Bam Bam Bigelow, Cactus Jack & Kevin Sullivan (w/Sir Oliver Humperdink) vs. Norman The Lunatic & The Road Warriors (Road Warrior Animal & Road Warrior Hawk) (w/Paul Ellering)
Naturally, I am baffled by the idea that the Road Warriors are teaming with a wrestler called “Norman The Lunatic”. But it's okay because he can take the pin right? No? Okay.. For the opener, this was fine without being anything more or less. The heat was brought by the Road Warriors and explosive power offence or the heel side making blind tags. Bam Bam Bigelow was underused as a 3rd guy in a trios team though. Bigelow hit a flying shoulder tackle but hardly had any room to show off what he can do. Sullivan was the glue of his side, keeping things together until the finish which had Hawk pinning Sullivan with a flying clothesline. **1/4
Mean Mark (w/Theodore R. Long) vs. Johnny Ace
It's amazing the careers these two would go on to have after watching this piss poor display of a match - one would be a massive success in Japan and the other would become an undead Undertaker. But both show very little promise though, putting in bland performances that didn't really engage the crowd. Ace is a dull babyface whose selling isn't strong enough to put over Mean Mark like this aimed to do. In fact, Ace got too much offence for a showcase match such as this. Mean Mark wins with a heart punch followed up by a flying elbow. *
Mike Rotunda & Tommy Rich vs. The Samoan Swat Team (Fatu & Samoan Savage)
This is the first match of the night with real potential and it turned out to be a long, soulless affair. No one in the match is a terrible wrestler or anything of the sort but this was a failure in the tag team style. I'm not sure if the crowd simply didn't care for Rotunda or Rich but there was no noise or heat made by the crowd during the FIP sections - practically the whole match - even when Rich tried to get them to clap they didn't bite. A rarity in wrestling, especially in WCW. The Samoans had very few ideas except to stall and slap on a front headlock and work towards the tag. The results led to a terribly dull match made worse by it going 18 minutes. A painful experience. The Samoans won. Fuck. 1/2* for Rotunda’s good punches
Hair Vs. Hair Match: Paul Ellering vs. Theodore R. Long
This was somewhat fun. It was helped by the crowd actually caring about the result at some meaningful level. Paul Ellering won in quick fashion and Theodore R Long lost his hair! Holla Holla Holla. *
NWA United States Tag Team Title Match: Flyin' Brian & The Z-Man (c) vs. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) (w/Jim Cornette)
The result was a good one with smart booking that had the Midnight Express win the US Tag Team Titles without the help of Jim Cornette, solidifying the Midnights as a force. This follows the same structure as the Samoan Swat Team vs Rich and Rotunda but the Midnight Express had a great arsenal of double team moves around Pillman’s neck and Pillman’s selling was great. Eaton and Pillman had great chemistry together with little flubs early on before quickly finding a groove and finding their footing, mixing solid technical wrestling with innovative high flying spots (for 90s NA Wrestling). Stan Lane was great at making himself the asshole too. He'd taunt Tom Zenk before running, he'd go to Cornette for advice despite the cage and he'd use his kicks to cheap shot the champs. Lane complimented Eaton really well I thought. The finish was another cheap shot with Lane kicking Pillman in the back of his head, allowing Eaton to pin him with a cradle. ***1/2
RoboCop is here! And it's absolutely terrible. Gordon Solie is forced to call this in a serious manner as the rest of the company clearly wants to get this out of the way. The man in the suit is walking in slow motion which is made worse when the Horsemen shows up and locks Sting in the cage from the Midnight Express match before running away. It may be just me but it was the most nothing beat down the Horsemen may have done - a few clubs and a push into the cage before bolting it from RoboCop, who's still slowly walking to the ring. Embarrassing scenes. So bad JYD and Cornette have to save it with a rather awesome promo exchange. “That's my Mama's House's. That's right, I'm your daddio”. Lmao.
Corporal Punishment Tag Team Match: The Fabulous Freebirds (Jimmy Garvin & Michael Hayes) vs. The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson)
Another match that I wasn’t totally in love with. I’m not that big on the Rock N Roll Express as other fans of the era are - they are very good (calm down) but I prefer many other teams - and I’m indifferent towards the Freebirds of any kind. The stipulation allowed for both teams to coast and use it as a crutch. The freebirds dominate, then get their comeuppance before losing to a flashy pin by Ricky Morton. A bland match as you can have with these teams. **1/2
NWA World Tag Team Title Match: The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner & Scott Steiner) (c) vs. Doom (Butch Reed & Ron Simmons) (w/Theodore R. Long)
While this was somewhat disappointing, it was a solid match that pit two power teams against each other. The Steiners were stop over big time as champions, controlling most of the match with Reed doing most of the heavy lifting. Some parts were sloppy, as that comes with the territory and had some dangerous spots but I enjoyed this. Doom wins surprisingly. The match didn't play out to that result in a way that I expected. ***
NWA World Heavyweight Title Steel Cage Match: Ric Flair (w/Woman) (c) vs. Lex Luger
Despite his injury, Luger gives in the best performance of the night. Flair is undoubtedly telling him what to do throughout the match but Luger is excellent at following those instructions, rallying the crowd and bringing tons of aggression. Flair is probably showing his ass too much though with far too many attempts to climb the cage but he bleeds and sells for Luger a lot, probably to make up for the fact that he won't lose to him. The match ended in a predictably shoddy way with the cage rising, the Horsemen coming in, El Gigante, etc. Flair loses by DQ but not the title. Match of the night for me. ***1/2
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