NWA World Championship Wrestling June 8, 1985

by

Taped from Atlanta, GA

Airdate: June 8, 1985 (taped 6/1)

Attendance: unknown

Hosted by Tony Schiavone & David Crockett

Can Garvin retain the National title, or will Bart find a way to capture it? Who’s the new guy, and how is he introduced to Arn? Who’s Blanchard’s mercenary, and, more fittingly, who’s his next victim? It’s 6:05 again on Superstation RSG, so settle in and enjoy some wrestling courtesy of the NWA!

Opening montage.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews Magnum who believes that Flair “can’t beat (him).”

Match 1: The “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez versus George South

Highlights:

Fernandez fed South a knee drop and got 1. When he chopped South down to the mat, Fernandez got another 1. He hooked a double underhook suplex for yet another 1. As he blasted South with a forearm smash, Fernandez unloaded a pair of knees to him. He leapfrogged South and leveled him with a Flying Burrito. 1-2-3. Fernandez mercifully won at 6:47.

  1. Was the match competitive? A bit too much as Fernandez no-sold South’s offense.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The Flying Burrito sent South off to take a siesta.
  3. Could the match have been better? It was too long and ungodly boring.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews Fernandez who details some of his experiences in Vietnam and finishes with a promo on Flair.

JCP on tour:

  1. Zanesville, OH: TONIGHT!
  2. Wheeling, WV: TOMORROW NIGHT!
  3. Clarksburg, WV: June 10
  4. Niles, OH: June 13
  5. Salisbury, MD: June 14
  6. Cleveland, OH: June 15
  7. Talladega, AL: June 19
  8. Albany, GA: June 21
  9. Atlanta, GA: June 23

Match 2 (non-title): NWA US champion Magnum T.A. versus Mike Simiani

Highlights:

Simiani reversed an Irish whip, but Magnum leapfrogged him. As Magnum trapped him with a belly-to-belly suplex, he pinned Simiani at 0:29.

  1. Was the match competitive? Not at all.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The belly-to-belly sent Simiani to the showers.
  3. Could the match have been better? No, the #1 contender to the World title remains sharp.

JCP on tour:

  1. Charlotte, NC: July 6 – Great American Bash ‘85! Fireworks, David Allan Coe! Soviets versus Road Warriors!

At the podium, Schiavone interviews the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes who is suffering from “cracked ribs.” Rhodes claims that Blanchard has sent out a contract to have Abdullah the Butcher put him out of wrestling. Thereafter, he refers to Baby Doll as a “jezebel” but wants Blanchard to go one-on-one.

Match 3 for the NWA World TV title: Tully Blanchard (champion w/ Baby Doll) versus Mark Hawk

Highlights:

Rhodes remained at the podium for this match. When Blanchard bullied Hawk toward his corner, Baby Doll slapped Hawk like he insulted her mother. Blanchard scored with a shot to Hawk’s ample midsection and landed a series of elbow drops for 2. As Baby Doll approached the podium, she had words for Rhodes.

Meanwhile, Blanchard botched a slingshot suplex as Hawk failed to do his part. The match segued to the floor, and Blanchard taught him a lesson about making him look bad. After Rhodes climbed into the ring, Blanchard and Baby Doll trapped him in a numbers game. Blanchard tenaciously nailed Rhodes in the ribs, and referee Steve Gregory called for the bell. Blanchard retained via DQ at 4:28.

  1. Was the match competitive? Not especially. Hawk’s not ready for prime time.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? Hawk’s ineptitude forced Rhodes to do his bidding for him.
  3. Could the match have been better? If Hawk was an experienced enhancement worker, yes.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews “Nature Boy” Ric Flair who claims to be better than Rambo. Next, he cuts a promo on Magnum citing “he’s been to the limit one time in (his) life. It took Lynda Carter and Bo Derek back-to-back to make (him) flinch.” HA!

Match 4: “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer versus Randy Beason

Highlights:

Buzz suplexed the portly Beason and gnawed on him. As he applied a bear hug, Buzz got bitten himself.

Am I mistaken, or should this be a dog collar match? Nevertheless, Buzz powerslammed and pinned Beason at 4:15.

  1. Was the match competitive? No, Buzz could barely do anything with the rather hefty Beason.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The powerslam projected Beason back to the buffet table.
  3. Could the match have been better? Yes, Beason was barely capable of making Buzz look credible.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews Brett Sawyer who’s ready to help his brother battle the Andersons.

Match 5: Arn Anderson versus Larry Clark

Highlights:

For those curious, Brett remained at the podium for this match. Arn split Clark in two with a backbreaker and hung him out to dry on the top rope. When he fed Clark a knee to the midsection, Arn landed a knee drop for 2. He dealt Clark a gutbuster and guillotined him across the top rope. After he planted Clark with a gourdbuster, Arn pinned him at 2:23.

  1. Was the match competitive? No, Arn took control from the start.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The gourdbuster makes its TBS debut, and it’s spectacular.
  3. Could the match have been better? Clark took his beating like a man.

