NWA Halloween Havoc '90

Can Sting overcome Sid while still dealing with the Black Scorpion? What trick does the Black Scorpion have up his sleeve? Read on!

Pardon my dust, but the WWE Network only has the Turner Home Video version of the show. I’ll fill in the rest of the card as it happens.

Tim Horner defeated Barry Horowitz.
Rip Rogers defeated Reno Riggins

At the entrance, Phantom of the Opera impersonator Tony Schiavone interviews Rich and Morton. In case you’re wondering, a knee injury placed Robert Gibson on the shelf.

Match 1: The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette) versus “Wildfire” Tommy Rich & Ricky Morton

After a pair of hip tosses by Eaton, Morton reversed a cross corner whip but ate a back elbow on his follow-through.
Eaton then mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, but ate a shot to the midsection.
After a leap frog by each man and a criss-cross, Morton backdropped Eaton and followed with a huracanrana.
Lane tagged in, and the Midnight Express gave Morton a back drop/powerslam combo to the delight of the Chicago faithful.
After Lane guillotined him using the top rope, he clotheslined Morton.
Eaton tagged in, and the Midnight Express gave Morton their drop toehold/elbow drop combo for 2. I’m going to miss that.
When Morton reversed a cross corner whip, he came up empty on his follow-through.
Lane then distracted referee Nick Patrick so that Cornette could WALLOP Morton with his tennis racquet on the floor.
Still on the floor, Eaton clotheslined Morton and tossed him back in.
Lane then gave Morton a series of kicks, but Morton came back with a sunset flip.
Unfortunately for Morton, Cornette distracted Patrick from counting the pin.
It also allowed Eaton to smash Morton with a double axe handle.
Shortly after, Lane tossed, joined, and slammed Morton outside the ring. SNEAKY!
After a slam on the ramp, the Midnight Express delivered a Rocket Launcher to Morton.
Back in the ring, Lane hooked a somersault rollup for 2.
When Morton tried to rollup Lane, Eaton tagged in and gave Morton a modified Ace crusher.

He then delivered a slingshot backbreaker for 2.
As Lane tagged in, he distracted Patrick again so that Cornette could nail Morton once more. How dastardly!
Lane then baited Rich causing another distraction of Patrick, tossed Morton over the top rope to the floor, and feigned exhaustion.

On the floor, Eaton rammed Morton shoulder-first into the ring post, charged, but HIT THE POLE himself. OUCH!
Morton then gave him another huracanrana on the floor.
Not to be outdone, Cornette put the shoes to Morton without getting caught.
Back in the ring, Morton hooked an inside cradle on Lane for 2.
Eaton tagged in and slammed Morton.
Next, he mounted the top turnbuckle and hit the Alabama Jam.
Instead of pinning him, Eaton requested Patrick count to ten. As you might anticipate, Morton made it to his feet by nine.
Upon receiving another series of kicks by Lane, Morton gave Lane the ten-top-turnbuckle count-along until Lane raked his eyes.
After a slam by Lane, Eaton mounted the top turnbuckle yet again, but Rocket Launcher #2 hit knees.
Hot tag Rich.
Upon slamming Eaton, Rich hit a Thesz press on Lane for only 2 thanks to a save by Eaton.
All four wrestlers were in the ring.
As Rich slammed Lane, he mounted the top turnbuckle, but Cornette HAMMERED him with the racquet.
Suddenly, the Southern Boys, dressed like Cornette, distracted the Midnight Express preventing them from pinning Rich.
As the Southern Boys nailed Cornette, Lane only got 2 on Rich.
While Patrick was distracted by Eaton and the Southern Boys, Rich used Cornette’s racquet to ANNIHILATE Lane.
1-2-3.
Morton and Rich won.

Summary: Sadly, this was the last supershow for this iteration of the Midnight Express. Cornette would not make another supershow appearance until 1993. Regardless, this was an awesome match with a great send-off for Lane and Cornette.

Schiavone then interviews Sting who fumbles his words almost as badly as Earnest Byner in 1987. Suddenly, the Black Scorpion places a female fan in a metal cage, yet when Sting tries to rescue her, she vanishes into thin air. That’s simply magical, folks. She and the Black Scorpion reappear on the stage below, but Sting saves her.

