Starrcade 85: The Gathering
Date: 28/11/85
Cities & Venues: Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina & The Omni, Atlanta, Georgia
Commentary Teams: Bob Caudle & Tony Schiavone
Announcers: Tom Miller
No, that isn't a mistake, there are two venues for this PPV. NWA have seemingly decided to expand upon Starrcade and make this one bigger than the last two. I believe this is the first time something like this was done, and at the time this was still recorded on CCTV rather than PPV (WWF's Wrestling Classic was the first actual PPV as far as I'm aware). One half takes place in Greensboro and the other in Atlanta. Bob Caudle and Tony Schiavone are in Atlanta and introduce the show before going to Johnny Weaver in Greensboro. The first match is in Greensboro and it's over to ring announcer Tom Miller. After welcoming the crowd, the American national anthem gets played, then we go into the opening match of the night
Match 1 - Khrusher Kruschev vs Sam Houston
Singles match, 20 minute time limit for the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship
From what I've read, it appears that this title was vacant so whoever wins would become champion. I can't say that I know anything about either of these two prior to the match taking place, and the match is billed as Russian vs Cowboy. No prizes for guessing who is fan favourite. Bob Caudle and Tony Schiavone commentate from Atlanta.
The two start with grappling eachother, and Kruschev is thrown through the ropes to his surprise as he's clearly the bigger man. After a stand off Kruschev is able to choke lift Houston over his head, throws Houston to the mat but then misses a running elbow drop. Kruschev tries to use his strength again to get the upper hand but Houston's speed is becoming a problem. After a few more stand offs Houston throws on a headlock, but is thrown against the ropes. After a few bounces too many Houston tries to hip toss Kruschev, but his strength blocks this move. Houston works around this into an elaborate head scissors and locks in the hold.
Kruschev is eventually able to take Houston to the corner, but Houston foils the attacks and hits Kruschev with a drop kick and an arm drag. He keeps hold of the arm, and Kruschev counters throwning Houston against the ropes, and goes for a big back drop but Houston lands on his face. Kruschev gets a 2 count after a punch to the head. Kruschev press slams Houston and looks to be in control. Houston threatens to get back in it but then gets caught in a bear hug. The fans chant USA, and Houston escapes the hold and lands a kick to Kruschev's face. Kruschev doesn't like this and body slams Houston before heading to the top rope. Houston sees this coming and drop kicks Kruschev onto the turnbuckle. After punching Kruschev in the corner, Houston whips him to the opposite corner and signals for what I guess is his finisher, the Bulldog. This lands (awkwardly) and Houston goes for the pin. Houston thinks he's won but Kruschev gets his foot on the rope just in time, and when Houston celebrates he gets hit with a big clothesline. Kruschev pins him for the win but Houston also has his foot on the ropes, which the referee doesn't see.
Bit of a boring match to start things off, and the lack of constant commentary is telling. Caudle and Schiavone only talk during brief moments of the match, meaning long moments of silence which doesn't quite work well. I'm not sure if this is the first time Caudle and Schiavone have commentated together as they don't have the same chemistry as Caudle and Solie. Anyway, the heel won the match but the face can feel hard done by as the ref should have spotted his foot on the ropes. Not terrible, but forgettable 2/5
The match ends and it's straight to the next match without any after match discussion
Match 2 - Abdullah The Butcher w/Paul Jones vs "Ragin' Bull" Manny Fernandez
Mexican Death Match, no time limit
Tom Miller explains that a Mexican Death Match is a no DQ match that can't be won by pin fall. The only way to win, is to grab the sombrero off the pole in one of the ring corners. Scrapping over a hat, brilliant.
Ragin' Bull beat Black Bart at Starrcade 84 in a match I didn't really like, and Abdullah The Butcher I've not seen since Starrcade 83. Not sure how this will go down but judging from these two matches they like hardcore.
