Hello and welcome to another edition
of Seanomaniac Wrestling Reviews, the only wrestling review series on the internet
that mouths off on anyone and everyone on Twitter! It’s WCW’s Great American
Bash 1989: Glory Days! A sold out arena in Baltimore, Jim Ross and Bob Caudle
welcome us to the action. Terry Funk and Ric Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight
Championship, a War Games Match, a Tuxedo Match between Jim Cornette and Paul
E. Dangerously as well as Sting vs Muta and Steamboat vs Luger. This match is
absolutely stacked, no doubt about it and this PPV has a reputation as one of
the best of all-time. Will it live up to the hype? Let’s find out!
King Of The Hill
Triple Crown Battle Royal
Winners of various battle royals meet
in one ring, you have to eliminate your opponent by throwing them out of the
ring. When thrown out of the ring, the losers go to ring B for their own
battle. The winner will receive 50,000, there are 14 competitors in that ring
including The Steiners, The Varsity Club, The Skyscrapers but also the likes of
Steve Williams, Eddie Gilbert, a young Scott Hall and even Flyin’ Bryan Pillman.
Ranger Ross is dumped out and must wait for other people to be dumped out, Ron
Simmons is dumped out next.
Simmons and Ross start brawling,
Simmons murders Ross with two clotheslines. Ross lands his Combat Kick on
Simmons, Simmons clotheslines Ross again before Ross dumps out Simmons. Scott
Hall is dumped out next and Terry Gordy, Ross and Hall combine against Gordy.
Wild Bill Irwin is dumped out next, lots of people begin being dumped out with
Dan Spivey powerbombing people left, right and centre. Pillman and Sid are in
the winners’ ring, they are the final two for that ring. Pillman fires up on
Sid but Sid ducks a flying crossbody and we have our first winner in Sid
Vicious. In the other ring, it has emptied quite quickly so we only have three
men left. Spivey, Rotunda and Williams.
Williams powerslams Rotunda, Rotunda
misses a clothesline and goes sailing over the top rope. Williams lands a corner
clothesline on Spivey, another clothesline staggers Spivey. Williams continues
to clothesline Spivey who is down but Gordy is at ringside, Gordy has been
standing there for quite some time. Rotunda trips Williams, Williams is
distracted and it looks like we are going to have The Skyscrapers against one
another. Teddy Long comes to the ring and says his partners will not fight and
they will split the money.
Well that sucks as a finish, there is
a lot of things that they could have done here. Williams vs Sid would have been
an interesting contest, I would have liked to see Williams vs Gordy II but it
is your standard battle royal for the time. No real spots or finesse like your
later Royal Rumbles but a decent opening match.
Winners: The
Skyscrapers!
Brian Pillman vs
Wild Bill Irwin
Irwin jumps Pillman before Pillman
uses his speed for hip-tosses and dropkicks to stagger Irwin. Head-scissors
which sends Irwin to the floor, baseball slide and two arm-drags into an
arm-bar from Pillman. Irwin lands a hip-toss but Pillman dodges the elbow drop
and applies the arm-drag into the arm-bar. Irwin escapes and lands a great
suplex, Irwin steps on the face of Pillman. Clubbing blows from Irwin, Irwin
talks a lot of trash. Pillman is hurled to the floor, Irwin clocks Pillman
before stepping on his throat with his boot. Snap-mare into a reverse
chin-lock, Pillman comes up before Irwin starts landing elbows to the neck.
Pillman fires up but lowers his head off an Irish whip, kick to the face and a
clothesline by Irwin.
Clubbing blows from Irwin again, choke
using the rope from Irwin. Irwin lands a massive knee to the spine and more
rope-choking from Irwin, boots to the ribs from Irwin. Pillman is dumped to the
floor, more rope-choking from Irwin. Irwin misses the knee though, massive
dropkicks from Pillman. Flying clothesline from Pillman and a splash for two,
headbutt from Pillman. Pillman climbs high, missile dropkick misses as Irwin
dodges. Stomps to the head from Irwin, gut-wrench suplex from Irwin. Pillman is
thrown into ring two, the referee and Irwin are having words. Pillman is on the
top rope from the second ring, Flying Crossbody from Pillman for the win.
