The SmarK Rant for NWA Power Hour – 08.31.90

The SmarK Rant for NWA Power Hour – 08.31.90

Taped from Marietta, GA

Your hosts are Jim Ross and THANK GOD, Paul E. Dangerously is back again.

Brian Pillman v. Doug Vines

Brian gets a dropkick that sends Vines over the top, and then slingshots him back over the top again and into a headlock. JR talks about the impending Running the Gauntlet concept coming up in two weeks, which is three matches running over all three weekend shows where the same person has to win three times in order to claim a cash prize. And if he loses any of the matches, the three opponents get the cash instead. That’s a really neat concept that never really went anywhere, unfortunately. Pillman slugs Vines down, but misses an elbow while Paul does Jon Lovitz references in a very 1990 moment. Pillman comes back with chops in the corner and puts him down with a spinkick, and then goes up and finishes with a flying bodypress at 4:20.

Meanwhile, Paul E. goes on a funny run about how he hates working with Jim Cornette, but JR assures him that he’ll get more TV time and Paul is happy again.

WRESTLING NEWS NETWORK! WITH GORDON SOLIE!

Gordon is sad to report the untimely death of Pat O’Connor, but life goes on and Sting faces the Black Scorpion at the Clash of Champions. Oh also we get a hype video for the MASTER BLASTERS, who make their debut at that show and provide the world with one of the most unlikely business-changing stars that no one saw coming. Gordon also chats with Ric Flair, who is facing Lex Luger for the US title at the Clash.

The Nasty Boys v. Tim Parker & Scotty Williams

A rather notable debut here with the Nasties coming over from the wreckage of the AWA but not actually signing a contract once they got here, which became somewhat more of an issue in a couple of months. The Nasties are introduced from New York City at this point, before their hometown got stylized as “Nastyville”, which was presumably located in of one of the boroughs. Sags beats Parker down while JR notes that they’re facing Terry Taylor & Jackie Fulton on the Clash. “Oh, Terry Taylor is back in the NWA?” asks Paul. JR: “He certainly is.” Paul: “Well that ought to be really EGG-citing!” Bonus points because he laughed at his own hilarious joke afterwards. The Nasties continue beating on Parker with boring offense while Paul clarifies the difference between himself and Cornette: “I’m a sinner but sinners can reform, whereas Cornette is stupid and stupid is forever.” Sags finishes Parker with the Shitty Elbow at 5:00. Man after watching this boring-ass squash I would not have expected the Nasties to have a career-defining match with the Steiners like they did.

CLASH OF CHAMPIONS XII IS COMING NEXT WEEK! Just accept it.

Sid Vicious v. Dave Diamond

JR: “There’s a Sid fan at ringside. Probably out on work release this weekend.” Sid plasters Diamond with a clothesline while Jim talks about Bobby Eaton, “the Harpo Max of wrestling” in one of those references for the youths. See, kids, Harpo didn’t talk on screen. Sid takes this goof to the floor and runs him into the railing and then tosses him back in and finishes with the powerbomb at 2:20.

Jim Cornette is joined by Sting, discussing the mysterious Black Scorpion, who is very mysterious and apparently knew Sting in 1986 and is still holding a grudge. Must be an ex-girlfriend, AM I RIGHT FELLAS? HIGH FIVE! Anyone? Sting’s plan: He’s gonna be crazy and fight until the bitter end. So then we get another mysterious promo from the mysterious Black Scorpion, who is so enigmatic and foreboding that he should work for Lumen Industries.

Junkyard Dog v. Mike Thor

Dog chases Thor to the floor while JR promises he’s got the Black Scorpion narrowed down to 3 or 4 names but he’ll only tell us if we call the Hotline. This guy’s worse than Meltzer. Back in the ring, Dog kind of runs into Thor in something resembling a shoulderblock, and then finishes with the Thump at 1:30, which was more along the lines of picking him up and kind of half-assed falling over and pinning him.

The Midnight Express v. The Lightning Express

Midnights are still US tag team champs but this is non-title. Well, that’s not entirely accurate, as the Midnights had actually lost the tag team titles to the Steiners by the time this show aired, but this was taped a couple of days before the title change. JR probes deeper into the long-running feud between Cornette and Dangerously, but Paul blames it all on Cornette. Horner takes Lane down with an armdrag and hiptoss as JR notes that Horner and Armstrong were “regional tag team champions” at one point, shovelling the last bit of dirt on the UWF’s grave some years later. The Midnights bail and talk it over, but Lane hits Horner with a savate kick in the ring and it’s over to Bobby. But the babyfaces double-team him and drop elbows on him, and Brad gets two. Paul notes that he still doesn’t have his plane ticket for the Clash yet. JR: “I bet Missy Hyatt got yours. You can search her for it. In fact I bet a bunch of guys will help you.” Like I wanted to be reminded of THAT relationship. Bobby takes Brad down with a headscissors and goes back to Lane, but Brad armdrags him and rolls up Stan for two. Horner controls Eaton with armdrags as this isn’t really going anywhere yet, and Brad dropkicks Eaton to the floor and then gives him a flying headscissors on the floor. Back in the ring, Brad goes up and Bobby cuts him off, but Brad flips out of a suplex and into another headscissors. Brad runs wild with dropkicks and it’s suddenly BONZO GONZO as the Midnights get noggins knocked, setting up the legsweep from Brad for two. But Cornette takes the ref and Lane hits Brad with a butterfly suplex to take over. Drop toehold into an elbowdrop gets two. Discus lariat from Bobby gets two. Neckbreaker gets two. Lane comes in and uses KARATE while Paul does his Gordon Solie impression. It’s so true! He DOES say “Tremendous blow to the solar plexus” a lot! Bobby with a backbreaker for two. Eaton tries a suplex and Brad fights back with his own and makes the hot tag to Horner. He runs wild and slugs away on Eaton in the corner, and then dives off and hits Lane with a crossbody for two. But Cornette hits Brad with the tennis racket and Lane tosses Horner over the top for the DQ at 12:20. ***1/4. The Midnights try for the beatdown but the Southern Boys make the save. Odd that no one ever mentioned that Brad and Steve are BROTHERS at any point.

Oh man, Paul E. returning to annoy Jim Ross makes this show A MILLION TIMES better, and of course Paul would become even more important to the fortunes of WCW in the months to come. Also throwing out a random Midnight Express match where they beat up Brad Armstrong for 10 minutes is the way to my heart.