After the match, Arn approaches the podium and refers to Brett as “Dennis the Menace.” HA! He asks Brett where his brother is and runs him down. When Brett calmly tells him that his brother’s “in the shower,” Arn hammers Brett. How dastardly!  Brett bravely jumps into the ring ready to fight him.

While they brawl, Brett feeds him an atomic drop. He gives Arn a cross corner whip followed by a knee. Giving Arn another cross corner whip, Brett backdrops him. Arn uses momentum to send him outside and demolishes him with a gourdbuster on the concrete floor. GET OUT THE SPATULA!

Dick Slater, in street clothes, arrives to check on Brett; however, Arn ambushes him too. Upon following Arn into the ring, Slater pounds on him. Arn hightails it to escape what could have been a vicious beating. An extremely distraught Buzz ultimately arrives to help his brother.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews an extremely perturbed Slater who cuts a passionate promo on the Andersons.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews the Koloffs. Ivan stands up for his comrade Khrusher Krushchev while Nikita namedrops the Road Warriors.

Match 6: Nikita Koloff (w/ Ivan Koloff) versus Rocky King

Highlights:

Whatley joined the podium for this match. As Whatley heralded both King’s abilities and that he’s “overmatched” against Nikita, he’d take King on as a protégé. King attempted a cross body block, but Nikita caught and splintered him with a backbreaker. When Nikita hip-tossed him across the ring, King leapfrogged and dropkicked him.

King tried an Irish whip, but Nikita held his ground before clotheslining him. After he slammed King, Nikita tossed him down to the concrete floor. He creamed King with a double axe handle and guillotined him with the top rope. While he devastated King with a Russian sickle, Nikita pinned him at 5:57.

  1. Was the match competitive? King tried, but Nikita was too powerful.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The clothesline following the block of the Irish whip put and kept Nikita in control.
  3. Could the match have been better? No, King made Nikita look like a monster.

Match 7 for the NWA National title (loser leaves town): Ron Garvin (champion) versus Black Bart

Highlights:

For those curious, Blanchard joined the podium for this match. Bart ambushed Garvin before the bell, gave him a cross corner whip, but came up empty on his follow-through. When Garvin headbutted him, he got 2. He headbutted Bart again for another 2. As Bart attacked Garvin’s injured hand, he lost a game of cat and mouse around the ring.

Garvin suplexed him from the apron back into the ring and got 2. After Garvin hooked a crucifix, he got 1. The Atlanta faithful chanted “break it,” so Garvin stomped on Bart’s left hand. While Garvin stymied him with a pair of headbutts, he rolled up Bart for 2. Garvin stomped the BEJEEZUS out of Bart’s midsection and got another 2.

Hooking a sleeper, Garvin released it and applied an abdominal stretch. He connected with the Hands of Stone but hesitated due to the pain. 1-2-3. But wait! Referee Tommy Young noticed after the fact that Bart placed his foot on the bottom rope, so the match continued.

Baby Doll approached ringside while Garvin distracted Young. Cleverly, she placed a loaded elbow pad on Bart’s arm, and Bart swiftly knocked Garvin OUT COLD with it. 1-2-3. Bart won at 11:07. WE HAVE A NEW CHAMPION!

Rating: ***

Summary: Without question, Jim Ross, had he been calling the match, would have described this match as a “slobberknocker.” Neither wrestler used a lot of technical skills but instead used brawling and leverage to their advantage. Unfortunately for Garvin, Baby Doll inserted her notorious nature into the match, and it cost Garvin dearly. Why? Because now Garvin must LEAVE TOWN.

POINT OF ORDER: Remarkably, Garvin would indeed leave town and spend the rest of the month in Montreal wrestling in tag team matches with his stepson Jimmy Garvin. Upon his return, I’ll bet Bart’s in a heap of trouble.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews the Koloffs again. Ivan is ready to defend the World tag team titles against anyone while Nikita wants to “destroy all American wrestlers” such as Rhodes and the Road Warriors.

Match 8: “Dirty” Dick Slater versus Paul Garner

Highlights:

Slater landed an elbow drop and followed with a head butt. As he hit a swinging neckbreaker, Slater mounted the top turnbuckle. He launched a flying elbow smash and hooked a somersault rollup. 1-2-3.

Slater won at 3:17.

  1. Was the match competitive? No, Slater had complete control.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The swinging neckbreaker stymied Garner to the point of no return.
  3. Could the match have been better? Nope, Garner made Slater look like a winner.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews Rhodes again. Rhodes wants to teach Baby Doll a lesson for messing with him.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews the NEW National champion—Black Bart—who’s quite proud to be a champion.

Match 9 (six-man): “Pistol” Pez Whatley, Thunderbolt Patterson, & Italian Stallion versus the Rock’n’Roll RPMs & Randy Barber

Highlights:

Davis leapfrogged Whatley twice causing Whatley to clothesline himself with the second rope. When Lane tagged in, Whatley dropkicked him. Stallion tagged in, blocked a hip toss, and fed Lane one of his own. As he slammed Lane, Stallion also slammed an incoming Davis. Barber intervened but ate a backbreaker from Stallion.

