Today in Wrestling History

[Guest TSMAdmin]

Today in Wrestling History (December 7)

by Jared "JHawk" Hawkins

 

Before we get too involved with today's column, I need to get some things off my chest about Roddy Piper's comments at this week's NWATNA broadcast. For those of you who aren't aware of what happened, check out Dames' Diatribe on the show.

 

First off, many of you are chastising the man without ever hearing what his exact comments were. Some of you thought his mentioning of Owen Hart was wrong no matter why he did it. Some of you at least gave him the benefit of the doubt once it became apparent that maybe, just maybe, Piper was shooting. I'll make this quick and drop it.

 

We can argue all night long about whether the comments were tasteless or not, but that is not the issue here. I'll make my point simple. When Owen Hart died, we all had our own people to blame. We blamed Vince McMahon for allowing Owen to go up on that balcony. We blamed the harness people for not double or triple checking everything. The Harts even blamed the people who owned the Kemper Arena for allowing such a stunt in the first place. One name was never mentioned though. The name of Vince Russo. The guy who had only Vince McMahon over him as far as creative went. The man who takes credit for everything that made the air from 1997-1999 whether he had anything to do with it or not. The man who most likely wrote the script for Over the Edge 1999. But nobody that I know of ever mentioned Russo's name when it came to blaming people for Owen's death.

 

Now don't think I'm out here to point an accusing finger at Vince Russo, because I'm not. Truth be told, it was a stunt that had been dozens of times before, both in the WWF and in WCW, without so much as a delay for the equipment sticking or anything. So there really was no reason for anybody to think something could go that drastically wrong. But even if you think Piper might have crossed the line with his comments on Wednesday night, there is at least a reason for his feelings. I don't see this as a case of Piper being crazy, although I wouldn't argue with bitter or angry.

 

Now when does that Piper shoot interview come out?

 

Anyway, none of you are here for my ramblings about the Roddy Piper-Vince Russo situation, so let's get to it.

 

The story so far: In 1988, Jim Crockett was beginning to lose drastically to Vince McMahon in what was really the first true national wrestling war. Having had the Survivor Series run against Starrcade in 1987 and the USA network's broadcast of the Royal Rumble virtually squash the 1988 Bunkhouse Stampede pay-per-view, Crockett was in need of any source of victory. So on March 27, the first Clash of the Champions (featuring three awesome matches) aired on TBS opposite WrestleMania IV. The ratings were so good for that show, TBS agreed to make the Clash of the Champions a somewhat regular event. For whatever reason, Vince never really countered this with his own special opposite it, so the NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions had some leverage.

 

By that point though, it was too late. Jim Crockett simply overpaid on what contracts he had, plus he had way too many people working without a contract. So despite having a superior in-ring product, he simply couldn't keep the company afloat and had to sell the promotion. In November 1988, he sold controlling interest in Jim Crockett Promotions to Ted Turner. However, before Turner could get Jim Herd completely into the fray and thus proceed to piss away his far superior in-ring product, there were many events already scheduled, particularly Starrcade on December 26 and our event tonight.

 

Without any further ado... We take you to the UTC (University of Tennessee-Chattanooga) Arena in Chattanooga, for a live TBS special (and the first major show under the Ted Turner owned NWA): Clash of the Champions IV: Season's Beatings. No, XPW did not come up with the name of their December event by themselves (although it's still cool as hell).

 

Your broadcast team is Good Ol' JR and Bob Caudle.

 

One fall with a 30 minute time limit for the vacant NWA United States Tag Team Title: Ron Simmons (DAMN!) and Hot Stuff Eddie Gilbert vs. The Fantastics

 

For those who don't know the Fantastics, they are Tommy Rogers and Bobby Fulton, who were a very good tag team that had several kickass series of matches with various combinations of the Midnight Express. As for this match, the U.S. Tag Team title was vacated in September when champions The Midnight Express defeated Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard for the World Tag Team Titles. Interestingly enough, matches from this tournament never aired until November, when the Midnights had already lost the World titles, and yet the Midnights weren't in this tournament anyway. Also, Simmons and Gilbert had lost their semifinal match to The Sheepherders, but the decision was reversed when they decided to become the Bushwhackers in the WWF. The Fantastics have held this title once before, and they won it in this very building. Gilbert is coming into this match with an injured left arm which I'm relatively sure is only a story line.

