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NWA Presents: Starrcade 1984


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December 25, 1984

Starrcade 1984

Greensboro, NC

Greensboro Coliseum


Tony Schiavone and Bob Caudle welcome us to this closed circuit event! We are LIVE all around North America, from Greensboro, North Carolina inside the Greensboro Coliseum! We have NINE matches for you here tonight. We are going to start off tonight’s event with the first of our SEVEN title matches. The NWA United States Tag Team Championships are on the line!


NWA United States Tag Team Championship

One fall match with a 45-minute time limit.

Referee: Earl Hebner

Barry & Kendall Windham (w/ Blackjack Mulligan) vs {24 Karat} Pat Patterson & Ray Stevens © (w/ James J. Dillon)

Last minute addition here with Blackjack Mulligan being added to the corner of the Windham brothers. JJ Dillon is protesting this to Earl Hebner. But Mulligan is showing something to the referee. Earl agrees with whatever that is being shown. Earl explains the situation to the ring announcer. He tells the audience that Blackjack Mulligan has been given a one-night only manager’s license. He is legally allowed to be at ringside, just as JJ Dillon is. The crowd pops here at 24 Karat throws a fit in their corner. The match begins and the challenger’s have the momentum here, keeping Patterson in their corner. They work over the left arm and shoulder. Nice quick tags between the two brothers. Eventually, Patterson is able to create some separation, poking Kendall in the eye. He gets a tag with Ray Stevens and the champions turn the tide on the match in that one moment. The vets work over the youngster. Keeping him right in their corner. They use a lot of wear down holds, keeping him at bay. JJ is strutting around at ringside, barking insults at Mulligan as his boys are in control of the match. Barry is trying to get the crowd behind his brother. Patterson leaps from the second rope with a knee smash, but Kendall just rolls away, and the champion crashes hard to the mat. Pat is hurting bad, really injuring the knee. He does get to his corner quicker for the tag, but Kendall is able to crawl fast enough to get the tag to Barry. The two fresh athletes battle it out in the middle of the ring. JJ is worried at ringside. Mulligan is extremely happy, but is checking on Kendall, who seems to be recovering rather well for the punishment he has taken in this match. Patterson gets into the ring to cut off Barry, but Kendall rushes in and nails a dropkick to send Patterson to the floor. JJ climbs up on the apron to distract Hebner, but Mulligan brings him to the floor and levels him with a big right hand. Barry tries for a bulldog, but Stevens throws him off and into 24 Karats corner. Kendall is being sent from the ring. Patterson climbs up the apron and gets tagged in. Stevens suplexes Barry. Patterson goes for the cover. Hebner turns around and slides in for the count, but Barry gets the shoulder up! Barry gets to his feet, Patterson is still nursing the injured knee. Stevens sneaks in to attack Barry, Kendall returns back to knock Stevens out of the ring. Patterson tries for a big slam on Barry, but his knee can’t hold him up, Barry reverses with an inside cradle for a two count. BArry gets up quicker than Patterson and drops him with a big time bulldog and goes for the cover! JJ recovers and tries to slide in to interfere, but Mulligan grabs him by the legs and pulls him back out of the ring as Hebner counts the three! We have NEW champions as we begin Starrcade 1984!

Time: 19:58

Decision: Barry & Kendall Windham, New NWA United States Tag Team Champions!


Tony and Bob send us to David Crockett who is at a podium high in the building. The background is the sold out crowd here in Greensboro. He talks about having new United States tag team champions in MACW! Up next is a grudge match from Lutte Internationale. Tony and Bob will be handling commentary on these matches as well, and we have next match ready to go, so we head back to ringside with Tony and Bob.