A little long for my liking but a
solid win for the exciting new babyface in WCW, Pillman was going to be a big
star no doubt about it and Ric Flair could see it from a mile away. Irwin was
very vocal during the match which made me laugh a good bit, fun stuff but shave
a minute or two off and I would like it more.
Winner: Flyin’
Brian Pillman over Wild Bill Irwin via Flying Crossbody!
The Skyscrapers
W/ Teddy Long vs The Dynamic Dudes
All you ever hear about is how bad The
Dudes were but at this point, things are still quite bright for the team. Solid
tag team matches on PPV so far but this might be a different case as The
Skyscrapers are going to beat the piss out of these two and between Spivey
& Sid Vicious, I have no clue who is going to sell in this match. Spivey
and Ace to start, dropkick from Ace but Spivey sets erm no I won’t be selling
that shit. Forearms and eye-rakes before a vicious clothesline on Ace, shoulder
block does not work for him either. Ace slides through the legs, double
dropkick and monkey flip. Spivey boots down Douglas, Irish whip but Ace blind
tags in, flying crossbody and trip for one.
The crowd wants Sid, this is not good
as Spivey lands a double clothesline. Crowd reacts big for Sid, clubbing blows
to Ace. Massive chop from Sid, Sid is just oozing confidence and charisma.
Spivey comes in and we have boos again, Irish whip with Ace eating a
clothesline. Scoop slam but Ace dodges the elbow drop, in comes Douglas. Right
hands, Spivey lands a scrap-buster on Douglas. Spivey lands forearms to the
spine, powerbomb from Spivey. Douglas is dumped to the floor and attacked by
Long before Sid lands a massive kick to the head. Tag to Sid and the crowd
erupts again, one clothesline and the crowd wants him badly. Whip to the
buckle, Douglas collapses down.
Sid clamps down on the back, tag to
Spivey who lands a sidewalk slam. Douglas tries a flying crossbody but Spivey
lands a back-breaker. Spivey misses a middle rope headbutt, tag to Ace who
comes in with a dropkick. Right hands and elbows to both, Spivey is booted in
the head. Diving clothesline that Sid interrupts, Sid throws Douglas to the
apron. The Skyscrapers hit one another before Sid eats a double dropkick.
Double hip-toss on Spivey, Ace tries a head-scissors but Sid pulls down Ace and
Spivey lands a Powerbomb for the win.
Anti-climatic finish for sure, I think
this went far too long also. Sid is a star in the making though, you can see it
already. Spivey is big and that’s about as nice I can be to Spivey. The Dudes
are up against it if this feud is going to continue.
Winners: The Skyscrapers
over The Dynamic Dudes via Powerbomb!
(Tuxedo Match)
Paul E. Dangerously vs Jim Cornette
An angle that could have been
something, The Original Midnight Express vs The Midnight Express. Great
kick-off with Dangerously bloodying Cornette with a cell-phone to the head.
Ultimately, the angle would fall apart with the appeal being stripped away as
Dennis Condrey would be gone by the time the big match was going to go down.
So, Dangerously brought in The Samoan Swat Team and the feud continued until
now, we have the two mangers going at it trying to strip one another to win
this match. Trish and Lita this is not folks, the match starts with Cornette
pulling off the jacket of Dangerously before Dangerously throws powder in the
eyes of Cornette and smashes the knee of Cornette with his phone.
Cornette loses his jacket as Dangerously
lays in the shots now, Cornette’s leg is the target of the attacks here.
Dangerously looks to readjust, a boot floors Cornette. Cornette is choked with
the tie, Dangerously is mostly stripping himself which is not a great strategy.
Cornette comes back and chokes Dangerously, Dangerously backs Cornette to the
corner. Dangerously slaps and talks trash before Cornette collapses because of
his knee. Dangerously stomps all over Cornette, Dangerously continues booting
Cornette before sending Cornette into the ring-post. More slaps from
Dangerously, Dangerously misses a massive elbow drop.