Abdullah cuts Bull open within 5 seconds and then attacks him with a hammer and beats on him. Bull fights back with strikes and kicks, and eventually lands a bad monkey flip on Abdullah. Bull takes his boot off and attacks with it, reopening a massive cut that Abdullah started the match with on his head. After missing one boot attack and landing in the ropes Abdullah uses the boot on Bull and goes for the sombrero, but Bull is able to recover just in time. The boot is used again on Abdullah, and this time Bull goes for the sombrero but Abdullah knocks him down.
The crowd really enjoyed this match, and it had it's moments. Both performers put on a decent show and really tried to capitalise on the other's mistakes. The match got better as it went on, and really picked up after the boot stopped being used as the main weapon. 3/5
Johnny Weaver is with Khrusher Kruschev. Kruschev doesn't even try to do a Russian accent and just speaks with a Southern American accent, but talks about "The Motherland". It's hilarious. Weaver then talks about the next match.
Match 3 - Black Bart w/James J Dillon vs "Cowboy" Ron Bass
Texas Bull Rope match, no time limit
If Ronn Bass wins, he gets a 5 minute Texas Bull Rope Match with James J Dillon
This is cowboy vs cowboy in what is a strap match. Bart & Bass both competed at Starrcade 84 as heels, and both were managed at the time by JJ Dillon. Bass is now a babyface following the break-up of their old group, as Bart stuck with JJ.
There is a cowbell in the middle of the bull rope, which Bass uses straight away to cut Bart open. Caudle and Schiavone explain that these two men used to be partners while Bass hammers away wit the cowbell and throws in a few punches too. He then uses the rope as a weapon and beats on Bart some more. Bart turns it round with a quick low blow, ten goes to work on Bass, using similar attacks with the rope and cowbell. Bass is cut open, and just when he looks like he's struggling he fights back, but Bart starts to choke Bass with the rope. Bass fights back with the cowbell, leaving Bart to unconvincingly swing wild punches in the air while he's 'dazed'. Bass uses the rope again and the match goes back and forth, which sends most of the crowd into a sleep, until Bart misses a clothesline and falls over the top rope.
Bass follows him out and uses the cowbell some more. He wraps the rope around Bart's neck and punches him a bit, goes for the pin and gets a 2 count.Bart fights back a bit but both men are knocked to the ground after they shoulder tackle eachother. They get up and the rope is between Bart's legs, which Bass uses to his advantage. Bass gets another 2 count after another cowbell shot. He then gets the win shortly after, after one more cowbell shot.
I like that Bass and Bart tried to make the match about the rope and cowbell, but had zero imagination on what to do with them other than hitting eachother. This was boring and the crowd only seemed to get excited because Bass winning meant he got 5 minutes with JJ. Totally forgettable and a really poor fight. 1/5
Match 4 - "Cowboy" Ron Bass vs James J Dillon
Texas Bull Rope Match, 5 minute time limit
As soon as the last match ended JJ runs into the ring and goes to work on Bass, stomping away at him wearing cowboy boots. Dillon uses the cowbell and goes for a quick pin, but Bass kicks out. Dillon uses the bell some more and uses more imagination in 20 seconds than the whole of the last match, choking Bass with the rope. Bass fights back and gets pumped up, Dillon acts scared and tries to run, but Bass starts attacking with the cowbell, cutting him open and then resorting to pucnhes. He strikes JJ with the cowbell again, but the rope momentum knocks the referee over. Bass goes for the pin but the ref can't count, so Black Bart comes back in the ring and attacks Bass, hitting him with a piledriver. He pulls JJ onto Bass and gets the refs attention, who counts the pin. JJ Dillon wins.
This quick encounter between a wrestler and a manager was better than the longer match between two wrestlers. Dillon used the cowbell to help with falling strikes and put Bass in a choke which actually looked effective. Bass just resorted again to strikes with the cowbell. Only issue with this was that the ref was 'knocked down' by rope momentum, when it would have made much more sense for Black Bart to trip the ref from outside the ring to stop the pin count. I'll be generous and say 2/5
Again it's straight into the next match without any review of what just went down
Match 5 - The Barbarian w/Paul Jones vs "Superstar" Billy Graham
$10,000 Arm Wrestling Challenge, followed by a 30 minute time limit singles match
So first we have an arm wrestling match, then a normal singles match. Graham is the big fan favourite here, while The Barbarian looks like a Leigion Of Doom knock off. Graham got beat at Starrcade 84 thanks to a chop to the neck, so while he might win an arm wrestle, I can't see an actual match going too well. Barbarian has a cast on his right hand so it will be a left handed wrestle.
