WELCOME TO ROCK STAR GARY REFLECTIONS!

NWA Superstars on the Superstation

Live from Atlanta, GA

Airdate: February 7, 1986 (taped 2/2)

Attendance: 10,000

Hosted by Tony Schiavone and David Crockett

This is for those of you that enjoy the opening track to World Championship Wrestling.

Magnum T.A. and Linda Curry welcome us to the show.

Tony and Crockett are at ringside and discuss the matches that the fans want to see. Each match will be for one fall and have a 20-minute time limit with the exception of the main event which will have TV time remaining.

Back in the locker room, Bob Caudle discusses the Rock’n’Roll Express. We revisit Shelby, NC back on 7/9/85 when the Rock’n’Roll Express won their first NWA World tag team titles.

Match 1 for the NWA World tag team titles: The Rock’n’Roll Express (champions) versus the Midnight Express (w/ Jim Cornette)

Highlights:

Rating: ****1/2

Summary: Tag team formula worked beautifully with excellent chemistry here. Cornette, as the X-factor, made the difference in the match.

Between matches, Linda shows off her powerful vernacular by repeating words constantly.

Back in the locker room, Caudle interviews Cornette with the NEW World tag team champions. In the meantime, Eaton is still loopy as Condrey sits him in a chair. Finally, Cornette exclaims “Mama, I did it!”

Magnum has us revisit the confrontation between the Road Warriors and the Soviets from World Championship Wrestling back on 11/30/85. We also revisit the aftermath of a match from 12/3 in Spartanburg, SC between the Soviets and Sam Houston & “Pistol” Pez Whatley as the Soviets used a chain to hang Hawk over the top rope.

Match 2: The Road Warriors (w/ “Precious” Paul Ellering) versus Ivan & Nikita Koloff

Highlights:

Rating: **1/2

Summary: This was just a shell of what these two teams could do with one another. The Road Warriors would need a third man to combat the communists. I refer to von Raschke as a communist as he appeared to hail from East Germany. And that’s all the people need to know.

After the match, the communists try to clothesline Ellering with the chain, but the Road Warriors low-bridge them over the top rope to the concrete floor. The Road Warriors then clothesline Ivan with the chain. Raschke eats it too with assistance from Ellering.

Magnum interviews NASCAR driver Benny Parsons who had a role in the movie Stroker Ace starring Burt Reynolds and won the 1975 Daytona 500.

When we return from commercial, Linda hosts the segment that involves fans being interviewed. One fan was a staunch anti-Flair fan as he wants Garvin to kick his butt. On the other hand, another fan was a staunch Flair supporter due to his great interview skills. Yet another fan was proud of her Magnum poster. As Dire Straits’ “Walk of Life” plays, we see some fans in the seats. Woohoo!

When we return from commercial, Magnum discusses the remake of the movie Stagecoach involving the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. A video hosted by Tony involved Rhodes and country singer Willie Nelson. I guess he was always on someone’s mind.

During the next commercial break, Atlanta Hawks Dominique Wilkins and Spud Webb shill the 1986 Slam Dunk Championship.

When last we saw Blanchard, he was a quivering mass of Jell-O having lost the US title to Magnum T.A. at Starrcade ’85. He has since scrapped Baby Doll as his valet and hired J.J. Dillon as his manager. Check this out from 12/28/85 in Greensboro, NC!

Match 3 for the NWA National title: The “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes (champion w/ Baby Doll) versus Tully Blanchard (w/ J.J. Dillon)

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: Since Rhodes had recently “obtained” the National title thanks to his firing of Landel, a title change here made no sense.

After the match, Blanchard gives Rhodes a piledriver. Dillon takes the title belt as he escorts his protégé backstage. Baby Doll and Teddy Long assist Rhodes to the dressing room.

Magnum interviews promoter Jim Crockett, Jr. Footage of the Bunkhouse Stampede is shown. Crockett announces a tag team tournament called the Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup and hopes that it will take place in Charlotte. Next, Magnum introduces a video involving the Superdome hosting the Cup in New Orleans. Joel Watts, son to Bill Watts and brother to Erik Watts, speaks with Bob Johnson, executive vice-president of the Superdome regarding the event. Interestingly, Mid-South Wrestling left the NWA the following month to become the Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF).

Back at ringside, Tony interviews retired pitcher Gaylord Perry formerly of the Atlanta Braves. Speaking of the Braves, Perry wishes them well in 1986. According to Baseball Almanac, they finished 72-89 that year.

Match 4 for the NWA World title: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair (champion) versus Ron Garvin

Highlights:

Rating: ***

Summary: All the drama was in the last few minutes of the match. Fortunately, Garvin and Flair would have better matches in the near future.

After the match, Crockett tries to tell Young that Garvin’s foot was on the rope, but Flair tells Crockett to “shut up.”

Conclusion: This show was definitely the prototype for Clash of the Champions. With that being said, while none of the matches were dull, only one truly delivered. If you’ve never seen the Condrey-Eaton version of the Midnight Express’ only NWA World tag title victory, you owe it to yourself to see it. Otherwise, wait for the Crockett Cup in April.

See you for NWA Battle of the Belts II!

TV Rating: 3.20

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

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