Right hands from Dangerously, Cornette
fires up with Dangerously panicking. Beautiful right hands from Cornette, right
hands to the dome of Dangerously. Cornette calls for the end of this match,
Dangerously is being stripped. Shoulder block and both men go down, Dangerously
has something. Cornette kicks the powders into the eyes of Dangerously and the
winner of the match is Cornette as Dangerously has been stripped.
For a comedy stipulation match, this
was a lot of fun. Lots of psychology with Cornette selling the shit out of the
knee and delivering some awesome right hands. The powder backfiring on
Dangerously was great too, wonderful stuff from the two legendary managers in a
match that should have never been good at all.
Winner: Jim
Cornette!
(Texas Tornado
Match) The Varsity Club vs The Steiner Brothers
I hope this is the end of this feud
because I am still mad at how Rick was made to look like a joke as Rotunda
regained the television title only to drop it to Sting. This is tornado rules
so I imagine this will be a brawl. Sullivan and Rick are on the floor, a
chair-shot does not work on Rick. Sullivan crotches Rick on the guardrail,
Rotunda wrenches Scott’s arm in the ring. Rick meets a table, Rick returns the
favour for Sullivan. Rotunda and Scott are brawling, Sullivan is running from
Rick. Scott lands massive punches in the corner, hip-toss across the ring
before all four men are in the ring. Scott misses a clothesline and sails to
the floor, Rotunda takes off the head of Rick with a clothesline. Diving
clothesline from Sullivan on Rick, Scott sends Rotunda to the buckle. Belly to
belly suplex from Rick to Sullivan, Rotunda is in the tree of woe. Powerslam
from Rick for two, more brawling.
Ten punches from Rick but Sullivan
dumps Rick to the floor, apron boot to the face from Sullivan. Make it double,
Rotunda applies a sleeper to Scott. Double clothesline on Scott, leg-drop by Rotunda
for two. Rick headbutts Sullivan down low while trying a sunset flip, Steinerline
on Sullivan. Scott rolls-up Rotunda for two, Sullivan pulls Rick to the floor.
Double back body-drop on Scott, Sullivan as a chair and Rick is cracked in the
head. Scott is dumped to the floor, Rotunda is sent to the floor. Sullivan
tries to slam Rick but Scott comes off with a flying crossbody and The Steiners
pin Sullivan for the win.
Brief but physical, lots of fun here.
Sullivan and Rotunda are willing to hit hard and The Steiners always bring the
heat so we have a very physical brawl here and maybe the best of the bunch here
when it comes to matches featuring The Varsity Club and Rick Steiner. Hope both
can move onto new things because I could go without seeing these two brawl for
a long time now.
Winners: The
Steiners over The Varsity Club via Flying Crossbody!
(NWA Television
Championship Match) The Great Muta W/ Gary Hart vs Sting © W/ Eddie Gilbert
Two young athletes and two rising
stars, this should be absolute madness. Muta is undefeated while Sting is the
uncrowned Ace of the company. Muta stalls so Sting flies from ring one to ring
two. Right hands by Sting, Sting chases Gary Hart. Muta lands a diving chop
onto the head of Sting, chop and boots from Muta. Handspring elbow from Muta,
back-breaker and Muta wants the finish. Moonsault and Muta lands on his feet,
Sting no-sells a spinning sole butt so Muta goes low and then high with kicks
before landing a plancha. Sting fights back from the apron with a clothesline
and a diving clothesline for two. Dropkick before Sting goes right after Muta,
clubbing blows from The Stinger. Scoop slam from Sting, two for the champion.
Muta blocks the suplex, sleeper from Muta. Massive chops from Muta, Sting
reverses an Irish whip and gorilla press slams Muta but Muta dodges the elbow.
Flashing Elbow from Muta, Gilbert
looks on concerned for Sting. Reverse chin-lock from Muta, Muta transitions
into an abdominal stretch while using the ropes for leverage. Transition into a
cradle for two, elbow to the neck and a hurl to the floor. Sting has fired up
though, eye-rake from Muta. Measured kick to the ribs from Muta, Muta misses
the handspring elbow. Clotheslines from Sting, massive bulldog from the
champion. Dropkick with Muta rolling to the floor, Irish whip by the champion.
