The SmarK Rant for WCW Power Hour – 12.29.90

The SmarK Rant for WCW Power Hour – 12.29.90

Originally written 06.26.25

And we wrap up 1990 WCW with the post-Xmas show so I can get this over with and move onto other things.

This is the “Best of Power Hour 1990”, which would normally be a very short show.

Your hosts are Jim Ross & Paul E. Dangerously

World TV title: Arn Anderson v. Shane Douglas

From 02.16.90, a show that’s actually missing from my collection, joined in progress with Arn working on the arm and slugging Shane down before biting the arm. Arn hammerlocks him while dropping knees on the arm. The ref wants to stop the match but Shane begs him not to. But then he does it anyway at 3:30 aired, because fuck Shane Douglas I guess.

US title: Lex Luger v. Samu the Wild Samoan

Not to be confused with Samu the Certified Accountant. From 03.23.90, joined with Lex winning a test of strength and then powering out of a full nelson with the power of FLEXING. Lex with the FULL ARM DRAG AND TWIST and he goes AAAAAAAAAARGH with every twist, like he’s straining to tear off a tiny t-shirt with every move, but he charges and goes flying to the floor, allowing Samu to take over. Back in, Samu with headbutts as we are blessed with watching Luger sell for a while before Samu goes to a chinlock. Lex makes the comeback and he’s FLEXING UP with a back elbow as Samu bails to escape that. Samu catches him with a slam and goes up for the flying splash, but that misses and Lex puts him away with the torture rack at 6:00 shown. This was fine. **.

World tag team title: Doom v. The Fantastics

From 08.24.90, joined with Bobby Fulton getting clotheslined by Reed. This is actually the very short-lived team of Jackie & Bobby Fulton playing “The Fantastics”, as Bobby gets pretty severely concussed here and doesn’t actually return. The Fultons run wild and hit Simmons with a double clothesline, but Reed comes off the top and nails Jackie, putting Ron on top for the pin at 2:00 aired. The full match from the original show was a complete mess but editing it down to the finish makes it less obvious. Not sure why they’d put it on a “Best of” show, though.

World tag team title: The Steiner Brothers v. Doom

From 03.30.90, joined with Doom trying to isolate Scott, but he hits Reed with a belly to belly suplex, and then Simmons jumps in and tosses Scott for an impressive bump to the floor. Back in, Reed crotches Scott and the “the two ebony destroyers” take over, as JR puts it. Also I’m pretty sure Scott should have no-sold that shot to the crotch, considering how much time he’s spent telling us about his genitals and all the powers they possess. Scott with a cradle on Simmons for two, but Ron hits him with a spinebuster for two. Reed with a backdrop and high knee and even Ross is like “Holy shit they’re really beating on each other”. Scott hits the Frankensteiner and they just move on at 4:40 aired.

Sting v. Jack Victory

From 02.09.90, joined with Victory holding a chinlock until Sting escapes with a jawbreaker. Jacko puts the boots to him, but Sting fights back, and then misses the Stinger Splash and Victory gets two. Sting comes back and runs Victory into the turnbuckle and dropkicks him to the floor for a brawl out there, and then back in with a flying bodypress for two. Victory goes up himself, but Sting slams him on the way down and they slug it out until Sting hits him with the Stinger Splash and then puts him away with the Deathlock at 3:43 aired.

I appreciate the rundown of upcoming house shows, including one where I’m informed that Buddy Landel and Master Blasters will be featured, so I know to avoid it.

NWA World title: Ric Flair v. Tommy Rich

From 03.09.90. Of course, I would be remiss in not mentioning that Flair will also be defending the World title at the Omni this weekend, good seats still available, but sadly we don’t get to hear more about that show for one local market until later on when we get to World Championship Wrestling. Well I’m sure not gonna go down to my local ticket outlet and buy a seat now. They trade headlocks as I’m struck with further disappointment at learning that the details of the Sting coloring contest (no purchase necessary) have been cut out by whoever recorded this show. I’d color his face paint all white and make his coat and gear look like it’s all black, because that’s the easiest and coolest way to do it. Then I could retroactively sue them for stealing my designs and maybe make a few bucks off the “creators” of the Crow while I’m at it. Rich escapes a headlock and slugs away on Flair in the corner, and then backdrops him for two. Flair takes Rich to the corner and tries a cheapshot, but Tommy beats him to the punch and chases him to the floor. You know, not that I think Wildfire was any big threat to win the title here or anything, but they’re literally talking about how Flair is defending the title against Lex Luger multiple times coming up and just treating it like Rich has no chance. That’s just insulting. Nah, I’m kidding, no one gives a shit about Rich. Flair finally gets his cheapshot and elbows Rich to the floor, then sends him into the railing and beats on him outside. Back in, Flair punches Rich off the apron and he takes a dramatic bump over the mats and into the railing. Back in, Flair beats on him with chops and rolls him up for two while using the ropes for leverage. Rich rolls him up for two while Flair yells at the fans, however, and makes the comeback with a crossbody for two. Flair just blasts him down with another chop to cut him off and a double arm suplex gets two. Rich comes back again and slugs away in the corner as the crowd in Bumblefuck, West Virginia goes nuts for him like it’s 1982 or something. But then Rich puts his head down and Flair nails him. Figure-four is reversed to a cradle for two by Rich, and a backslide gets two. They fight to the floor again and Rich comes back again, running Flair into the railing, and then slamming Flair off the top to bring him back into the ring again. Why was Flair even going to the top there? Never mind, doesn’t matter, it’s Flair. Rich with the sleeper, but Woman trips him up and he goes after her and then hits Flair with a sunset flip from the outside, for two. Tommy with the THESZ PRESS, THESZ PRESS, THESZ PRESS, but that only gets two. And then they collide coming off the ropes and Flair falls on top and puts his foot on the ropes for the pin at 13:45 to retain. Dammit, that was a really good match and my mockery of Tommy Rich backfired on me. Stupid karma. The finish was really weak though. SO THERE. ***1/4

And there we go, wrapping up 1990 with a clip show. Because WCW.

So now with this year done, we go WAY forward in time as the next project, as I tackle the Universal Studios era with 1997 Worldwide!