The SmarK Rant for NWA Great American Bash 88 Greensboro – 07.16.88

The SmarK Rant for NWA Great American Bash Greensboro – 07.16.88

(Originally written 07.06.25)

I think this is the same Wargames that was on the DVD set years ago but obviously I’ve never seen the full show before, and now the WWE Vault has obliged in providing it! Funny how that DVD set was the definitive Wargames collection at the time and now you’d need another whole 9 hour set to cover the WWE versions.

https://youtu.be/b39lINSy8C4?si=JBcLSoWBk_Aa7vtb

Taped from Greensboro, NC, drawing 6600. For reference, this is a week after the Bash 88 PPV show.

No announcers for this one.

Bugsy McGraw & Tim Horner v. Larry Zbyszko & Rip Morgan

Well that is certainly a combination of people. So Larry starts with McGraw and they trade FULL BODY LIFTS AND SLAMS as Bugsy wins that battle and then goes to a headlock before bringing in Horner for a sunset flip that gets two. Over to Rip and the babyfaces control him in the corner, but then Bugsy gets cut off and worked over by the heels as this is so obviously going to a 10 minute time limit draw. Rip with a clothesline for two, but then Tim Horner proves me wrong and gets a bodypress on Rip for the pin at 7:10. This was a lot of nothing. *

Ron Garvin v. The Italian Stallion

Ronnie has some HEAT on him after turning on Dusty a few days previous. They trade shoulders and Garvin immediately suffers a crippling ankle twist and begs for mercy while he recovers, and then pops up and SOCKO, puts Stallion down with the Hands of Stone at 1:20. OK I laughed.

Dick Murdoch v. Gary Royal

Not exactly a stellar undercard thus far. I don’t even remember what Murdoch was doing at this point, as his whole career between the Dark Superpowers and his feud with Bob Orton in 89 is kind of a blur. Royal takes him down with a headlock and Murdoch pulls the tights to escape, prompting an argument with the ref. Murdoch takes him to the corner and hits him with elbows, carrying on with his running conversation with Teddy Long while blatantly lying the whole time, just like he did about his football career. Royal comes back with a couple of dropkicks, but Dick drops him and puts the boots to him before tossing him to the floor and running him into the post. Back in the ring, Teddy patiently explains the rules of wrestling to Murdoch, and he’s not mad, just disappointed because Dick should know better. Murdoch slams him back into the ring, but Royal reverses to a cradle for two, so Murdoch puts him down again with a back elbow and then finally finishes this geek with a brainbuster at 7:00. He definitely took his time here. ½*

Rick Steiner v. Jimmy Garvin

Garvin was in the midst of the biggest babyface push of his career at this point, but then fucked up his leg really badly and disappeared until returning as a Freebird in 1989. Steiner attacks to start, but misses a blind charge, allowing Jimmy to make a comeback and slug away on him. But then he runs after Kevin Sullivan, getting distracted long enough for Rick to attack him again, before getting a surprise small package for the pin at 1:35.

The Rock N Roll Express v. The Sheepherders

Oh ho! I’ve never seen this matchup before, as the RNR returned to the NWA around this time and started the feud with the Sheepherders, but then promptly left over money and creative differences. I’m assuming they’re doing the job here based on their quick departure. Butch tells the Greensboro fans what he thinks about long haired music loving scumbags like the RNR. Spoiler: He doesn’t care for them. And finally the Express attacks to end 3:00 of stalling and they clear the ring. Back in the ring, Robert gets quickly worked over, but Luke goes up and misses a diving headbutt and Robert gets two. And the Express cleans house again, hitting Rip Morgan with a double dropkick as we get MORE stalling from the Sheepherders. We’re 6 minutes in and they’ve had like 15 seconds of action so far. Back in the ring, Luke clobbers Ricky Morton and they work him over with clubbing forearms, but Ricky slams them both repeatedly and they run away again. Back in, Robert gets a bodypress on Luke while Rip takes the ref, and Butch nails him with the NZ flag so hard that he knocks one of Robert’s eyes all goofy. And they add another shot with the flag on the floor before working him over in the corner again. Robert fights out of a chinlock but the Herders put him down with a double elbow and Butch drops a fist on him for two. Luke with the chinlock to cut off the tag, but Robert hits both of them with a bodypress and it’s HOT TAG Ricky. He rolls up Luke for two, but Butch makes the save, so Ricky runs wild on him until Butch tosses him to the floor. Meanwhile Robert is pounding on Luke in the corner, but Ricky gets sent into the post and the Sheepherders double-team Robert and give him the double gutbuster. Ricky comes back in with a flying bodypress on Luke for the pin, however, at 14:29. OK, this wasn’t great for the first while, but it got REALLY good once they got into beating up Robert. This is absolutely worth a look today. ***1/2