Muta mists the referee as Sting ducks, The Stinger Splash misses. Muta lands a
snap-mare and a beautiful moonsault for a close two. Gary Hart is irate as
Gilbert is running around ringside, belly to back suplex from Sting with a
bridge for the win.
Controversial finish as Muta had his
arm up, Nick Patrick is saying that Muta is the winner for the match. What is
happening here? Muta is leaving with the championship! Regardless of what the
finish is, this match is explosive and fantastic as Sting and Muta bring
everything to this in the brief amount of time that they were brawling for,
they set the tone from the beginning with Sting diving from one ring to the
other while Muta wipes out Sting with his handspring elbow and plancha to the
floor. Just brilliant stuff, the finish leaves us looking forward to the next
match, I cannot wait for the rematch!
Winner: The Great
Muta over Sting via Belly To Back Suplex!
(NWA United
States Championship Match) Lex Luger © vs Ricky The Dragon Steamboat
Luger was pissed at being ranked
number two in the top ten contenders’ list in WCW for the world championship,
Luger let the anger eat away at him before erupting at Clash of The Champions
and taking out The Dragon. We have this match now and Steamboat is destroying Luger,
quick pins bamboozle Luger as long as dropkicks and back body-drops. Luger
crawls to the floor, chops on the floor before Luger turns the tide in the ring
with a massive knee. Luger continues the punishment with boots before Steamboat
rocks Luger with chops. Luger is bounced off the table at ringside, Luger is
rolled into the ring. Luger blocks the diving chop with a right hand, massive
back-breaker from Luger. Clubbing blows from Luger, right hands to the face.
Military press slam from Luger, Luger goes to the apron to talk trash.
Elbows to the spine, two for the
champion. Schoolboy by Steamboat for two, Luger lands three clotheslines in
quick succession. Steamboat is dropped across the top rope, Steamboat chops his
way back into the match. Irish whip by Luger and a powerslam from the champion
for two. Luger is visibly frustrated now, Steamboat ducks the elbow and lands a
flying crossbody for two. Inverted atomic drop from Luger, Luger continues to
talk shit at a fan which I am a big fan of for sure. Steamboat lands a
desperation neck-breaker Luger slips out of a scoop slam but Steamboat ducks
and Luger ends up sailing over that top rope. Steamboat is battering Luger who
is on the apron, Luger blocks Steamboat with a boot.
Luger is climbing high, Steamboat catches
Luger and yanks him off the top rope. Dropkick from Steamboat, right hand
floors Luger. Make it two, Steamboat is going to the top. Diving Judo chop for
two, Steamboat is back-dropped into the second ring by Luger. Luger goes to the
floor and grabs a chair from ringside, Tommy Young is trying to stop Luger. The
champion is threatening Steamboat, Steamboat catapults Luger into the corner
and into the chair. Steamboat gets disqualified and batters Luger with the
chair.
This was a lot of fun despite the
stupid finish but perhaps we an excuse The Dragon who wanted to batter Luger
for what he did at Clash of The Champions Guts and Glory. This was a lot of fun
though, Luger makes Steamboat look like a million bucks while Steamboat does
what Steamboat does best and that is make his opponent look awesome. A
highlight for Luger here, thought he was brilliant as an arrogant ass during
this match. Good stuff here!
Winner: Lex Luger
over Ricky The Dragon Steamboat via DQ!
(Wargames Match)
The Fabulous Freebirds & The Samoan Swat-Team vs The Midnight Express &
The Road Warriors & Dr. Death Steve Williams
Can you say stiff? This is going to be
absolutely bonkers, you have some of the hardest-hitting wrestlers in wrestling
locked in a cage during a heated feud on PPV. Jimmy Garvin is in the ring, who
will he face from the other team? Eaton jumps in, knees from Garvin. Massive
rights from Eaton, neck-breaker from Eaton. Elbow drop misses as Garvin comes
up with a big fist. Scoop slam from Garvin, Eaton lands an atomic drop before
Garvin boots Eaton in the face. Eaton meets the cage wall, Hayes is pulling the
hair of Eaton. Foot choke from Garvin, boot to the face. Eaton fights back,
massive hip-toss before Garvin lands a massive forearm to the head. Sleeper
from Garvin, multiple right hands from Garvin.
