Flashback Review NWA Bunkhouse Stampede

1987 was a rough year for Jim Crockett Promotions. Most people know the story of Starcade 87 (An event we will get to someday) how they bet heavy going into Chicago. A city they didn't have a fan base in with Ron Garvin a career long mid carder as world champion. Than not only did WWF create Survivor Series and ran it on the same day they told any cable company if they wanted that show they could not air any other wrestling show. On top of that a huge mistake was made when Crockett bought out the dying UWF from Bill Watts. While the deal gave him a great deal of new talent and a number of new TV clearances it also added a lot of debt to the company. And Crockett was already swimming in red ink due his efforts to expand. So in 1988 JCP needed some success and they needed it fast.

The problem is Crockett and booker Dusty Rhodes hadn't learned from past mistakes. After the issues of Starcade and holding it in Chicago you would think they would head back to the Mid Atlantic Area. Instead they held the event in New York City. You would think with Garvin a guy viewed as To Southern they would be careful to try and do a more national show instead we got Bunkhouse Matches. Now really a Bunkhouse match is just another term for street fight. Its a NO DQ match using weapons. But that name again just give the impression of the south. And Dusty had one other issue he loved a particular finish. So much so it was called the Dusty Finish. For the those that don't know the Dusty finish like the hour long draw was way to protect the traveling NWA champion and keep the top draw in a territory looking strong. It would work like this

Step 1 Ref bump

Step 2 Wrestler does something to get DQ'ed usually tossing opponent over the top rope.

Step 3 Challenger pins world champion just as second ref arrives

Step 4 First ref gets up and overrules the title change and rules it a DQ due to going over the ropes

Now this would work back in the older days when Ric Flair would wrestle in Florida one week, Texas the next, followed by a week in Mid South. But it didn't work when fans could see it on TV pretty much every major show the NWA put on. And the final blow for this show the WWF again went head to head. Creating the Royal Rumble and airing it on Free TV. Of course the Rumble is now yearly tradition and Bunkhouse Stampede is another example of how stupid Crockett was. But is that fair? Do we simply bash this show because the company was sold to Turner soon after?

We open with a pretty generic tile card and rock theme. We see Nikita Koloff make his entrance and even with the light down low we can see the arena is really empty. I know we don't need a fancy video package but that does add to aura of the event and makes us think we are watching something special. Bob Caudle and Jim Ross welcome us to the third annual finals of the Bunkhouse Stampede. To explain the NWA had done this before holding a series of Bunkhouse matches with the winner meeting in a grand finale being held where the winner won a bunch of money. Another issue the Bunkhouse to get into this show weren't seen on TV again showing the NWA/JCP still didn't understand the world had changed. You could no longer simply build to a live crowd when you asking people to spend money on PPV. Caudle and Ross talk about what a great night it will be. Ross hypes three title matches and the finals of the Bunkhouse Stampede. Tony Schiavone will be the ring announcer for the event.

NWA World Television Title Nikita Koloff (c) vs. Bobby Eaton with Jim Cornette- It a champion vs. champion match as Eaton co-holds US tag titles with Stan Lane. From what I can tell there isn't much of a feud between these two. Heck Koloff actually was set to drop the TV title to Mike Routondo six days after this event. So right off the bat I'm left wondering why not have it be Routndo vs. Koloff and have the Express in a tag match. Usual Cornette stuff before the match lots of stalling and the hug for luck. Caudle and Ross hype it's power with a ground attack vs. high flyer. Lock up and Koloff power free. Right away Eaton goes over to consult with Cornette. Another lock up and Koloff powers off again. A third lock up and Eaton forces the Russian Nightmare into the corner. Clean break. Head lock in a hammerlock by Eaton reversed by Koloff. Eaton to the ropes. Another lock up and again Eaton gets Koloff in the corner this time he hits on the break. All that does is piss off Koloff and he fires back. Bad looking shoulder tackle by Koloff its like they lost track of where they were in the ring and were to close. Top wrist lock by Eaton. Cornette will not stop yelling. Koloff easily power free and Eaton claims he pulled his hair. Another lock up and Koloff works the arm. Eaton tries a single leg but Koloff block it and gets a wrist lock and than into a hammer lock that drives Eaton down. Back elbow to get free by Eaton. Running kicks by Eaton send Koloff to the floor. Brawling on the floor and Eaton goes to the eyes. Eaton tries to ram Koloff into the corner in the ring. Koloff blocks and does it to Eaton. Head lock takedown by Eaton. Koloff to his feet and gets free. Shoulder block by Eaton. Leap frog by Koloff and he hits a power slam.