 

Jason Hervey of The Wonder Years is the guest ring announcer, although we thankfully don't hear him. After a commercial break, the match begins with Fulton and Simmons starting. Collar and elbow tieup, and Simmons actually brings Fulton to his knees with it. I don't think I've seen that since this show. Fulton off the ropes with a shoulder, but he bounces off Simmons and hits the mat. Fulton with a couple of dropkicks, but Simmons catches Fulton and powerslams him. Mini test of strength is won by Simmons, but Fulton is able to maneuver into an armdrag and tag Rogers, who immediately comes in with a dropkick. Side headlock, but Simmons moves him to the corner and makes the tag. Gilbert into a headlock. Thrown off, Gilbert with a shoulderblock, followed by a hiptoss, but he misses and elbowdrop and Rogers covers for 2. Fulton tagged in, and Gilbert sunset flips him for 2. Side headlock by Fulton as the ring announcer makes the five minute call. Gilbert out of it. Arm wringer into a fireman's carry, then Gilbert gets in an armbar, but Fulton armdrags out of it. Fulton with a side headlock, but Gilbert into a headscissors. Fulton's shoulders occasionally hit the mat for 2 counts. Fulton eventually breaks the hold and floats to a headlock. Gilbert whips him into the ropes and ducks his head, but Fulton takes him down with an inside cradle for 2. Shoving match, but they decide to shake hands...and the crowd boos. You'd think it was Philadelphia. Simmons is tagged in, and he locks Fulton into a hammerlock. Fulton maneuvers himself so that Simmons falls through the ropes. Leverage makes all the difference. Simmons into the ring, and Fulton with another small package for 2. Tag to Rogers. Simmons rolls him up for 2. Simmons with a headlock. Rogers throws him off but gets met with a shoulderblock. Simmons off the ropes, but Rogers dropkicks him. A flying elbowdrop misses, and Simmons takes him down with a football tackle but can't get the pin because Rogers is in the ropes. Gilbert is tagged in and he locks an armbar at the ten minute call (although only 9:12 has actually gone. Sorry, but that was a HUGE pet peeve of mine). Gilbert into a hammerlock. He adds a half nelson and gets the shoulders down for occassional one counts. Rogers floats over Gilbert's back and armdrags him over, and then he tags in Fulton, who goes to work on Gilbert's left arm. Fireman's carry by Gilbert, and they tease a slugfest, but lockup instead. More shoving. Gilbert with a drop toehold, but Fulton right into a hammerlock. Gilbert tags Simmons, who rolls Fulton up for 2. Front facelock applied. Whip into the corner, but Fulton moves away from a flying tackle. Rogers tagged in, and now the Fantastics with a series of fast tags as they work over Simmons' left arm. Rogers finally stays in the ring to work an amrbar, but Simmons sends him into the ropes and backdrops him over. An elbowdrop misses, and Rogers is back into the armbar. Into a form of a short arm scissors, and occasional two counts as a result. An armbar at the 15 minute call (at 13:59). Simmons gets in an elbow and tags Gilbert. Swinging neckbreaker gets 2. Vertical suplex for another 2 count. They exchange forearms, but Rogers eventually gets in a suplex and tags in Fulton. Gilbert quickly tags Simmons before any contact can be made. Fulton with some elbows and a legdrop, but Simmons powers out of the cover. Fulton locks in a headlock, tag to Rogers, and Rogers gets in a kneelift and covers for 2. Simmons powers Rogers into the corner and tags Gilbert in. Gilbert begins to focus on Rogers' ribs, then he gets in an atomic drop. Knees to the small of the back and the ribs. Back suplex gets 2 3/4. Tag to Simmons, and he goes to work on the left arm. Rogers gets to the ropes to break an armbar, and Simmons targets the ribs. Whip into the opposite corner and a missed football tackle at the 20 minute call (at 18:29). Fulton tagged in, high cross body attempted, Simmons catches him and slams him. Tag to Gilbert, who rolls Fulton up, but Fulton kicks out, sending Gilbert left shoulder first into the ringpost. Seconds later, Gilbert takes a tumble to the floor and hits the guardrail with the same shoulder. Rogers is the legal man for the Fantastics, and Gilbert is selling the arm bigtime as he enters. Rogers with a drop toehold, and he immediately targets the left arm. Hammerlock with the occasional arm snap. Tag to Fulton, who puts on an armbar. Into a chickenwing and snapping the arm back. This is that psychology thing people keep talking about. Rogers tagged in, and he legdrops the arm, then he stretches the arm while holding onto the wrist. Several two counts while in this hold. Tag to Fulton, and Fulton locks on an armbar to prevent the hot tag. Rogers tagged in, and Fulton hiptosses Gilbert to allow Rogers to put on a short arm scissors. More two counts while in this hold. Gilbert is actually able to roll Rogers into a cover for 2 before Rogers gets the leverage and turns him back over. Fulton tagged in at the 25 minute call. Fulton misses a diving headbutt to the arm. Fulton rolls over toward Simmons to prevent the tag. Great psychology here. Tag to Rogers, who goes into a hammerlock. JR asks what happens in the event of a draw. My guess is people would ask for a refund. Gilbert gets to the corner and elbows Rogers. Armdrag attempted, but Rogers pulls him over at the 26 minute call. Into a wristlock with the knee to the bicep for leverage. Rogers tries to send Gilbert's shoulder to the corner, but Gilbert ducks it. Tag to Fulton, and Gilbert gets knocked to the floor at the 28 minute call. (What happened to 27? That was a very quick two minutes.) Fulton goes outside the ring and rolls Gilbert in, but Gilbert gets the Hotshot (Stun Gun) at the 29 minute call. Gilbert fights back and whips Fulton into the corner, but rather than tag, he charges the corner...and misses. The shoulder hits the post, and Fulton rolls Gilbert up for an easy pin at around 29:30 officially (but 27:01 in reality). Excellent psychology and a great final fifteen minutes, but the first half of it featured a lot of stalling and that hurt it. This is still probably my favorite match that nobody remembers. ***1/2 All four men shake hands in the ring after the match as the ring announcer announces the Fantastics as champions...to some screams from the women but mostly boos. No wonder their title reign only lasted three weeks, when they lost to Steve Williams and Kevin Sullivan.

