National Wrestling Alliance / World Championship Wrestling - Saturday, June 15th, 1985
- The show opens on an arena match with no context nor voiceover...Magnum TA and Dusty Rhodes vs. Tully Blanchard and Abdullah The Butcher. Magnum reverses an attempted suplex by Tully, gives the hot tag to Dusty, and Dusty starts cleaning house...bionic elbows, skull session, body slam for Abdullah, sleeper for Tully, and then freeze frame.
- Opening credits.
- Tony Schiavone is flying solo...David Crockett is not there, having suffered an injury at the hands of Nikita Koloff. We'll learn more about that next week. Flair, Slater, a defense of the National Tag Titles, Kamala.
- Here's Magnum. He says that Ric Flair's days are numbered.
- Dick Slater & Buzz Sawyer vs. Ron Rossi & Mark Hill
- Slater vs. Rossi to start. Slater with a clean break on the ropes.
- Slater with some amateur moves. Rossi goes to the ropes.
- Jimmy Valiant and Tully Blanchard will be here today.
- Slater keeps taking Rossi down with mat wrestling.
- Slater now with some power moves, snapmare, elbow drop, spinning neck breaker, another elbow drop.
- Hill is tagged in, Slater wraps him up with mat wrestling.
- Sawyer tagged in, to the crowd's delight.
- Sawyer with punches, kicks, other power moves.
- Knees to Hill's left arm by Sawyer on the mat. Slater tagged in.
- A short boxing match ensues with Hill coming out on the losing end.
- More power moves by Slater, including a combination suplex/brainbuster.
- Sawyer tagged in, power moves, power slam, and Slater is tagged in.
- Slater methodically puts on the figure-four leglock. Hill gives up.
- Your Winners: Dick Slater & Buzz Sawyer via submission
- Slater's angry after the match, but it's unclear why.
- Schiavone interviews Manny Fernandez. Man, Manny's forehead is a mess. He says that he wasn't recognized 15 years ago (when he returned from Vietnam), but he's going to be recognized now. Fernandez calls Koloff out, and says Koloff's Communism is coming to an end. Fernandez is also gunning for Arn Anderson.
- "Raging Bull" Manny Fernandez vs. Randy Barber
- Criss-cross, hip toss by Fernandez. Barber claims a pull of the trunks. Fernandez just looks pissed off.
- Arm twist by Fernandez, chop while holding onto the arm twist.
- No clean break by Barber in the ropes...bad move.
- Elbows, dropkick, back to the arm twist by Fernandez.
- Hammerlock on the mat by Fernandez.
- Attempted reversal by Barber but Fernandez kicks his way out.
- Whip, back fist by Fernandez.
- Shots in the corner, whip, double thrust, 1-2-3, it's over.
- Your Winner: Manny Fernandez via pinfall
- Schiavone says that Dusty Rhodes has sustained a serious injury at the hands of Tully Blanchard with Baby Doll. Schiavone is worried that Rhodes will never be his jovial self again after this injury. We roll the tape...
- Dusty is in what is probably supposed to be his office, but in reality looks to be a room with pictures hastily tacked on the wall to look like his office. He's wearing dark sunglasses and has a huge bandage underneath them over his right eye.
- Dusty says has has given a lot of interviews and been before millions of people on television and in arenas, and he is "a legend without any equal...nobody on par with him". Hmmm, well, he's not exactly humble, is he?
- Injuries are part of professional wrestling, but he's never had anything like this. He takes off his sunglasses, and he has big bandages above and below his right eye.
- We go to a clip of Rhodes in the ring with Blanchard, Baby Doll sneaks in with a black wig, and Dusty pulls her wig off. We go back to Dusty.
- Dusty says this is a low time for him. He's got one thing to say to Tully and Baby Doll..."LET'S GO FIGHT!!! LET'S GO FOR IT!!!"
- "Boogie Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant vs. Larry Clarke
- Valiant gives his hat to Schiavone.
- Valiant has a brace on his neck, and a gravelly voice...well, more gravelly than usual.
- Before the match he goes around the ring shaking hands with the crowd.
- Usual Jimmy Valient offense...highly exagerrated moves. Valiant's calling for Graham.
- Valiant loves that nerve hold.
- Back elbow, elbow drop, 1-2-3.
- Your Winner: Jimmy Valiant via pinfall
- Valiant tries to dip the referee after the match and give him a kiss.
- Another anniversary wish: Mr. & Mrs. John Becker of Yuma, CO are celebrating their 57th anniversary today.
- Here he is, the Heavyweight Champion Of The World, Ric Flair. Flair says that Koloff taking down his good friend David Crockett was meant to get Flair's attention. Well, now, he's got it. Flair calls out Slater, Rhodes, Magnum and Landel. And, to all the tourists, no need to go to Florida...Space Mountain is right here.
- Kimala (that's how they spelled it) w/ General Skandor Akbar vs. Alan Martin
- Kimala comes to the ring with jungle drums playing over the speakers. Magnum TA is at ringside.
