title, and the debuts of Big Van Vader and El Gigante

WCW tour ad

Brian Pillman swings by, excited about the new Top Ten, which will give guys a fair shot at getting into title hunts

Lex Luger v Death Row: The NWA United States title is not on the line here. Lex with a clothesline at 1:55. Lex was over huge at this point. DUD

Bob Caudle swings by to talk about another new concept: the Gauntlet. One wrestler every week will have a chance, and they have to win three matches over three episodes of the weekend shows to win a $15,000 prize. And, if they fail, the three guys he was running against split the prize instead. What a fantastic idea

Jim Cornette hosts the Louisville Slugger, with guests the Four Horsemen. Unfortunately, Ric Flair and Ole Anderson are in meetings trying to secure a world title rematch, so we only get Arn Anderson and Sid Vicious

Arn Anderson and Barry Windham v Paul Sampson and Joe Cazana: The Horsemen toy with the jobbers for a bit, before Windham puts it away with a clothesline at 4:45. That’s two matches that ended in a clothesline tonight. What is this, Survivor Series?

Tommy Rich is ready to take Hansen to the limit

Michael Hayes v Tracy Smothers: Ross notes that Hayes is a ‘very bizarre individual,’ which I feel might be the biggest understatement of that year. Or any year. Michael stalls to start, but Smothers gets control, and runs him into the corner with a series of turnbuckle smashes. That triggers more stalling from Hayes, and he goes to the eyes. That allows him a cross corner whip, but Smothers dodges the charge in, and uses a slingshot dropkick for two. Hayes ends up on the outside, so Smothers stays on him with a baseball slide, but Michael manages to grab a chinlock on the way back in. Smothers escapes, and wins a criss cross with a jumping forearm for two, so Hayes bails. Inside, a criss cross is won by Hayes when Smothers telegraphs a backdrop, and Michael adds an elbowdrop. Hayes with a chop and a ropechoke, but Smothers sweeps the leg, and works on it. Hayes rakes the eyes again, and they criss cross, won by Michael with a jab - but he immediately collapses on the injured leg. Hayes goes back to the chinlock, but Smothers escapes, and hooks a slingshot sunset flip for two. Hayes cuts him off with a clothesline, and I can’t believe he doesn’t cover! Has he not gotten the memo?! Instead, he goes for a DDT, but Smothers blocks, and starts throwing rights. Smothers lands a jumping backelbow, and he corners Hayes for a ten-punch count. Smothers goes up to finish, but Jimmy Garvin pushes him off the top rope to trigger a DQ at 15:44. Good stuff here, even with Hayes’ stalling, and the cheap finish. Afterwards, the Fabulous Freebirds go into beatdown mode, so Steve Armstrong runs out to even the odds! **

WCW tour ad

BUExperience: This was a fun hour, and I’m excited about the Gauntlet concept coming into play!