-Today we look at Clash of the Champions VIII from the NWA and WCW.
-Clash of the Champions VIII: Fall Brawl ’89 took place on September 12, 1989 from the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia, South Carolina. There were 2,600 people in attendance and the show did a 4.7 rating on TBS. This show was used to build to the first ever Halloween Havoc PPV in October.
-Clash Opening Credits and Theme.
-Flashback to the end of the Great American Bash PPV.
-Jim Ross and Jim Cornette are your announcers for the evening. They talk about rumors that have come up about Gary Hart’s camp.
-Gordon Solie interviews Gary Hart. He denies that there are any problems with his group.
-The Samoan Swat Team Samu and Fatu with Paul E. Dangerously VS. The Road Warriors Hawk and Animal with Paul Ellering: Animal goes wild on the SST to begin. SST roll out and Animal follows them. The Road Warriors dominating early. Hawk hits the post at one point. SST then come back. Hawk finally tags and Animal cleans house. The Road Warriors get Paul E.’s phone and hit the SST with it then hit the Doomsday Device for the win. Ellering then destroys the phone. The SST then leave Paul E. behind.
-Halloween Havoc promo.
-The Cuban Assassin VS. Tom Zenk: This is Z-Man’s WCW debut match. A little sloppy, but a good outing by Zenk. He wins with the sleeper.
-Governor Carroll Campbell announces its Ric Flair day in South Carolina. He also uses the term “Sports Entertainment”.
-Ranger Ross VS. Sid Vicious with Teddy Long and Dan Spivey: Vicious throws Ross out, then back in again. Vicious hits a DDT, then a whirlybird, then a powerbomb to win the match. Just brutal.
-A feature on Robin Green and Missy Hyatt going shopping.
-Gordon Solie interviews The Fabulous Freebirds. They are sick and tired of getting no respect.
-Another Halloween Havoc promo.
-NWA World Tag Team Championship Match: The Fabulous Freebirds Michael Hayes and Jimmy Garvin VS. The Steiner Brothers Rick and Scott with Missy Hyatt and Robin Green: This is the Steiner Brothers’ first ever shot at a world tag-team title. The crowd digs the Steiners. Hayes and Scott have some awkward opening moments. The Steiner Brothers dominate early. It looks like they are going to dominate the entire match. Rick hits the corner post at one point and the Freebirds take over. Garvin hits a DDT. Garvin gets some close pin attempts. Scott gets tagged in and hits Frankensteiners on both Freebirds. Scott gets whipped into the ropes and gets tripped and Hayes hits the DDT for the pin. Scott points at Robin Green and Rick points at Missy Hyatt. It was later revealed to be Robin Green, who would later go on to manage Doom in a feud with the Steiner Brothers.
-Norman the Lunatic with Teddy Long VS. Brian Pillman: Norman jumps Pillman before the bell. Pillman hits a suplex then does a clothesline from the top rope then a crossbody onto Norman on the outside. Norman then comes back. Norman hits the outside post after Pillman moves. Pillman hits a dropkick from the top rope then Pillman wins with a crucifix.
-Gordon Solie then talks to Gary Hart, who says Terry Funk is in the building.
-Mike Rotunda VS. Steve Williams: They start brawling immediately and then trade the advantage. Rotunda uses the ropes for leverage. Rotunda then attacks the eyes with his fingers. Williams makes a comeback. Rotunda misses a charge. Williams goes for a slam. Rotunda holds onto the ropes. The referee sees this and kicks Rotunda’s hand away and Williams rolls through for the pin. Rotunda attacks after the pin.
-Gordon Solie interviews Lex Luger. He is a classic heel here. And he says he is the showpiece of the NWA.
-Another Halloween Havoc promo.
-NWA United States Championship Match: Lex Luger VS. Tommy Rich: Rich looks to be in tremendous shape here and Luger is at the top of his game. Cornette runs down Rich’s accomplishments. They keep talking about Gary Hart and Terry Funk to explain what is going to happen during the Main Event. Rick goes for several quick pins. Luger comes back. Rich won’t give up. Luger can’t get a pin. Luger misses a clothesline and goes outside. Rich still won’t stay down. Luger hits a superplex. Rich comes back and gets several two counts Luger hits a hangman and pins Rich while Luger is through the ropes. He literally falls on Rich to pin him.
-Gordon Solie again interviews Gary Hart, who has a certified letter from a doctor about Funk. They then show a video of Funk taken a few days prior from a hospital bed. This is a legitimate injury that Funk had suffered.
-Gordon Solie then talks to Ric Flair and Sting. They are ready for whoever tonight and no matter what, they are not backing down.
-Main Event: The Great Muta and Dick Slater with Gary Hart VS. Ric Flair and Sting: Flair and Sting are accompanied by two women who look like they would rather be anywhere else other than where they are. The announcers talk about all of the bad blood between all of the competitors. Sting with the advantage over Muta starting out. Flair comes in and opens the chop house on Muta. Slater comes in doing his best Terry Funk impersonation. Flair hits the over the top rope up top spot so drink them if you got them. All four brawl outside. Sting has the advantage as they come back in. Slater and Flair going at each other hard. Slater hits a reverse neckbreaker. Flair brutalized outside the ring. Double team on Sting. Sting hits the splash on Muta. Hart hits Sting with a roll of coins as he goes to put the Scorpion Deathlock on Muta. Muta then gets a two count. They can’t get Sting down. It goes back outside. Sting reverses a Slater piledriver. Flair keeps the Chop House open late. All four start brawling again. Muta gets disqualified when he sprays yellow mist in Sting’s face. Slater hits Flair with his cast, busting him open. Terry Funk then comes in and ties a plastic bag over Flair’s head. The announcers and many critics of wrestling and decency went crazy over this piece of business. Sting’s leg gets hit with the branding iron. The heels are officially disqualified. A lot is going on. They show Flair being worked on and they say that Brian Pillman came out and performed CPR on Flair. The credits roll as they sign off from Columbia.