We start with footage of The Russians attacking what looks like Don Kernodle inside a steel cage.
David Crockett and Tony Schiavone is at the podium to welcome us to the show and go over the card.
SAM HOUSTON VS. BUDDY LANDELL W/ J.J. DILLION
Buddy starts it off by getting Sam Houston mad after slapping him in the corner.
With a few exceptions it is all Landell on Houston so far. Not great for his alignment with Dusty Rhodes.
Nice looking standing dropkick by Buddy Landell. Even with the rest holds his matches are seeming like they’re faster than they are.
The lighting seems better in this episode so far.
Buddy calls to the cameras and puts on the Figure Four to get the submission victory.
Buddy holds on the Figure Four until J.J. Dillion comes in to “help” release the hold.
Magnum TA is with the United States Championship at the Podium with Tony.
He is cutting a promo on Buddy and the rest of the men who have recently called him out. Tells them to sign their name and he’ll fight em.
Back from commercial with David and Tony throwing to the previous footage of Tony Schiavone interviewing Ric Flair with the three ladies. Appears it is the same interview from last week they are reairing.
MICHAEL HAYES VS. JOEL DEATON
I think I am starting to learn who is a face and heel simply based on which jobber they are facing.
Great criss cross spot where Deaton eventually lays down to trip Hayes but Hayes drops the elbow on him instead.
If anyone tells me someone is the worst play by play guy and aren’t saying David Crockett, I will just show them some of these episodes.
Deaton is getting some offense in on Hayes but Hayes eventually gets the bulldog for a pinfall victory over Deaton.
Video package for Manny Fernandez. Similar to the ones they were playing for Magnum and Tully.
MANNY FERNANDEZ & THUNDERBOLT PATTERSON VS. PAUL GARNER & MIKE JACKSON
They mention the issues with Thunderbolt and his National Tag Team Champion partner Ole Anderson who attacked him last week.
Manny Fernandez starts the match and has complete control up to tagging in Thunderbolt.
David and Tony keep putting over the uncertainty of the National Tag Team Championships.
Manny hit such a hard kick that it looked like it actually hurt his own knee.
Manny keeps yelling for Ole Anderson.
Garner seriously still looks like he has never wrestled before even though I have seen him before.
Garner is pinned by Manny after his double thrust finisher.
Back from commercial with Tony at the podium interviewing Ole and Arn Anderson. Ole says thunderbolt should give him the other title since he carried him so much.
They cut to the footage of Ole pointing out the foot under the rope in the match between Arn and Manny last week.
TULLY BLANCHARD W/ BABY DOLL VS. PAUL DIAMOND
I really do like getting the graphics on the screen with the Studio show.
Really like Tully doing the handshake before his matches since losing the belt. Really interesting twist on his heel character.
Tully doing a lot of trash talk to Paul Diamon while having him in submission holds. Very good heel bully tactics.
Most of the match seems like Tully is just toying with Diamond up until the Slingshot Suplex finisher to get the easy pinfall victory.
Over to the podium for Dusty to be interviewed by Tony after watching the Tully match.
Dusty there to push the Russians and a possible 6 man tag team championship match.
OLE & ARN ANDERSON VS. ROCKY KING & GENE LIGON
Jobber Rocky and Jobber Gene out to help push the NEW Minnesota Wrecking Crew.
Arn working the arm of Jobber Gene before tagging out to Ole who took hold of the arm himself and worked it over. Great wrestling.
Even after the tag from Ligon the Anderson’s continue to work the same arm on Rocky King.
Nice diving knee to the arm from Ole Anderson that leads to Arn putting on an Arm Hold to get the Submission victory.
Now to Tony to interview J.J. Dillion and Buddy Landell. They’re not happy about Magnum TA being the star of the NWA right now instead of Buddy Landell.
IVAN KOLOFF W/ NIKITA KOLOFF & KRUSHER KHRUSHCHEV VS. BUZZ SAWYER
Ivan is complaining about the boots Buzz Sawyer is wearing. Turns out he should be more worried about Sawyer’s teeth after he bites Ivan’s hands and other body parts.
Already one of the most competitive matches I have seen from Ivan.
Buzz Sawyer seems to be countering all of Ivan’s cheats with his own.
Ivan finally gets the advantage after moving out of Sawyer’s way and Buzz goes into the ringpost. Ivan is now controlling the shoulder that went into the ring post.
Sawyer regains the advantage after another bite to the leg but Ivan went back to the arm.
