Starrcade 88

[JHawk 0]

Was watching a tape I got off John McAdam a couple of years ago featuring some assorted 1988 NWA and noticed some interesting things about Starrcade 88. The original card and what we wound up seeing were nothing alike. Here's how the final card ended up looking:

 

Kevin Sullivan & Steve Williams beat The Fantastics (Fulton & Rogers) (15:50) to win the NWA US Tag Title when Williams pinned Fulton.

 

The Midnight Express (Eaton & Lane) beat Dennis Condrey & Randy Rose (17:46) when Lane pinned Rose.

 

The Russian Assassins beat Junkyard Dog & Ivan Koloff (6:47) when Koloff was pinned by Assassin #1 (Angel of Death).

 

Rick Steiner pinned Mike Rotunda (17:59) to win the NWA TV Title.

 

NWA US Champ Barry Windham beat Bam Bam Bigelow (16:17) via countout.

 

Dusty Rhodes & Sting beat NWA Tag Champs The Road Warriors (11:20) via DQ.

 

NWA World Champ Ric Flair pinned Lex Luger (30:59).

 

Junkyard Dog won a "bunkhouse stampede." Also in the match were: Abdullah the Butcher, Ray Candy, Eddie Gilbert, Junkyard Dog, Dick Murdoch, Dustin Rhodes, Steve Williams, and others.

 

 

But some of the matches that had been announced at some point:

 

The bunkhouse stampede was originally supposed to be on the actual PPV and wound up being a post-PPV dark match.

 

The Fantastics were originally supposed to meet The Sheepherders. Had the Sheepherders won, the Fantastics would have had to denounce the United States, but had The Fantastics won, Rip Morgan would have become their flagbearer and forced to carry an American flag. Presumably this would have been for the US Tag Team Title as well, but The Sheepherders left for the WWF to become the Bushwhackers before the finals of the US Tag Team Title tournament.

 

JYD was a substitute for Nikita Koloff, who had left the business to be with his sick wife.

 

Any thoughts on this? Or can anybody else remember a non-WWF PPV that was turned upside down like this (as I think we discussed WWF substitutions in another thread someplace).

[cawthon777 0]

To add to that, although it was never announced, I believe it was Dusty who wanted Rick Steiner to take the title off Flair at this show in a total squash. We're talking 30 seconds.

[cawthon777 0]

Or can anybody else remember a non-WWF PPV that was turned upside down like this (as I think we discussed WWF substitutions in another thread someplace).

Souled Out 2000

[Guest MikeSC]

The bunkhouse stampede was originally supposed to be on the actual PPV and wound up being a post-PPV dark match.

Heck, they HYPED it being on the PPV and you could actually hear them announcing it as the show came to a halt. A little upsetting at the time.

The Fantastics were originally supposed to meet The Sheepherders.  Had the Sheepherders won, the Fantastics would have had to denounce the United States, but had The Fantastics won, Rip Morgan would have become their flagbearer and forced to carry an American flag.  Presumably this would have been for the US Tag Team Title as well, but The Sheepherders left for the WWF to become the Bushwhackers before the finals of the US Tag Team Title tournament.

ACTUALLY, not 100% correct. The Sheepherders were supposed to meet the Fantastics for the U.S Tag Titles at the CLASH --- not Starrcade. They left and WCW (I don't even remember the reasoning they gave) stuck the team they beat in the semis (Simmons & Gilbert) in the finals to job to the Fantastics.

Any thoughts on this?  Or can anybody else remember a non-WWF PPV that was turned upside down like this (as I think we discussed WWF substitutions in another thread someplace).

Souled Out 2000 has already been mentioned.

-=Mike

[JHawk 0]

The Fantastics were originally supposed to meet The Sheepherders.  Had the Sheepherders won, the Fantastics would have had to denounce the United States, but had The Fantastics won, Rip Morgan would have become their flagbearer and forced to carry an American flag.  Presumably this would have been for the US Tag Team Title as well, but The Sheepherders left for the WWF to become the Bushwhackers before the finals of the US Tag Team Title tournament.

ACTUALLY, not 100% correct. The Sheepherders were supposed to meet the Fantastics for the U.S Tag Titles at the CLASH --- not Starrcade. They left and WCW (I don't even remember the reasoning they gave) stuck the team they beat in the semis (Simmons & Gilbert) in the finals to job to the Fantastics.

True. But also remember the Starrcade match between the two had been announced in between both teams getting their spots in the finals and the insertion of Gilbert and Simmons in that spot. So it's probably safe to assume that this would have been a title match as well.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Souled Out 2000 was suppose to Bret Hart vs. Jeff Jarrett for the World Title, but both were injured (Bret injured for good) and was changed to Benoit vs. Sid.

 

Kidman/Rey/Konnan vs. Revolution changed to Kidman running the gauntlet in three matches.

 

 

The rest I forget.