Headlock takedown by Eaton but Koloff rolls him up for one. Eaton rolls back over to keep the headlock. Back to the feet and into the ropes. Bad production we cut over to Cornette as Eaton lets go and dose something that we miss. Kick sends Koloff to the floor. Punches on the dazed Koloff. Headlock on the floor but Koloff powers free and sends Eaton into the post. Another run into the post and than a hip toss on the floor. Low blow and rake of the eyes by Eaton that the referee misses. Back into the ring. Elbow drop by Eaton gets two. Hammer lock by Eaton. Back to the feet and Koloff hammers free. Should block by Koloff but Eaton gets a knee up. Eaton to the top for a missile dropkick. Koloff kicks at two. Back to the hammer lock by Eaton. Oh god most of this match has been Eaton holding a hold on the mat as Koloff tries to power free. And it makes no sense the power guy would be controlled this much. Even worse its just rest holds its not like Eaton is changing it up going for a finish. More taunting from a Cornette but again because he won't shut up it just annoying noise. Finally Koloff back to his feet as we have four minutes left. Elbows by Koloff. Russian sickle but Koloff can't follow up right away Back to the feet and Eaton goes for something but again bad production as we cut to the crowd. Back to the hammer lock. The crowd was actually getting into the match and than they go silent. You know this match is boring as Ross and Caudle talk about what a bad game plan its been for Eaton to try and make Koloff submit. Again Koloff power free. Repeat with Eaton again using a divorce court and back to the damn hammerlock. One minute left. Eaton keeps the hammer lock on not trying anything else even though he needs the pin. Finally we get some brawling. Koloff with mountied corner punches. Running back elbow than Koloff waits for Eaton to stand up and hits the sickle as time expires.

Well that match sucked, it was boring, and it made no damn sense. So much of this match is just Eaton grabbing a hold and being on top cranking on it before Koloff gets up gets free only for Eaton to take back over and repeat. It's just boring. Its a 20 minute match I can get needed some rest holds or time to call a spot but it felt like 15 mins of it was just the rest holds. Not helping is the fact Cornette will not shut up. I know a lot of manger yells but they also know to be quite at times and not take away from the match itself. Finally the huge logic hole at the end. Eaton is the challenger yet he wrestled like a heel going for the time limit draw. Plus a draw first match? Koloff should have won clean. You can protect Eaton since you can say “He's not a singles wrestler.” Awful way to start off this show.

Post match Cornett tires to attack but Koloff gets the racket. Eaton makes the save and works over Koloff. Stan Lane out and it's double team on Koloff. All the more reason Koloff should have won since you have the Express do a get heat back attack. Caudle lies calming that was a great match. Ross again questions why they were trying get Koloff to submit. Funny moment as a referee walks in front of the shot.

