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

Original Airdate: July 29, 1990 (taped July 16)

From Gainesville, Georgia; Your Host is Jim Ross

Big Van Vader v Jason Knight: This also aired on the July 28 episode of World Wide Wrestling. Why did Vader ever get rid of the big helmet? It was a cool detail. Vader with a splash at 1:53. ¼*

Paul E. Dangerously appreciates the Four Horsemen for putting Lex Luger in the hospital

Mark Callous v Eddie Martin: From the July 7 episode of Pro, also taped in Gainesville, but on June 25. Mark with the heart punch, but Paul E. doesn’t want it to end there, and Callous finishes with a ropewalk flying elbowdrop at 2:01. I get that it got over bigger than anything he’d ever done, but it’s a shame that they ‘wasted’ Mark’s prime years as a worker on a zombie character where his work was severely limited. ¼*

Gordon Solie is in the studio for Wrestling News Network, taking a look at the Horsemen trying to injure all the babyfaces recently, including taking Luger out in a parking lot on yesterday’s episode of World Championship Wrestling. Though, technically, they haven’t taken credit for that one, and there were no witnesses 

Solie catches up with Sid Vicious and Ole Anderson who still don’t take credit for what happened to Luger, but they’re promising to get the world title back in the family soon, with Sid being put in as the designated hitter 

Junkyard Dog is out, understanding that he’s a marked man since he’s another pal of Sting’s, but he’s not backing down from the Horsemen

Ric Flair and Arn Anderson v Mike Rotunda and Jerry Price: From the June 16 episode of World Wide Wrestling, taped June 4 in Anderson South Carolina. Arn takes Mike out with a DDT on the floor, allowing the Horsemen to isolate Price, and he’s finished off at 2:53. Anderson had a hell of a DDT. Afterwards, the Horsemen all come in to continue the assault, but Sting, Paul Orndorff, and Junkyard Dog make the save. Sid hanging around at ringside in a tuxedo and not getting involved was certainly a choice. If he was hurt or something, why even put him out there to look foolish? DUD

Paul Orndorff is ready for Dutch Mantel, even with the threat of the Horsemen attacking him at any time

Barry Windham v Tim Parker: From the June 23 episode of World Wide Wrestling in Fort Pierce Florida, taped June 11. Windham puts this away at 1:31. DUD

Jim Cornette hosts the Louisville Slugger with guest NWA World Champion Sting, who Cornette blames for what happened to Luger, since he was the real cause of it. Sting clarifies that they didn’t get the job done, and all they’ve done is make Lex mad, and now they’re all coming for revenge

Paul Orndorff v Dutch Mantel: Posturing to start, with Orndorff having an edge. Paul gets firm control on the mat with a cross-armbreaker, but Mantel fights him off. Paul uses a sunset flip for two, and Dutch begs off in the corner after that. Mantel manages a standing side-headlock, but Paul forces a criss cross, and takes him down. Orndorff wrenches the leg, so Mantel goes into the ropes, and stalls. Mantel pops Paul when Orndorff comes after him, and Dutch grabs a wristlock. Paul escapes, and hooks a small package for two, but Mantel quickly cuts him off, and puts on an abdominal stretch. Mantel continues to work him over, but they spill to the outside, where Paul feeds him the guardrail. Inside, Orndorff keeps coming with a flying elbowsmash, so Mantel pulls him back to the outside to break the momentum. Back in for a backdrop, but Paul blocks, and delivers a piledriver at 8:34. Solid from a storytelling perspective, if a little dull from a workrate perspective. ¾*

Trucker Norman v Barry Horowitz: This also aired on the July 28 episode of World Championship Wrestling. Ross notes that Norman is ‘qualified to be a trucker’ because “he’s a good ol’ boy, and likes chicken fried steak.” And there, in a nutshell, is everything you need to know about the American south. Norman split screens in, revealing that his father passed away, and that’s why he’s a trucker now. Hey, everyone deals with grief differently. Norman with an avalanche at 5:19. I usually hate any squash that goes over five minutes, but this was actually pretty watchable for what it was, surprisingly. Afterwards, Norman swings by to talk to Ross, and he appreciates the fans’ support. ¼*

BUExperience: I really enjoyed the pall of the Horsemen terrorizing the babyfaces. It’s a great overall direction, and carried the entire show.