 

JR and Caudle put over both teams.

 

After a commercial break, we go to Tony Skee-a-vone and Lex Luger, who serve as hosts for this event. Luger is most interested in seeing Ric Flair in the main event so he can scout for Starrcade.

 

One fall with a 30 minute time limit: The Italian Stallion vs. Dr. Death Steve Williams (w/Kevin Sullivan)

 

This is a couple of weeks after Williams turned heel and joined the Varsity Club, which made absolutely no sense since Williams had just spent six months feuding with Mike Rotundo over the TV Title. Stallion was essentially a jobber to the stars (or enhancement performer, if you prefer) whose claim to fame is holding the world spaghetti eating record. I'm not even making that one up.

 

But before we can get to the ring, JR interviews Sullivan and Mike Rotundo--er, Rotunda about Rotunda's match with Rick Steiner at Starrcade. They say Steiner is so stupid that he thinks he can actually win the TV title. "First off, Steiner, you're a Michigan graduate, so you don't have much right there." Cut to commercial.

 

The bell rings just as we come back from break. Feeling out process to start. Williams with a shoddy looking takedown. Fireman's carry takedown. Stallion into a headlock, and he takes Williams down with a shoulderblock. Dropkick, and Williams goes to the floor for a Tastykake break. Back in. Exchange of arm wringers, and Stallion holds it with a wristlock. Williams with a drop toehold, and into the ropes for the break. Williams whips Stallion into the corner, but Stallion comes out of the corner with a clothesline. Williams to the floor again. Williams back in and into a hammerlock. Stallion turns it into a hammerlock, but Williams breaks it with an Olympic slam. An elbowdrop misses though, and Stallion gets a legdrop for 2. Stallion back into an arm wringer, then into a short arm scissors. Williams rolls him over, grabs the ropes for leverage, and gets some two counts. Teddy Long suspects something, but doesn't see it. Williams gets about 6 near falls before Long finally sees the ropes for leverage tactic and kicks Williams hand to allow Stallion to get the advantage. Stallion comes off with a high cross body, and Stallion is benched pressed off and to the floor at the five minute call. Sullivan consistently kicks Stallion when Williams distracts the referee. Williams finally follows Stallion to the floor and rams his back into the guardrail and apron. Williams rolls into the ring, and Stallion is hurt. Williams brings Stallion into the ring with a delayed vertical suplex for 2. Stallion fights back but gets bowled over with a shoulderblock. Sleeperhold by Williams. JR: "Doc is one tough man. He's tougher than Geraldo Rivera's nose, I'll tell you that." The sleeper is turned into more of a reverse chinlock, and Long checks the arms at the 10-minute call (that was the shortest five minutes ever). Still in the chinlock. Stallion finally breaks free and clotheslines Williams, but an elbowdrop misses. Enzuigiri to the face, and a school boy for 2. Doc is immediately into a form of an anklelock. Turning it into a leg hammerlock. Williams drives his knee into Stallion's shin and calf. Doc comes off the ropes with a knee to the midsection that sends Stallion out of the ring. Sullivan gets in a shot on the floor while Williams distracts Teddy Long. Williams to the apron and off with a double-axhandle. Back into the ring they go, and Stallion gets in some forearms. Ten punch count along in the corner, but he only gets halfway through it before Doc takes him down with an inverted atomic drop. Doc into a front facelock at the 15-minute call. Into a sleeper. Stallion tries to break it by ramming Doc into the corner, but Doc never actually makes contact with the corner. Doc up to the middle rope, and he misses a splash. Stallion with a comeback. A nice dropkick, followed by a powerslam. Stallion goes for a high cross body, but Doc catches him in mid-air and takes him down with an Oklahoma Stampede powerslam for the victory at 15:17. Way too long for what was essentially an extended squash. DUD

 