The arm wrestle is drawn out, with Barbarian on top almost winning a couple of times, but Graham powers back and wins the $10k.
Paul Jones attacks Graham as soon as the arm wrestle is over with his cane, and Barbarian uses his cast to attack as well. Graham is cut open, takes a beating and, after Barbarian misses a flying headbutt from the top rope, fights back and throws on a bearhug. Jones interrupts the bearhug and Graham wins by DQ.
Short match which did it's job, got the crowd excited when Graham fought back and they loved it after the match when he attacked Jones with the cane. Usually I'd give nonsense like this 1/5, but I'll be generous purely due to the crowd reaction, and give this 2/5.
Same as before, no discussion about what just happened. Infact, Caudle and Schiavone have been very quiet so far and barely even commentated on the events down in Greensboro. Which is a different experience, but not one I've liked so far, as the crowd hasn't really been into all the matches.
Match 6 - "Nature Boy" Buddy Landel w/James J Dillon vs Terry Taylor (C)
Singles match, 45 minute time limit for the NWA National Heavyweight Championship
I don't think I've seen either of these two before. I've heard of Terry Taylor before, but definitely not Buddy Landel, who looks like a Ric Flair rip off, even having the same hair style and colour. Landel is the heel in this, Taylor the face, but still gets a few boos when he is announced.
Landel backs out of a grapple to fix his hair, and after a short grapple both men stand toe to toe. JJ Dillon isn't at ringside yet, still recovering from his Bull Rope match. The match goes back and forth with strikes and an arm lock from Landel, whcih is countered into an arm drag by Taylor. Landel act's heelish backing into the corner, and tries to assert control with a headlock takedown. Taylor tries to work around this and gets in a couple of pinning positions, and eventually counters the headlock into a wrist lock.
Landel starts to fight back, but runs into a big boot from Taylor. Taylor then lands a big back body drop, follows it up with a knee drop and gets a 1 count. Landel strikes with a strong elbow, knocking Taylor to the ground. Landel gets him up and goes to work on taylor's body in the corner, ending with a snapmare and a chin lock takedown. Taylor escapes with a back suplex, and then lands a back breaker, and hits a leg drop. He goes for the pin but Landel gets his foot onto the bottom rope. After Taylor attacks with some chops, Landel reverses a whip into the corner and hits a powerful clothesline, getting him a 2 count. Landel sets up Taylor for a suplex, but Taylor counters with a small package, getting a 2 count, but this infuriates Landel. He stomps Taylor and throws on a reverse chin lock. Taylor works back and is able to force Landel off his back and into the corner. Following a snapmare and standing on Landel's neck, Taylor hits a suplex, which causes Schiavone to say that Taylor's favourite move is the Superplex. I wonder where this is going...
JJ Dillon is back at ringside now, and Landel is taking a beating in the corner. Taylor is trying to carry on the offence but the referee is trying to pull him away. While their backs are turned, Dillon hands Landel his shoe (yes, his shoe!) and Landel attacks Taylor with this, knocking him into the referee. Dillon gets his show back and climbs to the apron, while Landel shoves Taylor into the referee again. The ref stays down longer now, and Landel tries to whip Taylor into Dillon and his shoe, but the whip is reversed, sending Landel into Dillon and Dillon crashing to the ouside. Taylor gets Landel into the corner after a forearm, and sets him up for the Superplex. While he has Landel up over his head, JJ trips Taylor, and Landel impressively balances himself and lands on Taylor. The ref has recovered by this point, and counts to 3 to make Landel the new champion!