NWA Western States Heritage Championship Barry Windham (c) vs. Larry Zbyszko with Baby Doll- The Western States title is one of those strange one's that pops up in old school wrestling all the time. JCP and UWF both used it with Windham winning the tournament in June of 1987. It lasted until 1989. Most people remember it as the last second replacement title WCW used in 1991 when Flair took the Big Gold Belt to WWF. But in reality Zbyszko took the belt with him in 1989 instead it was a title used for a short lived company Dusty Rhodes ran. The story for this according to Ross is Larry after a long career wants a title. The idea was Larry was targeting Barry as soon as he got in the company. Bell rings and Baby Doll gets in Windhams' face. Finally Baby Doll leaves and Larry avoid the lock up and than breaks on one. Arm drag by Windham. Headlock by Windham and he takes Zbyzsko with a series of shoulder tackles and than a hip toss. Zbyszko to the floor. Back in the ring Zbyszko gets a single leg and ties up the leg. Windham gets his hand in Larry's face. Larry breaks and complains Windham pulled the hair. Headlock and Windham is shoved off. Zbyszko goes for a drop kick but Windham hooks the ropes and Larry hits the ground. Hammerlock by Larry but big Barry as they call him won't go down. Firemen's carry out of the hammer lock by Windham. Exchange of punches and Windham lands the harder blow. Lockup into the ropes. Larry tries for a spinning back kick on the break but Windham catches the foot. Atomic drop by Windham and Zbyszko is back on the floor. Back in the ring they repeat the single leg into a knee bar spot. This time Windham tires to roll Larry over. Back on the feet they shove each other. Zbyszko with a headlock. Shoulder tackle by Larry but a drop toe hold into a headlock with Windham.

Zbyszko with a drop toe hold of his own and he works over the knee. Ross claims Windham's knee was hurt in a recent match that aired on TV. Toe hold by Zbyzsko. Windham back to his feet and gets the enziagure. Big right hand by Windham. Snap power slam by Barry Windham gets two. Body slam by Windham and he heads to the top rope. Senton misses as Larry rolls out of the way. Truth is it doesn't look like Windham got enough distance. Zbyzsko works over the let some more and back to the toe hold. Barry back to his feet and punches free. Spinning back kick by Zbyzsko lands and than an awful locking body slam or maybe it was supposed to be a shoulder breaker. Reverse chin lock by Larry and it looks really lose as he changes to a head lock. Windham with a belly to back suplex to get free. Drop toe hold to regain control by Zbyzsko. Larry pulls the hair in front of the referee. Nice from Baby Doll as Windham back elbows free she yells at the ref its an illegal kidney shot. Punches and again Windham gets the better of it but the knee is still hurting. Dropkick by Windham. Ok that kills the momentum a big. Bad enough Windham with a bad leg already went to the top but now he's springing up on the bad leg as well. Vertical suplex by Windham but his knee gives way. Gut wrench suplex by Windham this time the knee is fine. Sleeper by Windham but Larry has the ropes the announcers miss it. Larry back to the floor. Windham with an ax handle off the apron and rams Zbyzsko into a table and than the apron. Zbyzsko manages to sent Windham Into the post.

Larry kicks Windham back down and wants the referee to count. Which makes no sense given Larry is the challenger not the champion. So he shouldn’t want the countout win. Times like these I really wish the announcer would try to cover for the heel a bit. Just say “Even if he doesn’t win the title a countout victory would keep him number one contender.” Windham trips Larry and pulls him into the post crotch first. Back in the ring Windham goes for a whip. Zbyzsko falls over. Windham is going for the lariat and trips over Larry. Barry Windham back to the floor hard. Now Zbyzsko slams Windham into a table. Should block into the sunset flip in the ring by Windham but Zbyzsko shuts it down with a right hand. Neck breaker is blocked by Windham and he gets the backslide for two. Windham blocks a pile driver and gets a back body drop. Cover by Zbyzsko get two? Ok I never get that in any era. Windham hits a move and Larry makes the cover. Even if you want to say “That was purely on instinct." It still shows the guy is aware enough. Both men collide on a shoulder tackle and they both go down. Zbyzsko goes for a running knee by Windham moves. Mounted punches from Windham. Whip and Zbyzsko hits the referee. School boy by Windham. Baby Doll fakes the count. Windham celebrates. Zbyzsko hits Windham with Baby Doll's shoe for the win. Ok match with major logic gaps. They pretty much forget about Windham having a bad knee. Doesn't help the WSHC was gone soon after. Also the finish makes Windham look real stupid.

