Taped from Atlanta, GA
Airdate: May 4, 1985 (taped 05/04)
Attendance: unknown
Hosted by Tony Schiavone & David Crockett
Wow! This show has gone completely bananas! You won’t believe how much monkeying around happens. I don’t want to spoil it as it may…
Opening montage.
As the show opens, both “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and Magnum T.A. stand on opposite sides of the podium. Flair flaunts his wardrobe over Magnum who’d rather wear Levi’s. While Flair claims he’s recognizable at the airports, Magnum warns that his day of reckoning is coming.
Match 1: “Cowboy” Ron Bass (w/ JJ Dillon) versus Gene Ligon
Highlights:
Bass hip-tossed Ligon and followed with a back elbow. When he took Ligon down, Bass got 2. He dealt Ligon a swinging neckbreaker for another 2. As Ligon got his lights turned off, Bass unloaded an elbow drop. Ligon rebounded with a series of forearm smashes, gave Bass a cross corner whip, but ate boot on his follow-through.
After Bass slammed him, he suplexed Ligon for 2. He rammed Ligon face-first into the mat repeatedly and pounded him into mincemeat. While Ligon offered some ineffective offense, Bass stymied him with a knee lift. He applied a claw and pinned Ligon at 5:29.
A. Was the match competitive? No, Bass kept control despite Ligon’s efforts.
B. What maneuver made the difference in the match? Bass’ claw means disaster for his opposition.
C. Could the match have been better? No, Ligon wasn’t going to affect Bass no matter what.
At the podium, Schiavone interviews Paul Jones with Abdullah the Butcher alongside him. He cuts a promo on Valiant vowing to end his career.
Following a commercial break, Schiavone interviews an extremely hoarse Valiant who appreciates his fans’ sentiments. He struggles to speak, so he writes a love note on his chalk board to them.
Match 2: The “Boogie Woogie Man” Jimmy Valiant versus Randy Barber
Highlights:
Valiant gave Barber a cross corner whip and followed with a hip toss. As Valiant backdropped him, Barber sought refuge on the concrete floor. He returned to the apron only for Valiant to bring him back into the ring the hard way. When Jones emerged at the podium, Valiant trapped Barber in a sleeper.
Barber made the ropes to escape, so Valiant mauled him. After he dealt Barber a knee to the midsection, Valiant pointed at Jones. He flattened Barber with a back elbow and elbow drop. 1-2-3. Valiant won at 2:26.
A. Was the match competitive? Not at all. Valiant took control of Barber from the start.
B. What maneuver made the difference in the match? Despite being a babyface, Valiant didn’t hesitate to cheat, so his destruction of Barber wasn’t exactly clean.
C. Could the match have been better? No, Valiant wasn’t going to allow Barber to do anything.
After the match, Valiant chases Jones into the ring and beats him up. Abdullah waddles into the ring and attacks Valiant in the injured throat. As Jones holds Valiant’s feet, Abdullah SQUISHES Valiant with a series of devastating elbow drops. Suddenly, a pair of babyfaces try to intervene to no avail. When enough babyfaces including Magnum outnumber them, Abdullah and Jones retreat to the locker room.
JCP on tour:
- Cincinnati, OH: TONIGHT!
- Atlanta, GA: May 12
- Canton, OH: May 13
- Saginaw, MI: May 14
- Troy, OH: May 15
- Charleston, WV: May 16
- Cleveland, OH: May 18
At the podium, Schiavone interviews Ivan and Nikita Koloff. Ivan disputes the presence of any gorilla and reads fan mail from “Steve Driscoll.” Next, Nikita calls Flair “soft,” and the World title belongs to him.
Match 3 (non-title): NWA World TV champion Tully Blanchard (w/ Baby Doll) versus Dale Williams
Highlights:
Per my last reflection, Blanchard defeated Rhodes for the World TV title in Charlotte on 4/28. Blanchard hooked an Indian death lock on Williams, but Williams bridged out. When Williams applied a head lock, Blanchard vaulted him across the ring. He tossed Williams down to the concrete floor where Baby Doll badmouthed him.
As Williams returned, Blanchard ejected him again. Williams returned once more, but Blanchard obliterated him with a pair of knee lifts. After he landed an elbow drop to the back, Blanchard mounted the second turnbuckle and launched a flying elbow smash. He straddled Williams along the second rope, and Baby Doll slapped the BEJEEZUS out of him. How dastardly!
While he slammed Williams, Blanchard dropkicked him. He hooked a slingshot suplex and pinned Williams at 7:08.
A. Was the match competitive? No, Blanchard basically toyed with the young Williams.
B. What maneuver made the difference in the match? Both the flying elbow smash and dropkick were integral to his victory.
C. Could the match have been better? No, Williams sold Blanchard’s offense like he was getting beaten up.
At the podium, Schiavone interviews the Andersons. Ole issues an open challenge while Arn “toots” his own horn for YOUR pleasure.
Match 4: Black Bart (w/o JJ Dillon) versus Ken Glover
Highlights:
Bart guillotined Glover across the top rope and followed with a vertical suplex. As he landed a flying knee drop, he gave Glover a pair of HARD cross corner whips. He scored with a double axe handle and sent him reeling to the concrete floor. When Glover returned, Bart backdropped him. He rammed him face-first into the mat twice and demolished him with a lariat.
After Bass approached ringside, he offered encouragement to Bart. Next, Bart slammed Glover, mounted the second turnbuckle, and launched a flying leg drop. 1-2-3. Bart won at 8:39.
A. Was the match competitive? No, it was an absolutely BORING squash.
B. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The studio audience chanting “BORING.”
