What's up with the whole "Wild Thing" title they're using for this show? I don't follow.

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To start the show off, Teddy Long's with Gordon Solie. You see, the Skyscrapers have got this Chicago Street Fight later...but Dan Spivey is "injured." Emphasis on the quotes, but really, he left the company. So, we're going to see a mystery partner for Mean Mark.

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Kevin Sullivan and Buzz Sawyer vs. The Dynamic Dudes is our opener.

Blow-by-Blow: To start, Sawyer and Johnny Ace lock-up...and we get a clean break. Sawyer gives Ace a shoulderblock, but Ace comes back with a monkey flip and a dropkick to knock Sawyer out of the ring. Ace gives Sawyer a pescado, to speed things up a bit. Back in, with Sullivan and Douglas having tagged in. Shane gives Sullivan an armdrag, and he rams him into the buckle, before a little mat wrestling sequence. Ace and Sawyer come in, and the heels slap each other for some reason I forgot. Anyway, Shane gives Sullivan an armdrag after both teams swap again, but Sullivan tosses Douglas to the outside. Sawyer gives Douglas a suplex on the outside, and then a belly-to-belly suplex on the INSIDE for a 2 count. Sawyer gives him a gutwrench suplex, and that also gets 2. Sawyer bites Douglas, and gives him a bearhug, before tagging in Sullivan, who punches Douglas a few times. Sawyer comes back in, and gives Douglas a bearhug. When the referee gets distracted, Sullivan tosses Douglas over the top. You know, seeing as it's illegal, it's kind of a death move. Sullivan goes back to the bearhug before tagging in Sawyer, who chops Douglas. Douglas avoids Sawyer's attacks and makes it to Ace, who tags in and goes crazy. He botches a flying headscissor, making me laugh, hard. Anyway, Sawyer gives Ace a suplex, and finishes him with a big splash off the top, at 10:16.

Match Analysis: I like Sawyer. I hate the Dudes. The match wasn't very good, but acceptable for an opener. It could've been far worse. *3/4.

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Missy Hyatt is interviewing Norman the Lunatic...honestly, what the fuck is this?

Of course, Norman has a match. He's facing CACTUS JACK MANSON.

Blow-by-Blow: Sorry for the caps, but it's Cactus and I couldn't resist. Cactus gives Norman a back elbow for a 2 count, but Norman responds with a clothesline, stopping Cactus' momentum. Norman gives Cactus a headbutt and back elbow, before going to a bearhug. Norman rams Cactus into the buckle, and when he whips Cactus into the buckle, Cactus flips over them and out to the floor. Norman backdrops Cactus over the guardrail on a Cactus charge, but Cactus rams him into the ringpost. Cactus dropkicks him from the apron, and rams him into the canvas, which gets a 2 count on the inside. Cactus' headbutts do nothing, but a big boot does, and gets a 2 count. To the chinlock we go, and after a bit, Norman picks Cactus up on his shoulders, and drops him to the canvas, breaking the hold. He misses a splash though, so Cactus places him on the second rops and jumps onto him. On the second attempt at a jump, Cactus misses, and flies out of the ring. Cactus tries a piledriver, but Norman backdrops Cactus, and sits on him, getting the three count at 9:33.

Match Analysis: Funny little finish. Anyway, Norman/Bastion Booger sucks. Could've been worse, though, and Cactus put on a great show. *.

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Jim Cornette is with Gordon Solie, hyping up this match between...The Midnight Express and the Rock 'n' Roll Express.