No real complaints about this match. Some good back and forth action, with Taylor looking to be on top, but JJ Dillon's interference changed the match around, and the ending was very well done. I was impressed with Taylor, and his variety of moves, holds and counters, while Landel wasn't bad at all. Well earned 3/5
Match 7 - "The Minnesota Wrecking Crew" Arn & Ole Anderson (C) vs Billy Jack Haynes & Wahoo McDaniel
Tag Team match, 45 minute time limit for the NWA National Tag Team Championship
I believe this is the first PPV I've seen with Arn Anderson since I started doing reviews. He's a solid in-ring performer, really good technician who rarely has a bad match. Ole Anderson was in a tag team match in Starrcade 84, which he lost when his partner Keith Larson was pinned. Wahoo McDaniel has competed at Starrcade 83 and 84, while I've not seen anything of Billy Jack Haynes. McDaniel & Haynes come down to the ring to a synth version of the Fabulous Freebirds music, and are also NWA USA Tag Team Champions.
Haynes and Arn start off, with Haynes able to power over whatever Arn throws at him early on, which eventually leads into Arn receiving a military press slam. Arn writhes in pain and backs into his corner, bring in Ole. Ole is a bit more powerful than Arn, but Haynes out powers and out brawls Ole before tagging in Wahoo McDaniel. McDaniel carries on the assault, knocking Ole to the floor and attacks Arn on the apron. Ole takes a snapmare and an elbow drop, but bounces over to his own corner and Arn is tagged in. Arn takes his time coming into the ring, cleverly slowing down Wahoo's momentum. He excellently sells a slap from McDaniel , who then throws on a headlock takedown. While grounded, Arn is able to roll McDaniel over and lock him into a head scissors.
McDaniel works his way out of the head scissors and Arn holds his hand out for a tag, but Ole ignores it. Arn then Wahoo into his corner and tags in Ole, ensuring they can work the double team when they tag. After a snapmare Ole goes to work on McDaniel's arm, Schiavone pointing out that this will weaken one of Wahoo's big moves, the Tomahawk Chop. Daniel slaps Ole down, but they're still in the Anderson corner, so Arn tags himself in while Ole holds onto McDaniel preventing him from going to his own corner. Really good tag team play. Arn focusses his offence on the same arm Ole targetted, using holds, stomps and knee strikes. While im a hammerlock position Ole is tagged in and more attacks are made on the left arm. Ole gets a 2 count following a body slam and an elbow drop. Arn is tagged back in and they double team Wahoo again, Arn & Ole have got McDaniel right where they want him. Haynes knows this, so comes into the ring and attacks Arn from behind. With all 4 men in the ring, the ref gets Haynes out first, meaning more double team action on Wahoo McDaniel. Arn again goes for McDaniel's left arm, but he uses his right to slap his way back into it. This is still near the Anderson corner, so as Arn falls back he tags in Ole, and McDaniel still can't quite make it to his own corner. He brawls briefly with Ole, and then rolls to Haynes to make a hot tag, the crowd exploding as it happens.
Arn has also been tagged in, and McDaniel is now on the apron, but Haynes is taking down both the Andersons. He knocks their heads together, and Wahoo comes back to join the action. Haynes & Wahoo have the crowd on their feet and the Andersons are knocked down. the ref gets Wahoo then Ole to leave the ring, but Arn is able to snapmare Haynes into McDaniels corner, who is tagged back in. McDaniel hits Arn with the Tomahawk Chop and has him down for the 3 count, but Ole knows this was coming so jumps in to make the save. Ole leaves the ring and Haynes comes back in, onbly to be blocked off by the referee. Arn whips Wahoo against the ropes, and Ole trips him from the outside, but this only gets a 2 count. The ref is then distracted again with Haynes, and McDaniel has managed to get Arn back into Ole's corner. Ole trips McDaniel again and this time holds Whoo's legs down while Arn pins him to get the win.
Easily the best match so far. Arn & Ole put on a tag team clinic here, making regular, sensible tags, split the ring in half, worked double teams and focussed on trying to weaken a strength of their opponent. In other words, they tried to make what they did count and look believable. Excellent performance from them, and I was impressed too with Billy Jack Haynes in the brief moments he had in the ring. The crowd were really into this too, and a good heel finish to end the match. Great tag team match and deserved 4/5
Johnny Weaver is with JJ Dillon and Buddy Landel. JJ cuts a good promo about what has happened that night and promotes Landel & his win, and says this is the last step towards him becoming World Heavyweight Champion. Landel does a promo but can't help but mention Ric Flair. We then go to the next match
Match 8 - Magnum T.A. vs Tully Blanchard (C) w/Babydoll
I Quit Cage match for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship
This is the first match I've seen of Magnum T.A.'s, but Tully Blanchard put on a great match with Ricky Steamboat at Starrcade 84, so I hope this can reach the same standards. Magnum is the huge fan favourite.