Jason Hervey has joined Schiavone and Luger, who are putting Williams over. Now they interview Jason Hervey about The Wonder Years, but we are able to get in a Starrcade plug so Hervey can say he'll be there. I bet that drew an added buyrate or two.

 

After commercials, Magnum T.A. tells us that Paul Jones ran Nikita Koloff out of the NWA, but in to take his place at Starrcade is The Junkyard Dog. Yes, Dog is going to team with Ivan Koloff at Starrcade in what might be the most mismatched team ever. Nikita had actually left the NWA on his own, and Pro Wrestling Illustrated ran a story not too long after that saying that his wife had (I believe) Hodgkin's Disease, so Nikita took time off to be with her.

 

We run down the Starrcade card before the commercial break.

 

Handicap Match with a 30 minute time limit: Ivan Koloff vs. Number One Paul Jones

 

At the previous Clash on September 7, Koloff was in a Russian chain match with Ricky Morton. As Morton was going to the fourth turnbuckle, Jones told Koloff to grab his riding crop for leverage. However, Jones lost his grip of it, which allowed Morton to win the match. Jones blamed Koloff for the loss, Koloff knocked Jones down, and this led The Russian Assassins to the ring to do a number on Koloff. So the feud was The Russian Assassins against Ivan and Nikita Koloff, and nothing was settled before Nikita disappeared. Anyway, this match was set up so Ivan could finally get his hands on Paul Jones. But how can this be a handicap match when it's one-on-one? Simple. The only way Jones would agree to this match was for Koloff to wrestle with one arm tied behind his back. Literally. You might remember this stipulation from World War 3 1996, where Chris Jericho faced Nick Patrick in a worst match ever candidate.

 

Jones gets an early kick in, but Koloff chokes Jones with his free hand. Single-leg takedown by Ivan. Jones gets in a right hand. They start exchanging right hands (what else is Ivan going to throw?). Headbutt by Koloff. Jones dives for a leg, but Ivan backs away. Ivan with another headbutt, and Jones falls face first to the mat. Koloff begins kicking away, then picks Jones up by the hair and repeatedly rams him into each of the top turnbuckles. Jones begs off, but Ivan moves in with a chokehold. Jones tries to punch out of it. Jones blocks a kick and gets in in a low blow. Jones finally starts to get an advantage, and he chokes Ivan with the rope that's tied to his arm at the 5 minute call. Outside they go, and Jones rams the free arm into the ringpost. Jones stomps away at that arm and rolls back into the ring. Koloff rolls into the ring, and Jones stomps on his free hand. Jones kicks the free hand away everytime Koloff tries to get to his feet. The slowest Irish whip ever, and Koloff comes back with some punches. Jones out to the apron, but he puts some sort of foreign object in his hand and levels Ivan with it. Jones with another attempt with the foreign object, but Ivan with a right hand. Jones drops the object, and Koloff hits him with it and pins him at 8:20. In come both of The Russian Assassins, and they work over Ivan until JYD comes out to make the save. The gimmick for this is really frickin' stupid, and you'll probably think I'm being generous with this rating, but the psychology was pretty good for what it was, so call it a DUD.

