The SmarK 24/7 Rant for World Championship Wrestling – October 25 1986
– So this is the last rant on World Championship Wretling before 24/7 goes away, and in a sad bit of synchronicity, this is the show where we learn of Magnum TA’s fate.
– Even worse, this show begins with the infamous Horsemen beating on Dusty Rhodes, as they trail him on the road with a handheld camera. Only a clip, but still, yeesh.
– Hosted by Tony and David. They announce that "Magnum is doing very well" and that’s all we got.
– Brad Armstrong joins us to let everyone know that he’s got an open contract for Starrcade. I’m sure the wrestling world cares.
Tim Horner & Brad Armstrong v. Bill Tabb & Brodie Chase
The faces switch off with a headlock on Tabb and Armstrong works an armbar on the mat. Horner with a sunset flip for two, but Chase comes in. He immediately gets elbowed down for two and Armstrong finishes with the Russian legsweep at 2:04.
– Jimmy Valiant is really excited about Big Mama putting up her "gorgeous" hair against Paul Jones’ at Starrcade.
Jimmy Garvin v. John Savage
Savage has a REALLY good look for a jobber, but Garvin finishes him at 0:20 with the brainbuster.
– Jim Crockett is here for an update on Magnum: Don’t call the hospital, send cards and letters instead.
– STARRCADE ’86 CONTROL CENTER! Road Warriors v. Midnight Express is signed, which gives us the famous promo video where the LOD tosses a pumpkin off a scaffold to simulate the fate of the MX. So now we have our subtitle: Night of the Skywalkers. Also: Tully Blanchard v. Dusty Rhodes for the TV title in a First Blood match.
– More history, as we get the parking lot beating video with the Four Horsemen stalking Dusty and breaking his arm with a baseball bat. Dusty yelling "Make it good!" before the big shot kind of takes you out of it, unfortunately. This actually makes more sense after seeing Dusty break Tully’s leg last week.
– And then MORE history with another video, as Dusty needs a partner against the Horsemen and produces…NIKITA KOLOFF? To say the crowd goes insane for that is an understatement. Ric Flair heads down ringside and immediately challenges Nikita, and we have our Starrcade main event. So there’s your face turn.
– We take a break and return with an in-studio interview segment with Dusty and Nikita, as Dusty says that if Nikita wants to love freedom and defect to the US, that’s OK with him. Nikita explains that he learned to respect Magnum after all their battles, and so he’s dedicating his career to Magnum.
The Andersons v. Randy Barber & Clement Fields
Joined with Ole choking Fields out on the ropes, and Arn adds a hammerlock slam before Ole comes off the top with the knee to the shoulder and finishes at 1:05.
– Jim Cornette is quite concerned about the scaffold match. Turns out he was right to be.
Rick Rude & Manny Fernandez v. Alan Martin & Tony Bell
Rude destroys both jobbers and Manny hits a clothesline for two before Rude finishes with the Rude Awakening DDT at 0:58.
– Paul Jones and his new team wrap things up. Figures the last thing I’d get to see is a friggin’ Paul Jones interview.
And that’s World Championship Wrestling! Thanks for reading these, it was always my favorite show to recap on 24/7 and the thing I’ll miss the most about the channel.
