WrestleWar '89: Music City Showdown

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WrestleWar '89: Music City Showdown
Promotion
National Wrestling Alliance
World Championship Wrestling
DateMay 7, 1989
CityNashville, Tennessee
VenueNashville Municipal Auditorium
Attendance5,200[1]
Pay-per-view chronology
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Chi-Town Rumble 		Next →
The Great American Bash
WrestleWar chronology
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1990

WrestleWar '89: Music City Showdown was the first

event produced by World Championship Wrestling (WCW) under the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) banner. It took place on May 7, 1989 from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee
.

The

NWA United States Tag Team Championship. Gilbert and Steiner defeated Sullivan and Spivey to retain the titles when Gilbert pinned Sullivan.[1]

Featured matches on the

The Great Muta versus Doug Gilbert.[2] Country music group The Oak Ridge Boys
performed an 8-song mini-concert at the event.

Storylines

WrestleWar featured nine professional wrestling matches that involved wrestlers from pre-existing

World Wide Wrestling, Pro and World Championship Wrestling–WCW's television programs. Wrestlers portrayed a hero, villain or a tweener as they followed a series of events that built tension, and culminated in a wrestling match or a series of matches.[3]

The main

Clash of the Champions VI, Steamboat defeated Flair in a Two out of three falls match to retain the title. However, Flair's foot was on the bottom rope during the ending of the third fall.[6][7] As a result, it was announced on April 9 edition of Main Event that a rematch would take place between the two for the title at WrestleWar.[8]

The main

Steve Williams) and Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal) for the NWA World Tag Team Championship. At Chi-Town Rumble, Road Warriors defeated Club members Kevin Sullivan and Steve Williams to retain the titles.[4][5] On April 2 edition of Clash of the Champions VI, Road Warriors lost the title to Club members Mike Rotunda and Williams with the help of referee Teddy Long, who favoured Rotunda and Williams.[6][7] On April 15 edition of World Championship Wrestling, it was announced that Rotunda and Williams would defend the titles against Road Warriors in a rematch at WrestleWar.[8]

Another predominant tag team rivalry heading into the event pitted the team of

NWA United States Tag Team Championship. At Chi-Town Rumble, the United States Tag Team Champions Kevin Sullivan and Steve Williams failed in their opportunity for the NWA World Tag Team Championship against Road Warriors.[4][5] On March 18 edition of World Championship Wrestling, Eddie Gilbert and Rick Steiner defeated Sullivan and Williams to win the United States Tag Team Championship.[8] On April 2 edition of Clash of the Champions VI, Gilbert and Steiner defeated Sullivan and Dan Spivey to retain the titles.[6][7]
This led to a title defense for Gilbert and Steiner against Sullivan and Spivey at WrestleWar.

A secondary rivalry heading into the event was between

Yamazaki Corporation. On May 7 edition of World Championship Wrestling, it was announced that Luger would defend the United States Championship against Hayes at WrestleWar.[8]

Another secondary rivalry heading into the event was between

Iron Sheik for the NWA World Television Championship. On February 25 edition of World Championship Wrestling, Sheik debuted in NWA and issued a challenge to top competitors of the company including Ricky Steamboat and Lex Luger. On April 1 edition of World Championship Wrestling, Sting defeated Mike Rotunda to win the NWA World Television Championship. On April 15 edition of World Championship Wrestling, Sheik challenged Sting for the Television Championship. Later that night, it was announced that Sting would defend the title against Sheik at WrestleWar.[8]

On April 1 edition of World Championship Wrestling,

bullrope match at WrestleWar.[8]

On March 18 edition of World Championship Wrestling, Gary Hart introduced his newest client

Great Kabuki. Muta began a winning streak after his debut, usually against enhancement talent. On April 22 edition of World Championship Wrestling, it was announced that Muta would wrestle Junkyard Dog at WrestleWar.[8]

At Chi-Town Rumble,

Samu and Fatu) as his new tag team to avenge the departure of Original Midnight Express from the Midnight Express. Samoan Swat Team began an undefeated streak against enhancement talent. On April 2 edition of Clash of the Champions VI, the Samoan Swat Team defeated Midnight Express and received a strong push in the tag team division.[6][7] On April 29 edition of World Championship Wrestling, it was announced that Samoan Swat Team would face Dynamic Dudes (Shane Douglas and Johnny Ace) in a tag team match at WrestleWar. Dynamic Dudes made their debut a week after the announcement.[8]

Other on-screen personnel
Role: Name:
Commentator Jim Ross
Bob Caudle
Referee Nick Patrick
Tommy Young
Interviewer Lance Russell
Joe Pedicino
Ring announcer Gary Michael Cappetta

Event

Preliminary matches

The first scheduled match at the event was a

easily won the match in three minutes by pinfall using a moonsault.[1][2]

The second match of the event was a standard wrestling match between

diving shoulder block on Ross and pinned him to win the match.[1][2]