Right hands and back-breaker from
Eaton, Eaton looks for a Boston crab. Terry Gordy comes in now, Bam Bam Gordy
hurls Eaton into the cage wall. Scoop slam from Gordy, Eaton is kicked across
the ring. Double elbow to the face of
Eaton, Gordy decks Garvin by mistake. Eaton meets the cage hard though, who
will come in to aid Eaton? It’s Dr. Death Steve Williams. Double clothesline
from Williams, Gordy is thrown to the other ring. These bulls are going to
brawl now, I am all for this. Williams lands a military press slam on Gordy,
Gordy corner clotheslines Williams and lands multiple punches. Williams punishes
Gordy, sending Gordy into the cage again and again.
In comes Samu, spinning kick and
headbutt to Williams. Belly to back suplex from Gordy, Samu helps attack
Williams. Eaton tries fighting off Garvin but the numbers are too much for now,
Samu lands gut punches to Eaton. Williams is the victim of a double suplex as
Eaton starts fighting everyone, big punches all around. Who is coming in?
Animal! Animal comes in and starts kicking serious ass, clothesline for Gordy.
Make it two, Animal goes after Samu. Slug-fest before a boot to the head, Animal
dives in with a massive shoulder block. Animal continues destroying everything
in sight, Eaton continues waffling Samu with rights. Bulldog by Eaton, in comes
Fatu who goes after Animal.
Double headbutts to Animal, choke in
the corner. Double clothesline on Animal, wishbone-split. Headbutt after
headbutt on Animal, Garvin continues waffling Eaton. Large Hawk chants who
wants in bad, Gordy and Williams continue to brawl in the other ring. Sweet
Stan Lane comes in, sending everyone into the cage. Good stuff here, everyone
is just brawling now. We still have two men left in here, Lane decks Samu.
Williams and Animal are clotheslining Fatu, Eaton boots Garvin in the head. The
Samoans batter Animal before Eaton makes the save, Hayes is ready to enter the
ring for his team. Hayes goes for Lane and Williams, DDTs all around. Everyone
is down, Hayes celebrates and struts around the ring.
Hayes teases Hawk, bad idea from Hayes.
The heels are in complete control but Hawk is coming into this ring now, crowd
explodes at this. Diving clothesline and clothesline to Hayes, Hawk is
battering everyone in that ring. Gordy eats a massive clothesline, Garvin is
tossed into the turnbuckle. Eaton DDTs Hayes, DDT on Fatu too. Hawk dives
across the ring to shoulder block The Samoans. Hawk is booting everything in sight,
Fatu and Hawk are brawling with Hawk winning that war. Gordy is taken down with
a clothesline, Garvin knees Animal but Hawk decapitates Garvin with a diving
clothesline. Neck-breaker from Hawk, Hangman’s Neck-hold from Hawk for the win.
Heated contest here, you could feel
the hatred from both teams. Love the concept of The WarGames, this might be my
favourite one that I have seen so far, Gordy and Williams brawling with one
another was just brilliant as was Hawk running wild on everyone, surprised
there was no blood here but maybe that is being save for The Main Event, I
think it would have added to the drama here but take nothing away, this was
hard-hitting and a war. Loved it!
Winners: Team
Williams over Team Gordy via Hangman’s Neck-Hold!
(NWA World
Heavyweight Championship Match) Ric Flair © vs Terry Funk W/ Gary Hart
The Nature Boy Ric Flair had defeated
Ricky The Dragon Steamboat to end their trilogy, Ric Flair stood in the middle
of his ring and was congratulated by Terry Funk. Funk used the time to
challenge Flair, Flair brushed off Funk saying with all due respect, you are
not an active competitor here like Sting or Luger you are in Hollywood making
movies. Funk was offended and furious which led to Funk attacking Flair and
piledriving Flair on the table at ringside, almost breaking the neck and ending
his career.
This starts hot on the floor, Flair
chops the bejesus out of Funk who is throwing a tantrum at ringside. Flair
comes to the floor and drills Funk with right hands, Funk continues to stall.