From the first exchange you can tell this is going to be an aggressive, brutal match. Both men strike quickly and fiercely, Magnum has the edge on strength, Tully on speed. Magnum tries to rake Blanchard down the cage, but Tully is able to fend him off. He sends Magnum head first into the cage, which opens Magnum up. Tully works a chin lock, but Magnum powers out of it, eventually lifting Tully over his head, dropping him neck first onto the top rope, while also raking his face down the cage. They brawl for a short while, and Magnum is again thrown into the cage. Tully grabs the mic asking if amagnum quits - not yet.
Tully is now thrown into the cage a couple of times, which looks to have cut open his arm. We see Magnum briefly dig his fingers into the open wound, before the camera cuts to a cincerned looking Babydoll. Magnum asks if he quits and Tully shouts he doesn't. Magnum focusses his attention to Tully Blanchard's cut arm, even going as far as biting at the wound. This is going to another level of brutality. Both men are so emotionally invested in this, it's fascinating to watch. Magnum is down and his head wound seems to be getting bigger. Tully rams the mic down his throat screaming at him to quit, but Magnum's too angry to do that. So Tully uses the mic as a weapon and asks again. In between the screaming between the two, they're both breathing heavily, putting everything into this.
Tully beats on Magnum, focussing his punches on his forehead, then bizarrely goes for a pin, before realising what has happened. Magnum goes head first into the cage again, and Tully lands a forearm smash from the top rope. Magnum still won't quit, despite Tully's best efforts.Tully attacks somemore, but Magnum rolls out the way of an elbow drop, giving him a way back into it. He now uses the mic as a weapon, and when asked Tully just screams in pain but won't give up. Babydoll looks worried on the outside and Tully tries to fight his way back into it. Both men are wobbling at this point, trading swinging heavy blows, and Magnum comes out on top. He tells Tully to quit again, but a quick kick to the ribs takes Magnum by surprise, and he rolls to the corner. Magnum is up on the second rope delivering blows, but Blanchard escapes this by picking him up and landing an inverted atomic drop. Magnum takes more mic shots but still won't quit. Tully lands a load of elbow drops, and is getting frustrated, so much so that he shoves the referee across the ring.
This is the signal for Babydoll to throw a wooden chair into the ring. And this is where things get cranked up to 11. Tully smashes up the wooden chair, and picks up a sharpened corner, with what looks like a spiked end. He kicks the referee down, and then stands over Magnum, before diving downwards, trying his best to drive the spike into Magnum's head. Magnum uses all his strength to hold this off. The crowd are going fucking apeshit at this, and absolutely lose it when Magnum knees Tully in the back to get him off. He then picks up the spike, and rams it into Tully's forehead, holding it in place, twisting and turning it all at the same time. We don't need the mic to know Tully's response when asked if he quits, he just SCREAMS "yes" over and over again. Magnum T.A. is the new USA Champion.
That is possibly the most brutal match I've ever seen. Both men put everything into that, and the emotion on display just made you want to watch more and more. It just builds and builds and plays out perfectly. I don't think you could get away with some of this stuff anymore, certainly not the ending, probably not even the biting at an open wound. Outstanding creativity. The crowd absolutely lost it when Magnum won, and how he wins is an image that will stick long in the memory. I can't fault this match in anyway. 5/5
Babydoll comes into the ring, but all you can hear through the crowd is Tully howling in pain. We quickly go to the next match, which take place in Atlanta
Match 9 - "The Midnight Express" Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey w/Jim Cornette vs "The Boogie Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant & Miss Atlanta Lively w/Big Mama
Atlanta Street Fight
An Atlanta street fight is a street fight in Atlanta. The Midnight Express have turned up in formal wear, along with their manager, tennis racquet carrying Jim Cornette, while Boogie Woogie man is in jeans & t-shirt, while Miss Atlanta Lively is clearly a fella in drag (Ronnie Garvin). The Midnight Express are heavily booed, Valiant & Lively cheered.
