Episode 31: NWA December ’89 (12/15 – 12/31/89)

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It’s finally here!!! This week we wrap up 1989 in the NWA with the final 3 WEEKS of December TV, plus news & notes.

We talk the return of Arn Anderson and Sting’s alliance with the FOUR HORSEMEN. Lex Luger making another run against World Champion Ric Flair. Jim Cornette goes into detail about poor decisions made by Shane Douglas that ended the MX vs. Dudes program. Cactus Jack’s arrival. Norman’s $350 Bounty. A counterfeit Windham. Pus, U.S. Champion Lex Luger defends against Sting and SO MUCH MORE!

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Matches listed below…

 
NWA NEWS FOR DECEMBER ’89 (00:03:51)
Arn Anderson is back in the NWA, while “Wildfire” Tommy Rich suffers an injury.


NWA Power Hour for 12/15/89 is GONE WITH THE WIND… Literally… (00:08:23)


NWA Worldwide Quick Results 12/16/89 (00:09:52)
Action involving Doom, the Z-Man, the Midnight Express, Dragon Master, Buzz Sawyer, Eddie Gilbert, Tommy Rich, plus the Minnesota Wrecking Crew Returns!


NWA World Championship Wrestling 12/16/89 (00:10:43)
The World Title picture heats up when Ric Flair has a confrontation with Lex Luger. The Cuban Assassin goes after the $350 Bounty in “MOSTLY American Money” on Norman. See how the Stinger responds when he receives his own Stinger Splash from Joe Cruz! The Z-Man faces the Samoan Savage. 6-Man Tag Team action with J-Tex (Muta, Sawyer & Dragon Master). More action involving the Freebirds, Steiners, Kendall Windham, New Zealand Militia w/Lord Littlebrook, Midnight Express, and the Andersons! Promos with the Roadies, Steiners, Buzz Sawyer & Gary Hart, the Dudes, Cornette & MX, Woman, Teddy Long, Norman, & Sting. Plus, Cactus Jack makes his NWA debut and lands the first of many running elbow drops to the concrete!

 
 NWA Main Event 12/17/89 (00:49:56)
Kevin Sullivan meets “Hot Stuff” Eddie Gilbert. The Midnight Express take on “Wildfire” Tommy Rich & Ranger Ross. Jim Cornette talks the Dudes. We talk weekend Ratings. Plus, Arn & Ole Anderson reunite to take on the Fabulous Freebirds in the main event… of the Main Event


NWA Power Hour 12/22/89 (00:5838)
Arn Anderson takes on Capt. Mike Rotunda. Sawyer & The Dragon Master face Tommy Rich & Eddie Gilbert. Ranger Ross meets Agent Steel, Gordon Solie is back with WNN talking Japan, the WWF, and the NWA! Terry Funk’s Grill with Norman the Painter?!? Plus, we discuss what will never make it to the Peacock Network, Vince McMahon SQUATTING, and 7-Up presents the Countdown to Christmas Cotton balls on Santa’s beard!


NWA Worldwide Quick Results 12/23/89 (01:09:46)
Action with The Andersons, the State Patrol, the Wild Samoans, Kevin Sullivan. Plus, The Steiners team with Norman vs. Doom & Dan Spivey!


NWA World Championship Wrestling 12/23/89 (01:10:09)
From the Greensboro Coliseum with Jim Ross & Gordon Solie on the call! The Dynamic Dudes lure Jim Cornette into signing an “Anything Goes” Match between Shane Douglas vs. Jim Cornette!!! The Midnight Express vs. The New Fantastics, the Andersons vs. The State Patrol, Tommy Rich vs. Capt. Mike Rotunda.  The Galaxians vs. Eddie Gilbert & Ranger Ross. More action with Doom, Kendall Windham, Z-Man, Brian Pillman, and the Militia. Brian Pillman talks Michael “PMS” Hayes. The Terminator FINALLY makes his in-ring debut. Promos with Lex Luger, the Horsemen, and Tommy Rich. The Freebirds attack Zenk & Pillman. We discuss the necessity of the U.S. Tag Team Titles. Plus, U.S. Heavyweight Champion LEX LUGER defends against former friend STING!