Tag Team Match

Hot Stuff Inc (Billy Robinson & Doug Somers, w/Sherri Martel) vs The Sheepherders

Tony Schiavone & Bob Caudle are also at commentary for the NWA Lutte Internationale matches for Starrcade. Tony Schiavone mentions the history between both teams with Robinson & Somers being former International Tag Team Champions and Bob Caudle adds that this match originally was for the NWA International Tag Team Championship until Hot Stuff Inc lost the titles to NWA International Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel & Gino Brito a few weeks ago. Robinson & Somers show their technical side early in the match and their speed is a definite advantage early on but The Sheepherders more physical style helps them regain some momentum. The turning point of the match came as The Sheepherders went for a battering ram move in the corner but Somers dodged and Butch Miller rammed his shoulder in the post. Naturally, Billy Robinson’s incomparable technical skills helped Hot Stuff Inc as Robinson worked on Miller’s shoulder throughout the rest of the match, as did Doug Somers when he got tagged in. Billy Robinson thought he had the match won when he hit his double underhook suplex to Butch Miller but Miller miraculously kicked out at 2. Miller with the tag to Luke Williams and Williams is cleaning house. Doesn’t take too long afterwards for all hell to break loose and of course Sherri tries to get involved in the match. Sherri climbs on the apron after the Sheepherders hit the double gutbuster on Billy Robinson and as they tried the pin, Somers steps in the ring and jumps on Williams. Somers attempts the O’Connor Roll but inadvertently sends Sherri flying down the apron! Somers turned around and immediately fell prey to a second double gutbuster and Williams made the cover to get the victory.

Winners: The Sheepherders

 

We head back to David Crockett and he shows us a replay of the end of the previous match. He wonders what would have happened had Sherri Martel didn’t try to interfere. Up next is the next championship match from Mid Atlantic, and that is for the NWA Television Championship. Tully Blanchard defends against “The Lariat” Stan Hansen. Let’s go back to Tony and Bob at ringside!


NWA Television Championship

One-fall with a special 20-minute time limit

Referee: Sonny Fargo

Stan “The Lariat” Hansen vs Tully Blanchard © (w/ James J Dillon)

Some early stalling by the champion early, he doesn’t want to get into a power, or a brawling style match with the challenger. He tries to dictate the style of match early on. Tully actually wrestles Hansen to the mat early and keeps him off his game. Once Stan gets to his feet, the tide of the match turns. Hansen works over the champion with big time strikes. Tully bails to the floor, but the challenger follows. They brawl on the floor, which sees Tully get posted before rolling into the ring. He is busted open. Hansen just beats on the champion for the next few minutes. Tully finally gets the upperhand after ducking the Lariat and pushing Hanson into the ringpost shoulder first. The champion collects himself a moment, then attacks viciously. Hanson is hurt, and this will hinder his nailing his favorite move the Lariat. Blanchard has the upper hand, and JJ is happy at ringside. He even comes over to the commentary table and grabs the free microphone and tells us how smart Tully Blanchard is.This match is over! Tully is the smartest wrestler in the world! Back to the ring as Tully is stomping on the shoulder. Hansen is working on getting back to his feet. We are under three minutes left to the time limit. JJ is screaming to just stay off your back for the next few minutes. Hansen shoulder blocks Tully to the mat, but Tully immediately rolls to the ropes. Hanson is rubbing the shoulder, you know he’s trying to get one good Lariat ready. He comes at Tully with a violent Lariat, but Tully ducks again. Stan clutches his arm and shoulder...he’s really hurt it against that post. Tully kicks Hansen and tries for the Slingshot Suplex, but Hansen backdrops him to the middle of the ring. Hansen rests against the ropes. Blanchard gets to his feet and turns around….the bell rings...Hansen nails the Larlat and covers Blanchard. Sonny Fargo tells Hansen the match is over. The time limit has expired. Hansen grabs the title belt and walks off anyways. JJ is going crazy, but he is keeping his distance from Hansen. JJ checks on his champion and complains to the referee. Sonny goes to the back to try to retrieve the title belt. We head to David Crockett.

Time: 20:00

Decision: Time Limit Draw, Tully Blanchard retains the Television Title.


David says that if that match had just one more minute, we would have crowned a new TV champion. Speaking of Television championships, the NWA International TV Championship is now on the line, with the champion Mad Dog Lefebvre defending against the Missing Link. That match is just getting to the ring, so let’s take it back to Bob Caudle and Tony Schiavone at ringside.