The match starts with Valiant taking Condrey and Lively throwing powder all over Eaton. The only way to describe this is an all out brawl, without much sense being considered. Valiant gets Bobby Eaton outside quite early on and throws him a huge hip toss which the crowd take in. Condrey is then double-teamed and sent flying into Eaton as he tries to get back into the ring. Boogie man throws a sleeper onto "Lover Boy" Dennis and Lively attacks Eaton with a chain, but Cornette attacks Valiant from behind. More powder is thrown around and Eaton attacks Valiant with knuckle dusters.
The brawl continues with belts, Lively's bag and knuckle dusters used some more, and Lively (Garvin) gets double teamed, showing the world her (his) arse. This causes Schiavone to pipe up that Jim Cornette says that there is something strange about Lively which will be exposed. Creepy. Valiant is knocked out the ring, The Midnight Express are now topless holding Lively, so Jim Cornette wades into the ring and swing his trusty tennis racquet at Lively before making an exit. Lively is double teamed again and Valiant is kicked from the apron to the floor. Cornette is losing it outside the ring smashing his racquet everywhere, and Valiant comes back in to even the odds. Midnight Express focus on Valiant and take him down with a double clothesline. Condrey holds Valiant down while Eaton jumps from the top rope, but Lively catches him with an uppercut, get a big reaction from the crowd, and Condrey is kicked away by Valiant. Lively pins Eaton for the win.
Not really my cup of tea this match. The crowd were into it, and it had it's moments, but it isn't something I'll be rushing to see again. I will say though that Valiant especially kept the match at such a pace where the action didn't die down. 2/5
Cornette is stripped in the ring to reveal he wears love heart boxies. We actually see a replay to how the match ended as well. Johnny Weaver is with Magnum T.A. He says this is the best belt around after the World Heavyweight title, and says he will defend this any place any time, and specifically calls out Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, Nikita Koloff and Buddy Landel. This then moves onto the next match
Match 10 - Ivan & Nikita Koloff (C) w/Krusher Kruschev vs "The Rock 'n' Roll Express" Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson w/Don Kernodle
No DQ Tag Team match with no time limit for the NWA World Tag Team Championships
I last saw the Koloff's at Starrcade 84, while I think this is the PPV debut of the Rock 'n' Roll Express. Rock 'n' Roll Express are favourites, for being American, while xenophobia means the defending champions are villains. Also, this is a no DQ match, but the cage from the previous match is still up, making this a strange way to have a tag team match. Also, it's no DQ, but people still need to be tagged in and out? Wrestling sense...
The match starts off as a regular tag team match, as if the cage isn't there. Nikita Koloff starts off against Ricky Morton, giving an advert of what the match will be like, power & strength vs speed & agility. Morton lands a drop kick early, spinning Nikita to the corner, but he uses this time to get himself together, then cimes back at Morton and tags in Ivan. A jumping forearm from Morton stops on attack, but Ivan then picks Morton up and drops his legs either side of the ropes. A 2 count is kicked out of, and Morton is able to make a tag. Gibson comes in on the attack, and lands a drop kick-bodyslam-knee drop combo to get a 2 count.
The Rock 'n' Roll Express show some impressive tag work now, keeping Ivan isolated from his partner while making a quick succession of tags, double team moves and pin attempts. Gibson starts to use the cage as a weapon, sending Ivan Koloff headfirst into one of the supporting poles a couple of times, and Morton lands a jumping puch to the head from the top rope. Nikita rages in his corner and Ivan takes another cage shot and then a flying forearm from the top rope. This only gets another 2 count, and Ivan is bust open now. Gibson is tagged back in, but Ivan gets in a quick thumb to the eye to give him enough time to tag in Nikita.