Al Perez v. Brad Armstrong

Brad works the arm to start and Al tries to monkey flip out of it, but Brad maintains wrist control like a redneck Okada and throws Perez around the ring by the arm. And so we continue for the first 5:00, until Al finally takes him to the floor and slams him out there to take over. Back in, Al hits the helicopter slam and drops a knee for two. Al drops knees on Brad’s back and goes to a surfboard hold, really showing the charisma and moveset that led him to so many World titles. Brad misses a charge and Perez stomps him down again, but Brad gets a backslide for two. Small package gets two. Back to the floor, but where Brad makes a comeback and gets his own slam out there after Tommy Young tells him to “defend himself”. Fair enough. Back in, Brad dropkicks Perez and Al bumps to the floor again, but Brad suplexes him in and Gary Hart trips the leg and puts Al on top for the pin at 11:14. Technically fine, but dull. **1/4

Bunkhouse tag team match: The Midnight Express & Jim Cornette v. The Fantastics

The MX are fresh off regaining the US tag titles and this is a 3-on-2 handicap match for some reason. The Fantastics demand Cornette start the match, but instead it’s Bobby Eaton (after a kiss on the cheek from Jimmy for luck) and the babyfaces control him and dropkick him out of the ring before Tommy sends him into the post. Back in, Fulton demands Cornette, but it’s back to Eaton and Bobby brings a chair with him. So Fulton gives him an atomic drop on the chair and hits him with it, chasing the Express to the floor again for a brawl out there while Cornette hides. Back in, Tommy Rogers hits Lane with hiptosses and Cornette desperately tries to redo his gameplan on the fly. Lane tosses Rogers over the top, but he skins the cat back in and dropkicks Lane, and Cornette retreats to the floor again after colliding with Lane. But then Stan threatens to take out his issues on Cornette for nuclear babyface heat, allowing the Fantastics to attack again before Rogers misses a charge and lands on the floor. So Cornette tosses a chair at his head for good measure and Eaton adds a chairshot. And then Cornette finally gets involved, dropping an elbow on Tommy out there and then strutting like Jackie Fargo while the crowd loses their mind.

Back in, Lane necks Rogers and hits him with a lariat, and it’s over to JAMES E CORNETTE for the first time. He throws some punches and Rogers just ignores him and fires up, but the Express cuts him off again as Eaton slugs him down. Cornette: “Slam him!” And then Eaton obliges, allowing Jim to come in and drop an elbow. He tries a slam of his own and can’t quite get it, so Eaton assists him and Cornette celebrates like Lex Luger getting a countout win in 1993. MX with the Rocket Launcher for two, but Cornette wants the winning pin, and an annoyed Bobby lets him in. And of course Cornette gets two and Rogers immediately throws him off and makes the hot tag to Bobby Fulton. Cornette throws powder and hits Eaton by mistake, and the Fantastics just DESTROY Cornette, sending him flying before Fulton gets the pin at 15:07. This was great, as these guys were literally incapable of a bad match, even doing a night off comedy match like this. ****1/4