NWA International TV Championship

Mad Dog Lefebvre (w/Frenchy Martin) © vs The Missing Link

 

Tony Schiavone & Bob Caudle discuss the dominance of Mad Dog Lefebvre since he won his title from Dino Bravo earlier this summer and they also mention that The Missing Link is probably the most unpredictable challenge the champion has faced yet. Nothing ordinary in this match as both men seem to have a blatant disregard for the rules and they brawl virtually everywhere around the ring. Luckily, the referee is able to regain some control in the match and we’re getting a very physical contest in the process. The champion is used to impose his physical will against the opposition but in this context, with The Missing Link being the taller one, Lefebvre has to resort to questionable tactics to gain the advantage. However, he soon finds out that Link is no ordinary foe and it’s only a matter of time before the Link mounts the irresistible comeback. It appears more and more likely that the fans in Greensboro are about to see a title change! However, a miscue & missed clothesline from The Missing Link changes the complexion of the match as referee Luigi Macera goes down hard. That’s the perfect moment for Frenchy Martin to throw the good old foreign object into play – in this case, the NWA International TV Championship belt. Frenchy executes himself and tosses the title to Mad Dog Lefebvre and the champion hits Link with the belt....BUT THIS DOESN’T HAVE ANY EFFECT ON HIM! Link goes into a rage and Mad Dog stands there in total shock and disbelief. Lefebvre decides to go for a second belt shot but Link kicks him in the gut and Lefebvre drops the title belt. Link grabs the title and hoists it in the air...but right at this moment, Luigi Macera recovers and he sees Link with the title belt in his possession and he sees Lefebvre sitting down in the corner. With the smoking gun in his hands, Luigi Macera has no other choice but to ring the bell! What an unfair decision! Lefebvre retains the championship and gets the hell away with his manager while Link is going berserk and even strikes official Luigi Macera! Tony Schiavone mentions that now under NWA rules, this will definitely cost The Missing Link a heavy fine for striking an official...

Winner by DQ: Mad Dog Lefebvre (retains his championship)

 

David Crockett is back, discussing how the Missing Link got robbed, and how there was a miscarriage of justice in that match. Mad Dog Lefebvre retained the title, but under very controversial circumstances. Up next is the last Mid Atlantic championship match. It is for the NWA United States Championship as Magnum TA defends against his former mentor, Mr. Wrestling II. The wrestlers have made it to the ring, so let’s get back to Bob and Tony at ringside.


NWA United States Championship Match

One-fall with a 45-minute time limit

Referee: Tommy Young

Mr. Wrestling II (w/ Paul Jones) vs Magnum TA ©

Just as the referee takes the title belt and gives it to the ringside attendant, Mr. Wrestling II and Paul Jones attack the champion. Tommy Young is trying to get Paul Jones out of there, and threatens to toss the match before it begins. But they are ignoring his instructions. Sweet Ebony Diamond appears down the aisle and slips into the ring. He gives a double clothesline to both men, and then chases Paul Jones from ringside. Tommy Young calls for the bell as both men get to their feet. II goes back on the attack, but Magnum battles back as they exchange strikes in the middle of the ring. Magnum starts to get the upper hand with the striking, so II rakes the eyes to stop Magnum. II starts to settle into the veteran role here, cutting off the younger star. He slows down the momentum of the champion and wrestles him to the mat. II uses cheap shots and cheating when he can, but with Paul Jones missing from ringside, he doesn’t have that distraction to help him here. Tommy Young is familiar with the bending of the rules, and at times is keeping II at bay, watching him closely. II still shows his experience keeping Magnum on the mat. II pounds him with his strikes to keep him down. II uses some wear down holds to keep the advantage. Magnum is a fighter and won’t give it up. He keeps battling to his feet. Eventually he makes II make a mistake, changing the momentum of the match. II misses a running elbow smash into the corner, as he stumbles out of the corner, Magnum drops him with a big time belly-to-belly suplex to get the win!