The third match was a

elbow drop, then pinning him. After the match, Murdoch tried to attack Orton's manager Gary Hart but Orton struck Murdoch with a cowbell.[1][2]

The fourth match was a

missile dropkick, enabling Douglas to pin Fatu for the victory.[1][2]

The fifth match featured

scoop powerslams and applied a Torture Rack. However, Hayes countered by performing a DDT. However, the impact of the move caused all the three men to get knocked out. Terry Gordy made a run-in into the match and put Hayes atop Luger. The referee recovered and counted the pinfall for Hayes to make him the new United States Champion.[1][2]

The sixth match featured

Scorpion Deathlock to make Sheik submit and retain the title.[1][2]

Main event matches

The main event match of the evening featured Ricky Steamboat defending the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against Ric Flair.

inside cradle to win the title. After the match, Flair showed respect to Steamboat by shaking hands with him. One of the judges of the match, Terry Funk challenged Flair for the title but Flair turned down the title match, causing Funk to attack Flair and perform a piledriver on him through the judges table. This match by many wrestling experts is considered the best match in American history.[1][2][9]

The eighth match was a tag team match for the

Doomsday Device, on Williams. Animal attempted to pin Williams but Varsity Club members Kevin Sullivan and Dan Spivey attacked Koloff, thus causing Rotunda and Williams to get disqualified. As a result, they retained the titles.[1][2]

The ninth and final match of the show was a tag team match for the

sunset flip to retain the titles.[1][2]

Aftermath

After winning the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from Ricky Steamboat at WrestleWar, Ric Flair became a fan favorite as he showed respect to Steamboat after the match. Flair began a rivalry with Terry Funk because Funk attacked Flair for turning down Funk's challenge for a title shot.[2] This resulted in a severe potentially career-ending injury for Flair. On July 1 edition of World Championship Wrestling, Flair announced that he would not retire and agreed to defend the title against Funk at The Great American Bash.[8] Flair defeated Funk to retain the title.[10][11]

The controversy surrounding Varsity Club (Mike Rotunda and Steve Williams) during their NWA World Tag Team Championship defense against the Road Warriors at WrestleWar caused the title to be vacated.

Clash of the Champions VII, the semi–final round took place, in which Fabulous Freebirds (Hayes and Jimmy Garvin with Gordy at ringside) defeated Dynamic Dudes and Midnight Express defeated Samoan Swat Team. In the final round, Fabulous Freebirds (same line-up as the semi-finals) defeated Midnight Express to win the titles.[12][13] A rivalry was formed between Road Warriors and Samoan Swat Team during the tournament and Steve Williams left Varsity Club, resulting in a WarGames match pitting Steve Williams, Road Warriors and Midnight Express against Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes, Jimmy Garvin and Terry Gordy) and Samaon Swat Team at The Great American Bash. Wiliams, Road Warriors and Midnight Express won.[10][11]

After defeating Lex Luger for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship at WrestleWar, Michael Hayes continued to feud with Luger over the title. Hayes held the title for only 15 days. Luger defeated Hayes for the title on May 22.

steel chair.[10][11]

This PPV marked the return of referee Nick Patrick to WCW. Patrick refereed for Georgia Championship Wrestling from 1980-85, then went to other territories as a wrestler and referee (and briefly helping his father in his wrestling promotion before returning to GCW's successor WCW in 1989, where he became senior referee after the retirement of Tommy Young later in 1989.

Results

No.Results
Tag team match
11:02
5Michael Hayes (with Hiro Matsuda) defeated Lex Luger (c)Singles match for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship 16:06
6
special guest referee
06:06
9Eddie Gilbert and Rick Steiner (c) (with Missy Hyatt) defeated The Varsity Club (Dan Spivey and Kevin Sullivan)Tag team match for the NWA United States Tag Team Championship06:41
(c) – the champion(s) heading into the match

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "WrestleWar 1989: Music City Showdown results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. May 7, 1989. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "WrestleWar 1989 Review results". The History of WWE. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  3. Discovery Communications
    . Retrieved 2015-11-15.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Chi-Town Rumble results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. February 20, 1989. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  5. ^ a b c d e "Chi-Town Rumble Review". The History of WWE. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Clash of the Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun Review". The History of WWE. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Clash of the Champions VI: Ragin' Cajun results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. April 2, 1989. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "WCW Ring Results 1989". The History of WWE. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  9. ^ F4W Staff (May 7, 2015). "On this day in pro wrestling history (May 7): Jeff Jarrett ends David Arquette's WCW title reign, Nick Bockwinkel Vs. Ray Stevens". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ a b c "The Great American Bash 1989 results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. July 23, 1989. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  11. ^ a b c "The Great American Bash 1989 Review". The History of WWE. Retrieved 2011-12-26.
  12. ^ a b "Clash of the Champions VII: Guts and Glory Review". The History of WWE. Retrieved 2011-12-27.
  13. ^ a b "Clash of the Champions VII: Guts and Glory results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. June 14, 1989. Retrieved 2011-12-25.
  14. ISBN 1499656343
    .

External links
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