Blow-by-Blow: There's a sign in the crowd that says, "We have Herd enough." I lol'd. Stan Lane and Robert Gibson start, and Gibson gives Lane an armdrag. Lane responds with a hiptoss, but Gibson comes right back with two shoulderblocks and a fistdrop. Whoa, this is funny. Cornette wants to fight the referee, and guess what...the ref wants to fight him! The referee gets all ready to go, but Cornette runs out of the ring. Good stuff. Ricky Morton tags in and atomic drops Lane into Bobby Eaton, so the Midnights go to the outside so they can regroup. Lane slams Morton and Eaton tags in, but Gibson gives Eaton a flying chop off the top before he can do anything. Still, Morton's the legal man, and Cornette trips him. The RnR's backdrop Eaton, and clothesline him over the top, for a good ovation. They then give Lane a double back elbow, but Lane tosses Morton to the outside afterward. Morton responds by ramming Lane into the ringpost, then he brings Lane back inside. Lane tags Eaton, who subsequently cross-bodies Eaton over the top and to the floor. Lane slams Morton on the floor, and Eaton gives him a backbreaker, back inside the ring. Cornette hits Morton with his tennis racket, and after a Lane drop-toe hold, Eaton gives Morton an elbowdrop for 2. A suplex from Eaton gets 2, so he tags in Lane, who powerslams Morton, only getting a 1 count. Morton gives Lane a sunset flip, but the referee is distracted by Cornette, so no count. Eaton makes the blind tag when Lane gets taken into the ropes, and gives Morton a DDT for good measure. Eaton gives Morton a single-arm DDT, and goes to a hammerlock, before tagging Lane back in for a second. After that second, Eaton comes back in, and slams Morton, before going up top. He comes off the top with a flying elbowdrop, which gets a 2 count. Cornette hits Morton with the tennis racket again, and Lane applies the armbar. Morton armdrags Lane, but Eaton comes in and gives Morton another single-arm DDT. Lane gives Morton a side slam, then Eaton comes in, so the Midnights can go for the ROCKET LAUNCHER. Eaton eats Morton's knees, which FINALLY allows Morton to make the hot tag to Gibson. Gibson's a house of fire, but Cornette hits Gibson with the tennis racket. Eaton covers him, but it only gets a 2 count. The Midnights try a double flapjack, but Morton takes out Eaton, and Gibson cradles Lane for the three count at 23:21. Yeesh.

Match Analysis: Very long match, very good match. No complaints. ***3/4. I loved when Cornette tried to fight the referee, that was just classic NWA type booking.

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Gordon Solie is with the Road Warriors...seeing as they're going to leave the NWA soon, I wonder how this match is going to go. Like I said, I don't read the results of these shows before watching them.

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The Road Warriors w/Paul Ellering are taking on The Skyscrapers w/Teddy Long in a CHICAGO STREET FIGHT...

Blow-by-Blow: The Skyscrapers in this case are Mean Mark Callous and the Masked Skyscraper. I'll fill you in on who the masked one is...it's

Anyway, Ellering knocks Long out of the ring, and that starts the Donnybrook. Unlike in the WWF, a Chicago Street Fight just means that they brawl, and there's no weapon use. Anyhow, the Road Warriors clothesline both Skyscrapers, and generally kick their ass for the duration of the bout. Animal gives Callous an inverted atomic drop, and Hawk gives the Masked Skyscraper a fistdrop. DOOM makes their way down to ringside, presumably to watch out for the Skyscrapers. I don't really know why they're here. Hawk gives Callous a neckbreaker, and a clothesline, as Animal slams (we'll call him) Masked. Hawk tosses Callous out, and clotheslines him from the ring apron...then follows that up with a dropkick, on the floor. Animal clotheslines both Skyscrapers back in the ring, as we move to the finish. Hawk backdrops Callous over the top, DOOMSDAY DEVICE on Masked, and that gets the three count at 5:06. Doom gets ever closer to the ring after the match...and after the Road Warriors toss Teddy Long onto them, well, they get in the ring. They act like they're going to leave, but...they turn around, and get their asses kicked. That was pretty dumb.

Match Analysis: Lame squash. Could've done without it, but hey, I got a kick out of Doom making their way to the ring. *1/2. The Road Warriors vs. Doom would've been a great feud. Well, they feuded, but there was never a PPV match or blowoff. I suppose that's what I meant.

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All the rest of the matches are title matches. Speaking of title matches, the first one of those is the Fabulous Freebirds vs. Flyin' Brian and the Z-MAN for the United States Tag Team Titles.

