It was April 23rd, 1988 and NWA’s Saturday show of World Championship Wrestling when one of the most notorious deeds’ in Four Horsemen history takes place. In the main event, we have the tag team champions of Lex Luger and Barry Windham taking on Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard, along with James J. Dillon of the Four Horsemen. What happens at the conclusion of that match will dictate the future of the NWA’s most known group for the foreseeable future. Before we get to that though, this episode is host to many future Hall of Famers and reputable names in wrestling history.
Our first match features Sting against a local talent. This match serves to show that Sting’s status is on the rise. Up next we see the team of the Fantastics, Tommy Rogers and Bobby Fulton, taking on an undercard team. After an interview ringside post-match, we see Dr Death Steve Williams in a quick match.
Up next we see the United States Tag Team Champions, The Midnight Express with Jim Cornette, taking on another duo consisting of undercard wrestlers.
One of the highlights of the show is next as we get an impromptu interview with World Champion Nature Boy Ric Flair. David Crockett conducts the talk in the aisle way amidst the rabid fans. Flair is on his A-game as he shows charisma like only the Nature Boy can. A real fantastic segment that may have been overlooked in annuls of time. It is more than worth your time to check out.
Also in action on the show are the Powers of Pain and Ivan Koloff, Mike Rotunda, Al Perez, and Nikita Koloff. In addition, we see an interview with Jimmy Garvin. The real focus of the entire show though is the main event. This is where it really gets exciting.
The crowd is electric, as they seemed to be for all things involving these wrestlers, during this period. The referee is WWE Hall of Famer Teddy Long. The challengers Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard come to the ring wearing their signature Four Horsemen satin jackets. Lex Luger and Barry Windham come to the ring wearing their tag team championships.
Rather than breaking down the match move for move, I urge you to go and watch it for yourself as it is worth it! For the benefit of those that aren’t already familiar with the outcome, I won’t spoil it for you. I will say this though, the pandemonium that unleashes at the finish is a prime example of what made this era of NWA professional wrestling so exciting and allowed the consumer to suspend their disbelief. The backstage events alone that unfold involving the Midnight Rider and the Four Horsemen is the kind of chaos most fans love to see.
The close of the show involves those infamous Four Horsemen jackets and a limousine. To find out how, watch this episode of NWA’s World Championship Wrestling!
You can watch the April 23rd, 1988 edition of NWA Wold Championship Wrestling on WWE Network RIGHT HERE!
Like what you read here? Feel free to follow Travis on Twitter via @TravisVoeltz. Of course, you can also follow WWE Network News via @WWENetworkChron.