The Russians start to take control, with Nikita sending Gibson flying into the cage walls, cutting him open. Ivan is tagged back and gets a 2 count after an elbow drop. Gibson tries to fight back, but Ivan tags Nikita back in. In shades of the last cage match, Nikita Koloff starts biting Gibson in the forehead, making his wound bigger, before bodyslamming him back to the mat. Morton is trying to get in the ring here but the ref keeps him from coming in, giving Ivan the chance to land a jumping punch from the top rope. Gibson is pinned but Morton makes the save. Schiavone says usually tag teams have one save, but with this being no DQ they have as many as they want. Never heard of that rule before, I think he made it up.
Ivan Koloff keeps the attack up, and goes for a running boot to the back of Gibson's head, but I guess Gibson felt the big Russian coming as he rolls out the way at the last second. Ivan clutches his knee, but manages to drag Gibson to his corner, where Nikita grabs hold of him for some quick double team work. Morton rushes in to break it up but the ref quickly sends him back into his own corner. Ivan gets a 2 count following a snapmare and leg drop sequence. He goes for another leg drop but misses, causing the crowd to cheer, but he then tags in Nikita. He slaps on a chin lock, Gibson fights back and a frustrated Nikita tags Ivan back in. After beating on Gibson for a while, who has been in the ring for a long time now, Ivan goes for another pin and seems to hav ethis won, but Gibson gets his foot on the ropes before the ref can get to 3. A dazed Gibson lands a punch and tries to get to his corner, but Nikita charges in and stops this after tagging himself in. He taunts Morton, making sure this distracts the referee, and then starts to choke Gibson while his back is turned (maybe xenophobia isn't why they were booed?). He goes for another pin but Morton makes another save.
Ivan is tagged back in and whips Gibson across the ring. Gibson slides under Ivan and hits him with a drop kick. Both men are on the floor, and the referee is also down for some reason. Gibson pins Ivan for a clear 3 count, but no ref = no count. Nikita comes in the ring and takes down Morton, before knocking Gibson down and throwing Ivan on top of him. But the ref is still down (and badly pretending to be stuck under the ropes), but he quickly gets to his feet when he sees a blind tag to Morton. Ivan back body drops Gibson, but Morton is there to sneak in behind and roll over Ivan after bouncing him off the ropes to get the 3 count!
Another really good tag team match. I was impressed with the Rock 'n' Roll Express, they kept to tag team logic isolating their opponent when possible and made regualr tags when they were in control. Ivan & Nikita Koloff were also good, although I felt that they should have made more of an effort to keep Gibson in their own corner, as a lot of their attacks happened in the middle of the ring or on neutral corners, which to me seemed a bit lazy. I'll give this 4/5, but only just.
Ricky Morton is thrown from the cage, and the Koloff's and Krusher Kruschev start attacking Robert Gibson in the ring with a chain. This goes on for a while, Don Kernodle is also down, but then a load of guys from the back come in to help out. After this behaviour, it was definitely xenophobia why the Koloff's were booed at the start. We go now to the main event
Match 11 - Dusty Rhodes vs Ric Flair (C)
Singles match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
A repeat of Starrcade 84's main event. Flair was still champion since that last event, and had been champion for around 18 months going into this match. Dusty Rhodes gets massive cheers leading into this match, while Flair is booed clearly and loudly. Rolls reversed since the year before.
Dusty struts his stuff to get the crowd going, and doesn't miss a beat when it comes to striking and slapping Flair around the ring. Flair leaves the ring to gather himself. This doesn't help as Dusty then starts going to work using his Bionic Elbow. Flair rolls out the ring again, comes back and tries a different approach. He goes for an armlock but Dusty counters into a hammerlock, taking Flair to the canvas. The hold is broken, and Flair is able to go on the offence, using various blows and chops before landing a jumping knee drop.
