The Wrestling Doctor 07.29.08: An Exercise In Idle Speculation: Clash of the Champions (Part I)

Posted by W.S. Thomason on 07.29.2008

These shows are working hard while I’m phoning it in like The Shockmaster!

THE WRESTLING DOCTOR: THE PRESCRIPTION FOR WHAT AILS

My load at work is about to peak at an insane level, so what better way to balance it out by running another multi-part series! The recent voting for WWE 24/7's Essential Starrcade does have me worried that the WWE is pulling out of the November DVD release, but hopefully not. If the DVD does come out, it should be awesome considering the choices for the 24/7 special.

The announcement of the Starrcade DVD last year prompted a rumor that if the set sells well, the WWE may issue a best of the Clash of the Champions collection in 2009. My fingers are crossed, as the Clash programs provided many memorable WCW moments.

This week I am going to begin a series where I briefly look at each Clash and pull out the matches from those shows that ought to make a "Best of" DVD set. I am assuming that the DVD collection would be three discs, so I am dividing the thirty-five Clashes evenly into three groups. Possible collection candidates will be graded as MUST HAVE, HIGHLY RECOMMEDED, or IF SPACE PERMITS. At the end of the series, we will look at what a hypothetical set might look like.

For the unacquainted, Clash of the Champions was a free, three hour, pay-per-view quality special on TBS run by Jim Crockett Promotions opposite Wrestlemania IV. The success of that event lead to serialization, and Clashes graced TBS four to five times a year until WCW began running more pay-per-views. The Clashes died out altogether after 1997, when Nitro, Thunder, and twelve pay-per-views rendered the event moot. The match quality on the various Clashes varied, but many of the shows would be on PPV if offered today.

I am not listing or discussing all of the matches on each show, nor am I reviewing the bouts themselves. Far more capable staff handles such duties on the right side of your screen. Not every Clash will get a match on the collection – some of the shows were not worth documenting. I also am considering in my picks realities such as match time, DVD redundancy, and backstage politics. After all, those unfortunate things determine a lot of what we do or do not receive.

Clash I: 27 March 1988 / Greensboro, NC: The first Clash of Champions set a standard for the brand that would never be equaled. It was easily the best show of 1988 for any US company. The quality and success of this card opened the door for nine more years of Clashes. The first Clash contains more matches than any successor which are worthy candidates for a DVD collection.

NWA World Heavyweight Title Sting vs. Ric Flair: The match that made Sting into a superstar and made the Clash brand into something worth continuing. All top names in a company should be required to review this match and pass a quiz, as it is a clinic on how to put a young talent over without losing your own heat. As good as it is, this match has two things going against it: it is already included on the new Ric Flair DVD set, and its length of 45 minutes would necessitate the bumping of three or four other matches. In a perfect world, this match would definitely be on the collection. As reality stands, the inclusion of this match comes down to your view of historical importance vs. acquiring as many different high quality Clash matches as possible on DVD. Since the Clash DVD is rumored to be out in 09 and the new Flair collection hit shelves a few weeks ago, I would say that this match would not make the set.
Grade: Highly Recommended

NWA World Tag Team Titles: Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard vs. Lex Luger & Barry Windham: A great, fast paced tag team match with a big payoff. The downside is that this match is on the Horsemen DVD, so the space could be better used for something else.
Grade: If Space Permits

NWA US Tag Team Titles: The Midnight Express vs. The Fantastics: One of the Midnights best matches, and that's saying something. The Eaton bulldog on the table is merit enough. A wild brawl within the context of a great NWA-style tag match? I am there. You should be, too.
Grade: Must Have

Clash II: 08 June 1988 / Miami, FL / "Miami Mayhem": The first prime time Clash as well as the first to feature a distinguishing sub-title. Those monikers are going to get fun down the road.

NWA World Tag Team Titles: Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard vs. Dusty Rhodes & Sting: This match is a superb example of Dusty and a top face vs. The Horsemen, but it is already on the Dusty Rhodes DVD.
Grade: If Space Permits

What should be on the collection is the Horseman parking lot beat down of Lex Luger. That event should have been on the Horseman DVD, but we'll take it here as an extra.

Clash III: 07 Sept 1988 / Albany, GA / "Fall Brawl": WCW recycled this show's sub-title for later September pay-per-views. Beyond that tidbit, there was only one match worth discussing.

NWA US Title: Barry Windham vs. Sting: On the day of this event I wrote in my 6th grade English class journal about how Sting had to be winning the belt. My teacher responded by writing, "Well done – but what is this?" Ten years later middle schoolers were telling teachers to "suck it", so the business certainly changed in a decade.

