NWA Starrcade 1988: True Gritt (12.26.88) review 

 

December 26, 1988 

 

We’re in Norfolk, Virginia at the Scope. Hosts are Jim Ross and Bob Caudle. This show did a 1.8 buyrate, which is around four times what AWA just did with their recent Superclash III PPV. The name “True Gritt” is spelled with two T’s. Perhaps to avoid a lawsuit from the estate of John Wayne. Incidentally, if you haven’t seen either version of True Grit, you should probably rectify that.  

 

NWA United States Tag Team Championship 

Fantastics (c) vs. Varsity Club (Kevin Sullivan & Steve Williams) 

The Fantastics have been great during 1988 but they’re one major show away from being dumped by WCW and heading off to AJPW where they’ll essentially wrap up as a tag team. I’m not sure I understand that decision. Fantastics were announced as defending the belts against the Sheepherders, but they jumped to the WWF to put the kibosh on that booking.  

Jesus, did Jason Hervey go to every NWA show in this era? It seems like he’s always there. We’re still waiting for Doc to get good. His timing here is not ideal. Bobby Fulton has to beckon him out of the corner at one point. Both Fantastics are fun to watch. They have entertaining offence but also sell well and get the crowd drawn in. Rogers is particularly pretty and gets the girly pops. 

 

The match has a pleasing ebb and flow with the Fantastics getting lots of excitement in, and assorted tags, only to get caught by Sullivan. You’re never quite sure who’s more likely to win. Sullivan does cut off Fulton, at least once, too early. He just tagged in and Kevin is there cutting him off. Give them a chance, mate. To compensate Rogers gets an unreal hot tag, where he dives over Sullivan’s attempted block to make it. Beautiful.  

 

The finish is surprisingly clean for a heel win. Fulton goes for a Thesz Press on Doc but he grabs him and falls back towards the ropes, hitting a Hot Shot on there. Fulton actually kicks out but Teddy Long counts the three regardless. Call it **¾ as it had a few issues that keep it out of the notebook but a solid opener all round. The crowd respond positively to the title change, which might explain why WCW ditched the Fantastics a few months later. The era of babyface’s getting booed is closing in. 

 

Midnight Express vs. ‘Original’ Midnight Express 

This is an odd angle, where Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose teamed up as the “Original” MXP. Condrey and Rose, along with Norvell Austin, had been the original MXP going way back to 1980. Although this happened in Memphis, rather than the NWA, where Condrey wrestled in singles. It wasn’t until Bill Watts secured the services of Condrey and Bobby Eaton that the more famous Midnight Express was born. Condrey then left and was replaced by Stan Lane, giving us the version of MXP we see here. Condrey has returned with Rose in tow, and we have a feud. Babyface MXP with babyface Jim Cornette is SO weird. The “originals” are managed by Paul E. Dangerously aka Paul Heyman.  

“I’m gonna give a Christmas present to America. I’m gonna kick that little punk’s butt”.  

 

Condrey gets thrown out to Cornette and he whacks him with the tennis racket. People are whuppin’ and hollerin’ out there. “His antics are priceless” – Jim Ross. Bobby Eaton throws a punch in this, which is probably the best punch I’ve seen all year long. It helps that Rose bumps it right into the ropes, like a boxer on the, uh, ropes. Damn, my sentence went all Owen Hart promo there.  

 

Eaton is so over here. Everyone knew how good he was and were just waiting for the chance to cheer him. Cornette and Heyman do a good job of keeping their feud relevant during the match, without fucking with the flow of the match in the ring. It could have become overly distracting. The core of the match is Eaton getting isolated and the OMXP even try the Rocket Launcher on him…and miss.  

 

While the match lands with the crowd, there are clear and obvious deficiencies. Randy Rose is passable but nowhere near as good as the MXP. Condrey was always good at playing the heel but is less good at a fast-paced match that MXP had become known for. Paul E blasts Lane with the massive mobile phone. Teddy Long spots the phone and everyone argues about it until MXP catch Rose with the double goozle (the old “high and low”) for the win. ***¼  

 

This was a fun match with OMXP trying to play evil mirror universe versions of the now popular MXP team. Certainly Paul E did his job here, although Cornette stole the spotlight with his “antics”. The post match is fun too, with the heels getting revenge and pounding all the faces, including Cornette. Eaton grabs the racket to make his own save. Heated!  

 

Video Control takes us to Magnum TA, who’s interviewing the Varsity Club. Kevin Sullivan points out they traded a moron for Doc. “I’m gonna kick him like a stupid dog” says Mike Rotunda. Someone call the RSPCA!  