For those unaware, the Renegade Warriors were portrayed by Chris & Mark Youngblood. Also, Little Richard Marley was portrayed by Rocky King who mimicked Robert Gibson with his attire and limp.

Mark, not to be confused with the conspicuous Mean Mark, gave Hayes the ten-top-turnbuckle count-along followed by a cross corner whip and back drop.
After Mark chopped both Freebirds, Chris mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a double clothesline on them.
Shortly after, Chris rolled up Garvin, but as Garvin kicked out, Hayes nailed Chris with a vicious left.
Garvin then delivered a belly-to-back suplex to Chris.
While Mark distracted referee Randy Anderson, Garvin tossed Chris over the top rope to the floor.
With Chris on the floor, Marley nailed him repeatedly.
After a knee to the midsection by Garvin, Hayes slammed Chris and followed with a fist drop.
When Chris applied a sleeper, Hayes tagged out to Garvin.
Speaking of Garvin, he slammed Chris as the Chicago faithful chanted “D-D-T.”
At the fifteen-minute mark, Hayes attempted said DDT, but Chris countered with a back drop.
Garvin then tossed Chris outside the ring so that Hayes could nail him.
After a slam by Garvin, Hayes tagged in, hit an elbow drop, and got 2.
Chris came back with a cross body block for 2.
As Hayes slammed him, he mounted the top turnbuckle but got caught and slammed down to the mat.
Lukewarm tag Mark.

All four wrestlers were in the ring as Chris delivered a double clothesline to the Freebirds.
When the Renegade Warriors gave the Freebirds the ten-punch count-along on opposite sides of the ring, Marley got up on the apron only to be brought in the hard way.
While Mark rolled up Garvin, Marley distracted Anderson so that Hayes could DDT Mark.
1-2-3.
Freebirds won.

Schiavone then interviews three of the Four Horsemen. While Arn and Flair cut promos on Doom, Sid’s ready for Sting. Where’s Windham?

Match 3 for the NWA US tag team titles: Steiners (champions) versus Nasty Boys

When the Steiners hit the ring, it was on like Donkey Kong.

After Scott made Sags HIT THE POLE, Sags reversed an Irish whip and sent Scott back-first into the steel railing.
He then took a steel chair and WALLOPED Scott with it.
In the ring, Sags placed Scott atop the top turnbuckle, joined him, but Scott escaped.
With Sags atop the top turnbuckle, Scott gave him an overhead belly-to-belly superplex for 2. Wow!
Scott then gave Sags a butterfly powerbomb as Rick nailed an incoming Knobbs.
When Rick mounted the top turnbuckle, the Steiners delivered the Steinerizer.

As Scott made the cover, Knobbs hammered him with a chair. Meanwhile, Rick distracted referee Mike Adkins. Knobbs then got 2.
After a sidewalk slam, Knobbs hit a powerslam for another 2.
He then tossed Scott outside the ring so that Sags could leap from the apron to deliver a knee drop.
While Sags gave Scott a pumphandle slam, he followed with a gutwrench suplex for 2.
Knobbs then made an illegal switch and hooked a Sags-assisted abdominal stretch on Scott.
After Sags tagged in, he applied a bear hug until Scott countered with a belly-to-belly suplex. Sweet!
When Knobbs came in illegally, Rick cut him off and delivered a Steinerline that rocked the UIC Pavilion.
Rick then attempted another Steinerline, but Knobbs ducked causing Rick to soar over the top rope to the floor.
While Adkins checked on Rick, the Nasty Boys delivered a spike piledriver to Scott.

Do we have new champions?
No, Adkins placed Knobbs back in the heel corner.
In the meantime, Rick CLOBBERED Sags with a chair.
After an already BUSTED OPEN Sags missed a clothesline, Scott gave him a belly-to-back suplex.
Knobbs tagged in and applied another bear hug to Scott.
After a cross corner whip, Knobbs ate boot on his follow-through.
Sags tagged in and hooked a Boston crab, but Scott powered out of it. Wow!
When Knobbs tagged in, Scott escaped his rear chin lock.
Sags tagged in, but Scott gave him an inverted atomic drop.
When the Nasty Boys attempted the Sags-assisted corner splash, Knobbs came up empty.
Scott then gave Sags a Steinerline and made the hot tag!
After a double noggin knocker, Rick gave Knobbs a belly-to-belly suplex but only got 2 thanks to a save by Sags.
All four wrestlers were in the ring.
After the Nasty Boys tossed Rick outside the ring, Rick mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a double Steinerline.
The Nasty Boys then exited the ring and gave Scott a double slam on the floor.
As the Nasty Boys tried to double-team Rick, Scott tripped them and pulled Sags out of the ring.
He then made Sags HIT THE POLE.
After Rick gave Knobbs a Steinerline, Scott gave him a Frankensteiner to a HUGE pop.

