Chrononaut Chronicles: NWA World Championship Wrestling – 6/1/85

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The Chrononaut Chronicles – WWE 24/7: NWA World Championship Wrestling – Saturday, June 1, 1985

– A clip of Nikita Koloff killing somebody (Sonny King, I think) with the Russian Sickle precedes the World Championship Wrestling opening and Tony Schiavone & David Crockett run down this week’s lineup while we can hear the Mad Dog howling in the ring.

– “Mad Dog” Buzz Sawyer & Ron Garvin vs. Randy Barber & Mike Simani

I love these random tag team squashes on one-hour editions of the show (usually due to Braves baseball on TBS), it’s like they didn’t have enough time for two separate singles squashes so they just stuck them together in one match. Garvin has his right hand taped as a result of last week’s altercation with Black Bart and avoids throwing closed fists while he and Buzz actually make a pretty good team as they win this squash, featuring plenty of stiff shots and stretching on the mat, when Sawyer powerslams Simani off the ropes for the three-count.

– Schiavone interviews NWA United States Champion Magnum TA, who talks about how prestigious the NWA World Title was until recently when Ric Flair ducked his challenge on two occasions before cheapshotting him last week. As a result, Magnum has lost all respect for Flair and promises to become the World Heavyweight Champion as we go to break.

– When we come back, Schiavone interviews Dusty Rhodes & Dick Slater and footage is shown of a Dusty Finish, in which Dick & Dusty appear to win the NWA World Tag Team Title from the Koloffs when Dick pins Ivan but the belts are immediately taken away from them due to some referee shenanigans that aren’t explained. Slater claims they’re the best team in the world and talks about having two referees, but Rhodes says they can have as many referees as they want because they’re going to win the championship for good next time.

– Magnum TA vs. Larry Clarke

Larry tries a sneak attack at the opening bell, but the NWA US Heavyweight Champion quickly takes control and continues his Goldbergesque winning streak when Magnum squashes Clarke with the belly-to-belly suplex off the ropes in about one minute.

– Schiavone interviews NWA World Champion Ric Flair, who shows off his extravagant ring robe as he claims the stewardesses gawking at him in the airport were left wondering, “Rambo Who?”, and says he handles his opponents like he handles his love life since he always leaves a lasting impression. The Nature Boy guides us through a series of clips of the “greatest moments” of his career: Starrcade ’83 when he won his first World Title from Harley Race in the cage; pinning Kerry Von Erich in Tokyo, Japan, for his third World Title; winning the first “Million Dollar Challenge” on November 22, 1984, over Dusty Rhodes when guest referee Joe Frazier stopped the match due to Dusty’s cut; and last week when he laid out Magnum TA in the ring as the footage conveniently picks up after Flair’s cheapshot in a funny touch. Flair explains it was a big moment for him to teach the NWA US Champion a lesson because Magnum called him out for weeks, but to show there are no hard feelings Flair brings out a suit and shirt he had his tailor produce for Magnum to give him some class. Flair informs Schiavone it cost him $1,500 and leaves the clothes with Tony as he heads to the ring for his match. I love it.

– “Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. George South

This is almost all Flair as the NWA World Champion seems to be toying with South and calls out for a real opponent. Magnum TA arrives at the broadcast area and Tony presents him with the clothes the Nature Boy left as the NWA US Champion states that he’s never had such a fine suit, but adds that he doesn’t have many occasions to wear such “fancy duds” and notes that it was quite a gesture on Slick Ric’s part. Meanwhile, Flair applies the figure-four leglock and South submits. Afterwards, Magnum brings the suit into the ring and Flair smiles as he encourages Magnum to try it on, but TA rips it apart while Flair watches frozen in disbelief and slowly turns to leave. However, Flair suddenly turns and charges at Magnum as the US Champion catches him in the belly-to-belly for a big pop in the studio and leaves the ring with the World Title belt, but Magnum deposits the gold at the announce table and states that the next time he gets his hands on it will be when he owns it. Good line. After Magnum walks off, Flair staggers over and rants about Magnum stealing his belt until Crockett shuts him up by handing over the strap and Flair silently marches off. Awesome stuff with classic heel Flair at his best and I am digging this angle between the arrogant, sophisticated Flair and the popular, down-to-earth Magnum.