Funk throws chairs in the ring, we get back inside the ring and we have more
chops and right hands. This has been all Flair, apron diving axe handle before
Funk runs Flair into the ring-post. Right hands to the forehead by the
challenger, nice headbutt there too. Slaps from Funk, suplex to the ring. The
challenger gets two, Funk decks Flair who rolls to the floor. Flair suplexes
Funk to the floor, looks like a nasty fall for both.
Funk wants the piledriver but Flair
back-drops Funk to the floor, Flair wrenches at the neck of Funk. Funk complains
about the attacks, Flair lands a knee-drop to the neck. Make it two, piledriver
by Flair in a nice twist of fate. Funk is in serious pain, Flair says one more
time. Flair plants Funk with a second piledriver, Funk falls to the floor and
is looking to leave the arena. Flair brings Funk back to the ring, Flair slaps
and kicks Funk. Chops but Funk jabs his way back into the match before Funk
eats a massive forearm. Flair lands a belly to back suplex, Flair wants the
figure four. Funk’s leg is yanked and here it is, Figure Four Leg-Lock from The
Nature Boy.
Funk attacks Flair with his branding
Iron, Gary Hart distracted the referee. Flair is bleeding and Funk lands a
massive Texas Piledriver for a close two as Flair puts his foot on the ropes.
Funk grinds his boot into the face of Flair, Funk rips up the safety mats.
Flair back-drops Funk to avoid a piledriver on the concrete, Funk regains
control though. Neck-breaker in the ring, make it two. Flair fights back, Funk meets
the ring-post and is bleeding now. Ten punches in the corner, right hands
stagger Funk. Flair misses a corner knee, Funk grabs the knee. Spinning Toe
Hold but Flair counters and goes for The Figure Four but Funk counters for a
small package but Flair rolls back and covers Funk for the win. After the bell
Muta mists Flair and the villainous duo double-team Flair. Sting comes down to
a monster pop and makes the save, Flair and Sting side by side?
Wrong of me to say I wanted more?
Flair starts this match exactly how he should by going straight after the man
who nearly ended his career, Funk flips and flops all over for Flair and then
we get to the heat, Funk goes after the neck. Neck-breakers and a tease of piledriver
on the floor, it wasn’t meant to be but this was the drama and violence you
want from two men who want to destroy one another. Would have liked a little
more drama introduced when Flair was bleeding, felt things moved very fast from
that point on with the finish being a finish we have seen before from Flair but
I guess it leaves thing open to continue between the two. The end of the show
sets up the big match for the next PPV and Flair teaming with Sting should be
very interesting.
Winner: Ric Flair
over Terry Funk via Small Package!
WCW’s Great America Bash 1989 is a very
good PPV with three strong matches at the end of the card that make up for some
lacklustre opening matches. Reading through more reviews online, I saw that the
earlier matches were clipped so if they were shorter, I would not have had such
a problem with them but yes, Pillman vs Irwin and The Dudes vs Skyscrapers
would have been better if shorter. The Tuxedo match tells a great story for a
match featuring two non-wrestlers, the Steiners vs Varsity Club match is
action-packed and balls to the wall for the brief time it is on there. Muta vs
Sting was short but oh so good, they have a chemistry with one another, they
are fearless and they are both over. More of that thank you very much, Luger
has a great match with Steamboat. Finish is a little wonky, I don’t want to
believe Steamboat was so irate he would cost himself the championship but the
match was so much fun, I will let it slide on this occasion. The WarGames match
is a war and delivers ten-fold, it doesn’t have the star-power of other matches
but when Gordy collies with Williams or The Road Warriors go after The Samoans,
you believe they hate one another. Violence and hatred are the theme of the night
as it continues into the main event that is a lot of fun and has good
psychology, things are heating up in WCW and while the company has been hit and
miss for the earlier parts of the year, I like this direction for the company.
Promising stars in the likes of Pillman and Sid, the rise of Muta and Sting
along with Funk injecting life into a babyface Flair. This was a good show,
thanks for reading and remember: there’s always another night!
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