Time: 18:23

Decision: Magnum TA still the United States Champion


David tells us that Magnum has that finish down to a science, he was on the defensive for most of that match, but he found the opportunity and drops II with the suplex to get the win. It only takes three seconds, and Magnum knows that and uses that to his advantage when he puts his opponent’s down with the belly-to-belly. Up next, the NWA International Heavyweight Championship match with Eddy Creatchman being suspended above the ring inside the stark cage! Samu challenges the champion Rick Martel for this major NWA championship. We head to the ring for the introductions.


LUTTE INTERNATIONALE MAIN EVENT

NWA International Heavyweight Championship

Eddy “The Brain” Creatchman suspended above the ring in a shark cage

Rick Martel © vs Samu (w/Eddy “The Brain” Creatchman)

Prior to the match starting, Tony Schiavone & Bob Caudle revisit the history between both Martel & Samu, leading up to this match. And as expected, Eddy Creatchman has no intentions whatsoever to get inside that cage. In a rare moment of impulsion, Rick Martel goes to The Brain and punches him in the face! Creatchman staggers inside the cage, allowing the officials to finally lock the cage and to suspend it above the ring. Creatchman is obviously panicking and in the meantime, this allows Samu to jump on Martel and the match starts outside the ring. It’s literally a pier-six brawl as Samu manhandles the NWA International Heavyweight Champion but Rick Martel responds with all the adrenaline he can muster and fights back! Now, it’s Samu getting tossed around outside the ring and Creatchman shouts his instructions as loud as possible to Samu. Finally, order is restored and the match transports itself in the ring. That doesn’t change a whole lot as Rick Martel maintains his dominance, visibly carried by all the boiling frustration from the past few months, from the night he left his hometown of Quebec City in a stretcher to a couple of days ago on TV when he was almost choked out by Samu while his tag team partner was watching the scene. The turning point in the match came as Martel landed throat first on the top rope while attempting a high-flying move. From that moment forward, Martel’s neck & head became the focus of the challenger. Martel is trying to fight back but each time he’s able to mount a comeback, Samu counters with a move targeting the head or neck of the champion. Eventually, the champ’s luck turns around as Samu misses one of his deadly diving headbutts and with the crowd’s encouragements, Martel is able to regain momentum. Exchanging right-hands and trading nearfalls, the match winner is now anybody’s guess. And then, Samu hits an accidental savate kick to senior referee Adrien Desbois, who goes down. That’s the occasion that Eddy Creatchman chooses to try getting involved in the match as he’s able to somehow sneak his cane out of the ring and drops it in the ring. Samu grabs the foreign object and is about to hit Martel...but Martel kicks Samu in the gut and he drops the cane! Rick Martel looks around and grabs Creatchman’s cane. After hesitating a few seconds, he strikes Samu in the back with it and gives him another shot behind the neck! Samu is laying down on the mat and Martel throws the cane outside the ring. Rick Martel then locks in the Boston Crab and a motionless Samu cannot respond! Referee Adrien Desbois, coming back to his senses, sees that Samu isn’t moving or responding and calls for the bell! Rick Martel has retained the NWA International Heavyweight Championship! Tony Schiavone & Bob Caudle hype the fact that it might not have been Martel’s most honourable win but given what transpired between both men, it’s only normal that Martel had reacted this way. While Rick Martel is celebrating in the ring, we see Alexis Smirnoff making his way down to the ring and he stares down the champion. Schiavone reminds the viewers that Smirnoff recently turned his back on Martel in a tag match and reverted back to his Soviet identity. Smirnoff waves the Soviet flag outside the ring, and it visibly bothers Martel a bit. No fists are exchanged though as Smirnoff quickly retreats backstage afterwards. It now looks like Alexis Smirnoff wants a piece of Rick Martel’s NWA International Heavyweight Championship!