Post match Larry celebrates as Ross talks about how awful it was to see Barry lose like this. Like I said the Western States Championship was gone soon after. Larry was supposed to start a feud with Dusty Rhodes. The idea being Baby Doll who had a long history with Rhodes would have something on him. A segment was supposed to have her kiss Dusty the idea being it was the Kiss of Death. But Baby Doll's real life husband Sam Houston objected and she was fired when she refused. Larry briefly was managed by Gary Hart and hints were dropped he would get a NWA title shot at some point but booking changed again with the Turner buyout. Larry left to head back to the AWA. Windham would eventually team with Lex Lugar win the World Tag Titles, than turn on Lugar turn heel, join the Horsemen and win the US Title.

NWA World Heavyweight Championship Ric Flair (c) with JJ Dillon vs. Hawk with Paul Ellering- I'm not really sure what the story line was. The Road Warriors had been long time allies of various Horsemen rivals. They also had feuded with Blanchard and Anderson over the NWA tag title. I assume as was pretty standard for Flair, Hawk had pinned him in a tag match. We actually don't get the intros or the opening bell as some issues with the original production causes the network to edit it. Lock up and Flair forces Hawk back. Hawk shoves Flair across the ring. Headlock by Hawk and Flair forces him to the corner. Flair chops on the break and Hawk no sells it. Lock up and Flair lands a knee than a chop. Flair goes for a shoulder tackle and Hawk no sells again. Flair tires again and gets caught in a press slam. Flair to floor and JJ asks for a time out. Hawk pulls Flair into the ring by the hair and press slams him again. Headbutt and a Flair flop. Typical Flair as he back up pleading. Hawk with hard stomps. Standing dropkick by Hawk and fist drop. JJ is shown pacing around the ring. Ross and Caudle claim he is nervous but to be honest he look more board than anything. Hawk with the hiptoss that send Flair across the ring. Flair back to the outside. Hawk suplexs Flair back in. Hawk with the bear hug and he lift the world champion into the air. Hawk turns it into a pin and gets few two counts. I think they are going for something new but it just looks awkward. Flair chops and punches to no effect. Flying shoulder block by Hawk. Flair out to the apron. Again JJ just look board. Hawk follows out giving Flair a chance go to the eyes. Flair rams Hawk into the guard rail. NO effect. Hawk picks up the ring steps and throws them at Flair. Back in the ring Flair tires to chop again. Low blow by Flair and its right in front of the referee who some how does not see it. I get you gotta be some what and just accept the logic but the referee is to damn close to miss it. Kicks to the midsection and chops but Flair before going back to the eyes. Snapmare by Flair and he drops the knee. Ric Flair covers and gets two. The Road Warrior tossed to the floor and gets whipped into the guard rail a few times. Back to chops by Flair.

Back in the ring Flair off the top with a double ax. Another snapmare and knee drop by Flair and he covers. Hawk tosses Flair off. Flair goes for a back body drop but Hawk turns it into a neck breaker. Fist drop by Hawk misses. Hawk grabs his leg. Why not go for a knee or leg drop? I watch the spot back and it does look like Hawk's leg might hit harder but you eye goes to the fist. Flair attacks the leg. Cannon ball onto the leg by Flair. More working over the knee and than Flair gets the referee turned around and hits another low blow. Flair working over the leg taunting, laughing and wooing as he does it. Hawk tries to fight back and gets a head lock. Flair gets free with a belly to back. Flair wraps the leg around the post. Figure four by Flair. The usual Flair trick of grabbing the rope when he can. The problem is with Flair's figure four he rarely gets a win with it so he you don’t' get to excited watching him lock it in. At least Angle does win most matches with the ankle lock. Hawk turns the hold over but never sits back so Flair just look ridicules by screaming oh god. Flair who is right next to the ropes takes forever to finally grab them and get the break. Flair to the top rope and Hawk slams him off it. Chops by Hawk. Big clothesline line by Hawk but he catches the referee as well. Its actually kind of funny like Hawk was taking out tackling dummies. Referee to the floor. Hawk clothesline Flair over the top rope. Flair pulls Hawk out but Hawk send the champion into the post. Flair into another post and he bleeds. Back in the ring Hawk with a weak looking power slam. Another clothesline by Hawk. Flair to the eyes. Flair back to the top and Hawk cuts him off. Superlex and Hawk cover but still no referee. JJ Dillon into the ring and hits Hawk. Hawk gos after JJ. Flair has the chair and nails Hawk. Flair covers as the referee is back up. One two and Hawk kicks. Vertical Suplex by Flair and Hawk is back up. Mounted punches by Hawk. Flair flop again. Fist drop by Hawk. Flair has the chair and the referee calls for the DQ. A mess of a match. Seemed like Flair was on auto pilot hitting the usual spots. Not helping the announcers didn't do much to hype Hawk up as real challenger.