After tags were exchanged on both sides, Patterson juked and jived out of Barber’s clutches. Tags were exchanged on both sides again, and Whatley backdropped Davis. While tags were exchanged on both sides yet again, Stallion ducked a double clothesline from the RPMs and attempted a cross body block.

The RPMs caught and obliterated Stallion with a double backbreaker. Tagging in, Barber ate a back drop from Stallion. Patterson tagged in and bulldozed Barber. 1-2-3. Patterson, Whatley, and Stallion won at 5:29.

  1. Was the match competitive? Yes, five of the wrestlers looked strong while Barber was designated to take the fall.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? I truly thought the double backbreaker would lead to victory by the RPMs.
  3. Could the match have been better? No, each wrestler got to shine and look strong.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews Buzz who states his brother is in the locker room still laid out. He screams at the Andersons while standing up for his little brother. As Slater takes over for him, he’d rather take a beating than Brett.

Match 10: Abdullah the Butcher (w/ Tully Blanchard) versus Mike Nichols

Highlights:

Abdullah clotheslined Nichols and followed with a slam. As he SQUISHED Nichols with an elbow drop, Abdullah pinned him at 0:46.

  1. Was the match competitive? Not whatsoever.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The clothesline said it all. Nichol’s goose was cooked afterward.
  3. Could the match have been better? Nope, Nichols made Abdullah look like a tank.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews Blanchard alongside Abdullah and Baby Doll. Blanchard stands up for his valet and touts his mercenary.

Match 11: Ivan Koloff (w/ Nikita Koloff) versus the Green Shadow

Highlights:

Don’t even get me started who the ham’n’egger in the green costume was. Ivan rolled up Shadow and got 1. When he hip-tossed Shadow, Ivan flattened him with a back elbow. He dealt Shadow a knee to the midsection and sent him reeling to the concrete floor at Nikita’s feet. As Ivan joined him, he rammed Shadow back-first into the apron.

Back in the ring, Ivan landed a knee drop and stymied Shadow with a swinging neckbreaker. He mounted the second turnbuckle and clobbered Shadow with a double axe handle. After he slammed Shadow, Ivan rammed him face-first into the mat. He dealt Shadow a knee lift, mounted the second turnbuckle, and scored with a flying knee drop.

While he took the wind out of Shadow with a double stomp, Ivan unloaded another back elbow. He mounted the top turnbuckle, leaped, and steamrolled Shadow. Methinks that was supposed to be a Russian sickle, but, oh well. 1-2-3. Ivan won at 4:21.

  1. Was the match competitive? Nope, the Shadow knew he would be outclassed.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The back to the apron spot spells back pain from a mile away.
  3. Could the match have been better? Nope, the Shadow understood everything except how to take a flying Russian sickle.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews Arn who’s ready for both Sawyers and Slater.

Match 12: “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel (w/ JJ Dillon) versus Gerald Finley

Highlights:

Landel decimated Finley with a back elbow, slammed him, and landed a knee drop. As Finley missed a dropkick, Landel immediately turned his lights out with a corkscrew elbow drop. He applied a figure-four leg lock and won at 1:00.

  1. Was the match competitive? Although Finley had an opening, Landel closed it lickety-split.
  2. What maneuver made the difference in the match? The corkscrew elbow drop is a recipe for deep sleep.
  3. Could the match have been better? Nope, Landel finished off Finley extremely quickly.

At the podium, Schiavone interviews Flair again. The NWA World champion cuts a promo on Slater and Nikita. After he addresses Magnum, Flair warns Landel who’s watching him from the ring.

Conclusion: In addition to the litany of enhancement matches, Black Bart, albeit underhanded, won the National title from Garvin. Also, Arn made a pretty good name for himself with Ole elsewhere. He showcased the gourdbuster in the ring and then flattened Brett Sawyer with it on the concrete floor. The effect riled up both Buzz Sawyer and Dick Slater. That’s solid booking. Also, Blanchard’s temporary acquisition of Abdullah offers stiff competition for Rhodes. Lastly, the RPMs looked good in defeat as their partner got stuck paying the bill.

Despite not advertising the show, JCP held a show at the Greensboro Coliseum on June 8. Here are the results:

  1. “Hollywood” John Tatum defeated Sam Houston.
  2. Nikita Koloff beat Denny Brown.
  3. Kendo Nagasaki defeated Ricky Reeves.
  4. Arn Anderson beat Pat Tanaka.
  5. Manny Fernandez defeated Ivan Koloff.
  6. Dusty Rhodes & Magnum T.A. beat Tully Blanchard and Abdullah the Butcher via DQ. Apparently, Baby Doll threw a fireball in Dusty’s face. How dastardly!
  7. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair defeated “Nature Boy” Buddy Landel.

Next week, the feud between Magnum and Flair reaches a fever pitch!

Stay tuned for NWA World Championship Wrestling 06-15-85!

Comments? Suggestions? Send them to me at rsg@rockstargary.com and follow me on Twitter (@rockstargary202).