 

Winner: Rick Martel (retains his championship)


David Crockett welcomes us back to the top of the arena. Look at all these people here in Greensboro! He thanks all of the fans sitting in arenas all over North America for watching this show live on Closed Circuit. We have gone through six matches here tonight. The following three matches are all interpromotional matches. The first will be the big-time TWO-RING $100,000 BATTLE ROYAL. In one ring, wrestlers from Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling. The second ring will have wrestlers from Lutte Internationale. The winning wrestler from each ring will then do battle with over-the-top-rope rules until there is one winner for the $100,000 prize. **Editor’s note, we will write up each ring separately, to keep it an easy read, then will have the last two battle at the very end of this section.**


$100,000 Battle Royal

Lutte Internationale Ring: Dino Bravo, The Midnight Express of Dennis Condrey, Randy Rose & Norvell Austin, The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika), Carlos Colon, Chicky Starr, Richard “Le Magnifique” Charland, Hercules Ayala, Baron Von Raschke, Nord the Barbarian, Rick Rude, Sheik Ali, The Spoiler, The Zambuie Express, Gilles Poisson, Alexis Smirnoff & Leo Burke

The battle royal gets under way for the Lutte Internationale side. Doesn’t take too long for our first elimination as Richard Charland gets tossed out by Gilles Poisson in the first 90 seconds of the match. We can definitely see teammates and stablemates join forces together and it pays off early as Chicky Starr is the 2nd man eliminated, by Kareem Muhammad. The Midnight Express, all 3 of them, also work together but that teamwork doesn’t last long because the newly re-christened Alexis Smirnoff eliminates Randy Rose of the contest. Kareem Muhammad with his second elimination of this battle royal as Hercules Ayala is the next one to be eliminated. Gilles Poisson finds himself eliminated as well soon after by Carlos Colon. In the meantime, we see a furious exchange between Alexis Smirnoff and Dino Bravo, Bravo obviously angry at Smirnoff turning on Rick Martel 48 hours ago in Chatham, Ontario in a tag team match against Mad Dog Lefebvre & Richard Charland. Dino gets a measure of revenge on Smirnoff for his friend Martel by tossing him over the top rope. The Creatchman Family has all the strength-in-numbers as every member of the stable is still alive in this battle royal. We’re getting to see our first double elimination soon after as Leo Burke & Carlos Colon are eliminated at the same time as Burke was trying to clothesline Colon over the top rope. Then, an unexpected turn of events as Nord the Barbarian is eliminated by his own stablemate Elijah Akeem from the Zambuie Express! Nord and Akeem get into a shouting match at ringside and Sheik Ali tries to smooth things over but he also gets shoved by Akeem! A stunned Ali doesn’t see Rick rude sneaking behind him and Sheik Ali is the next elimination in the battle royal. In the meantime, Dennis Condrey & Norvell Austin are working together on Dino Bravo and it looks like the Quebec strongman will be the next elimination. Norvell Austin takes a swing at Bravo but Bravo ducks and Condrey is sent flying over the top rope! Dennis Condrey has been eliminated! More than half of the field is out of this battle royal. Rick Rude is trying to work with Baron Von Raschke and clearly, the Baron has reached his boiling point as Rude is barking orders at him. Von Raschke has enough of him and uses the Claw on Rude to send him over the top rope! The Zambuie Express is now working on Dino Bravo and the crowd in Greensboro is solidly behind Bravo. Eventually, Bravo mounts a comeback and is able to eliminate Elijah Akeem with the help of the Spoiler! An enraged Kareem Muhammad then sends The Spoiler flying over the top rope for his elimination! Meanwhile, the Wild Samoans, who had been unusually quiet for a match of this type, go into full Samoan mode. They work together and gets rid of the big Kareem Muhammad! In the meantime, Norvell Austin is celebrating like he had actually won something and realizes he’s pretty much outnumbered at 4-on-1 with the Samoans, Bravo & Von Raschke. Afa does the honors of eliminating Norvell Austin and here we have our final four: Dino Bravo, Afa, Sika & Baron Von Raschke. Bravo fights with Afa while Sika fights with Von Raschke. After some other furious exchanges we get a simultaneous elimination as both Afa & Sika are eliminated at the same time by Bravo & Von Raschke respectively. And it’s now come down to those two: Dino Bravo and Baron Von Raschke. Bravo and Von Raschke lock up and the next couple of minutes is spent on finding out who’s the stronger of the two. Eventually, Baron Von Raschke is able to lock the Claw on Dino Bravo’s forehead! Bravo is in deep trouble as Von Raschke is about to toss him over the top rope with the Claw the same way he did with Rick Rude. But Bravo is able to fight back and he breaks the Claw of Von Raschke! A stunned Von Raschke is now easy pickings and Bravo tosses him over the top rope! Dino Bravo wins it for Lutte Internationale!