Hawk whips Flair hard into the ropes. Flair bails out as Hawk celebrates. Ross claims Flair has never come so close to losing the title. WHAT THE FUCK ROSS? This was Flair's fifth title reign meaning he had lost four times. Amazing you wait until after the match was over to sell him as a legit challenger. But even still that is just strange to say. Hell Flair had just regained the belt a few months ago so it's not like he was in the middle of a long reign. We see the cage for the Bunkhouse Stampede getting built. Funny second as we hear someone talking to Ross and Caudle. On camera for Ross and Caudle again we see someone walk in front of the shot. Caudle and Ross hype the Stampede. Ross reminds us Dusty Rhodes has won it twice. Than in a strange time killer Caudle gives u the credits of all the crew working on the show. What is going on? Yes a cage needs time to get set up by there are other things to air. Hell just off the top of my head show promos from the guys in the main event or how about showing footage of the matches so we can see how they qualified for it. Ross explains to be eliminated you have to be tossed over the top of the cage or out the door. We get footage of the Windham and Zbyzsko match. Its done in slow mo and it makes Windham look even stupider. Ross hype how it took Larry fourteen years to win a major title. Boy that makes Larry seem like a real loser that took forever and again the Western States Heritage Championship wasn't a major title

The run down the list of men in the Bunkhouse Stampede. Ross hype up Dusty is the only man to win the Stampeded but this year he backed in. They don't explain how he backed in or show footage. Next is Lex Luger. Than just name off real quick Blanchard, Anderson, and three men with Paul Jones. What they take to long recapping Zbyzsko win? I mean you don’t' even name who from Jones staple is in the match.

The Bunkhouse Stampede Dusty Rhodes vs. Tully Blanchard vs. Ivan Koloff vs. The Warlord vs. Arn Anderson vs. Lex Lugar vs. The Barbarian vs. Road Warrior Animal with Paul Ellering- None of the guy get there usual music instead its a generic rock theme. Dusty is US champion while Arn and Tully are the tag team but they don't bring down the belt. Paul Jones is at ringside. Big wild fighting at the start. Warlord and Ivan go after Animal, Tully and Blanchard after Lugar and Dusty fight with Barbarian. Warlord with chops on Animal. Dusty goes after Blanchard with the series of elbows. Anderson save Blanchard from elimination. Warlord low blows Lugar. Animal tires to get Blanchard out of very the top but Tull saves himself. Dusty is trying eliminate Koloff through the door. The Horsemen try ti get rid of former member Lugar but he goes to the eyes. Warlord tries to get Dusty out over the top but Dusty is saved. I think Barbarian crotches himself. We get a shot of Ivan Koloff bleeding before Dusty rams him in the cage. The camera work is awful. The seem like they are missing all the real action and showing. Hell even Ross and Caulde admit it's hard to call. Just an exampel we got a shot Animal fighting with Tully on the ropes. We hear the fans cheer and cut back to see Arn Anderson laid out in the center of the ring. Anderson tries to get rid of Anderson. This let Ivan Koloff choke Dusty with a rope. Lugar with mounted punches on Barbarian. We miss Dusty tossing Anderson in the cage wall to show Koloff bleeding but we do see Dusty do the same to Blanchard.