 

Ivan Koloff & Junkyard Dog vs. Russian Assassins 

The Russians are the extremely Soviet David Sheldon (aka Angel of Death) and extremely Soviet Jack Victory. Nothing screams Communist like Jack Victory in a mask. If the Assassins lose they have to unmask and Paul Jones has to retire. Honestly, no downside there. While I’ve enjoyed Koloff during this flashback run, he is clearly finished here.  

 

JR’s penchant for exaggeration goes into overdrive when he claims Russian Assassin #1 is “6’ 9”/6’10”. He’s 6’ 5” mate. That’s tall enough. No need to tag four inches on. He’s already a real hoss. He also sucks. So does everyone else. The match isn’t a total disaster, as they keep going at a reasonable pace, but it’s very untidy. The finish sees the Russians blind switch with a loaded mask and Koloff gets pinned. Let’s move on.  

 

NWA TV Championship 

Mike Rotunda (c) vs. Rick Steiner 

Rick has gotten over by being a simpleton babyface, crossed by his original heel running buddies. To ensure fairness Kevin Sullivan is in the shark cage again. This time they actually elevate it, so he can’t screw with anyone. Although his complex machinations would probably be lost on Steiner. Maybe he could have gotten in Alex’s head?  

 

The concept of the match is a simple one; we’re heading towards a time limit draw but not. Unfortunately, that means a lot of Rotunda rest holds. Mike is best kept to short matches and even then, he can still be boring. Steiner does look decent for the first time. He’s gotten quicker and more intense.  

If they wanted to create a sensation, they should have had Rick just blow Rotunda away. When they do explosive moves, like clotheslines and suplexes, it’s a cool match but it’s held together by lengthy rest holds. It still has incredible moments. Rick takes a bump through the ropes, and he does NOT hold the ropes at all. He just bumps from the middle rope to the floor. “Maybe the best place for him to land is his head” – JR. See, they knew Rick was braindead even in 1988.  

 

The conclusion is where things get tasty. Doc comes out here, with us running low on time. Rick has it won with a belly to belly and Doc rings the bell to stop the count, with Teddy Long thinking the time limit has expired. Tommy Young comes out here to tell us that time limit is bogus. It feels like a Dusty Rhodes screwjob until Rick runs Rotunda into Sullivan, who’s been let out of the cage, and pins him (with BOTH referees counting three for a neat visual) for the title. *** 

 

It’s a great angle and the crowd reaction shows all the shenanigans were worth it. The match is painfully sluggish at times but there’s enough cool stuff going on to let it go. Naturally, the massive pop for the title change is what Starrcade is all about. The crowd LOVED this.  

 

NWA United States Championship 

Barry Windham (c) vs. Bam Bam Bigelow 

Bigelow has left the WWF, come here, and not changed a thing. It’s like an invasion angle.  

He’s even got that weird looking troll Oliver Humperdink as his manager. Bigelow got over, and got pushed hard, early in his career with the WWF and it caused a lot of resentment from the boys. It didn’t help that he got injured. This NWA run is short-lived as they wanted him exclusively and Bigelow didn’t want to give up his New Japan tours.  

 

Bigelow was a fun big man and does some unorthodox spots, like a rack where he drops to his knees with a backbreaker. Windham bumps around like a champ, channelling Ric Flair. Windham does a lot of selling like Flair too. He hits a backdrop driver, Bigelow no sells it, and Windham collapses in fear. It’s all beautifully done. Bigelow could, and maybe should, have been a big star in the late 80s. It’s only locker room politics that seemed to stop it. He was Vader before Vader.  

 

He is aided by a hard-bumping, big selling Barry Windham. You get a guy as big as Windham pinballing around for you and you’re going to look like a stud. Bigelow’s Hoganesque grand standing doesn’t go over terribly well with the Southern crowd. Windham gets popped a lot after that, even for posing, because it’s considered a retaliation, and you see the crowd doing the Four Horsemen hand signs.  

Bigelow’s fatigue selling is nicely done and a good contrast to his earlier cocky no-selling. They do a crazy over the top rope crossbody spot that Windham hurled himself into. Sadly this is the finish as they brawl around outside, Bigelow goes into the ring post and loses on count out. Honestly, this was awesome. Put a finish on it and it’s four stars, easy. ***¾ 

 

NWA Tag Team Championship 

Road Warriors (c) vs. Sting & Dusty Rhodes 

Since Ted Turner took over the NWA, he banned blading. You had to get that shit authorised. This will be important in this match. Given the crowd’s leanings during the show (IE towards heels) it’s not a surprise to hear them chanting “LOD” at the start. Dusty knows what he’s dealing with here and deliberately no sells. We’re not selling in this one. The crowd just pick their favourites and cheer them on as they clubber each other. 