 

After commercials, we're back with Tony and Luger, who analyze what we've just seen. Up next is Dusty Rhodes vs. Road Warrior Animal, and Luger talks about how much tension there is in the locker room.

 

Before we have action, JR interviews Sting about his match at Starrcade, as he's scheduled to team with Dusty against The Road Warriors. Sting said it's time to put an end to Warriors, but adds that they can't paint their face as good as he can. Well, isn't that good to know? Especially since I've never seen a better face paint job than Animal's spider design.

 

After a commercial break, Road Warrior Animal is already in the ring waiting for Dusty. So we'll kill some time by going to Magnum T.A. with Rick Steiner. Steiner is still in his loveable stupid guy gimmick and has just turned face. To put this over, Steiner says Alex helps him with strategy...and Alex is just a face painted onto the side of his fist. Another great idea from the mind of Dusty Rhodes, but it got over. Let's take another commercial.

 

One fall to determine the NWA World Six Man Tag Team Championship: Road Warrior Animal (co-champion--w/Precious Paul Ellering) vs. Duthty Rhodeth (co-champion)

 

Actually a ton of incredible build up for this one. The Road Warriors and Dusty Rhodes had been six man champions since July. Rhodes was unable to make it for a scheduled six man title defense on October 7 and was replaced by Sting. That night, the Warriors turned on Sting, claiming that listening to the fans had made them soft. A few weeks later, Rhodes began to brawl with Animal in the WTBS studios, but Hawk soon interfered. They eventually brought Dusty down and jammed a spike from their shoulderpads into Dusty's eye. The angle was awesome, but this was either the week before or the week after Turner bought the company, so management was pissed at Dusty for letting himself bleed to further the angle. That didn't stop them from showing it hundreds of time by the time Starrcade came along. Anyway, this match was signed, and the winner gets to choose their partners for the six man titles. Oh, and a disqualification counts the same as a pinfall. "An eye for an eye," sayeth Duthty.

 

Rhodes immediately gets an elbow to Ellering and goes after Animal. Series of punches, followed by a clothesline, but he misses an elbowdrop. Animal with an elbow to the face. Rhodes brings him down and rams his leg into the ringpost. And again. Rhodes reenters the ring and continues to work the leg. Figure-four on the wrong leg, but not before he knocks Tommy Young aside. In comes Ellering to break the hold, and Animal goes to work on Dusty's eye. Rhodes fights back, and he goes after Animal's eye. Road Warrior Hawk is out, and he works over Dusty. They set up for the Doomsday Device, but Sting runs in for the save. Rhodes out of the ring, returning with a plastic chair, and he levels Animal's leg with it as the bell rings at 2:50. They finally get the ring cleared, and we hear Tommy Young: "Dusty Rhodes has been disqualified for using the chair. The winner: Road Warrior Animal." The heat for this one was absolutely incredible! That doesn't change the fact that this was a standard TV brawl, although entertaining. * The Road Warriors chose Genichiro Tenryu as their partner and literally made one defense before they simply abandoned the title. Sting and Rhodes won the match at Starrcade by disqualification, and Rhodes was fired almost immediately after.

 

After a break, Luger and Tony put over the previous match. Now Luger has to sit and watch his Starrcade opponent, Ric Flair, in action.

 

Main Event tag team match: The Midnight Express (w/Jim Cornette) vs. Barry Windham (US Champion) and The Man WHOO! (NWA World Champion--w/James J. Dillon)

 

During the summer, the Midnight Express and the Four Horsemen had been working together. However, the relationship soured (I think over a payoff that never happened, but I honestly don't remember the angle that well), and the Midnights eventually challenged Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard for the NWA World Tag Team Titles and became the faces by default. Stan Lane and Bobby Eaton won the titles, Anderson and Blanchard went to the WWF, so all that's left are the remaining two Horsemen.

