-Today we look at Clash of the Champions III from the NWA and Jim Crockett Promotions.
-Clash of the Champions III: Fall Brawl took place on September 7, 1988 at the Albany Civic Center in Albany, Georgia. There were 3,700 people in attendance and the show drew a 5.4 rating on TBS.
-Crockett’s Last Stand. This was the last Clash of the Champions promoted by Jim Crockett Promotions as the company was in severe debt at this point and a couple of months later would sell to the Turner Organization.
-We start out by recapping Sting’s two prior Clash matches. He takes on Barry Windham tonight.
-Clash opening credits.
-Tony Schiavone welcomes us and he is with guest host Ric Flair. They talk a little about the upcoming matches. They then throw it to Jim Ross and Bob Caudle who will be calling the action.
-NWA World Television Championship Match. Mike Rotunda with Kevin Sullivan VS. Brad Armstrong: They begin with a feeling out process. Rotunda hits hard but Armstrong is up to the challenge. Jim Ross mentions college athletics if your drinking at home. Armstrong has a side headlock on. He gets a lateral press but can’t get the three count. Armstrong looks good and the crowd is digging him. Rotunda comes back and punishes Armstrong on the outside. Armstrong kicks out on a two count to a big pop. Rotunda struggles to put Armstrong away. Steve Williams comes out and the crowd is hot. Back and forth. Rotunda gets the airplane spin on, still just gets a two count. Multiple pin attempts. It ends in a time limit draw. They frame it as Armstrong has survived and gone the distance. Armstrong replaced Tim Horner here, who left the company in August.
-Tony Schiavone and Ric Flair talk about the last match. They then talk about the Flair/Luger feud.
-Jim Ross and Bob Caudle talk about Jimmy Garvin having his leg broken. They then show video of it happening.
-Special Tag Team Challenge Match. The Sheepherders Luke Williams and Butch Miller with Rip Morgan VS. Steve Williams and Nikita Koloff: The Sheepherders have the early advantage. Williams comes back. Back and forth. Koloff cleans house. Faces then dominate. Steve Williams has impressive moves for a big man. He goes to charge and hits the corner post. Miller then hits Steve Williams hard. It goes outside. Miller hits Koloff with a headbutt, but takes too long to cover. Sheepherders double team. Koloff slugs it out with Luke Williams. Steve Williams gets hit with the flag from Morgan and is not there for Koloff to tag. He finally tags Steve Williams in. Miller clips Steve Williams’ leg. Koloff hits the Russian Sickle out of nowhere for the win.
-Grudge Match. Kevin Sullivan with Gary Hart VS. Dusty Rhodes: This was originally scheduled as Rhodes and Dick Murdoch VS. Al Perez and Ron Garvin but Garvin left the company in August and the bout was changed. Rhodes goes after Sullivan hard, taking it outside. Big Dust turns it on. Sullivan comes back. Hart interferes. Sullivan uses a spike on Rhodes. They slug it out. Rhodes gets the spike and hits Sullivan with it, but Hart pulls Rhodes outside. Al Perez attacks Rhodes and Sullivan is not disqualified, despite it not being announced as a no-DQ match. Perez and Sullivan whip Rhodes with the chain that is going to be used in the chain match coming up. Rhodes then gets Hart and pins him for the win even though Sullivan was the opponent. I’m as confused as you are, but the crowd goes wild for it anyway.
-Tony and Ric talk to former football great John Ayers, who is going to be the special referee for an upcoming Flair/Luger match. Flair wants to know what makes him qualified to be a referee, and I don’t really follow what Ayers says. He does not have the gift of gab.
-Russian Chain Match Ivan Koloff with Paul Jones and The Russian Assassin VS. Ricky Morton: It takes time to put the chain on. Koloff strikes early. They frame this as Koloff having to prove himself to Jones because Jones has said that Koloff is the “Weak Link” of the Jones Army. Morton fights back. They beat each other but no one is getting a clear advantage. Koloff goes for the corners. He gets three before Morton gets him down. Morton hits Koloff with the chain and goes for all four corners. Jones’ interference backfires and Morton wins. Jones and Koloff argue, then Koloff slugs Jones. Jones and the Russian Assassin attack Koloff before being joined by another Russian Assassin who also attacks Koloff. The crowd is chanting for Nikita to come out and I believe the roof would have come off the building if Nikita had come out to save Ivan.
-Jim Ross interviews John Ayers. He is better here than before but that isn’t saying much.
-NWA United States Championship Match. Barry Windham with JJ Dillon VS. Sting: John Ayers is watching the match from ringside. Feeling out process to start. Sting looks phenomenal starting out. Windham is selling his ass off here. Windham comes back, then its more evenly paced. They go outside. Windham jaw jacks to John Ayers. Sting is taking a beating. He strings moves together, but can’t get a pin. Windham takes a mighty bump in the corner. Sting is on the attack. Sting gets the sleeper on. Windham fights back and gets the figure four on. Windham uses the ropes for leverage. Referee Tommy Young catches him and makes him break the hold. Sting fighting back. Windham puts the claw on Sting’s Pectoral muscle. Sting fights back and Windham gets tossed outside. Sting with momentum but Windham accidently hits Tommy Young. Sting hits the stinger splash. JJ comes in with a chair that Windham uses on Sting. Ayers tells Young what happened and Sting wins by DQ. JJ jumps on Ayers who is not having any of JJ. Jim Ross and Bob Caudle recap the night and send it to Tony Schiavone and Ric Flair, who is incensed at Ayers. They then sign off from Albany.