 

If I had to pick a winner in the popularity contest, it’s Sting. He’s so fucking energised and fired up. His dive onto Animal on the floor gets the crowd PUMPED. The selling eventually kicks in as Dusty is forced to remember his bad eye but even after that he starts no selling, and he hits a dropkick!  

The match gets a bit messy with Dusty randomly jumping in when he’s not legal. Sting gets a crossbody for what looks like the win but Paul Ellering jumps in for the DQ. This was pretty good for the most part but the finish was as abrupt as it was shit. The match almost makes my notebook though as it was energetic and chaotic. While they attempted to ape the Midnight Express style of chaotic tag teaming, it didn’t land as well. Call it around **¾ and by this point it’s clear Sting is a huge star who can’t win a title. 

 

Sidenote: my brain is apparently broken as I thought Dusty bladed in this match, but he didn’t. Rumour has it that Dusty’s blading, in the angle with the Road Warriors apparently, was the reason why Turner decided to release him. It could easily have been the need to freshen up the cards and the booking by simply moving on from Rhodes run as the pencil for this territory. Jim Herd was the guy to pull the trigger. Herd is an often criticised personality in wrestling. He didn’t really know what he was doing and was a TV producer, not a wrestling guy. His first instincts to sack Dusty were probably right, as Rhodes wanted Flair to lose the title on this show in a burial. The argument that it was time to move on from Flair were probably accurate, to a degree, but Flair’s work in 1989 completely disproved it. Hindsight is 20-20.  

 

NWA World Championship 

Ric Flair (c) vs. Lex Luger 

There’s a stipulation here that if Flair is disqualified then Luger gets the belt. That would have been a cheap way to get a title run for Luger, but the NWA had other ideas from a booking perspective anyway, with the Flair-Steamboat series lined up for 1989. If you’re a Lex Luger fan, this is the peak of him. The best he’ll ever be. You could argue that this is probably Flair’s worst year from his peak. Prior to Starrcade, he’s only had one great match but that was the one at Clash #1 where he made Sting famous. It’s the first year since I started doing these year-by-year reviews, where I’m contemplating a different guy for Wrestler of the Year. 

This match though…is a Flair masterclass. The posing, the heel mannerisms and the bumping are superb. He’s the real Total Package. Luger is the weak link in this match and while he’s sensational as a powerhouse worker, he does some random technical stuff like working the arm. It is not ideal. Given the belting pace of a few undercard bouts, it takes a lot of the sheen off the world title match to have these bizarre moments to just stretch out the run time. 

 

In the opening 15:00 there’s 5:00 of stuff. This is not unusual and there are loads of modern wrestling matches that are guilty of this, and far worse, but it’s odd seeing it here. It feels like wrestling was moving past this and yet, here we are. Once they pass that 15:00 though, we go balls out. It does make me question why they didn’t just make the match 10:00 shorter but hey, that’s a question for everyone in wrestling. Building tension? Or boring people?  

The instruction for Flair here was to win clean but he decided to cheat, behind the referee’s back, and win dirty to help Luger going forwards. The best part of this match is Luger just shrugging off the chops. It shows Flair’s desperation, Luger’s desire to win and the match switching gears. Flair ends up hitting Luger in the knees with a chair, which should be a DQ, but Tommy Young is distracted by JJ Dillon. Masterful. The crowd are particularly incensed because they know it should be a title change right there. 

 

Luger’s selling of the leg is a little OTT. The stumbling and falling over is fine but the bumping is a bit daft. Speaking of daft, they claim Luger is 6’5” here and he’s the same height as Flair! Ric is 6’1”. Luger isn’t the same height as Barry Windham is he? The leg work is designed to set up the finish where Lex gets the Torture Rack but his legs buckle and Flair falls on top, using the ropes for leverage! A great performance from Flair and arguably Luger’s best singles match. I don’t think it’s MOTYC territory but then it’s 1988 so the bar is lower. **** 

 

The 411: 

A great finish to a difficult year for the NWA. In a turbulent 12 months with high staff turnover, the Ted Turner takeover and an assortment of in-ring challenges, they ended strong. It’s between this and Clash #1 as to which show was their best and you could argue the two times they had to deliver in 1988 (against WM4 and in their own biggest show) they delivered big time. Both shows also have a lovely lack of bad matches. Clash #1 is completely free of them and Starrcade only stoops into mediocrity once with that Koloff tag.  

 

Compare this to the WWF’s big cards of 1988 and the NWA is doing far better in-ring stuff. This would continue. In a year of transition, NWA/WCW was the better promotion. The WWF was starting to struggle under the weight of itself and they genuinely didn’t have a single great match all year. Savage vs. DiBiase from SNME #15 is probably their MOTY and it would have been the third best match on this card. That’s pretty sad.