Why review the National Wrestling Alliance? The better question is—why not? The National Wrestling Alliance, or the NWA as its known, is the oldest governing body in professional wrestling. I can still hear the legendary voice of Jim Ross on NWA television explaining the prestige of the organization, “Since 1905 the National Wrestling Alliance has been the measuring stick in professional wrestling.” The NWA was the proving ground to so many that we now consider legends of pro-wrestling. While the WWF had all the glitz and glamour, the NWA provided fans with a grittier brand of wrestling—and besides all that, pro-wrestling today is full of sources discussing/analysing it. Why not take another look at what led us all to be the fans we are today? Speaking of today, did you know many of today’s wrestling superstars learned from watching and are now being taught, from former NWA stars? Take for example, The Enforcer Arn Anderson.
Arn Anderson is currently a well respected agent for the WWE. That wasn’t always the case, as he was a founding member of what many consider one of the greatest factions in wrestling history, The Four Horsemen. Arn Anderson paved quite a career for himself, and while I’d love to detail his whole career, that isn’t what we’ve come for today. Today we will be going over an often overlooked tag team match that showcased Arn Anderson.
Starrcade 1987 was the fifth annual Starrcade for Jim Crocket Promotions, under the banner of the NWA, and took place on November 26th that year. Often remembered for Nature Boy Ric Flair regaining the NWA World title from Ronnie Garvin, or Dusty Rhodes defeating Lex Luger for the US title…that lead to his eventual ousting from the Four Horsemen. In addition to that, many UWF stars were added to the show, and the NWA World tag team titles were on the line. Reigning Champions Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard defended face against Chicago Natives, The Road Warriors on the Warriors home turf of the UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Ill.
While the Anderson and Blanchard duo had turned into one of the best tag teams in history, beating several of the NWA’s top tag teams—expecting them to walk out of Chicago with their titles intact after facing the seemingly unstoppable Road Warriors…well, it simply seemed highly unlikely. The world as a whole had Animal and Hawk destroying Anderson and Blanchard and walking out the new NWA World tag team champions. This epic showdown took place on the WWE Network on Starrcade 1987 at the 1:15:25 mark.
With the lights down and vintage 1980’s music/effects in full force, a chorus of jeers from the crowd reign down as Four Horsemen, to include Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson, and JJ Dillon made their way to the ring. Blanchard was in front wearing his tradition ring robe walking with the cocky confidence he always seemed to have. But this time, it was with a serious face as he knew the challenge that lay ahead. Following a few feet behind was the enforcer of the horsemen, Double A Arn Anderson. Anderson in his trucks and a Four Horsemen sweatshirt, he raised both hands gesturing the sign of the Four Horsemen. Anderson was also looking serious and somehow always looked doubly tough as he entered the ring. With manager of the Four Horsemen, James J Dillon bringing up the rear, once all three were in the ring, they thrust their hands in the air with the sign of the Four Horsemen. They had every intention of holding up their end of the Four Horsemen’s plan to all leave Chicago with their titles intact.
Suddenly the crowd erupts! The camera pans over to see the mighty team of the Road Warriors, Animal and Hawk with manager Precious Paul Ellering, coming down the aisle. With Hawk leading the way, the Road Warriors strive to intimidate wearing their black spiked shoulder pads. Once in the ring, Hawk mounts a turnbuckle and flexes for the home crowd—what a rush! Animal was motioning around his waist, signalling to the crowd they fully intend to leave this night as the new NWA world tag team champions. The ring announcer made the introductions and it was now completely obvious that the crowd was solidly behind the Road Warriors. Anderson and Blanchard cautiously hand over the very prestigious looking tag team title belts to the referee, and everyone’s ready to start. Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone have the call as the announce team, and the NWA World tag team championship match is under way!
NWA World Tag Team Championship: Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (c) vs The Road Warriors
Hawk and Anderson start the match for their respective teams. The physically intimidating Hawk doesn’t stand long for Anderson’s trash talking and proceeded to grab him by the throat. Having surely baited Hawk, Anderson delivered a knee strike to the mid-section doubling him over and allowing him to back Hawk into the corner. Foolishly thinking he could overtake Hawk at this stage, Anderson attempted to whip Hawk to the other corner. Not this time though, as Hawk quickly reversed Anderson, sending him to the other corner. Ring-savvy Anderson cut him off coming into the corner, and as Hawk was bent over, Arn ascends the turnbuckle. No sooner was Anderson on the top turnbuckle, than Hawk snatches him from the top and moves him across the ring in a military press as the crowd yelled in admiration. It was quite a sight as Jim Ross proclaimed, “My God, look at this!” After viciously being slammed down to the canvas like a sack of potatoes, Arn rolled out to recover and confer with his team.