Lutte Internationale winner: Dino Bravo

 

Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling Ring

The participants are: Butcher & Mad Dog Vachon. NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champions Bruce, Keith & Owen Hart. Johnny Weaver. Pedro Morales. Great Kokina. Mr. Pogo. Toru Tanaka. Mr. Fuji. The Moondogs Rex & Spot. The Grapplers. Killer Khan. Superstar Billy Graham. Abdullah The Butcher. Bruiser Brody. Andre The Giant.

When the bell rings to start the match, everyone begins to brawl against each other. Andre and Kokina are on opposite sides of the ring. But we have the unpredictable Bruiser Brody battling it out with long time rival Abdullah the Butcher. The Hart Brothers are paired off with some of Fuji’s clan. The Vachon’s, the Moondogs and The Grappler’s are having a three-way brawl between all three teams. Pedro helps out the Harts against Fuji’s clan. Killer Khan attacks Johnny Weaver, and tosses him pretty quickly. “Superstar” Graham battles with Kokina as Andre tosses Mr. Pogo from the match rather quickly. Kokina pushes Graham off of him and into the corner. Kokina attacks Pedro from behind as he was on Mr. Fuji. Kokina tosses Morales over the rope to the floor for another elimination. The battle continues, with lots of brawling. It boils down to Andre the Giant, Killer Khan, Great Kokina, Bruiser Brody and Abdullah the Butcher. Kokina and Andre finally meet face to face, but Khan interrupts and attacks Andre. They both try to get him over the ropes. Brody and Abby are still battling, bloody and bruised. Abby gets rocked with a big boot and stumbles near the ropes. Brody starts to try to grab Abby and lead him over the ropes. Brody works him over and gets him close to being tosses. Khan comes up from behind Brody and lifts him up and tosses him over the top rope to the floor. As he is pushed over the ropes, Abby falls over the ropes with all that momentum and is also eliminated. Andre is basically against two here, as Kokina and Khan seem to be working together here. They both attack Andre, and push him to the middle of the ring ropes. They both try to work together and lift Andre over the ropes. He fights back, and hammers both men in the forehead to create some separation. Khan charges quickly and Andre just side steps him, and clotheslines Khan over the rope to the floor. Now it’s Kokina vs Andre...as we’ll see this week at the non-televised shows. Kokina attacks from behind again. He clobbers the tired Giant with many strikes. Andre fights him and and clocks him with a big elbow to the face. He tries to send Kokina over, but Fuji has returned and attacks Andre. Both men are working over the Giant. Fuji tries to throw salt into Andre’s eyes, but he kicks his hand and Fuji end sup tossing the salt into his own eyes. Fuji falls from the ring. Andre gives a big boot to the side of Kokina’s head. He gets close, and grabs him in a butterfly suplex position, and just lifts up the big Kokina and sends him flying over the top-rope to the floor. Andre is declared the winner of the Mid-Atlantic ring, but before he can celebrate, Fuji’s clan appears in the ring and attacks Andre. Kokina slips into the ring and helps with the attack. Dino Bravo, just fresh off winning his ring’s battle royal just a minute ago, appears in the ring and starts to fight off Fuji’s guys. Andre starts to regain some strength and fights back. Both Andre and Dino Bravo clean the ring of Mr. Fuji and his clan. Andre and Dino shake hands in the ring. They are talking, and Tommy Young slips into the ring to discuss the situation. It appears that both men are calling for the end of the match. They have agreed to split the purse two ways. Tommy Young agrees, so the winners of each ring will take home $50,000.