When they're back on their feet Flair kicks at Dusty's left ankle, which had previously been injured by Arn Anderson according to the commentary team. Dusty uses the Bionic elbow when Flair attacks him on the apron, and stomps on Flair's ankle to even things up. He then gets into the ring and starts applying pressure to Flair's right leg & knee. He keeps this up and plays to the crowd, giving Flair the chance to thumb Dusty in the eye. Flair gets up and tries to suplex Dusty, but his knee gives way before he can do anything, so Dusty reverses this and suplexes Flair instead. He goes back for the knee but Flair is able to apply a head lock at the same time. They're both back up and Dusty is winning the physical battle, so Flair cleverley slaps on a sleeper hold. Dusty takes this for a short time while he lines himself up with the top turnbuckle, throws himself to the floor to send Flair crashing into corner face first.
Dusty rolls and and starts forcing Flair's leg into the ring post. Dusty's plan is clearly focussing on the right leg of Flair and it's working so far. He misses an elbow drop, and Flair gambles going to the top rope, but Dusty sees this and throws him to the mat. Dusty then tries to apply the Figure 4 onto Flair, but he's just about able to kick Dusty away, seemingly injuring his ankle in the process. Flair now goes for the Figure 4 but Dusty is too strong for it at that moment. They start brawling in the corner, before Flair is thown across the ring, bouncing over the coner onto the outside. Dusty follows this up slamming Flair's head into a railing, cutting him open. Flair fights back and thinks he throws Dusty out the ring, but Dusty lands on the apron, climbs to the top rope, and just about manages to splash onto Flair. The ref is a bit slow coming over for the count, and Flair kicks out after 2.
The match becomes more physical now as the two men trade blows, with Dusty coming out on top. He keeps the pressure on, but Flair has a few tricks up his sleeve. When whipped into the corner, he flips over the ropes again, but lands on his feet and runs to the next corner, climbs the ropes and goes for a double ax handle, but Dusty telepgraphs this and hits him in the mid-section in mid-air. Flair is now on his knees with his head just under the middle turnbuckle in the opposite corner, Dusty comes running over and wildely tries to kick Flair, but misses! Flair moved out the way, and Dusty is down again with his bad ankle. Flair sets Dusty's ankle up on the bottom rope and jumps on it. The tide has certainly changed and Flair keeps going for the left ankle. The Figure 4 comes into play, Dusty can't get him over, and falls to his back for a couple of 2 counts. Dusty tries to play off the crowd reactions, but gradually gets Flair over so the pressure is reversed.
The hold is broken by Flair in the ropes and both men struggle to their feet. Flair starts chopping at Dusty, who no sells and seems to get angry at this. Bionic Elbow comes into play again, and Flair is taken down with a running clothesline. Flair kicks out at 2, pushing Dusty off of him, making him land on the referee. Flair falls into the dazed referee who falls out of the ring. Dusty tries to apply a leg lock but Flair kicks him away. After a Bionic Elbow the Figure 4 Leg Lock is thrown on by Dusty, but the ref isn't there to end it. Arn Anderson runs into the ring but is kicked away by Dusty, but then Ole runs in from the other side and takes Dusty down with a kick from behind. Flair goes for the pin and another ref runs in the ring, but Dusty is able to kick out! Flair then goes to grapple Dusty, but this is reversed with a small package, and Dusty gets the win! The crowd go wild, jumping to their feet, as Dusty is joined in the ring by loads of faces from the locker room!
I really enjoyed that match. Different paces throughout, and good story telling from both Dusty and Flair, focussing on injured body parts and selling this to the audience. I haven't really seen too much of Dusty Rhodes but based on this match, I like him. Another 4/5 for this one.
Schiavone is in the back with Dusty and loads of other faces, and Dusty dedicate the win to all the blue collar workers of America. Schiavone and Caudle go over the night's results again, before talking about Jim Crockett promotions.
This is the best Starrcade of the 3 I've reviewed so far. Less dud matches, more matches that entertained, and the first match since I started these reviews that will go down as an all time classic in my eyes with Tully vs Magnum. My match scores give this 30/55, and the second half of the show was much more impressive than the opening 5 matches (although Abdullah vs Manny Fernandez was better than it had any right to be). Considering the strong run of matches towards the end, and a great headline event, I'll give this 7/10. A better opening half, and this would have been brilliant.
The next PPV after this is back to WWF, and it's the flagship event again, Wrestlemania II
