Wrestling Observer Flashback–03.27.89

Is it me or does this Wrestlemania season feel like a flashback as it is?

– The lead news is that Super Sunday is mere days away, and Dave is going to try his best to predict everything.

– Obviously WM5 will set the live gate record for a few weeks, until the Tokyo Dome show breaks it again, but he’s less sure on the PPV buyrate. A record number seems likely, but whatever it is, the WWF will just lie about it and claim the record anyway. Some things never change.

– As for Clash VI: The Ultimate Secret, the less said the better. Wrong building, wrong time, wrong city. They have no momentum right now, but at least it should be a good show despite the complete lack of buildup on TV. Plus it’s not like wrestling fans are going to forget the day and go fishing or something.

– To the news, as Buck Zumhofe was sent to prison on charges of having sex with a minor. I feel like deja vu here.

– Titan wants to block satellite dish owners from picking up Wrestlemania due to bars showing it, but Donald Trump wants his casinos exposed to as many eyes as possible and is taking a contrary stance in public. What, Trump say something contrary to the media? Crazy.

– Dynamite Kid announced his retirement on 3/3 due to shoulder surgery and gave his boots to Chris Benoit, but in reality it was an angle and he would return a few weeks later with Johnny Smith as the British Bruisers before retiring for real shortly after.

– Hey, Ricky Steamboat finally made it to the main event of an All Japan show, pinning Tiger Mask to retain the NWA title!

– The Vicious Warrior has already been banished to opening match six-man matches where he does the job, so I guess Inoki was REALLY unimpressed.

– Kevin von Erich no-showed a match where he was supposed to win the tag team titles in World Class, so we ended up with Kerry Von Erich & Jeff Jarrett as champions instead. The Knights of Nepotism! There’s tons of heat on Kevin for all the no-shows and Jerry Jarrett actually does have the power to fire him, but probably won’t.

– Chris Von Erich did an interview on TV and wants to debut later this year. He’s currently 19 and maybe 140. And we all know how that went.

– Scotty the Body is all over the Portland TV shows now, giving them a real energy that’s close to the old UWF TV shows.

– A unique angle in Memphis, as Doug Furnas and Terry Gordy are both in line for a title shot at Jerry Lawler, but both men are babyfaces. So they decide to flip a coin to figure out who gets the shot, and when the coin is in mid-air Gordy just clotheslines Furnas and destroys him.

– The AWA is bringing Johnny Valiant in to manage the Destruction Crew.

– A bunch of NWA wrestlers are doing a benefit at Nikita Koloff’s gym to help pay for medical bills for Nikita’s wife Mandy, who has cancer. This was the first mention of that in the Observer that I can recall, and also retroactively explains why Koloff was so distracted for the past year.

– Apparently the Brisco Brothers are now running a body shop in Tampa. Well you learn something every day.

– Added to the list of firings in the WWF: Danny Davis, Frenchy Martin and the Bolsheviks.

– Lanny Poffo is turning heel and growing his hair and beard out like Randy Savage.

– The Rockers and Brainbusters have been split into different feuds for after Wrestlemania because of complaints that they’re showing up the rest of the card.

– Interesting note: Wrestling magazines are no longer allowed to print poster-sized photos of WWF wrestlers under the guise of the first amendment, because a judge ruled that it’s strictly for purposes of trade and not news and thus isn’t protected. I remember a lot of those two-bit magazines.

– The NWA remains a mess right now. They’re trying all kinds of wacky combinations of announcers on the various TV shows, trying to find something that clicks (Jim Ross & Michael Hayes, Bob Caudle & Kevin Sullivan) and the house shows still bear no resemblance to anything being promoted on TV. Many markets are getting Steamboat defending against Mike Rotunda in the main event, which is practically an invitation to stay home.

– Remember the list of house rules from last week? Yeah, everyone’s just ignoring them.

– Jim Herd changed his mind and offered the Midnights a new contract after all.

– And finally a bunch of letters to wrap it up, including one from Lou Thesz, who writes Dave to thank him for correcting Jim Ross’s history mistake on the Chi-Town Rumble show. How about that.

Until next time, wubba lubba dub dub!