World TV Title: Mike Rotunda v. Sting

Sting hits all the Varsity Clubbers with dropkicks and clears the ring while the fans get on Rotunda with “Syracuse sucks”. Yeah I’m not fond of Orange men myself. Sting with slams for two and he hits a questionable legdrop behind the ref’s back and follows with an enzuigiri as Rotunda retreats and demands a timeout. Sting tries a headlock, but he gets tripped up by Steiner and Sullivan beats him down on the floor, allowing Rotunda to take over. Back in the ring, Rotunda drops an elbow on him for two and goes to a chinlock, getting some assistance from Sullivan for that. Rotunda goes up and Sting slams him off the top and then tosses him into the other ring and follows with a dive over the ropes and a Stinger Splash. This sets up the Scorpion Deathlock, and the Varsity Club runs in for the DQ at 10:00. I’m sure we all could have literally guessed that finish before the opening bell even rang but they had a good match. ***

Scaffold match: Ivan Koloff & The Russian Assassin v. The Road Warriors

Of course, this was supposed to be the Powers of Pain getting thrown off the scaffold, but they were wisely gone to the WWF, leaving Crockett in a bit of a bad spot. Ivan throws powder at Animal to start, but he quickly gets stomped down and teases falling off the scaffold. Ivan takes some very carefully placed and gentle bumps while Hawk fights with the Assassin, and Animal quickly sends him to the bottom of the scaffold and kicks him down to eliminate him. This leaves the Assassin alone, but Ivan sneaks up with his chain and chokes out Animal. For some reason the Assassin tries to climb down, and Hawk kicks him off the when he’s halfway down and the Warriors win at 5:40. Clearly Dave Sheldon was TERRIFIED to be up there and I’m glad he was able to take a safe bump to get out of it. Mad respect for them making the best out of a tough situation.

Wargames: Ric Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, JJ Dillon & Barry Windham v. Lex Luger, Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, Paul Ellering & Steve Williams

Weird, there’s only 15 minutes or so left in the show, how are they gonna have time for it run for an hour and do the big spot where everyone lines up like West Side Story in the middle of the rings? So Arn starts with Dusty and gets his ass kicked as a result. Arn tries a sunset flip and Dusty slugs him down to block and follows with a DDT before running AA into the cage. Arn is busted open, of course, but he fights back and goes to the top, landing on Dusty’s fist on the way down. Dusty with the figure-four, but the Horsemen win the coin toss and Barry Windham is the next guy in. Dusty fights them both off with elbows but he’s also bleeding now and the Horsemen work him over. Barry with the IRON CLAW. Dr. Death is next into the match to make the save and he clotheslines both heels and hits them with chop blocks, allowing Dusty to get some revenge on Windham and toss him into the cage a few times. Next up, it’s Ric Flair, but Williams immediately no-sells his chops and Ric has to go low to gain the advantage. The Horsemen beat on the babyfaces for a while, and Lex Luger is in next to save. He goes crazy on Flair with powerslams and puts him in the rack, but it’s not yet the MATCH BEYOND and so Flair’s submission doesn’t count. Plus Windham hits Lex in the nards and breaks it up. But then Lex goes back to beating on AA until Tully Blanchard comes in to give the Horsemen the advantage again. And he brings a chair with him and goes after Lex’s leg. Nikita Koloff is in for the babyfaces next and he hits Flair with a Sickle and puts him in a figure-four, but Flair fights out and everyone kind of piles up in a messy brawl. Last in for the bad guys is JJ Dillon, and he actually helps Windham with a double clothesline on Luger and then chokes out Koloff. Nikita fires back as things continue kind of sputtering out, and Paul Ellering is the last guy in and they continue meandering to the finish, as Dillon misses a dropkick and Ellering puts him down into position for Dusty to finish with a figure-four at 21:09. This wasn’t a top level Wargames for the time or anything, but compared to the bloat of today’s version it’s like a totally different match. That being said, 100% the finish should have been Luger racking Flair to get his revenge and sticking JJ and Ellering in there was pointless. Also it completely ran out of gas after Koloff got in there and would have benefitted tremendously from the Road Warriors being in it again instead of Koloff and Doc. ***3/4

The undercard didn’t start great but this was an absolute BANGER by the end. Once again, thank you to the fine people at the WWE Vault for allowing me to hook this to my veins.