Sting was my favorite wrestler, and Windham was my favorite heel, so I loved the prospect of this bout. We probably would have gotten a couple of matches out of these guys had this feud occurred during the pay-per-view era. As it stood, this match was their only offering outside of house shows. Sting won by disqualification as Windham furthered his lengthy title reign by nefarious means.
Grade: Must Have

Clash IV: 07 Dec 1988 / Chattanooga, TN / "Seasons Beatings": The promos for this event where Jim Cornette is reading a parody of "The Night Before Christmas" are priceless kayfabe cheese. This was also the first Clash under Turner ownership, but few changes showed until the next event.

Ric Flair & Barry Windham vs. The Midnight Express: Two of the top singles stars of 1988 versus one of the top tag teams of 1988. It was as good as it sounds. It should have been on the Horsemen DVD (even though Arn & Tully were long gone) but we'll claim it for the Clash collection.
Grade: Must Have

Clash V: 15 February 1989 / Cleveland, OH / "St. Valentine's Day Massacre": This show was the first to sport a slightly modified production look from the Crockett days. WCW would keep significantly evolving its look until Bischoff took over and developed an image that stuck. Nothing else notable occurred here. The Flair-Steamboat confrontation is on the first Flair DVD set. The show was a set up to the Chi-Town Rumble pay-per-view five days later, and nothing more. We'll save some space and leave this one out.

Clash VI: 02 April 1989 / New Orleans, LA / "Ragin' Cajun Clash": Like the year before, this show ran opposite Wrestlemania. The undercard did not deliver in terms of consistent match quality, but the main event sure did.

NWA World Heavyweight Title: Two-Out-of-Three-Falls: Ricky Steamboat vs. RIc Flair: A classic in their unforgettable 1989 series which would normally be a definite for any DVD set. Like Flair-Sting from the previous year, the downsides are that the match is very long (54 minutes) and is already on the first Flair DVD set. This match is probably more likely to make it since the first Flair set is five years old, but it is still doubtful.
Grade: Highly Recommended

Clash VII: 14 June 1989 / Fort Bragg, NC / "Guts and Glory": The subtitle of this Clash ended up being the name of Lex Luger's team at the 1994 Survivor Series. It also featured the WCW debuts of Norman the Lunatic – who got a serious push in early 1990 – and the godfathers of tag team wrestling, The Ding Dongs. Both gimmicks sprung from the promotion whose tag line was, "The NWA – where we wrestle!" Jim Herd's influence was beginning to be felt here, but not as detrimentally as it would in a year's time. The Freebirds beat The Midnight Express to win the tag team title tournament, and Luger turned on Steamboat after The Dragon's match with Terry Funk, but match-wise nothing much happened. We'll pass again.

Clash VIII: 12 Sept 1989 / Columbia, SC / "Fall Brawl": WCW from July – November 1989 was about as good as a promotion can get. We're fishing in this pond for a while.

Ric Flair & Sting vs. The Great Muta & Dick Slater:Terry Funk was supposed to be with Muta, but he had a legit staph infection which put him on the shelf for about a month. Muta was interestingly underutilized in terms of Clashes. This tag match was a solid main event that set up the first Halloween Havoc after Funk ran in and tried to suffocate Flair with a plastic bag. That's hardcore.
Grade: Must Have

The Road Warriors vs. The Samoan Swat Team: A nice little LOD match with another wild, brawling team, managed by Paul E. Dangerously. This match should have been on the LOD DVD. At less than eight minutes, it would work well for our purposes.
Grade: Highly Recommended

NWA World Tag Team Titles: The Freebirds vs. The Steiners: Everyone thought the Steiners were going to win the belts here, so the Freebirds not only retaining but winning is significant. Nancy Benoit makes one of her initial appearances as Rick's nerdy girlfriend in this match. She would later transform into Woman, turn on the brothers, and bring in Doom. Her inclusion probably means we'll never see this one, as the WWE may still be wary of touching anything relating to the events of last June.
Grade: If Space Permits

Clash IX: 15 Nov 1989 / Troy, NY / "New York Knockout": In hindsight, WCW should have ran this show as Starrcade 89 instead of the Iron Man / Team Tournament, with a few changes (such as Sting vs. Luger). This card was stacked, and it delivered two must haves plus more:

NWA World Heavyweight Title: I Quit match: Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk: True, this bout was already featured on the first Ric Flair set, but it is short enough that it will not bump another worthy bout. Mick Foley says this match is his favorite of all-time. A classic brawl and a pay-per-view worthy main event.
Grade: Must Have
NWA US Title: Lex Luger vs. Brian Pillman: The rematch from their solid Halloween Havoc encounter, available on the Brian Pillman DVD, and I think this one is superior. Luger wins with a wicked chair shot for the day.
Grade: Must Have

The Midnight Express vs. The Dynamic Dudes: John Laurinaitis might veto this one, as the Dynamic Dudes gimmick was a bit embarrassing. The story was that Jim Cornette was helping out the nascent Dudes, and the Midnights were jealous. An Express-Cornette split was teased, but Jim turned on the Dudes in a brilliant swerve. Another great effort from Eaton and Lane.
Grade: Highly Recommended

The Steiners vs. The Skyscrapers: Not a bad match, actually. This one should have been for the tag team titles, as the Steiners had already got the belts off of the Freebirds, but their win would not air until the following Saturday. The Steiners get a disqualification victory when pandemonium breaks loose. This is the match where Sid first boarded the Badly Timed Serious Injury Express, puncturing his lung a month before Starrcade.
Grade: If Space Permits

Clash X: 06 Feb 1990 / Corpus Christi, TX / "Texas Shootout": The hot streak that WCW had going definitely had run cold by this event. Clash X is best known for The Horsemen's expulsion of Sting (already on The Horsemen DVD) and his subsequent legit knee injury. The card was a dressed up version of the WCW Power Hour and the wrestling sub-par, but there are two lukewarm recommendations.

NWA World Tag Team Titles vs. Masks: The Steiners vs. Doom: This match ended the feud between Steiners and Woman's masked version of Doom. Everyone knew that Doom was Butch Reed and Ron Simmons anyway, but it was a fun match. The same downside that applies to the Freebirds-Steiners match from Clash VIII applies here.
Grade: If Space Permits

The Road Warriors vs. The Skyscrapers: This brawl involves the Dan Spivey-Mark Callous version of the Skyscrapers. The WWE will never put this out, as it features the pre-Undertaker Calloway, but the chair beating that Mean Mark gives Hawk is great.
Grade: If Space Permits

Clash XI: 13 June 1990 / Charleston, SC / "Coastal Crush": You know the well is running dry when your sub-title sounds like the moniker of a minor league soccer team. Mark Callous downs Brian Pillman, but we will not see that one for the same reasons as his Clash X effort. This show was a set up for the good Great American Bash 1990 pay-per-view.

NWA US Tag Team Title: The Midnight Express vs. The Rock ‘N' Roll Express: You have probably figured out that I'm a Midnights mark. This is the only Midnights-R'N'R match on a Clash. It was not their best, but these guys never phoned one in.
Grade: Highly Recommended

Arn Anderson vs. Paul Orndorff: Arn was TV champion but he was rarely defending the title during this era. A decent non-title match that is well worth your ten minutes.
Grade: If Space Permits

Clash XII: 05 Sept 1990 / Asheville, NC / "Fall Brawl – Mountain Madness": A Clash so big it required two sub-titles! Okay, not so much. WCW exhausted the phrase "card subject to change" during this period, including changing the nicknames of their shows. The Black Scorpion's minions made their first in-ring appearance here, but nothing of long-term note occurred outside of Kevin Nash's debut as Steel of the Master Blasters (and you do not want to revisit that).

NWA US Title: Lex Luger vs. Ric Flair: Not their best match, but a good battle that ends with a Stan Hansen run in designed to set up a Luger-Lariat Halloween Havoc program.
Grade: If Space Permits

The Count So Far

Must Have
The Midnight Express vs. The Fantastics
Barry Windham vs. Sting
Ric Flair & Barry Windham vs. The Midnight Express
Ric Flair & Sting vs. The Great Muta & Dick Slater
Lex Luger vs. Brian Pillman
Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk

Highly Recommended
Ric Flair vs. Sting
Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat
The Road Warriors vs. The Samoan Swat Team
The Midnight Express vs. The Dynamic Dudes
The Midnight Express vs. The Rock ‘N' Roll Express

If Space Permits
Lex Luger & Barry Windham vs. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard
Sting & Dusty Rhodes vs. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard
Steiners vs. The Freebirds
Steiners vs. Skyscrapers
Steiners vs. Doom
Road Warriors vs. Skyscrapers
Arn Anderson vs. Paul Orndorff
Lex Luger vs. Ric Flair

Clashes XIII to XXIV next week!