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NWA World Championship Wrestling - 1988

The TNM Members ChampPosted on 10/15/07 at 06:15:08

NWA The Great American Bash - The Price for Freedom
Date: July 10, 1988
Location: Baltimore, MD

The Midnight Express (Stan Lane and Bobby Eaton) defeated The Fantastics (Bobby Fulton and Tommy Rogers) when Eaton pinned T. Rogers after the Midnight Drop in 0:26:05.
Rating: ****
(The Midnight Express won the NWA United States Tag Team Titles.)

In order for The Midnight Express to receive a title shot against the NWA United States Tag Team Champions The Fantastics, The Midnight Express had to agree to the stipulation that their manager Jim Cornette be put into a cage that would be hanging over the ring while being restrained in a strait jacket. This would ensure a fair match between the two teams, free of any shenanigans from Jim Cornette. This did provide for a very exciting match between two of the most athletic teams in the NWA. The Midnight Express proved that they did not need any help tonight as they won the United States Tag Team Titles after Bobby Eaton hit the Midnight Drop for the three count.

Cage Match:
Jimmy Garvin defeated Kevin Sullivan by escaping the cage in 0:06:08.
Rating: **

Recently, Kevin Sullivan developed an infatuation with Precious, the girlfriend of Jimmy Garvin. Naturally, this enraged Jimmy Garvin and the two have feuded over this issue the past few months. Jimmy Garvin upped the ante by challenging Kevin Sullivan to a Cage Match to settle their feud once and for all. Kevin Sullivan accepted but only if Jimmy Garvin agreed to the stipulation that the winner receives the services of Precious! The fans were stunned when Precious knocked the referee on the outside of the ring out with her loaded purse to steal the cage keys and open the door for a crawling Kevin Sullivan. It appeared that Precious had chosen the man she wanted to be with. That is until she slammed the cage door on Kevin Sullivan's face! That stopped Kevin Sullivan from escaping. This allowed Jimmy Garvin enough time to get back up to his feet and get out the cage door to win the match and retain Precious.

Steve Williams and Mike Rotundo battled to a draw in 0:15:00.
Rating: * 3/4
(Mike Rotundo retained the NWA World Television Title.)

Mike Rotundo managed to escape The Great American Bash with the NWA World Television Title by using the 15 minute time limit to his advantage. He played keep away from Steve Williams when he could and used many restholds to stop any momentum "Dr. Death" was having. However, near the end, Steve Williams made a valiant comeback and even hit the Oklahoma Stampede on Mike Rotundo. The Baltimore Arena thought they were about to see the second title change of the evening but as Steve Williams went for the cover, the referee signalled that the time limit had expired. Steve Williams and the crowd urged the referee for five more minutes but Mike Rotundo quickly left the ring and grabbed his title before leaving to go backstage.

No-Countout-No-DQ-Match:
The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) defeated The Powers of Pain (The Barbarian and Warlord) when Hawk pinned Barbarian after the Doomsday Device in 0:03:28.
Rating: 1/4*

The Road Warriors have had their problems with The Powers of Pain for a few months going back to the weightlifting challenge that almost ended Animal's career. Since then, The Road Warriors have vowed to get revenge on The Powers of Pain. They got their opportunity at The Great American Bash in their style of match of no DQ and no countouts. The Road Warriors got their revenge by controlling this match from bell to bell. They completely overwhelmed their opponents and ended the destruction of The Powers of Pain by hitting the Doomsday Device on The Barbarian for the victory.

Horsemen Blanchard & Anderson (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard) and Sting and Nikita Koloff battled to a draw in 0:20:00.
Rating: * 3/4
(Horsemen Blanchard & Anderson retained the NWA World Tag Team Titles.)

Once again Sting challenged Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard for the NWA World Tag Team Titles but this time his partner was "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff. They provided a decent challenge for the champions but time played against the challengers. Sting and Nikita Koloff made a charge at the end with Sting hitting a Stinger Splash on Tully Blanchard and following it up with the Scorpion Deathlock. The bell rings and the fans go crazy thinking Sting and Nikita Koloff are the new NWA World Tag Team Champions. Instead, the time limit had expired while the hold was applied. Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard retained their titles much to the disappoint of the Baltimore fans.

Barry Windham pinned Dusty Rhodes after the clawhold in 0:11:32.
Rating: ** 3/4
(Barry Windham retained the NWA United States Heavyweight Title.)

