It’s always fun seeing wrestling companies try to figure stuff out, especially a big production like this. You have here the backstage interviews with a young Tony Schiavone, as well as clear lines between heel and babyface, with the bad guys hanging out in the bad guys’ locker rooms and vice versa. This feels like one of the last big shows that really exemplified the 1970s more than the 80s. You also have here the commentary team of Bob Caudle and Gordon Solie up high away from the action, behind an enclosure that isn’t monitored at all, and so you get some dude hanging out and creepily watching them towards the end which is just awesome.
1. Rufus R. Jones & Bugsy McGraw vs. The Assassins w/ Paul Jones
There’s no fanfare for the opener, as Caudle and Solie introduce the show after it happens. It’s an okay match with basic competent wrestling, not the hot opener we’ve come to expect, but more something unremarkable to prepare you for the rest of the show. Bugsy isn’t the fanciest wrestler but is usually a good time with his goofball charisma. One of the Assassins eventually became Hercules Hernandez, so that’s something. You’ve also got Paul Jones managing The Assassins, a tremendous manager who’s all over 80s NWA/JCP. **
2. Johnny Weaver & Scott McGhee vs. Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin w/ Gary Hart
Johnny Weaver & Scott McGhee vs. Kevin Sullivan & Mark Lewin is another short, unremarkable match. Sullivan & Lewin are decent as weird scary heels. McGhee sells well. Gary Hart manages. It happened. The post-match angle is where it’s at, as Sullivan & Lewin attack Weaver and McGhee, leading to a bladejob from McGhee and Angelo Mosca running in for the save. This leads to a passionate promo from Angelo Mosca backstage vowing revenge while Scott McGhee bleeds BUCKETS next to him. It’s one of the craziest things I’ve ever fucking seen. **
3. Carlos Colon vs. Abdullah the Butcher
Carlos Colon vs. Abdullah the Butcher is a match of big names, but kind of a turd. These guys aren’t known for being fancy, but have also had plenty of better brawls. Famed WWF Spanish commentator Hugo Savonovich interferes here, which I thought was worth mentioning. *1/2
4. Dick Slater & Bob Orton Jr. vs. Chief Wahoo McDaniel & Mark Youngblood
Dick Slater & Bob Orton Jr. vs. Chief Wahoo McDaniel & Mark Youngblood was another nothing undercard match. Slater and Orton are fun to watch as a team but this doesn’t feel like it was their best work. Mark Youngblood isn’t a good enough babyface to get anyone to care, and this goes inexplicably long so moves from a decent tag to a boring slog. *3/4
Barbara Clarey is all over this show interviewing randoms at ringside. She also interviews Dusty Rhodes, who attempts to cut a promo that’s interrupted by audio issues. Classic stuff!
5. Title vs. Mask – NWA TV Title: The Great Kabuki [c] vs. Charlie Brown
Great Kabuki and Charlie Brown (Jimmy Valiant under a mask) had a match. It wasn’t very good, though it had some decent character stuff. *1/2
6. Dog Collar Match: Greg Valentine vs. Roddy Piper
The last three matches of this show are your highlights. It starts with a Dog Collar Match between Greg Valentine and a babyface Roddy Piper. This was one of the first classic U.S. matches I saw and it has stayed with me. This is just a brutal brawl that feels real the whole time, as if these two crazy guys actually tied themselves together with a dog collar and slogged it out. Valentine works over Piper’s EAR and Piper’s selling is so good – just desperately fighting back. Just a nasty, gritty fight. ****1/2
7. NWA World Tag Team Title: Jack Brisco & Jerry Brisco [c] vs. Ricky Steamboat & Jay Youngblood (Guest Referee: Angelo Mosca)
The tag titles match was really good too, Jack and Jerry Brisco against Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood. This might be the only instance of the Briscos as a tag team on the Network. The Briscos just work over Steamboat and Youngblood by outwrestling them and double teaming them and it’s great fun. And Steamboat is of course an all-time great seller. The Briscos selling for the comebacks are beautiful. On top of all that, the match is wrestled on top of a bunch of drying blood from the last match. Finish comes a little sudden, but the crowd goes apeshit so what do I know. ***1/4
8. Steel Cage Match – NWA World Heavyweight Title: Harley Race [c] vs. Ric Flair (Guest Referee: Gene Kiniski)
Cage match was very good. Epic Flair entrance, epic bladejobs by Flair and Race. In today’s era I could see that this might come off as a bit of a slog, but there really is no better way to describe Race than, he does not give a fuck if you like his match or not. He is going to wrestle and fight and you’re going to buy that it is a legitimate fight. All the strikes are timed for maximum effect, and both guys are just bleeding buckets and trading shots near the end – it’s really wild. The above-the-ring shots of Flair and Race crawling on top of the blood-soaked canvas are amazing. ***1/2
Show ends with Flair interviews and Dusty warning Flair about down the road, which led to Starrcade 1984, as well as a scary Harley Race promo. Tremendous.
This isn’t the greatest show ever, but a historical moment in time and required watching for any wrestling fan. It also does feature one of my favorite matches ever, and one of the weirdest promos I’ve ever seen. 6/10