[Guest TheZsaszHorsemen]

To add to that, although it was never announced, I believe it was Dusty who wanted Rick Steiner to take the title off Flair at this show in a total squash. We're talking 30 seconds.

That was Jim Herd.

 

Dusty and Ric got along.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

To add to that, although it was never announced, I believe it was Dusty who wanted Rick Steiner to take the title off Flair at this show in a total squash.  We're talking 30 seconds.

That was Jim Herd.

 

Dusty and Ric got along.

I forget if it was in one of SK's books or RD Reynolds wqrestle crap book, but one of them said it was Dusty's idea to have Luger taken out before the match, and have Steiner sub for him and beat Flair in 5 minutes. Flair threatened to quit on the spot unless it was changed.

 

 

Forgot to mention Rhodes/Flair rarely got along on certain matters like who so-and-so should put over, and Rhodes was blamed for it.

[Si82 0]

Or can anybody else remember a non-WWF PPV that was turned upside down like this (as I think we discussed WWF substitutions in another thread someplace).

Does anyone know where this thread is?

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

As for WWF PPV's didn't Survivor Series 91 have a shitload of substitutions?

[snuffbox 0]

To add to that, although it was never announced, I believe it was Dusty who wanted Rick Steiner to take the title off Flair at this show in a total squash.  We're talking 30 seconds.

That was Jim Herd.

 

Dusty and Ric got along.

[cawthon777 0]

Souled Out 2000 was suppose to Bret Hart vs. Jeff Jarrett for the World Title, but both were injured (Bret injured for good) and was changed to Benoit vs. Sid.

 

Kidman/Rey/Konnan vs. Revolution changed to Kidman running the gauntlet in three matches.

 

 

The rest I forget.

Bret vs. Sid, not Jarrett. Bret and Jarrett were both in the nWo.

 

Jarrett was to have fought Benoit in the best of 3 falls using the gauntlet gimmicks - wrestling, no holds barred, and the cage.

[JHawk 0]

Or can anybody else remember a non-WWF PPV that was turned upside down like this (as I think we discussed WWF substitutions in another thread someplace).

Does anyone know where this thread is?

Actually, I noticed that thread on the Kayfabe Memories board, so I got myself confused there. So feel free to discuss the WWF ones too.

[Guest Mad the Swine]

To add to that, although it was never announced, I believe it was Dusty who wanted Rick Steiner to take the title off Flair at this show in a total squash.  We're talking 30 seconds.

That was Jim Herd.

 

Dusty and Ric got along.

I forget if it was in one of SK's books or RD Reynolds wqrestle crap book, but one of them said it was Dusty's idea to have Luger taken out before the match, and have Steiner sub for him and beat Flair in 5 minutes. Flair threatened to quit on the spot unless it was changed.

 

 

Forgot to mention Rhodes/Flair rarely got along on certain matters like who so-and-so should put over, and Rhodes was blamed for it.

Though no one's really asked or anything, Steiner wasn't there because Dusty thought he'd make a good champ. He was to merely be transitional.

 

Rhodes really, really wanted the belt the off Flair.

 

Rick Steiner was going to be in the main event just in case Flair didn't want to cooperate.

 

Flair has a bit of an amateur background. Possibly a state champ in high school. But he'd get killed by Steiner if he tried to go against the booking.

 

Flair, not being stupid, didn't like the idea of seeing Steiner in the main event. The brand new higher-ups from Turner, wanting to appease their reason for buying the company, told Rhodes to forget it. Luger was to be the opponent and Flair was to go over in a relatively clean fashion.

 

Rhodes, doing a thousand little things to irk his new bosses (like blading a gusher on TV), was canned in November or December 1988.

[alfdogg 0]

To add to that, although it was never announced, I believe it was Dusty who wanted Rick Steiner to take the title off Flair at this show in a total squash.  We're talking 30 seconds.

That was Jim Herd.

 

Dusty and Ric got along.

I forget if it was in one of SK's books or RD Reynolds wqrestle crap book, but one of them said it was Dusty's idea to have Luger taken out before the match, and have Steiner sub for him and beat Flair in 5 minutes. Flair threatened to quit on the spot unless it was changed.

 

 

Forgot to mention Rhodes/Flair rarely got along on certain matters like who so-and-so should put over, and Rhodes was blamed for it.

I'm pretty sure it was Keith's book.

 

I think it also said Flair was close to jumping to the WWF over it.

 

Herd actually *vetoed* all this, and gave Flair Dusty's job as booker, IIRC.

[alfdogg 0]

As for WWF PPV's didn't Survivor Series 91 have a shitload of substitutions?

Slaughter was taking Jim Neidhart's place...the angle was that he was injured, I'm not sure why he was really out. There may or may not have been a replacement on the other team as well (Col. Mostafa's).

 

I also clearly remember Sid falling into the Savage-Roberts equation somehow and actually being the captain for the Bossman-LOD team at one point. Someone can probably explain this better than I can though.

