WELCOME TO ROCK STAR GARY REFLECTIONS!

NWA Crockett Cup 87

Live from Baltimore, MD

Airdate: April 10 & 11, 1987

Attendance: 9,300 (4/10), 13,000 (4/11)

Hosted by Tony Schiavone

Instead of the early matinee followed by a night session like last year, Jim Crockett Promotions spanned the tournament over two nights (which probably involved truckloads of money to the Baltimore Marriott). Let’s start with the Friday night show. My reflection is based upon the home video for the show as I await a full-length copy on the WWE Network any day now.

April 10:

After Tony welcomes us to the show, we get a sparkling introduction from everyone’s friend and yours, ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta.

FIRST ROUND

Match 1: Barbarian & “Superstar” Bill Dundee versus Mike Rotunda & Tim Horner

Highlights:

Rating: *1/2

Summary: From what was shown, the crowd loved the hot tag spot, and Horner brought some high-flying making an upset seem possible.

Match 2: The “Boogie-Woogie Man” Jimmy Valiant & NWA World Junior Heavyweight champion LazorTron versus Teijo Khan & Shaska Whatley

Highlights:

Rating: ˝*

Summary: If you can actually imagine, having a gimmick patterned after a children’s game wouldn’t be the worst gimmick for Hector.

Match 3: Ivan Koloff & Vladimir Petrov versus Brad & Bob Armstrong

Highlights:

Rating: DUD

Summary: The Armstrong curse was overcome because the Soviets destroyed their chances at the Cup.

Matches missing from the first round and their results:

Thunderfoot #1 & #2 defeated Bobby Jaggers & Rocky King (subbing for Dutch Mantell).

Ron & Jimmy Garvin (w/ Precious) beat Ricky Lee Jones & the Italian Stallion.

Denny Brown & Todd Champion defeated Randy & Bill Mulkey (Sorry, folks, there’s no Mulkeymania on the tape.)

Steve Keirn & George South fought Nelson Royal & Mike Graham to a 20-minute draw.

Florida tag team champions the MOD Squad (w/ “Superstar” Bill Dundee) defeated Wahoo McDaniel & Baron von Raschke.

SECOND ROUND

Match 4: The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette & Big Bubba Rogers) versus Ron & Jimmy Garvin

Highlights:

Rating: *

Summary: The crowd loved the antics outside the ring, but inside this match was too severely clipped to enjoy.

After the match, the Garvins dispatch the Midnight Express. An angry Ron then decks Hebner. Somewhere Bret watched this and felt tremendous empathy.

Cappetta then announces Ricky Morton’s injury that eliminated the Rock’n’Roll Express. Shortly thereafter, teenage girls and perhaps Rob Feinstein allegedly leave the arena. Confirmation could not be made as of this writing.

Matches missing from the second round and their results:

NWA World TV champion Tully Blanchard & the “Total Package” Lex Luger defeated Florida tag team champions the MOD Squad (w/ “Superstar” Bill Dundee)

Giant Baba & Isao Takagi beat Denny Brown & Todd Champion

The Road Warriors (w/ “Precious” Paul Ellering) defeated Shaska Whatley & Teijo Khan

NWA World tag team champions “Ravishing” Rick Rude & the “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez (w/ Paul Jones) beat Thunderfoot #1 & #2

The “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes & NWA US champion the “Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff defeated “Superstar” Bill Dundee & the Barbarian

The Armstrongs defeated Kevin Sullivan & the “Enforcer” Arn Anderson

Match 5 (steel cage/Texas death): Big Bubba Rogers (w/ Jim Cornette) versus Ole Anderson

Highlights:

Rating: **

Summary: In actuality, this was a better brawl than it seemed on paper. The Baltimore crowd was solidly behind Ole.

Tony then speaks with Magnum T.A. who still had his right arm in a sling. Included on the tape are three of the best Magnum T.A. matches in the promotion’s vault:

Match 6 (steel cage) for the NWA US title: “Chief” Wahoo McDaniel (champion) versus Magnum T.A.

Highlights:

Rating: ***1/2

Summary: Exciting cage match that elevated Magnum’s career tremendously.

Match 7 for the NWA US title: Magnum T.A. (champion) versus Kamala (w/ Skandor Akbar)

Highlights:

Rating: *1/2

Summary: Terrible finish since Kamala didn’t do the job. On the other hand, the crowd loved Magnum.