Just a few months ago, Barry Windham turned his back on the fans and especially Dusty Rhodes when he joined The Four Horsemen. Dusty Rhodes was something of a mentor to Barry Windham but obviously The Four Horsemen's lifestyle lured him more than friendship. This was Dusty Rhodes' attempt to regain the United States Heavyweight Title that he lost when he was stripped of the title by the NWA for attacking Jim Crockett. The clawhold was used extensively by Barry Windham on Dusty Rhodes in this match. Dusty Rhodes eventually was able to break out of the hold and go on the offensive again but bumped into the referee. Dusty Rhodes hit the Bionic Elbow on Barry Windham and went for the cover but the referee was trying to shake the cobwebs. Meanwhile, Ron Garvin entered the ring and tried to wake the referee up. Then, he pat Dusty on the shoulder and when he turned around, he was met with a fist to the face. Dusty Rhodes was out cold and the fans were stunned! Barry Windham applied the Clawhold again. With Dusty out cold with his shoulders on the mat, the referee counted three. Barry Windham retains his NWA United States Heavyweight Title but with a major assist from, of all people, Ron Garvin?

Lex Luger made Ric Flair submit to the Torture Rack in 0:24:59.
Rating: **** 1/4
(Lex Luger won the NWA World Heavyweight Title.)
[James J. Dillon interfered against Lex Luger.]

Lex Luger was a member of The Four Horsemen for most of 1987 and the early parts of 1988 until he had had enough of being in the shadows of Ric Flair and The Four Horsemen. Lex Luger felt that The Four Horsemen and Ric Flair in particular, were holding him back from achieving his full potential as a professional wrestler. The last straw for Lex Luger was when James J. Dillon demanded that he eliminate himself in order for Dillon to win the Bunkhouse Stampede. Instead, Lex Luger eliminated James J. Dillon to win the Bunkhouse Stampede. This didn't sit well with The Four Horsemen as they kicked Lex Luger out of the group and replaced him with his former friend and tag team partner, Barry Windham. Lex Luger went after each member of The Four Horsemen until he got to Ric Flair. The NWA made it official by signing this match for the NWA World Heavyweight Title for the main event of The Great American Bash. At the last Clash of the Champions, The Four Horsemen surprised Lex Luger was a beatdown in the parking lot of the arena as he was getting out of his limo. The end result was that his forehead was busted open bleeding. Lex Luger got stitches but considering the strict rules of the Maryland State Athletic Commission, it wouldn't be a surprise if Ric Flair focused on that area in order to make Lex Luger bleed again.

The match started with Lex Luger overpowering Ric Flair as he tosses him around the ring like he wasn't a four time NWA World Heavyweight Champion. After going to the outside of the ring to regroup, he re-entered the ring and offered a test of strength to Lex Luger. That wasn't a good idea as Lex Luger easily won that test. Lex Luger continued to have his way until he tried a dropkick which missed. Ric Flair immediately went to work on the knee to set him up for the Figure Four. Ric Flair applied the Figure Four but Lex Luger was able to power out of it before it was locked in. As Lex Luger stands up, he shows that his right knee is feeling the effects of the attack from Flair earlier. Ric Flair thought he would be able to take advantage but Lex Luger wasn't phased by the series of repeated punches and merely flexed his muscles at a desperate Ric Flair as the crowd sensed the momentum was again on Lex Luger's side. Lex Luger bounced off the ropes and met Ric Flair with a clothesline that was so powerful that it knocked them both over the top rope. On the outside, as James J. Dillon distracted the referee, Ric Flair hit Lex Luger over the head with a steel chair and then rammed him into the ringpost. It was at this moment that Lex Luger started to bleed from the forehead that had stitches from the previous Four Horsemen attack on him. Ric Flair rolled Lex Luger back into the ring and James J. Dillon conveniently stopped distracting the referee. Once inside the ring, Ric Flair argued with the referee that Lex Luger was bleeding and that the match should be stopped. Tommy Young was having none of this and yelled at Flair that it was up to his discretion if the match should be stopped. As Ric Flair was busy arguing with Tommy Young, Lex Luger got back up to his feet, motivated by the chants of LUGER by the crowd. Lex Luger pummels Ric Flair and hits a powerslam on him. Lex Luger follows that up with the Torture Rack in the middle of the ring. The crowd is electric as Ric Flair quickly submits to the hold!

"The Total Package" Lex Luger has won his first NWA World Heavyweight Title via the Torture Rack! The Baltimore crowd is so loud the announcement that Lex Luger had won the title is barely heard. As Ric Flair and James J. Dillon leave the ring area, Lex Luger is joined by Sting, Steve Williams, Dusty Rhodes, and many more wrestlers to congratulate the new champion. Tommy Young hands the NWA World Heavyweight Championship belt to Lex Luger. The wrestlers hoist Lex Luger up and he holds the title high in the air as if to say the fans were just as responsible for his victory as he was. The fans chant LUGER repeatedly as the pay per view comes to an end.


Card rating: ** 1/2


Some ARSEHOLE Stole My GimmickPosted on 10/26/07 at 05:27:01

Wow, you must have used a pre 1992 version of Luger to get a ****+ match out of him. LOL!