 

I have a question as well.

 

At Starrcade 90, there was a match between Michael Wallstreet and Terry Taylor, with the angle being that Wallstreet would beat Taylor in a certain amount of time given by his computer. He ended up beating him with like a minute and a half left, as opposed to TV title matches where it would go down to end with near falls and such...was there a reason for this? Did someone get hurt or something?

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

The gimmick for Michael Wallstreet was his magic computer would predict the match would last less than the time it gave...(for example, it would say 15:43 and he would win the match usually a few minutes earlier than that).

 

 

Yes, that sounds weird.

[JHawk 0]

The gimmick for Michael Wallstreet was his magic computer would predict the match would last less than the time it gave...(for example, it would say 15:43 and he would win the match usually a few minutes earlier than that).

 

 

Yes, that sounds weird.

And a month later Taylor has assumed the Wallstreet role and is doing the exact same gimmick, which made no sense to this 12 year old mark.

 

I remember one time where Wallstreet won with four seconds left but only had 1:49 to work with, but other than that I don't remember him ever coming close to not making it before jumping to the WWF.

[Guest Arnold_OldSchool]

Neidhart was replaced by Sarge

Ricky Steamboat was replaced by ElMadator

Big Bully Busick was replaced by Hercules, or Mustafa or somebody

 

The Sid connection, was that he was the one who fended Jake/Taker off at the Wedding Reception or something like that, i remember Sid wearing a blue and white shirt standing tall

 

He and Jake were to be the team captains, but Sid broke his arm (If i remember correctly) and had to be removed from the match (Savage wanted Tunney to allow him to replace him)

[Guest Arnold_OldSchool]

Sid's injury seems to have occured around Oct 4 91, Since Savage and Kerry Von Erich replace him on House shows from that point on

[Guest Jim Ross]

Survivor Series 89 also had a few submissions too.

 

I recall right up the event, The Widow Maker Barry Whyndam was announced to be on Savages 'Kings Court' team. But when the PPV came on, The Canadian Earthquake replaced him. Whyndam was also announced to take part in the Rumble.. but he was replaced again. Does anyone have any idea why?

 

 

On the same show Heenan substituted for Blanchard who apparently got fired on the same day. Im sure there was a replacement in the Big Boss Mans team 'The Enforcers' too.. but i dont remember who it was now.

[alfdogg 0]

Bad News Brown replaceed Akeem.

 

Windham was replaced because he asked for a release. Some of his family members were under some kind of investigation for counterfitting money, IIRC, and he didn't want Vince to get tied up in it.

 

I believe his replacement was the Red Rooster aka Terry Taylor.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Bad News Brown replaceed Akeem.

 

Windham was replaced because he asked for a release. Some of his family members were under some kind of investigation for counterfitting money, IIRC, and he didn't want Vince to get tied up in it.

 

I believe his replacement was the Red Rooster aka Terry Taylor.

Correct on everything but the last part. Red Rooster was a member of Rhodes' team from the get-go. Windham was replaced by the (then Canadian) Earthquake at the last minute.

[alfdogg 0]

I meant Taylor was his replacement in the Rumble.

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

I meant Taylor was his replacement in the Rumble.

Oh, thats my bad. I forgot The Rooster was even around for the 1990 Rumble.

 

Anyone know when he finally left? (I'm guessing either Spring or Summer of '90, but not anything accurate)

[JHawk 0]

Oh, thats my bad. I forgot The Rooster was even around for the 1990 Rumble.

 

Anyone know when he finally left? (I'm guessing either Spring or Summer of '90, but not anything accurate)

You'd have to double check cawthon's site for sure, but he lost to Ted DiBiase on The Ultimate Challenge Special airing the week before WrestleMania VI (taped around March 10 or so), and I don't remember him being on WWF TV after that until he came back as "Terrific" Terry Taylor in 1992.

Edited May 14, 2004 by JHawk

[cawthon777 0]

On the same show Heenan substituted for Blanchard who apparently got fired on the same day.

Blanchard was actually fired nearly a month prior but continued to be advertised on house shows (Demolition defended the gold against the unlikely duos of Arn Anderson & Akeem / Haku instead).

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

Wow....Arn Anderson & Akeem as a Team...I can't even imagine that one. I can usually imagine anything, but not that. Too much of a contrast in style. Anderson actually wrestled and Akeem....waddled around the ring dancing like an idiot.

[Guest MikeSC]

Wow....Arn Anderson & Akeem as a Team...I can't even imagine that one. I can usually imagine anything, but not that. Too much of a contrast in style. Anderson actually wrestled and Akeem....waddled around the ring dancing like an idiot.

But he was "remarkably agile for a man his size" --- Gorilla Monsoon.

-=Mike

...In Gorilla's world, NOBODY was a slow, fat tub of goo

[Guest Man Of 1,004 Modes]

When calling an obese person agile for their size, that means they can walk without falling over because of exhaustion.