End of the first hour while match is still going on so credits role before coming back for the remainder of the match.
Ivan almost got pinned but was able to get his foot on the rope.
Another pin attempt from Sawyer and another leg on the rope. Saw that coming when Ivan rolled closer to the ropes after a move by Sawyer.
I don’t remember Buzz Sawyer being mentioned on NWA shows I’ve watched so far so I’m surprised at how long and even this match has been.
Nikita seems to be getting restless seeing Ivan not in control.
Sawyer keeps going to the bearhug on the mat after each two count on Ivan Koloff.
Nice shot of the American Flag while the crowd was chanting USA to get Buzz Sawyer going.
Ref bump in the corner after a reversal. Sawyer had a three count but no ref. Jimmy Valiant ran in to do a fake three count and raise the hand of Sawyer. The Russians attack Valiant leading to Dusty coming in for the save.
Michael Hayes is now with Tony at the podium to push he is a top contender for the World Title against Ric Flair.
Hayes makes a local reference that I assume meant he was calling Flair’s women prostitute’s.
Back from Commercial with Tony interviewing Dusty and Buzz Sawyer to challenge the Russians. Valiant joins in to say he was there to take on Paul Jones but couldn’t let Buzz get beat by the Russians.
David and Tony going over the angle with the Russians.
NIKITA KOLOFF W/ IVAN KOLOFF & KRUSHER KHRUSHCHEV VS. JOSH STROUD
I suspect this match will be a lot quicker than the Ivan match. Stroud is showing off strength with full nelsons and bear hugs but just to show off Nikita’s strength being able to break the holds.
Nikita seemed shocked that Stroud kicked out after having a light cover.
Good Power Man spot with Stroud just being allowed to hit Nikita and them having no impact on him.
They are not squashing Josh Stroud so again surprised how The Russians are being booked this episode.
Nikita hit the Russian Sickle but intead of going for the pin Ivan tells him to go for the Cobra and gets the submission. Takes Ivan to get Nikita to break the hold.
Back from commercial to hear from Thunderbolt Patterson and Manny Fernandez to cut a promo on the Andersons.
Looked like Patterson got hurt when Manny shock his hand. Patterson is not very good at the promos.
THE BARBARIAN & BILLY GRAHAM W/ PAUL JONES VS. JIM & MACK JEFFERS
Apparently someone or something is at ringside. THey eventuall show that there is a figure with a robe completely over them. It is Abdullah the Butcher, aka my least favourite wrestler of all time. He is there with Jones.
Jones was able to get his usual shots in while the referee is distracted.
Complete domination from Graham and Barbarian who keep tagging in and out. This was obviously meant to be a vehicle to debut Abdullah as protection for Jones.
Diving headbutt from Barbarian to get the pinfall while Graham prevents the save with a full nelson slam on the other Jeffers.
Back to Tony with the Russians to counter the comments from Dusty Rhodes and continue to push the possible 6 man matchup.
MAGNUM TA VS. GEORGE SOUTH
Great to see some of George South in his prime or at least when he can move fast. Granted Magnum hits the Belly to Belly within seconds and the match is over after Magnum gets the Pinfall victory.
PEZ WHATLEY VS. VERNON DEATON
I wonder if Vernon is any relation to Joel although he looks a lot like Aiden English here.
Pretty much all Pistol Pez from the get go.
David sounds like a broken record in this episode pushing the situation between Ole, Patterson and the National Tag Team Championships.
Pez with the pinfall victory after a powerful clothesline.
Back to the Podium for a Tony interview with Ole & Arn Anderson. They are talking about how they produce results regardless of how they accomplish those results.
Ole just has a voice that makes me listen. He’s not the loudest but you believe every word he says.
KRUSHER KHRUSHCHEV W/ IVAN & NIKITA KOLOFF VS. MIKE SOMIANI
Match is basically to give Khrusher his match time while keep pushing a feud with Dusty Rhodes that started at the beginning of the episode pretty much.
Just more ways to get Heel heat for the Russians.
Ivan says it is not illegal when the ref tells Khrusher not to drop him on the ropes which was nice.
Khrusher wins with the Cobra and like before needs Ivan to pull him away from Somiani.
Back to Tony with Tully and Baby Doll at the podium. They put over how often he wins. Tully does a great job of bashing the audience without raising his voice or even skipping a beat going back into the promo. Great stuff and he grows on me more with every viewing.
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