Episode 18: NWA August ’89 (8/18 – 8/27/89)

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 We close out the month of August ’89 in the NWA as Ric Flair gets named the new head booker, but things are anything but smooth sailing for the Nature Boy! Production issues and continuity continue to be major issues within the company when the NWA and TBS air the WRONG episode of World Championship Wrestling… You can’t make this stuff up!
 
 Plus, we talk rare episodes of Germany’s NWA TV program “Catch Up”, the Skyscrapers permanently eliminate a team from the Tag Division, and Sid Vicious tries to do it again to poor Lee Scott. Poor… Poor… Lee Scott. Dick Slater joins J-Tex. The Iron Sheik introduces his short’-lived stable when he speaks with “Intelligent Jew American” Paul E. Dangerously on the Danger Zone. We get out first look at the NEW Robin Green. And Gary Hart REALLY hates Cleveland!
 
 
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Listen at your leisure and pick back up later if need be! Timestamps below for easy navigation.


WRESTLECOPIA BRAND NEWS (00:04:56)
What’s the latest in the world of the WrestleCopia Podcast Network? We talk upcoming episodes and new shows coming to WrestleCopia.com in the upcoming weeks!
 
 
 Monday Warfare: The Battled Within (00:06:42)
It was the WWF vs. WCW. Raw vs. Nitro. The Monday Night War. The Ratings War. The nWo. The Attitude Era. We break it all down from episode reviews to backstage news, to those ever-important TV ratings! Listen to our sister program Monday Warfare NOW! Available on most podcast streaming apps!


THE RETRO NETWORK (00:07:24)
Just in time for the holidays, Jason, Mickey, and the crew are working diligently over at TheRetroNetwork.com to bring you all the holiday cheer you could ask for… and then some!


NWA Power Hour 8/18/89 (00:08:42)
Big names compete throughout the episode as United States Champion Lex Luger battles “Wildfire” Tommy Rich. NWA World Champion Ric Flair takes on The Cuban Assassin. Sting vs. Ron Simmons in a fun, competitive match. Plus, that wacky Norman is a guest on Terry Funk’s Grill yet again. 


NWA Pro 8/19/89 (00:24:48)
We finish up the NWA’s Tapings from Baton Rouge as Terry Funk takes on Big Scott Hall in a rematch from Amarillo. Dr. Death faces Mike Rotunda in a NO DQ Match in their Best of 3 Series. It’s death and destruction as we’re introduced to a SKYSCRAPERS MUSIC VIDEO! Plus, action with Sting, the Freebirds, and the Midnight Express.


NWA Worldwide 8/19/89 (00:39:21)
New tapings begin, emanating from Cleveland, OH featuring World Tag Team Title action with the Freebirds meeting The Steiner Brothers. The Great Muta faces Big Scott Hall. Action with the Midnights, SST, Brad Armstrong, Tommy Rich. Plus, who is the A&W Cream Soda Tag Team Kings of the Slam? And, Gary Hart REALLY hates Cleveland!


NWA World Championship Wrestling 8/19/89 (00:01:26)
Or… Maybe Not… In the biggest example of WCW being WCW, the company reaches an all-time low. It’s the biggest faux pas in company history, and that covers a lot of ground… instead of airing the show taped for 8/19, the NWA winds up accidentally airing the episode of WCW from 3 weeks prior on 7/29!!! By the time they realized the mistake and found the correct tape, WCW had been off the air for 45 minutes. We discuss the ludicrousy of it all here. 


NWA BONUS MATCHES FROM BATON ROUGE! – Taped 8/1/89 (01:04:51)
Rare matches, aired of Germany’s “Catch-Up” Program featuring matches never aired in the United States from the Baton Rouge TV Taping. The Steiner Brothers do battle with Ron Simmons and Frogman LeBlanc, with a cameo from the Iron Sheik. And Big Scott Hall takes on ”Chopper” Steve Casey (RIP) in a battle of babyfaces. 


NWA Main Event 8/19/89 (01:11:02)
World Tag Team Champions The Freebirds defend against the Midnight Express. It’s the DEBUT of the State Patrol. Scott Hall & Ranger Ross team up to take on the New Zealand Militia. Plus, Rick Steiner takes Robin Green on a date to the Atlanta Zoo.


NWA Power Hour 8/25/89 (01:22:53)
United States Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger defends against Brad Armstrong. Tommy Rich takes on The Cuban Assassin. And Brian Pillman finishes up action in the ring before joining Terry Funk as a guest of Funk’s Grill. It’s too bad Norman is waiting for Flyin’ Brian. Plus, there’s a new Top 10 and it’s WNN as Gordon Solie talks Mike Tyson, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, and the mysterious Z-Man!


NWA Worldwide 8/26/89 (01:40:04)
NWA World Champion Ric Flair squares off against Brad Armstrong. The Skyscrapers obliterate the Ding Dongs, destroying them in a match before removing their masks and putting an end to the gimmick in a fitting fashion. The Steiner Brothers meet The State Patrol. We get out first look at the NEW-look Robin Green hours before the vignette airs which actually explains the angle. Oh WCW, you never disappoint. Action with Sting and Flyin’ Brian, Interviews with the likes of Tommy Rich, the Birds, Terry Funk, Gary Hart, Jim Cornette, and the Steiners. Who will be crowned the A&W Cream Soda Singles King of the Slam? Plus, Terry Funk delivers a neck-breaking piledriver to Lee Scott, and that’s not even the worst thing that happens to Lee this weekend!


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NWA World Championship Wrestling 8/26/89 (02:07:10)
Jim Cornette joins Jim Ross for hosting duties tonight! We talk Dick Slater beating up a rookie Sting in the UWF. Sting battles Dick Slater in a wild main event that sees interference from Muta, Funk, Flair, and PILLMAN? Plus, Ric Flair “breaks” the arm of Dick Slater during the wild melee. Rick Steiner meets the NEW Robin Green. The SST battle the FORMER Ding Dongs tag team. Ron Simmons and The Iron Sheik are guests of the Danger Zone, hosted by “Intelligent Jew American” Paul E. Dangerously. Brad Armstrong vs. Cuban Assassin. A fan writes in defending the heel Lex Luger to Jim Ross, see how the Total Package responds. We get a Terry Funk video package. Action involving the Midnights, the SkyScrapers, Tommy Rich, The Freebirds, Dr. Death, Flyin’ Brian, and the Steiners. We hear from the likes of Jim Cornette, Dick Slater, Gary Hart, Doc, World Champion Ric Flair, and more. Plus, THE Z-MAN IS COMING!!!


NWA Main Event 8/27/89 (03:02:41)
TB-YES! Sid Vicious murders Poor Lee Scott. Poor…. Poor… Lee Scott. Tommy Rich teams with “Hot Stuff’ Eddie Gilbert to take on the Iron Sheik’s new tandem of Ron Simmons and The Cuban Assassin. And in the main event, it’s “Beautiful” Bobby Eaton battling Jimmy Garvin of the Freebirds. 

We cover all of these shows and so much more in between as we discuss and breakdown everything going on and have some fun in the process! 

Another truly fun week of News, Notes, and Reviews here this week on the Grenade. Tell your friends about us. Follow us on Twitter @RasslinGrenade. Subscribe to our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/wrestlecopia . And check out our Podcast Network over at https://wrestlecopia.com !

 

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Episode 18