- Magnum says that Kimala is gunning for him. They've met twice with no clear winner.
- Kimala attackes before bell. Clubbing blows, whip, chop, choke up in the air, throw, choke over the second rope.
- Another choke up in the air, body slam, Martin is face down...Kimala up to the top turnbuckle, big splash from the top.
- Kimala has to be reminded to roll the man over on his back. 1-2-3.
- Your Winner: Kimala via pinfall
- NWA/WCW US Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA vs. Paul Stiles
- Two dropkicks by Magnum, belly-to-belly suplex, it's over. 28 seconds bell-to-bell.
- Your Winner: NWA/WCW US Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA via pinfall
- Schiavone interviews Slater and Buzz Sawyer. Slater says that if the Andersons are looking for a fight, they've got one. Slater has words for Flair...Flair doesn't have the guts to wrestle him for the title in George. Sawyer says all the talking is done...apparently, the talking has been replaced by hysterical yelling. Slater ends with "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth".
- For the NWA National Heavyweight Tag Team Titles: Ole & Arn Anderson (champions) vs. The Italian Stallion & Joe Lightfoot (challengers)
- Arn and Stallion to start out.
- Lock up, clean break in the ropes from Stallion.
- Trade of amateur holds, no clean break from Arn in the ropes...instead, he does a single-leg trip and tags in Ole.
- Ole makes no progress...Lightfoot tagged in and Arn tags Ole back in.
- Pandemonium threatens to break out, but the ref maintains control.
- Arm drag by Lightfoot.
- Arn is able to tag in Ole...once again, Ole is dragged into the wrong corner.
- Ole is able to tag Arn back in. Arn with a hammerlock on Stallion.
- Schiavone notes that, regarding the match with Black Bart and Ron Garvin last week, the NWA rules state that a decision cannot be reversed because of the videotape; however, they are considering giving Garvin a rematch before he has to leave town.
- Ole is tagged in...he cannot get anything going today. He tags Arn in.
- Arn with a snapmare and arm bar on Stallion.
- Stallion almost tags out, but Arn pulls him back by the hair.
- Ole tagged in...Stallion is in the wrong corner.
- Yet again, Stallion has Ole reeling. However, Ole finally comes back with a belly-to-back suplex. Arn tagged in.
- The Andersons very much taking advantage of the five seconds to get out of the ring.
- Headbutt by Arn, Ole tagged back in, Lightfoot tries to help out, and that just makes things worse for Stallion.
- Arn comes in with possibly a phantom tag. Stallion is able to get to his corner and tag in Lightfoot.
- Lightfoot is house-a-fire until he gets caught in the wrong corner. Ole tagged in. Elbow drop, two-count. Arm bar. Arn tagged in.
- Arn chokes Lightfoot on the top rope and Ole joins in as the referee tries to get Stallion out of the ring.
- Arn with a hammerlock. Lightfoot pulls a snapmare out of nowhere but Arn, master of ring positioning, is able to tag Ole.
- Punch, punch, head into turnbuckle, head into turnbuckle. Clubbing blow. Arn tagged in.
- Yet again, Stallion tries to come into the ring and the ref trying to get him out allows the Andersons to inflict more punishment on Lightfoot.
- Arn with a gourdbuster on Lightfoot. Arn tags in Ole and Arn extends Lightfoot's arm as Ole climbs the turnbuckles and comes down onto Lightfoot.
- Lightfoot is out, and Ole is still stomping away on the left arm.
- The referee sees that Lightfoot is out, and calls for the bell.
- Your Winners: And still NWA National Heavyweight Tag Team Champions, Ole & Arn Anderson, due to their opponent being ruled unable to continue
- The Andersons keep stomping Lightfoot's arm until Stallion gets in there to protect him.
- Tony Schiavone with NWA/WCW World Television Champion Tully Blanchard and Baby Doll. Tully notes that every time Dusty comes out and says something bad about Tully or Baby Doll, Dusty winds up getting injured. Tully wants Dusty to think about what's going to happen to him next time.
- After commercials, we're back with Schiavone. He shows a video of Nikita Koloff in street clothes, with Ivan standing behind him, challenging Ric Flair.
- Barbarian w/Paul Jones vs. Jason Walker
- Paul Jones has to remove Barbarian's spikes before the match.
- Walker tries to body slam Barbarian...no dice. He gets a press slam for his trouble.
- Everything Walker tries is just thrown right back at him.
- Power move after power move by Barbarian.
- Three headbutts to Walker's chest.
- Funny...my copy of the show goes out for a few seconds and I see the TBS logo and satellite dish graphic they put in when the feed goes out.
- Barbarian up to the top turnbuckle with a flying headbutt. 1-2-3.
- Your Winner: Barbarian via pinfall
- On the replay, I see what I missed...the finisher was set up by a Mafia Kick.
- NWA/WCW World Television Champion Tully Blanchard w/ Baby Doll vs. Gerald Findley
- Baby Doll has words with the referee and Findley before the match.