Blow-by-Blow: The champions attack the challengers, and backdrop them to start the match off. Michael Hayes and Brian Pillman are in the ring, and Pillman chops away at Hayes, before clotheslining him. Jimmy Garvin and Tom Zenk come in, and Zenk gives Garvin a shoulderblock, hiptoss and dropkick. A second dropkick misses though, and Pillman tags in. He gives Garvin a crucifix for 2, then Hayes tags in, and gets clocked. Hayes knocks Pillman onto the apron, but Pillman quickly gives Hayes a springboard crossbody for 2. Pillman armdrags Hayes and tags in Zenk, who gets clotheslines. Pillman tags in as Garvin misses a charge to the corner, and he gives Garvin a hiptoss. Pillman takes Garvin down with a headlock, but Hayes tags in and applies a sleeper on Pillman. Hayes goes up top(?) and gives Pillman a crossbody, but Pillman reverses it and gets a 2 count. The Freebirds give him a double back elbow, which Garvin follows up with a kneelift. Garvin gives Pillman a shoulderblock, but Pillman avoids Garvin and makes the tag to Zenk. Zenk goes crazy on the Birds, but Garvin goes up top and ends it with a double axhandle. Hayes covers Zenk, but it only gets 2, so he rams Zenk into the ringpost. Garvin goes to the chinlock...unfortunately. Anyway, Zenk makes his way out and gives Garvin a powerslam, before cradling him for 2. Garvin comes back with a big boot and scoop slam, then a kneedrop, for 2. Hayes goes back to the chinlock, but he doesn't hold it for long, deciding to give Zenk an elbowdrop instead, getting 2. Words don't describe how boring and long this match is. Just wait until you see the time. Hayes gives Zenk a bulldog for 2, before going back to the chinlock. Zenk powers up and gives Hayes a DDT, then he FINALLY makes the tag to Pillman. Pillman's a house of fire, one that shoulderblocks both Freebirds. Hayes comes in with one of the tag belts, but the referee takes it way, as Garvin rams Pillman into a cameraman, sorta. Pillman comes off the top with a crossbody, and that gets the three count on Garvin at 24:35. After the bout, the Freebirds beat them up a bit, then leave.

Match Analysis: Good Lord, this was way too long. Unbearably so. Honestly, I never want to see this again. It wasn't bad wrestling or anything, but it was way too bland for the time allotted. *1/4.

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Missy Hyatt is with the Steiner Brothers...oddly enough, Rick is acting like a retard or something. I don't know what's up with that.

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Anyway, Ole and Arn Anderson are facing The Steiner Brothers for the NWA World Tag Team Titles.

Blow-by-Blow: Scott and Arn start the match off, and it's goin' good, at least until Arn ducks out of the ring and Rick hits him. Scott gives Arn a choketoss, and a 10 punch. Scott then gives Arn an atomic drop and a scoop slam, causing Arn to tag Ole. Scott tags Rick, and the Steiners clear the ring, to a big ovation. Arn comes in, and Rick gives him a headlock, before a powerslam which gets 2. Arn goes to the top, but he thinks better of it after a minute. Forgot why. Anyway, Scott comes in and gives him an inverted atomic drop, and applies a figure-four leglock. Scott then gives Arn a t-bone suplex after a rope break, and follows that up with a kneedrop for 2. Rick and Arn tag in, so Rick gives Arn a suplex. Ole rams Rick into the buckle, but it doesn't do a thing. BUT, Arn hitting Rick's arm sure does, so Ole slams Rick and gives him an elbowdrop for 2. Scott takes Ole down with a headlock, but on the outside, he accidentally clotheslines the post, allowing Ole to ram him into the guardrail. Ole tosses Scott back in and tags Arn, who gives Scott a hammerlock slam. Arn then applies an armbar, but he misses a pump splash from the top. That was weird, coming from him. Scott gives Arn a FRANKENSTEINER, which allows him to tag in his brother, Rick. Rick gives Ole a STEINERLINE, then Arn is given a STEINERLINE, and Rick cradles Ole for the win at 16:03, meaning that the Steiners keep their titles. After the match, Ole knees Scott in the back, and the Andersons do their best to mess up Scott's arm, in typical Horseman fashion.

Match Analysis: Average match, but still fun because it's the Steiner Brothers. Weird, at least for me, to see Ole wrestling at this point in time. He didn't do much, but still, weird. **1/2.

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Gordon Solie is with Lex Luger...who's gonna get Ric Flair.

Then he's with Ric Flair and Woman...and Flair's gonna get Luger. Well I'll be.