– Schiavone interviews Dusty Rhodes and asks him about what we just saw with Magnum TA, but it quickly turns into Dusty putting himself over as he complains about Joe Frazier stopping the Million Dollar Challenge and states that Ric Flair will still have to deal with the American Dream with or without the NWA Title belt. Dusty touches on his tag team issues with the Koloffs before going back to Magnum as he says it did his heart good to see what Magnum did to Flair and claims that his mom Cathy is cheering in Houston. Dusty walks off after promising that the World Title will change hands soon and Tony wishes a Happy 53rd Anniversary to Mr. & Mrs. William C. Morris of Satsuma, Alabama. I’d like to be the first to wish the Morrises an early Happy 75th Anniversary.

– Black Bart vs. Jim Jeffers

No JJ Dillon this week, as the WWE 24/7 Terri-stories popup informs us that Bart began his career in Mid-Atlantic under the name “Ricky Harris” in the early ’80s. Bart works over Jim’s left arm throughout this squash as the fans chant “We Want Garvin” until Bart puts Jeffers away with the legdrop off the middle turnbuckle. Afterwards, Ron Garvin joins Tony & David at the table to complain about Bart stealing his National Title belt last week as the Black One confronts Garvin and offers to resolve their dispute in a Loser Leaves Town match next week before walking away. Garvin admits he doesn’t like Loser Leaves Town matches, but says he’s been around a long time and states that Bart won’t be the man to run him out of town as he accepts the challenge for next week. Cool.

– Tully Blanchard vs. Paul Garner

Baby Doll is with the NWA World Television Champion for this quick squash as Blanchard finishes off Garner with the slingshot suplex. I wish someone would use that move again now.

– Schiavone interviews National Tag Team Champions Ole & Arn Anderson as Arn states that the Minnesota Wrecking Crew is the “measuring stick” of toughness and Ole accuses Buzz Sawyer & Ron Garvin of aping the Anderson style in their match earlier. Ole warns Buzz that he’ll get hurt if he comes around the Andersons as they go to the ring and we go to break.

– Ole & Arn Anderson vs. Alan Martin & Mark Cooper

When we come back, Buzz Sawyer is at ringside yelling at the Andersons and tries to climb in the ring, but the referee stops him. The Mad Dog joins Tony & David to rant about Ole’s comments and paces back-and-forth while the National Tag Team Champions ravage Martin’s arm and allow him to tag Cooper. Buzz comes to ringside again and Ole throws Cooper through the ropes at him, so Buzz marches around the ring and yanks Martin off the apron before taking his place as Cooper’s partner. Ole kicks Buzz, so the Mad Dog rushes in and unloads on both Andersons until Arn strikes with a knee to the back while Buzz is going after Ole. Arn bodyslams Buzz and dives off the top turnbuckle, but Sawyer catches him in a powerslam and covers him. However, Ole lands a flying kneedrop off the top across the back of Sawyer’s neck and the referee calls for the bell while Tony claims it would have been a pin. Except for the little fact that Buzz wasn’t even in the match, but who’s gonna argue with the motherf*cking Mad Dog? Afterwards, the Andersons stomp Sawyer into the mat until Dick Slater runs in to make the save and we are out of time, fans!

Afterthoughts: Once again, the Flair/Magnum feud heats up and steals the show as it should considering it’s the US Champion chasing the World Champion. I like the angle with Flair trying to “class up” Magnum with a $1,500 suit as a way of belittling him and Magnum tearing the suit apart before belly-to-bellying Flair was a great moment. I’m looking forward to the next chapter of that story, as well as some stiff exchanges between the Andersons & Buzz Sawyer. I’m not looking forward so much to Ronnie Garvin vs. Black Bart next time, but it’s Loser Leaves Town so I’m guessing it’s bye-bye to Bart. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the future… or the past.