 

Flair and Eaton start. Feeling out process, but Eaton counters "WHOO!" with a slap to the face. Eaton does his own version of the Flair strut. Tieup, into the corner, and Flair with a chop. Eaton begins punching away at Flair and backdrops him over. More right hands, into the opposite corner, Flair Flip, but he lands on the wrong side of the turnbuckle and gets a right hand from Stan Lane. Lane tagged in, and he gets some martial arts kicks. Flair catches a kick and tags Windham, but Lane gets Flair with an enzuigiri before Windham can enter the ring. Lane with a dropkick. Windham pushes Lane into the corner and gets some punches. Up top, but he misses with an elbow. A dropkick, and some kicks from Sweet Stan send Windham over the top rope. Windham gets slingshotted back in, and Beautiful Bobby tags in. Flair in on the other side. Football tackle by Eaton, followed by a hiptoss. Windham in, and Eaton bodyslam both men. Flair gets a right hand in. Double team, but Eaton with a double clothesline to prevent it. Out to the floor they go, and Dillon is PISSED at his men. Lane and Flair are legal now. Lane with a drop toehold, and he gets a figure-four in. Windham in, but Eaton takes him down, and it's stereo figure-fours! It gets broken up, and Flair dumps Lane to the floor. Lane is back in and gets an elbow for 2. Spinning back kick sends Flair down as JR mentions his educated feet. You thought that was a new cliche, didn't you? Eaton in, and Flair catches him with a right hand. What a chop, my God! Eaton fighting back and doing a good job of it, as down goes Flair and there's a tag to Lane. Let's interrupt the match to hear from Your God and Mine Paul E. Heyman, who hypes the battle of the Midnight Expresses for Starrcade. Back to the ring, and Lane is firmly entrenched in the role of face in peril. Flair to the top, but he's a heel so Lane sends him off the top rope. Tag to Eaton, and he has Flair in the corner. Count along punches. Another Flair flip, this time up top, and he gets met with a fist to the midsection. Double teaming from the Midnights, and Eaton covers, but Dillon puts Flair's foot on the ropes and the match continues. Rolling cradle for 2, and Windham drives a forearm to Eaton's back and neck for the save. Windham tags in legally now, and there's an inverted atomic drop. A right hand, and Eaton tumbles out to the floor. Windham brings him back in with a running suplex. Powerslam, and a tag to Flair. Flair with a kneedrop, and he returns the slap from the opening moments. Flair with some chops, and Eaton tumbles to the floor again. Windham drops Eaton onto the security railing, and Flair heads out for a chop before rolling back in. Flair with a chop and a tag to Windham. Flair with a whip, Windham with a lariat and a cover for 2. Gutwrench suplex and a kneedrop. Windham into a sleeperhold. Eaton breaks out of it with an armdrag takedown, but Windham immediately tags Flair. Flair and Eaton trade blows, but Eaton gets the better of it. Flair tags Windham, HOT TAG to Lane, and Lane works over both men. High backdrop to Flair, and Lane rams their heads together. Eaton in, and there's the double goozle. Eaton up to the top, and he hits Windham with the Alabama Jam. Dillon to the apron, Lane knocks him off, but as Cornette hits Dillon with his tennis racket, Dillon drops his shoe into the ring. Flair hits Eaton with the shoe, and Windham drapes an arm over him for the pin at 17:41. I don't know if either of these two men were actually legal, but never let that take away from a good story. The match was excellent. ****

 

One last commercial break, and we return to Tony with Jim Cornette. Cornette says that four of the best were in the ring, and he wanted them to go ahead and play. The Midnights just proved they're the equal or better of any tag team out there because they stood toe-to-toe with the top two singles champion. Cornette got a shot in on Dillon, but the shoe hit the ring, and Flair had to stoop to a low level to win the match. Cornette says the Midnights want a rematch, right here in Chattanooga (which gets a huge pop). Between losing the titles, the arrival of the Original Midnight Express, and this, they've been dumped on, but they're going to get their self-respect back, and they're going to pay back the fans for their support.

 

JR and Caudle put over the entire card, complete with highlights of the important matches. Cut to Tony and Luger, who go over the main event, and Luger's portion is basically to hype his match with Flair at Starrcade. And we're out.

 

Overall, a pretty good show. The middle matches are sandwiched by two excellent matches, and you almost have to see Animal vs. Dusty to get the proper feel of what the heat for it was like. Absolutely amazing. But if you can find a comp that just has the two tag team matches on it, that's probably your best bet.

 

Feel free to drop me a line about this recap, and you can catch anything you've missed in the TSM archives.