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Lex Luger vs. Ric Flair w/Woman is clearly the main event and NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match.

Blow-by-Blow: Sting came to the ring on crutches for a bit...and then left. Poor guy, walked all that way on crutches for a pop and had to walk all the way back. Shame on you, WCW. Flair's wearing pink...uh, that's funny. Anyway, Flair gives Luger a hammerlock, but Luger reverses and pushes Flair to the canvas. Flair applies a wristlock on Luger, but Luger shrugs Flair off all the same, and gives Flair a knucklelock. Luger then gives Flair a shoulderblock, causing Flair to bail out of the ring. Back in, and Flair whips Luger to the buckle, but Luger comes right back out with a clothesline. Flair bails out, but Luger brings him right back in and gives him a gorilla press slam. Flair responds with a shoulderblock, but he's given another gorilla press, then ANOTHER, after some Luger posing. Luger gives Flair a bearhug, but Flair breaks it, only to be given a 10 punch in the corner. Luger then gives Flair a hiptoss, but he misses a charge at Flair and flies out of the ring. Flair chops away, then rams Luger into the guardrail, twice. Flair brings him in, and gives Luger two kneedrops, which get a 2 count. Luger misses a charge, so Flair hammerlocks him with his feet on the ropes. More chopping ensues, and then Flair wrenches Luger's arm in the ropes. Luger gives Flair a clothesline, but Flair pokes him in the eye, and gives him another kneedrop. In response, Luger sends Flair to the buckle, and gives him a sleeper. Flair back suplexes out of it, then he tries a suplex, but Luger blocks it and gives him one of his own. Luger rams Flair's leg into the ringpost, and tries to apply a figure-four, but he kinda fucked it up. Anyway, Flair breaks the hold, and a shoulderblock of his knocks both of them down. Luger gives Flair a powerslam for 2, then a backslide, which also gets 2. Luger gives Flair a 10 punch at the corner, but Flair gives him an inverted atomic drop, and two flying chops from the top rope. Flair gives Luger a double-underhook suplex, which gets 2. A Flair roll-up also gets 2, and so does a Luger clothesline. Luger misses an elbowdrop, so Flair gives him two kneebreakers, and goes to the FIGURE-FOUR LEGLOCK. Of course, Flair cheats, which coincides with Sting's return to the ringside area. Luger makes the ropes, so of course, Sting screams at him, trying to motivate the big lug. I guess it worked, because Luger is a house of fire. Luger gives Flair another gorilla press slam, and after a few punches, Flair goes up top. Of course, Luger slams him down, then he clotheslines Flair twice. A third clothesline sends Flair over the top rope, so to get Flair back in, Luger suplexes him, for 2. Luger gives him a powerslam, but he doesn't make the cover. Flair knocks Luger into the referee, so Luger sends Flair into the buckle, where Flair does his flip over the turnbuckles. After a Luger clothesline, he places Flair up on top, to give him a superplex. Ole and Arn Anderson have made their way to ringside, as Luger has Flair up in the RACK. After a while, Luger sees this problem, as the Andersons are about to clobber Sting with one of Sting's crutches. Luger gets outside of the ring and beats up the Andersons, but the referee is counting away, as Jim Ross is practically going insane about the count. AND...Lex Luger gets counted out, at 38:04. Arn DDT's Luger after the match for good measure, and after the little post-show report...that ends things here.

Match Analysis: Wow. What a match. Usually people would say, oh, I didn't know Luger could wrestle that well, but really, I did, so why say it? Of course, Flair can do no wrong either, so this makes for a hell of a matchup. Luger is easily carryable, thankfully. I'll give this one the same rating as Scott Keith did, ****1/2. For me, it passes the litmus test of being as good or better than Flair/Vader from Starrcade '93. Barely, though.

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Rating: Good. Too much crap in between the great matches. I thought about this one for quite a while, and I wound up saying this was just good. Close to great as you can get without being great, though.

Best Segment: Obviously Flair/Luger. MX/RnR's was pretty good too, but not Flair/Luger good.

Worst Segment: Ha, it was the US Tag Title Match. For sheer length, if no other reason.

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I'll try my best to get a RAW and Nitro from 7/7/97 up by Thursday, but no guarantees.