Picture this: January 9th, 1988, NWA television. An electric crowd yelling at the top of their lungs as the show opens…former world heavyweight champion Ronnie Garvin is trading blows with Four Horsemen enforcer, Arn Anderson. Folks loved it then—and folks love the electricity still today. Only recently had NWA television started showing hot matches from past, live-arena events as part of their typically studio based show.
The NWA was coming off of the biggest show of the year, Starrcade ’87, a little over a month earlier. After being the only Four Horsemen member to leave Starrcade without a respective title, Lex Luger was actually kicked out of the group. Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard had, by some miracle, left Chicago with their world tag team championship—after facing the game Road Warriors (You can read about that HERE).
Also, in a sign of things perhaps to come, the majority of the crowd that night in Chicago had cheered when Nature Boy “Ric Flair” regained the NWA world heavyweight championship from Ronnie Garvin. Tensions became too much within the Horsemen, with Lex Luger losing his United States championship to long time Four Horsemen nemesis, Dusty Rhodes. This boiled over into Luger’s removal and subsequent joining of forces with the likes of Ron Garvin and others, against the dreaded stable.
The electric crowd during the showcased live event at the beginning of NWA Championship Wrestling in early January was seen solidly cheering their favorites, as Luger/Garvin attempted to thwart the dastardly deeds of the Horsemen. When it appeared as though Garvin had knocked out Arn Anderson with one of his signature hands of stone punches, Horsemen manager JJ Dillon came in to make the save. As Garvin engaged Dillon, fellow Horseman, Tully Blanchard, joined in the attempt to outnumber Garvin. Seeing the numbers piling up, Lex Luger joined the melee and put Dillon into his awesome Human Torture Rack. The crowd went out of their minds—showing it in their volume—as Anderson then cut off Luger. Garvin, who had now recovered enough, fired off again on Anderson with Jim Ross yelling, “WE’VE GOT A PIER SIX BRAWL ON THE SUPERSTATION!” All involved continue to brawl to the back, as the show rolls into the opening titles of this week’s show.
The current shows opens with Tony Schiavone and David Crockett as hosts. Presented in the first studio match: the red hot Barry Windham, teaming up with the Stinger to take on local talent Alan Martin and Tommy Angel. Windham and Sting make short work out of Martin and Angel, and David Crockett is ringside to interview the winners. While I won’t be going over each individual match here, I highlighted the first match and corresponding interview because I want you to note something. During Crockett’s interview with the winners, Barry Windham makes a point to call out the Four Horsemen. His apparent hatred and outright challenging of the group foreshadows a prediction—the eventual shock of things eventually to come between the two sides.
I encourage you to watch the entire show if you want to see now legendary names like the Midnight Express, Nikita Koloff, Ron Simmons, Larry Zbysko, the Road Warriors, Ric Flair of course, and more. In addition, advertising for the upcoming Bunkhouse Stampede battle royal takes place, ironically the same month of the now yearly Royal Rumble.
Make it a point to watch through what happens at the about the 57 minute mark if you’re watching on the WWE Network. The now legendary pro-wrestling journalist, Bill Apter, appears on behalf of “Pro Wrestling Illustrated” magazine to present the 1987 year end awards. Awards like: inspirational wrestler of the year, most hated, most popular, tag team, wrestler of the year and other awards that were voted on by the fans yearly. Even more than print in a magazine for winning, the “Apter mags” as they’re referred to now, due to Bill Apter’s associating with PWI (Pro Wrestling Illustrated, The Wrestler, and Inside Wrestling) presented the winners with a trophy or a plaque.
Some of my favourite memories growing up are getting that year end issue with the awards in it, and seeing who won in what categories, along with viewing their pictures taken with their trophies. The awards were presented with such prestige that they really seemed to mean something. While this subject is….a subject for another day, I strongly encourage you to see what I’m referencing. Those awards and that era of NWA professional wrestling were prime examples of what things can be, when presented like any other athletic sport; now I ask you—why can’t it be like that again?
The rest of the show gives you a chance to hear from Jim Cornette, Lex Luger, the Road Warriors and more. If all the legendary names I’ve mentioned in this review and/or the Rock’n’Roll express hold fond memories for you; or perhaps you haven’t gotten to experience them but have heard their names over and over again, do yourself a favor and check it out.
The electric opening and many of the interviews that follow in this episode of NWA television further the Horsemen exit of the total package Lex Luger, and plants the seed of who may be replacing him; watch it!
You can watch the January 9th, 1988 episode of NWA World Championship Wrestling on WWE Network RIGHT HERE!
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