After the match, Kamala charges at Magnum but hits Akbar instead. Immediately thereafter, Magnum slams the Ugandan giant. After turning his attention to Akbar, Magnum gets nailed from behind. He then reverses an Irish whip and delivers a belly-to-belly suplex to Kamala. Impressive!

Match 8 for the NWA US title (steel cage/I Quit): Tully Blanchard (champion w/ Baby Doll) versus Magnum T.A.

Highlights:

Rating: *****

Summary: If you look up the definition of method to settle a feud, this match fits it perfectly. While not a technical classic, it is a fight between two men who want to destroy one another. Magnum gets his revenge by taking back the US title, and Blanchard, for the remainder of his career, gets people to taunt him with “I Quit.” This match is a bona fide classic that every wrestling fan should witness, and is one of my all-time favorites.

Afterwards, Magnum offers support to the SuperPowers to win the tournament. Gee, what a surprise.

April 11:

Match 9 (quarterfinal): The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette and Big Bubba Rogers) versus the Road Warriors (w/ “Precious” Paul Ellering)

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: While I understand the need for a heel versus face dynamic for best crowd reaction, having the Road Warriors lose in the quarterfinals seems criminal.

After the bell, Animal gives Rogers a flying shoulder block that sends him reeling to the floor. Animal then whacks both Eaton and Lane with the racquet. As he and Hawk give Eaton their version of a Hart Attack, Lane pulls Eaton to safety. When Anderson raises Eaton’s arm in victory, Hawk nails Anderson. That’ll cost him. He then rams Eaton face-first into the ring post. As expected, the Baltimore faithful sing a resounding rendition of “BULLSHIT.”

Match 10 (quarterfinal): NWA World tag team champions “Ravishing” Rick Rude & the “Raging Bull” Manny Fernandez (w/ Paul Jones) versus the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes & NWA US champion the “Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff

Highlights:

Rating: **1/2

Summary: While I understand the SuperPowers were a mega-team, putting them over the World champions in the quarterfinals made zero sense.

Match 11 (quarterfinal): NWA World TV champion Tully Blanchard & the “Total Package” Lex Luger (w/ JJ Dillon) versus Brad & Bob Armstrong

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: Despite losing, Brad looked good here. Unfortunately, the Armstrong curse foiled them as the Horsemen used shenanigans to advance.

Match 12 (semifinal): The Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette & Big Bubba Rogers) versus the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes & NWA US champion the “Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: Once again, the mega-team beat the well-established former champions. More on this later.

After the match, while embracing Nikita, Rhodes shouts “one more!” Bartender, the next one’s on Rhodes. Meanwhile, a livid Cornette throws a temper tantrum in the ring to plead his case.

Match missing from the semifinal and its result:

NWA World TV champion Tully Blanchard & the “Total Package” Lex Luger (w/ JJ Dillon) defeated Giant Baba & Isao Takagi

Match 13 for the NWA World title: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (champion) versus Barry Windham

Highlights:

Rating: ****1/2

Summary: A Windham victory here would have made sense and solidly defined this show as historical. As it was, Flair and Windham told a fantastic story.

Prior to the final match, Cappetta introduces Magnum T.A. who requires assistance from Teddy Long to get to the ring. As you can imagine, the reaction from the Baltimore faithful is deafening. Magnum then embraces both Rhodes and Nikita. What an emotional moment. I don’t like the Horsemen’s chances.

Match 14 (final): NWA World TV champion Tully Blanchard & the “Total Package” Lex Luger (w/ JJ Dillon) versus the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes & NWA US champion the “Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff (w/ Magnum T.A.)

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: Considering the Flair victory, did you think the Horsemen were taking it here?

After the match, Mrs. Crockett (Jim and David’s mother) presents the trophy and the $1 million check.

Conclusion: While the show’s format was better than last year’s, the following mistakes were made:

  1. Knocking the previous winners out in the quarterfinals.
  2. Defeating the World tag team champions in the quarterfinals.
  3. Having the SuperPowers defeat established teams such as the Midnight Express practically clean as a whistle.

Dusty Rhodes was both a successful wrestler and booker. On the other hand, it’s booking decisions like this one that cause people to question his sanity. Tag team wrestling was never stronger than in the 80s, yet the SECOND tag team tournament had two make-shift teams in the finals. I’m still scratching my head on that one but will pass on the dandruff shampoo.

As far as a recommendation goes, it’s worth a look for the Magnum matches and the World title match, but unless you LOVE Dusty Rhodes, skip the rest.

See you for WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event XI!

Buyrate: NONE

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

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