1-2-3.
Steiners retained.

Summary: I can’t believe the Steiners and Nasty Boys were capable of stringing together such a fantastic match. This match had everything, and the Chicago faithful LOVED it. Great job, guys!

After the match, the Nasty Boys lay out the Steiners using the tag belts as weapons. As Sags tossed Adkins down, the Nasty Boys rammed Rick shoulder-first into the ring post twice.

Terry Taylor pinned “Wild” Bill Irwin.
“Candyman” Brad Armstrong beat JW Storm (Jeff Warner from Maximum Overdrive).
The Master Blasters (Blade and Steel) defeated the Southern Boys. Blade, who replaced Iron, was portrayed by Al Green.

Junkyard Dog beat Moondog Rex.

Schiavone then interviews Scott who cuts a promo on the Nasty Boys. Abruptly, a concessionaire tosses his drink tray into Scott’s face. When Knobbs attacks Scott, the concessionaire reveals himself to be Sags.

Match 4 for the NWA World tag team titles: Doom (champions w/ Teddy Long) versus “Nature Boy” Ric Flair & NWA World TV champion the “Enforcer” Arn Anderson

With Arn on the apron, he tried to suplex Simmons to the floor, but Simmons reversed it bringing Arn into the ring.
After Flair put a knee into Simmons’ back, Arn delivered a vertical suplex to Simmons.
Speaking of Simmons, he reversed an Irish whip enabling Reed to put a knee into Arn’s back.
Immediately, Simmons hit a powerslam for 2.
While Reed distracted referee Randy Anderson, the Horsemen tried to double-team Simmons but ate a double clothesline instead.
Flair then chased Long into the ring but got slapped. Obviously, homie don’t play that.
When Reed tagged in, Flair requested to face him.
Shortly after, Reed gave him a military-press slam.
Arn came in but received a gorilla press slam from Simmons.
While Reed gave Flair the ten-punch count-along, he delivered a hip toss followed by a clothesline.
He then gave Flair a series of rights resulting in a Flair flop.
Next, a cross corner whip resulted in a Flair flip. When Flair landed on the ramp, Simmons nailed him.
Arn tagged in, but Reed reversed an Irish whip and delivered a high knee.
As Simmons tagged in, Doom gave Arn a double clothesline for 2.
While Reed distracted Anderson again, the Horsemen double-teamed Simmons with a Boston crab/knee drop combo.
Shortly after, Arn delivered the SPINEBUSTER for 2 with a huge kick-out from Simmons.
Flair tagged in and gave Simmons a knee crusher.
Following that, Flair delivered a belly-to-back suplex.
He then hooked an Arn-assisted figure-four leg lock, but Simmons reversed it.
When Arn tagged in, Simmons missed a dropkick. That earned Arn a 2-count.
He then tried a test-of-strength but got crotched. OUCH!
Shortly after, Arn tossed Simmons outside the ring.
Flair tried to make Simmons taste the steel railing, but Simmons force-fed him instead. It must have tasted like the Sloppy Pig at Jake Melnick’s.
As Simmons re-entered the ring via sunset flip, Arn tagged out.
Flair then missed a chop while Simmons hit a clothesline.
At the twenty-minute mark, Simmons face-planted Arn.
Hot tag Reed.
After a dropkick, Reed hit a flying shoulder block to Flair for 2.
All four wrestlers were in the ring.
When Reed and Flair exited the ring, Reed made him taste the steel railing again. Waiter, could you give the platinum-blond wrestler a Prohibition burger please?
Arn then attempted a piledriver on Simmons, but Reed mounted the top turnbuckle and hit a flying shoulder block for 2.
After Simmons knocked Flair outside the ring, Arn delivered the DDT to Reed, but Simmons made the save.
Flair then gave Reed a cross corner whip but ate a clothesline.
Outside the ring, Simmons made Arn taste the steel railing. Um, waiter, could you give the articulate one a Smoke’n’Fire burger please?
With all four wrestlers outside the ring, Anderson counted them out.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Summary: Crappy finish to a great match as Arn and Flair made Doom look good.