- Tully slaps Findley before the match and Findley returns the favor with a dropkick to Tully's back.
- Findley with punches, headbutts, and a roll-up. One-and-a-half only.
- Blanchard rolls out in a hurry.
- Blanchard comes back in, and Findley goes right at him again.
- Blanchard turns the tables, and he's pissed. He gets a few shots in, hits Findley with the slingshot suplex, 1-2-3, and it's over.
- Your Winner: And still NWA/WCW World Television Champion, Tully Blanchard via pinfall
- Tully drops two elbows on Findley after the match is over for good measure.
- Schiavone is with The Man, Ric Flair in all his robed splendor. Flair: "I'm Ric Flair, the living legend. I'm Slick Ric. I'm Space Mountain." Awesome. As he's running down his so-called competitors, we hear squeals from the crowd...it's Magnum TA in his tights. Magnum says that he doesn't wear the fancy clothes or drive the fancy cars, but he's got $1000 that says Flair can't beat him in 10 minutes. Magnum drops the money on the podium and goes to the ring. Schiavone asks Flair what's he's going to do. Flair says "I'm going to hurt him, right now."
- In a non-title match: NWA/WCW World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs. NWA/WCW US Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA, with a 10-minute time limit
- Stare down to start.
- Lock up, chop by Flair, punch by Magnum.
- Lock up, whip by Flair, shoulder block by Magnum, another whip, dropkick by Magnum.
- Kick to the gut by Flair, big chop, Magnum's head into the turnbuckle. Chop, punch, another chop.
- Flair whips Magnum, Magnum reverses, Flair into the turnbuckles and Magnum gives Flair a big back body drop.
- Forearm shot by Magnum, knee by Flair, chop by Flair, punch by Magnum. Flair tosses Magnum from the ring.
- As Magnum gets back in the ring, Schiavone notes that the Andersons have come out to watch the match.
- Ole says that for those that don't know, it's time they find out...Ric Flair is their cousin, and they're here to watch family.
- This is actually a very powerful moment. Given what was said, it sounds as if this was the very first time that it was stated that the Andersons were cousins with Flair. If so, this moment was the true genesis of what would become the Four Horsemen.
- Back in the ring, Magnum blocks a suplex and delivers one of his own. Two-count only.
- Knee to the gut by Flair. Snapmare by Flair, and Flair gives Magnum a knee to the head.
- Gut-wrench suplex by Flair. Two-count only.
- Chop by Flair, abdominal stretch with Flair using the ropes for leverage.
- Ole claims that the only reason Magnum is US Champion is because the Andersons and Flair can't hold more than one belt. Hmmm...I don't think that's true, but we'll let that one go.
- Magnum is bleeding from the forehead.
- Shoulder to the gut by Flair. Whip of Magnum into the corner by Flair, but Magnum reverses into a rollup.
- Shots in the corner by Magnum, whip, Flair Flip out to the floor.
- Arn is livid that the referee did not disqualify Magnum for "throwing Flair over the top rope". Specifically, Arn says that the ref is "out of his doodle".
- Flair gets the advantage coming back in, snapping Magnum's head on the top rope.
- Flair goes up top and actually hits the double-axehandle from the top turnbuckle.
- Elbow drop by Flair, two-count only. Flair pitches Magnum from the ring.
- Chop by Flair on the floor. Shoulder into the ringpost, and Flair throws Magnum back in.
- Flair starts wrestling like the Andersons, working on Magnum's left arm.
- Magnum reverses Flair into the turnbuckle, and Magnum returns the favor on the left arm.
- Back-and-forth, roll up by Magnum. Two-count. Shot and another cover by Magnum. Two-count.
- High back body drop by Magnum. One-count only.
- Attempted splash by Magnum, but Flair gets his knees up.
- Dueling backslides, Magnum comes out on top but only gets a two-count.
- Back and forth, Magnum with a press slam, two-count only.
- Hip toss by Magnum, but Magnum misses a dropkick.Two-count only by Flair. One minute left in the match.
- Magnum gets Flair in the figure-four leglock, but the ten-minute time limit expires.
- Your Winner: Time-limit draw
- Flair goes to attack Magnum after the match, but Magnum gives Flair an atomic drop for his trouble.
- The Andersons rush the ring and attack Magnum. They hold Magnum out as Flair comes off the top turnbuckle with a knee to the back of Magnum's neck. Ouch!
- Flair and The Andersons continue the beating until Slater and Sawyer come in and make the save.
- Flair is apoplectic after the match.
- They show Flair coming off the top onto the back of Magnum's neck in slow-motion. It looked even more dangerous in slow-motion.
That's it for this week. The show was only an hour-and-a-half so as to make room for Atlanta Braves baseball.
The Good: The Flair/Magnum match.
The Bad: Jimmy Valiant's match. Ugh.
The Ugly: The knee to the back of Magnum's neck from the top turnbuckle. Man, that looked dangerous.