Post by anthonymm13 on Jul 28, 2020 19:10:16 GMT 1
HALLOWEEN HAVOC (October 28, 1989)
The J-Tex Corporation has made its mark in WCW with Terry Funk becoming the world champion, and The Great Muta winning the world television championship. A big part of their success has came from their associate Barry Windham.
But on their way to the top they’ve made quite a few enemies. Ricky Steamboat has been out of action since June. Now he’s back and looking to gain revenge and take Terry Funk’s title.
Meanwhile, old rivals unite as Sting and Ric Flair join together to face Muta and Windham.
Also tonight, Lex Luger tries to win back his U.S. title from Terry Gordy, the Freebirds defend the world tag titles against the Rock N Roll Express, the Steiners put the US tag titles on the line against the Midnight Express. All this and more tonight at Halloween Havoc!
The Dynamic Dudes (Johnny Ace and Shane Douglas) defeated the Samoan Swat Team (Fatu and Samu) when Ace pinned Fatu after an Ace Crusher in 7:12.
Rating: **
The promising young pairing of Douglas and Ace kicked off the show with a big win, using their speed and athleticism to get the best of the Samoan Swat Team.
Flyin’ Brian defeated The Z-Man after a flying cross body press in 13:34.
Rating: *** ½
Two more young stars faced off in what turned out to be a fantastic match. The fans were evenly split between two favorites, but no one seemed to be disappointed with the show they put on.
Brian Pillman got the win, but after the match, approached the Z-Man, shook his hand and said he thinks they can work together well, and could make a great team. He asked if Z-man wanted to form a tag team.
Z-Man looked around at the crowd cheering the possibility and enthusiastically agreed.
Dr. Death Steve Williams pinned Norman the Lunatic after a powerslam in 6:12.
Rating: ½*
Dr. Death has been on quite a run since separating from the Varsity Club and going on his own. His opponent tonight was a near 400-pounder, Norman the Lunatic.
Dr. Death seemed a little unsure of how to attack the big, crazy man, but found a way to summon the strength to hit a powerslam.
The Skyscrapers (Dan Spivey and Sid Vicious) defeated The Junkyard Dog and Eddie Gilbert when Sid pinned JYD after a powerbomb in 11:43.
Rating: * ¾
JYD and Gilbert have worked together quite a while, but Gilbert’s attitude has changed ever since War Games. He’s been more than willing to tell anyone who would listen about how great he is and how he won that match for his team. His showboating had also significantly increased.
JYD tried to get Gilbert to keep focused, but it had little impact. When JYD needed it the most, he went for the tag, but Gilbert was too busy flirting with a woman in the front row. That left JYD easy pickings for the Skyscrapers.
JYD tried to confront Gilbert after the match, but “Hot Stuff” too offense to JYD taking offense to his actions. Some brief pushing and shoving transpired until JYD knocked down Gilbert and “Hot Stuff” high stepped it to the back.
Mike Rotunda pinned Kevin Sullivan after an Airplane Spin in 6:43.
Rating: * ¾
Former partners collided and things got brutal. Sullivan pushed the boundaries early in the match, nearly getting disqualified for choking Rotunda with a TV cable.
But after an initial wild period, Rotunda quickly took over with his technical skill and put Sullivan away after an airplane spin.
Sullivan was not pleased after the match, clotheslining Rotunda from behind and stomping away at him before heading to the back.
The Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner) defeated The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane) when R. Steiner pinned B. Eaton after a Bulldog in 18:20
Rating: ****
(The Steiner Brothers retained the WCW WCW UNITED STATES TAG TEAM TITLES)
One of the hottest up and coming teams in the industry, a team that many are calling the “Team of the 90s” defended their US tag titles against one of the premier tag teams of the 80s. The result was a classic, one of the best tag team matches in WCW’s short history.
Jim Cornette tried to make his presence felt, getting involved at several points, but stuck his nose in once too often as Scott Steiner pulled him into the ring and hit him with a Frankensteiner.
In the chaos, Stan Lane tried to use Cornette’s loaded tennis racket but was caught by Rick Steiner and clotheslined out of the ring.
The Steiners then hit their double team bulldog on Bobby Eaton to close out the match.
Interview with Referee Teddy Long
Long was interviewed wearing a neckbrace, an effect of an attack from the Road Warriors last month. It was announced during the interview that the Road Warriors were suspended for assaulting an official, but Long said he is requesting that their suspensions end in time for next month’s Clash of the Champions, because he promises the Road Warriors will meet their Doom that night!
Lex Luger made Terry Gordy submit to the Torture Rack in 13:52.
Rating: ***
(Lex Luger won the WCW UNITED STATES TITLE)
Lex Luger is once again the United States champion, winning his title back from Terry Gordy.
Helping Luger out was the fact that he made arrangements with the Rock N Roll Express to keep an eye on Hayes and Garvin, keeping them away from the ring, and he’ll make sure Gordy doesn’t get involved in the tag title match coming up later.
Down to a 1-on-1 affair, Luger was able to roll over Gordy and make him submit to The Torture Rack.
The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin) defeated The Rock N Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) when Hayes pinned Morton after a DDT in 9:45
Rating: ** ¾
(The Fabulous Freebirds retained the WCW WORLD TAG TEAM TITLES)
Turns out, the Fabulous Freebirds didn’t need assistance from Terry Gordy to retain their tag titles, though it would be a real stretch to call it a clean win.
During a key part of the match where it looked like the Rock N Roll Express was picking up momentum, Jimmy Garvin refused to leave the ring despite not being the illegal man. As the ref was trying to drag him out basically, Michael Hayes hit Ricky Morton with a low blow, then followed it up with a DDT.
After the match, the Freebirds proclaimed themselves not only the greatest rock and roll band of all time, but the greatest tag team of all time, and that no one is going to stop them.
These final words brought out Rick and Scott Steiner. The current U.S. champs made it clear that the Freebirds were going to have to knock them off to make any claim to being the leaders of the WCW tag division.
Sting and Ric Flair defeated Barry Windham and The Great Muta after Sting pinned Muta after a splash in 19:15
Rating: *** ½
It was interesting to see how Sting and Flair would work together considering their checkered past with each other. But nothing brings a pair together better than common enemies.
As long as they can get along, two wrestlers the caliber of Flair and Sting could be unstoppable together. And at least tonight, they got long very well.
Flair was getting the best of his former partner Barry Windham, while the ending saw Sting get a measure of revenge on the man who beat him last month for the TV title. Getting a pin on Muta could put Sting in line for another shot at Muta and the title.
Terry Funk defeated Ricky Steamboat after a piledriver in 22:34
Rating *** 1/2
(Terry Funk retained the WCW WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE)
Steamboat had a long time to think about this moment since Terry Funk took him out back in June. Back then, he was scheduled for a title match against Ric Flair, but tonight he gets his shot against the man, Funk, that put him on the shelf for months.
While Steamboat came close on several occasions, he was never able to put Funk away. He also had the challenge for fighting against Hiro Matsuda at ringside, and Barry Windham who made a key appearance.
As Steamboat was on the top rope, Matusda distracted the referee while Windham came from behind and shoved Steamboat off the top down to the floor where he crashed into the guardrail.
Funk then went and rolled a hurt steamboat into the ring where he hit a piledriver to win the match.
Windham ran in and handed Funk his world title belt as the group celebrated as the show came to a close.