Next, we get a pre-recorded promo from Hansen who cuts another disgusting promo on Luger.

Match 9 for the NWA US title: The “Total Package” Lex Luger (champion) versus Stan “The Lariat” Hansen

After a back elbow by Luger, Hansen came back with an elbow drop for 2.
He then tossed Luger outside the ring, leaped, and nailed Luger with a forearm smash.
Next, he made Luger HIT THE POLE.
While the Chicago faithful chanted “Lu-ger,” the “Total Package” slammed Hansen.
Speaking of Hansen, he gave Luger a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
After Hansen fell out of the ring, Luger rammed him face-first into the ramp twice.
Back in the ring, Luger gave Hansen a hip toss followed by a pair of elbow smashes for 2.
Hansen came back with a snap suplex and an elbow drop for 2.
After a slam, he delivered a knee drop for another 2.
He then gave Luger a bulldog but couldn’t get 3.
As Luger came back, he gave Hansen the ten-punch count-along, but Hansen countered with a takedown for 2.
He then slammed Luger, mounted the second turnbuckle, but missed an elbow drop.
After Luger hit a dropkick, he slammed Hansen.
He then hit an elbow drop for 2.
Upon giving Hansen a vertical suplex, Luger got another 2.
Hansen then reversed a cross corner whip and delivered a corner clothesline.
After Hansen obliterated referee Mike Adkins, Luger exploded out of the corner with a clothesline.
Suddenly, “Dangerous” Dan Spivey came to the ring and tossed Hansen’s bull rope into the ring.
Hansen then tried to knock Luger’s lights out with the cowbell, but Luger countered with a back drop.
After Luger face-planted him, Hansen came back with the lariat.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

When Missy Hyatt joins the broadcast location, she haphazardly picks Sid to win the World title.

After Sid missed a clothesline, Sting hit a cross body block.
On the other hand, Sid caught and gave him a backbreaker.
But Sting no-sold it!
When Sting attempted to hook the figure-four leg lock, Sid made the ropes.
Sid then missed a clothesline as Sting backdropped him to the floor.
When Sting joined him, he made Sid taste the steel railing. It must have tasted like the Old Bailey Burger at Timothy O’Toole’s.
Sid then tried to ram Sting into the ring post but HIT THE POLE himself.
Back in the ring, Sid gave Sting a cross corner whip but came up empty on his follow-through.
Shortly after, Sid nipped up from a headscissors and clotheslined Sting.
Sting then attempted a sunset flip but ate a knuckle sandwich instead.

Surprisingly, Sting actually took him down for 2.
After another clothesline, Sid got 2.
Shortly after, Sid reversed an Irish whip and delivered a powerslam.
Do we have a new champion?
1-2-NO!
Sting then reversed a cross corner whip but came up empty on a Stinger splash.
From the apron, Sting mounted the top turnbuckle, hit a cross body block, but only got a 1-count.
With Sting on the apron, Sid delivered another clothesline, brought him in the ring, and got 2.
Both wrestlers missed elbow drops as Sting face-planted Sid.
When he charged, Sting ate boot.
On the ramp, Sid hit another clothesline and slammed him.
Sting then ran to the ring, flew over the top rope, and delivered a lariat. Perhaps he IS Superman.

After a dropkick that sent Sid between the ropes to the floor, Sting hit a plancha.
While Flair and Arn came to the ring and distracted referee Nick Patrick, Sid and Sting fought backstage.
Upon their return, Sting attempted a slam, but Sid fell on top.
1-2-3.
WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!
Suddenly, Sting reappeared having been tied up in the back.
He then nailed Sid with the belt and hit the Stinger splash.
Following that, he hooked an inside cradle.
1-2-3.
Sting retained.

Summary: Controversial finish to a match where Sid didn’t showcase himself well.

After the match, the replay showed a Sting imposter as the show goes off the air.

Conclusion: With the opener, the World tag title match, and the awesome US tag title match, this show is a no-brainer for a positive recommendation. Conceivably, down the line, Sid could be a worthy World title contender, but he needs to showcase his moves because defense isn’t his best weapon.