C. Could the match have been better? Yes, it could have been over much sooner.
At the podium, Schiavone interviews Dusty Rhodes who’s brought a bunch of bananas. He uncovers a cage where a “gorilla” inhabits. Yes, folks, it’s a man in a gorilla costume. Regardless, the “gorilla” grabs Rhodes’ sport coat, so Rhodes removes it and claims to not want to feed him. Schiavone interviews the “gorilla” who “growls” at him. Afterward, Rhodes ends the promo by running down the Koloffs.
POINT OF ORDER: While completely asinine, it’s also cheap humor to mock Nikita. Only Rhodes would attempt such buffoonery.
Match 5 (non-title): NWA US champion Magnum T.A. versus the Golden Terror
Highlights:
Terror charged, but Magnum caught and slammed him. When he dropkicked Terror, Magnum polished him off with a belly-to-belly suplex. 1-2-3. Magnum won at 0:23.
A. Was the match competitive? Nope, another quick win for the US champ.
B. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The belly-to-belly eliminates all the terror in the world.
C. Could the match have been better? Nope, the monster push for Magnum continues.
At the podium, Schiavone interviews Bass who puts over his new claw hold.
Match 6 (non-title): NWA World champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair versus Rocky King
Highlights:
Magnum joined the broadcast table for this match. As the bell rang, Flair showcased his magnificently green robe. Following a commercial break, Flair dealt King a back elbow. He suplexed King and followed with an elbow drop. When Flair hooked a figure-four leg lock, King submitted. Flair won at 1:41 shown.
A. Was the match competitive? No, Flair had it from the get-go.
B. What maneuver made the difference in the match? King was defenseless when locked in Flair’s signature hold.
C. Could the match have been better? Nope, in a quick match, King made the champ look golden.
Following the match, Flair approaches the podium and challenges Magnum. As you’d expect, Magnum accepts and enters the ring. As Flair joins him, he exits to psyche him out. He decides to walk away instead.
Next, Schiavone interviews Blanchard along with Baby Doll. Blanchard crows about beating Rhodes for the World TV title.
Following a commercial break, Schiavone interviews Rhodes who’s eating a banana. He states that he polled the studio audience about the name of the “gorilla.” The name is “Baby Doll #2.” HA! When asked about Nikita, the “gorilla” growls again. Funny segment.
Match 7 (non-title): NWA National tag team champions Ole & Arn Anderson versus Richard Dye & Gerald Finley
Highlights:
I mentioned in my last reflection that Ole and Arn defeated Manny Fernandez and Thunderbolt Patterson in Charlotte. In doing so, the National tag team title belt previously held by Patterson was awarded to Arn. Tags were exchanged on both sides, and Arn brought Dye into the ring the hard way.
When Arn dealt Dye a hammerlock slam, Ole tagged in, mounted the top turnbuckle, and launched a flying knee into Dye’s shoulder. Arn tagged in and applied an arm bar. After Dye submitted, the Andersons won at 2:33.
A. Was the match competitive? No, the Andersons manhandled them, especially Dye.
B. What maneuver made the difference in the match? Arn’s hammerlock slam firmly put them in cruise control.
C. Could the match have been better? No, the NEW National tag champs made easy work of their competition.
At the podium, Schiavone interviews the Andersons again. Arn cuts a promo on Fernandez while Ole delivers a generic promo.
Match 8: “Pistol” Pez Whatley versus Doug Vines
Highlights:
Whatley reversed a cross corner whip and backdropped Vines. As he dropkicked Vines, Whatley dealt him a Flying Willie. 1-2-3. Whatley won at 1:12.
A. Was the match competitive? Vines tried, but Whatley was the better man.
B. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The Flying Willie knocked Vines out of commission.
C. Could the match have been better? Nope, Whatley took down the bigger man who made him look good.
At the podium, Schiavone interviews Bart who’s ready to challenge anybody.
Match 9: Nikita Koloff (w/ Ivan Koloff) versus Alan Martin
Highlights:
Nikita gave Martin a standing choke and followed with a double axe handle to the chest. When the “gorilla” raged in its cage, Nikita military-press-slammed Martin. He flattened Martin with a Russian sickle and pinned him at 1:43.
A. Was the match competitive? Nope, Nikita bulldozed the poor guy.
B. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The sickle is the equalizer.
C. Could the match have been better? Not at all. Martin sold like he was getting mauled in a horror movie.
JCP on tour:
- Columbus, GA: Tomorrow afternoon!
- Greensburg, PA: May 6
- Ocean City, MD: May 8
- Gloucester, NJ: May 9
- Albany, GA: May 10
- Macon, GA: May 11
To close out the episode, Schiavone interviews the Koloffs, and Nikita is UPSET about the “gorilla” nearby. I’m not sure who’s angrier: Nikita or the “gorilla.” When Ivan gets too close, the “gorilla” snags his headband. HA!
Conclusion: Please forgive me if I’m wrong, but I’m betting someone told Rhodes to “monkey” with the program, and he ran with it. I understand that you can take your chances by referring to a well-built opponent as a “gorilla,” but it’s a whole another ball of wax to pull this stunt. I wonder what’ll happen next between the Koloffs and Rhodes.
Next week, the Andersons and Bob Roop face “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer, Whatley, and Stallion.
In Cincinnati on May 4, the following matches occurred:
- Ricky Reeves defeated Kim Duk a.k.a. Tiger Chung Lee.
- Joel Deaton beat Stoney Burke.
- Scott “Hog” Irwin defeated the Italian Stallion.
- Buzz Tyler beat Ivan Koloff.
- Manny Fernandez & Thunderbolt Patterson defeated Ole & Arn Anderson.
Rating: NONE
Stay tuned for NWA World Championship Wrestling 05-11-85!
Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).