NWA Main Event 12/24/89 (01:35:53)
It’s the Christmas Eve edition with a Main Event that sees a Lumberjack Match between Capt. Mike Rotunda vs. Tommy Rich. The New Zealand Militia vs. The Dynamic Dudes. Promos with the Roadies, the Steiners, and the Horsemen! We also talk weekend Ratings. Plus, Eddie Gilbert takes on the Italian Stallion with Referee LEE SCOTT?!?


NWA Power Hour 12/29/89 (01:46:24)
The Freebirds receive their World Tag Title Rematch against Champions the Steiners in what proves to be a PHOTO FINISH! The Midnight Express tangle with the Galaxians. Ray Russell talks about life imitating art with the Norman character. It’s Terry Funk’s Grill with Lord Littlebrook & Norman. It’s the final WNN of 1989 with Gordon Solie! Plus, U.S. Champion Lex Luger vs. Ranger Ross.


NWA Worldwide 12/30/89 (01:59:09)
Flyin’ Brian takes on Cactus Jack Manson in the main event. U.S. Champion Lex Luger defends against the Italian Stallion. Norman apologizes to Woman. More action involving the Andersons, Buzz Sawyer, and the New Zealand Militia. Promos with Lex Luger, Gary Hart, the Horsemen with Sting, and Woman. Plus, Sting has a wild run-in with Cactus Jack to close the show!


NWA World Championship Wrestling 12/30/89 (02:14:20)
From the Greensboro Coliseum again this week with JR & Solie. The Freebirds vs. Z-Man & Flyin’ Brian kicks off the program! Sting meets the Dragon Master. Ranger Ross & Tommy Rich vs. Nasty Ned & Cactus Jack. Cactus once again obliterates his own partner on the concrete after suffering a loss! More action with Buzz Sawyer, Norman, Arn Anderson, the Wild Samoans, and the Steiners. Promos with Ric Flair, the Andersons, Lex Luger, Tommy Rich & Ranger Ross. Shane Douglas vs. Stan Lane ends when Shane pins…. Jim Cornette??? Plus, JIM CORNETTE TELLS ALL!!! Cornette explains how the match between him vs. Shane Douglas was re-taped to be Shane vs. Lane after Douglas complained to Jim Herd about the storyline. Corny shows Shane what happens in another case of “When Keepin’ It Real, Goes Wrong” for the future Franchise.


NWA Main Event 12/31/89 (02:39:50)
It’s a special YEAR IN REVIEW New Year’s Eve edition of the Main Event, featuring a quick discussion of highlights and one final Lex Luger promo to close out the year!


FINAL 1989 NEWS & NOTES (02:42:15)
It’s the Final Champions of 1989 Roll Call. Jim Herd still pushing got Lex Luger as the next World Champion. We talk the list of names about to arrive in 1990 to the NWA. Plus, WHO did Vince McMahon hire to make his own J-Tex? We have one final fantasy booking discussion on what would have happened if Luger had become World Champion when Sting goes down with the knee injury. Plus, Kendall Windham & Blackjack Mulligan arrested for passing counterfeit bills!!!

All of that and Ray Russell drops a small hint about where we’re headed next after 1989 in the NWA!!!


Don’t miss next week’s NWA 1989 AWARDS & YEAR IN REVIEW EPISODE! We put a nice bow on the previous 31 episodes of the Wrestling Memory Grenade as we give thanks and reminisce about our favorites angles, storylines, interviews, sound bites, and so much more from the NWA in 1989. Plus, our very own first-ever WMG AWARDS CEREMONY as we hand out deserving Awards to a slew of NWA personalities for their contributions to the company throughout 1989. Best Wrestler, Top 5 Matches, WORST Wrestler… and SO MUCH MORE!
 
Also as part of the Episode 32 Year in Review show, Steve has plans to announce a new FREE PRIZE GIVEAWAY, so be sure to FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @RASSLINGRENADE for your chance to enter and win! 

AND YES, NEXT WEEK on Episode 32 we will announce OUR NEXT VENTURE when we pull out a new grenade and rip the pin out. An explosion of NEW memories coming our way… Which promotion, what year? Listen next week to find out!!!

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