Elimination: {1} Johnny Weaver (by Killer Khan), {2} Mr. Pogo (by Andre The Giant), {3} Pedro Morales (by Great Kokina), {4} Bruce Hart (by Great Kokina), {5} Owen Hart (by Mr. Fuji & Toru Tanaka), {6 & 7} Fuji & Tanaka (by Keith Hart), {8} Grappler #1 (by Mad Dog Vachon), {9} Butcher Vachon (by both Moondogs), {10} Mad Dog Vachon (by both Moondogs), {11} Grappler #2 (by Andre the Giant), {12} Keith Hart (by Great Kokina), {13} “Superstar” Graham (by Killer Khan), {14 & 15} Moondog Spot & Rex (by Andre The Giant), {16} Bruiser Brody (by Killer Khan, {17} Abdullah The Butcher (by momentum created by Brody, and helped by Khan), {18} Killer Khan (by Andre), {19} Great Kokina (by Andre the Giant)

Time: 37:32

Winner of Lutte Internationale Ring: Dino Bravo

Winner of Mid-Atlantic Ring: Andre The Giant

Co-Winners: Dino Bravo & Andre the Giant


David Crockett is shocked by the turn of events in the battle royal. Both men decided to split the purse after Fuji’s men attacked Andre. What a show of respect from both men here. They shook hands, agreed to split the purse and walked out as champions. Speaking of champions, up next is the battle over the World Tag Team Championships. Let’s get back to ringside and Tony Schiavone and Bob Caudle.


NWA World Tag Team Championship Match

One-fall with a 60-minute time limit.

Referee: Adrien Desbois

Raymond & Jacques Rougeau vs The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) ©

All four men shake hands before the match. This is two of the top tag teams in the world. The Rougeaus won a one-night tournament at the beginning of December to earn this shot here against The Fantastics. The action is a purely technical match. Both teams battle back and forth with great wrestling action. One team doesn’t really have the advantage for that long, as the pendulum goes back and forth the entire contest. Just when the challenger’s start to get the momentum, the champions cut them off and begin their attack. The Rougeaus focus on the left leg when they are in control, and the champions are looking at the left arm when they gain control. After a nice long back and forth, the champions start to sink into control for a lengthy portion, working on the left arm and shoulder of Raymond. Fulton ends up losing control after he misses a big second-rope elbow smash. Raymond tags his brother, and the brothers regain the control, working over Bobby Fulton. Even this far into the contest, both teams have been playing by the rules, and not losing their cool, but that changes just as Fulton gets a tag, but the referee doesn’t see it and won’t let it happen. Tommy Rogers argues with the referee, but Raymond now has Fulton pinned after a backbreaker. Tommy leaves the ring, and Ray only gets a two-count. This starts a pier-six brawl, as both teams are in the ring, throwing strikes at each other. The referee steps in and tries to regain control. The Fantastics nail a double dropkick to Jacques, which sends him to the apron. Referee steps in to get one of the champions out of the ring, Fulton rushes at Raymond, but gets caught with a savate kick! Raymond clutches Fulton and twists towards his corner. Jacques leaps, and they land the La Bombe Rougeau. Raymond goes for the cover...and gets the three count before Tommy Rogers can stop the pinfall! We have NEW World Tag Team Champions!

Time: 34:16

Decision: NEW NWA World Tag Team Champions, The Rougeau Brothers!


David Crockett is back for the last time this evening. He can’t believe that the Fantastic’s lost the World titles, but he congratulates the new champions, as that was a well deserved victory. He tells us that the fans around him at the top of the building was very excited about the match, and they excited about the title change. We have to take a few moments while they build the steel cage for the main event of the evening. David takes us back through the previous eight matches, and shows little clips and replays from the action tonight. After that segment is complete, we go to Atlanta and we see the previous match with Bob Backlund, challenging Ric Flair inside a cage, where 24 Karat was born. When we return from that video package, we see the steel cage just finishing up being built. David signs off and sends us back to Bob and Tony at ringside.


NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match

One-fall with No-Time-Limit, and “Smokin’ Joe Frazier as the Special Guest Referee

Outside the cage referee: Tommy Young

Bob Backlund vs “Nature Boy” Ric Flair © (w/ James J Dillon)

The cage door is locked, and we are under way. Bob Backlund goes on the offensive very quickly, keeping the champion off balance. Backlund controls the early 10-12 minutes of action. Flair is getting frustrated and kicks Backlund low to stop his momentum. Frazier gets in Flair’s face for the low blow, but it’s a Steel Cage match, so there isn’t DQ’s. Flair goes to work on Backlund and his left leg, specifically his knee. Flair is a surgeon here when it comes to working on the leg. Backlund fight back, and uses his incredible power to keep Flair away. Flair kicks at the leg and regains the advantage. Flair continues to work the leg. Backlund fight back again, this time keeping Flair off balance again with his power, even using a power Atomic Drop, but that hurts his already injured knee. Backlund works through it, even trying for a Crossface Chicken Wing, which is effective, but Flair is able to use his momentum, drop down and send Backlund into the cage. Backlund’s knee smacks a part of the cage and he is down in pain. Flair’s shoulder is injured after the submission hold, but much like the challenger, he is working through it. Flair stomps on the leg and drops his knee against the hurt knee of the challenger. Flair slaps on the Figure-Four leglock. Backlund is in a ton of pain. Backlund sits in the hold for about two minutes, before finally being able to turn it over and reverse the hold. Flair breaks the hold and hobbles to his feet. Backlund is slow to get up, obviously hurting bad. Flair climbs up the ropes and leaps with a cross-body block, but only gets a two. Flair rolls towards the ropes again, using them to help him up. Backlund is getting up, his knee injured, but he is still on the attack. He power slams the champion, but only gets a two count. Flair is on the ropes, literally and figuratively. Backlund marches forward, Flair swings wildly, Bob ducks, and grabs a waist lock. He rushes Flair into the ropes and tries for a rolling, bridging cradle, but as he rolls through and gets Flair’s shoulders on the mat, his knee gives out and Backlund drops to the mat. Flair recovers quickly and slaps on the Figure-four leglock again. They are in the middle of the ring. Backlund is fighting it, but he won’t submit. He tries to get to the ropes, but Flair pulls him back to the middle of the ring. Backlund is fighting it, but he can’t escape. Flair pulls on the foot, really locking the submission in. Backlund is trying, but he can’t reverse it. Frazier is asking him to quit, but Backlund won’t. He’s starting to lose consciousness. Frazier is still talking to Backlund, but he’s fading. Backlund passes out, and Frazier checks on him. Frazier calls for the bell. He awards the match to Ric Flair. Bob Backlund can’t continue. The Special Guest Referee stops the match…..Ric Flair will retain the title. Flair is handed the championship as JJ celebrates from ringside. Flair holds the belt high, before he walks out of the cage. The referee’s rush the cage to check on Backlund as we close the show.

Time: 46:03

Decision: Still NWA World Champion Ric Flair (due to referee stoppage)

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That was perfect timing. Kids in bed, some time to myself, fixed a little snack... now, what to do? Read? Listen to some music (with headphones), watch something?... and then, I find this posted here. Perfect.

 

Very well-booked show. I particularly liked how the Battle Royal played out, and how you had two ref bump/foreign object finishes but managed to make each one distinct. Enjoyed the whole show tremendously. Thank you.

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Great card and very well written. This really felt like an early 80s Starrcade card as every match felt important. I'm a sucker for battle royals and loved this one. It was built up nicely in both promotions and it lived up to the hype. My favorite match was Flair/Backlund in the cage. This truly is a dream match in 80s wrestling and it was very exciting to read. Excellent job!

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