Wrestling Observer Flashback–05.29.89

Mark the date, because hell is about to freeze over. Chaos reigns, dogs and cats living together, the whole bit. It can only mean one thing…

– In the thing that everyone swore would never happen, Dusty Rhodes has signed with the WWF. People within the company are said to be not terribly thrilled about this turn of events, but please be reassured that Dusty is NOT working in any creative capacity and is simply there to wrestle. Dave points out that at some point, he’ll be asked to do a clean job, and then we’ll see what his financial situation is, he guesses.

– Roddy Piper is apparently going to be doing a TV movie with Mr. T over the summer while he works part-time with the WWF, and the plot is that two construction workers get into brawls. Dave hopes that they don’t have any off-stage problems that result in needing a boxing match to settle things.

– The NWA is keeping Flair off TV and off the road until the Bash PPV against Funk, to really sell that he’s seriously injured and make his return a huge deal. What a concept! The houses are main-evented by Funk v. Sting while he’s gone.

– The upcoming Clash main event has been changed from Muta v. Sting to Funk v. Steamboat, to really heat Funk up before the PPV. Dave notes it’s becoming a common problem that everyone “needs” a win to heat them up right now, but no one can really afford to do jobs, so it’s going to be a lot of non-finishes and screwjobs on top while they rebuild their big guns.

– The syndicated shows accidentally spoiled the tag tournament, advertising a Bash tour match with the Freebirds defending against the Dynamic Dudes at some of the shows.

– Up in Stampede, Bruce Hart is challenging new champion Larry Cameron for the North American title while the Bulldogs work Japan. The Buldogs are still a team in All Japan, by the way, despite their violent split in Canada.

– Down in Memphis, Jerry Lawler brings in Austin Idol as his partner for a tag match, and offers him a title shot as incentive as long as he promises not to turn on Lawler. I’d still give 50/50 odds of it happening.

– Sid has quit in Memphis and is getting his shot at the bigtime with the NWA via a tryout next week. They’re really making him do a tryout?!

– Pro Wrestling This Week was put on permanent hiatus, as the station in Atlanta that normally featured Joe Pedicino’s legendary wrestling block switched formats and left everyone high and dry. They should bring it back on the WWE Network!

– Say goodbye to Windy City Wrestling, the latest casualty of the territorial purges. It was notable mostly for featuring some early booking attempts by Paul Heyman. Also saying farewell is Jerry Blackwell’s Southern Championship Wrestling. This theme starts to get more pronounced in the weeks ahead.

– For those wondering how this sort of thing could happen all the time, witness a show in Kansas City promoted by Bob Geigel where he wanted to bring in Harley Race and Dusty Rhodes for a tribute show under the Central States banner. After announcing it, I’ll give you one guess what immediately was announced for the same day. Go on, take a shot at it, I’ll wait.

– On a related note in the WWF section, after the NWA announced a Bash card in New Haven, Vince scheduled a WWF house show in Hartford on the same night, with Hogan v. Savage on top. This is notable because it’s a Thursday and Hogan never works Thursdays. Much like HHH, I guess. Dave notes that everyone in the organization still swears up and down that they’re only out to promote healthy competition and not to hurt the other guy.

– The release date for No Holds Barred is rapidly approaching, and New Line had to promise a bunch of theaters an exclusive right to the next Nightmare on Elm Street movie in order to get them to pick it up. Most feel it’s going to be a giant flop, but Dave thinks that the WWF TV machine will make it a success. Most were right.

– Apparently the talk of a big talent acquisition for the NWA was just that – talk.

– Sheiky got fired after the PPV, when guards wanted to check his bag and he got belligerent with them. RACIAL PROFILING!

– The Midnight Express officially came to terms on a new contract this past week and start up on TV again immediately.

– Dave thinks Teddy Long will be a good manager, even if Reed and Simmons as a team is “on the road to nowheresville”. Is that near Parts Unknown?

– Things that amuse me: Dave ends with a section he calls “Stuff I Forgot” for assorted results.

– OK, now to what we’ve all been waiting for, the remaining seven PPVs ranked in order of badness, where #1 is the worst.

1. Summerslam 88. Dave REALLY hates this show.

2. Bunkhouse Stampede 88. “At least the matches had some action.”

3. Wrestlemania IV. The only show he’s seen where literally everyone watching with him fell asleep.

4. Royal Rumble 89. Lowest buyrate ever, undercard a waste. This is kind of hilarious in hindsight given that the Rumble is now the most bought show outside of Wrestlemania and tends to prop up their first quarter every year.

5. Starrcade 87. Terrible booking kills off Chicago for good.

6. Wrestlemania V. A real stinker, but the main event was good.

7. Superclash III. A complete embarrassment, but the main event was great and he gives them credit for trying something.

And on that note, we wrap it up.