Atomic drop by Lugar on Koloff while Rhodes works his punch series on Blanchard. Animal grinds Arn Anderson face into the cage. The Powers in Pain double team Animal. Barbarian bites Animal and we see him bleeding. I think Blanchard is whipping is Lugar but we miss it. Lugar suddenly goes house of fire and attack all the heel. Dusty has a belt and whips everyone. Rhodes uses the belt to choke Barbarian. But Barbarian gets the belt and wraps it around fist to hit Rhodes. More fighting and it's clear the director has no idea what to show. Finally we see Anderson tie Lugar up and stomp him. Ok it looks like Ivan just turned on Barbarian and threw him into the cage. Back to Powers and Pain double team on Animal with a double team clothesline. More just jumping around trying to show everything but not showing us anything. Lugar has a boot but we miss who he hits with it. Koloff and Barbarian tie up Dusty in the corner. Flying shoulder block by Animal on Warlord. Powers and Pain chop Lex Lugar in the corner. Animal has Anderson hanging on the cage. Barbarian makes the save but Animal with a low blow. Tully is trying pull Koloff out the door. After a while Animal has some how got Koloff up and over the cage wall and the Russian Bear is done. Lugar give Barbarian a rope burn. Animal press slams Blanchard onto Anderson. Animal with kicks eliminates Warlord. Someone we don’t' see who and they don't name who forces Animal out. That just sums up what a mess it is to watch this match. Lugar and Dusty go after the horsemen. Big punches by Lex Lugar on Blanchard and than a power slam. Torture Rack by Lugar on Blanchard. Anderson has gotten away from Dusty and saves his partner. Barbarian attacks Dusty allowing the horsemen to double team Lugar.

Goard buster by Anderson on Lugar. Blanchard and Anderson try to shove Lugar out. Lugar able to hold on and kicks them off. Lugar still in a bad spot and is right by the door. Lugar attacks Anderson Blanchard nearly out the door trying get rid of Lugar. Dusty fight with Barbarian. Low blows by Lugar on Anderson. Arn hangs his body out the door trying finish off Lugar. Anderson, Lugar, and Blanchard all fall out the cage. Again the camera shot is awful. I think its supposed to be Tully hit Lugar enough to send him back but he caught Anderson who was on the steps meanwhile Lugar was strong enough to grab onto Tully and pull him out. Jones passes something to Barbarian. Big right hand by Barbarian knocks Rhodes down. Barbarian to the top rope and comes off with a headbutt. A second flying headbutt attempt connects. Barbarian drags Dusty to the door. Rhodes holds on. Punches and elbows by the Dream. Back in the center Dusty hits a back elbow. The fight up the ropes to the top of the cage. Headbuts by Barbarian and he tries to lift Dusty up and over. Dusty fights back again. Dusty gets Barbarian over the cage. Atomic elbow and a second one sends the Barbarian to the floor for the win. What a freaking mess that was. First and foremost watching at home you miss so much of the action. Sure live you miss parts of it but its worse since it feels you miss everything. Doing it in a cage really slowed the action they should have kept it out of a cage and just made it a battle royal with weapons. Finally Dusty wins? Really it's 1988 Dusty was already fading. He had the US title so he didn’t' need a big PPV win. If anything since Lugar was set to challenger for the World Title that year give it to him or hell either of the Power of Pain.

We see Jim Crockett award Dusty the big boot trophy and check for winning. Ross claims Dusty was thinking about retirement but he came out and fought for the people of the USA. We don't even get a victory promo by Dusty. Instead we go back to Ross and Caudle who again have someone walk through the shot. Once if funny twice is shocking, three times says “We don't care.” Ross brags about what a statement the NWA has made here. You got that Ross you sent a message your shows look awful and are boring! I think the fans are chanting for a refund. Ross and Caulde recap the results of the events. Ross plugs the Jim Crockett Senior Memorial cup.

Ok this was not a Pay Per View. It's a clearly a house show someone filmed and put on Pay Per View. That is truly how this feels. I mean the TV title match is house show booking 101. The NWA had a real problem moving from house shows to the modern era of PPV and it shows. This card would have been ok as just a live event back in 1981 but by 1988 you were in a new world. This event is bad and it was as far from the hit Crockett needed.