Feeling ready to go again, Arn stepped back into the ring, hoping to slow things down and gain the advantage. Circling with Hawk he tied up with him—applying a collar-and-elbow lockup as Jim Ross assures the listeners that, “Anderson and Blanchard are as tough as they come”. Anderson gained a short-lived headlock out of the tie up. However, Hawk’s awesome strength was on display as he powered out of it with an over-hand wrist lock, to the point it dropped Anderson on his back. Hawk handed out a vicious looking leg drop to the left arm of Anderson causing him to once again roll out of the ring. After a brief stare down with Paul Ellering, Anderson backed away to confer with Four Horsemen’s mastermind, JJ Dillon. After a tense stare down between all participants, Tully Blanchard gets tagged in to try his hand as besting Hawk.
They quickly display a collar-and-elbow tie up and Hawk used his strength to throw Blanchard back and down to the match. Ever cocky, Blanchard pops to his feet and rushes back at Hawk…only to feel the mat again after having just run into a punishing close-line. Taking a page from his partner Anderson, Blanchard quickly rolled out to the ring, but Animal was waiting on him with a military press—making it look like he weighed nothing—then threw him back into the ring. Blanchard visibly had had enough as he quickly backed down from the waiting Hawk and exited the ring again—but on a different side this time. Blanchard thought better of continuing to face the awesome Road Warriors and tried to head up the asile as Jim Ross says, “Tully Blanchard may be headed back to San Antonio”. Hawk didn’t allow it though and cut him off, bringing him back into the ring. Hawk, and then Animal, continued to dominate as they beat Blanchard up, down, and across the ring. Another, “near fall situation” as Jim Ross states, happened with Anderson making the save for Blanchard. Blanchard rolled to his team’s corner to make the tag to Anderson.
Jim Ross perfectly described the expression on Anderson’s face, as Anderson was probably thinking, “What do I have to do to slow down the Road Warriors?!” Cautiously he stepped into the ring, with Anderson signalling to the Animal to “take it easy” as he goes into a collar-and-elbow lock up. He quickly doubled over the Animal with knee lifts and fists and backed him into the corner. He then attempted to whip the Animal into the opposite corner, but once again the more powerful Animal reversed, sending Anderson into the corner. Knowing Animal was most likely following him in, Anderson stepped to the second turnbuckle and thrust his hips into the air, allowing Animal to pass underneath him.
Assuming he had duped the Animal into running into the turnbuckles, Anderson turned away and pointed to his partner as if saying, “See-that is how we outsmart the Road Warriors.” However as Anderson quickly turned back towards the Animal, he received a brutally vicious clothesline from the ultra powerful Animal that left him face down on the mat wondering, how in the world they were going to survive this. Tony Schiavone explains about the Road Warriors, “They have an offensive move for everything you can try”. Jim Ross is excited as he adds, “The Road Warriors are cranked!” Ross went on to explain that either Anderson and Blanchard figure something out real soon, or the Road Warriors would be winning their first world tag team championship. After a brief recovery period, Anderson discusses strategy momentarily with Blanchard in the corner before he once again locked up with the awesome force known as Road Warrior Hawk.
So what happens? How does it end?! Will Arn and Tully be able to leave Chicago with their tag team titles intact, thus holding up their end of the Horsemen’s plan to leave with all championships in place? Or would the Road Warriors leave the ring in their home town as the NWA World tag team champions? To find out just head to the WWE Network and cue up the match. It’s just too good not to watch for yourselves—and if you’ve already seen it, it deserves another look. Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Road Warriors Hawk and Animal, these are now legendary names in professional wrestling. Do yourself a favor and go watch this match! Better yet, study this match and see the subtle things that Anderson and Blanchard do to both upset the crowd and deal with the awesome presence of the Road Warriors. Trust me, you won’t regret it! We want to hear your thoughts, so please leave your comments!
Result: Watch it here on WWE Network and find out!
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