From The Shelf – NWA Starrcade 1983

NWA Starrcade 1983
11-24-83
Greensboro, NC

Your hosts are Bob Cauldie and Gordon Solie.

The Masked Assassins (#1 and #2) w/Paul Jones vs. Rufus R. Jones and Bugsy McGraw
#1 and McGraw start. #1 overpowers him but McGraw comes back with a hip toss. Slam by McGraw and he goes for the mask but #1 quickly bails. Back in, McGraw catches #1 with a bionic elbow and they slug it out, with McGraw winning that battle. Tag to #2 and McGraw catches him with a slam. Hip toss by McGraw and Jones tags in. He fires away on #2 and covers for 2. Tag to McGraw and #1. McGraw throws some bionic elbows and Jones tags in. He works the arm and begins to fire away in the corner. Jones sends #1 hard into the corner and #1 rakes the eyes to come back. #2 works over Jones but he fights back and tags McGraw in. He fires away on the Assassins and he backdrops #2. #1 rolls McGraw up for 3!!!
Winners- The Masked Assassins *1/2 (This was a nothing match. The Assassins were the typical act used to bump around and sell for more charismatic workers and their wins and losses were irrelevant. It worked for getting this crowd hot to kick things off but this was forgettable for the opener of a mega-show of this caliber. )

Johnny Weaver and Scott McGhee vs. Kevin Sullivan and Mark Lewin w/Gary Hart
Sullivan and McGhee start. Dropkicks by McGhee and Weaver tags in along with Lewin. Weaver works the arm and McGhee tags in along with Sullivan. Sullivan works over the shoulder of McGhee and Lewin tags in. Lewin and Sullivan take turns working over the shoulder and Lewin grabs a surfboard. McGhee fights for the tag but the ref missed it, allowing Sullivan and Lewin to regain control. Sullivan throws a head butt and Lewin tags in. Double never hold by Lewin and Sullivan tags in. McGhee is able to escape his clutches to tag Weaver. Weaver cleans house and hits a bulldog for 2 as Lewin saves. Sullivan blocks a second bulldog and Lewin tags in. Knee strike by Lewin and Sullivan tags in. They take turns working over the arm of Weaver and Lewin hits a knee drop off the top onto the arm of Weaver for 3.
Winners- Kevin Sullivan and Mark Lewin **1/4 ( Fine little tag match. Kevin Sullivan was the standout, working a fast pace than everyone else and he was the glue that kept this together. I loved the finish where they destroyed Lewin’s arm to the point where he was down for good.)

After the match, McGhee goes after Sullivan and Lewis but Gary Hart hands Lewin a spike and he repeatedly drives it into the head of McGhee. McGhee is busted wide open and he nails Angelo Mosca who tried to come in and save.

Harley Race claims to know Ric Flair’s shortcoming and promises to go after all of Flair’s weaknesses.

Carlos Colon vs. Abdullah the Butcher
Abdullah attacks to start and he works over Colon. Clothesline by Abdullah and he drops an elbow for 2. Colon fights back and he drives a spike into the head of Abdullah a few times. Abdullah is busted open and he bites the cut of Abdullah. He continues to drive the spike into Abdullah and he hits a knee lift. Leg drop by Colon and he drops an elbow for 2. Abdullah goes to drop an elbow but misses and he drills the ref. Dropkick by Colon and he works the leg of Abdullah. Figure-4 by Colon but Hugo Savinovich runs in and drills Colon with a shoe. Abdullah rolls on top for 3.
Winner- Abdullah the Butcher *1/2 (Solid five minute brawl as both men proceeded to beat each other up pretty good in a short amount of time. Colon using the spike in front of the ref without being DQed was stupid but Colon bloodying Abdullah made this whole package work.)

Angelo Mosca says there’s no place for the actions that Lewin and Sullivan performed on Scott McGhee. Mosca says that despite his injury he will still referee the tag team championship match tonight. He also predicts that Ric Flair will prevail in the main event tonight.

Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood vs. Dick Slater and Bob Orton
Slater and Wahoo start. Wahoo works the arm to start and Youngblood tags in. He grabs a standing arm bar and catches Slater with a slam. Jackknife roll-up by Slater gets 2. Slater looks to attack the leg but Youngblood kicks him onto the apron to block. Side Russian leg sweep by Slater gets 2. Tag to Orton and he hits a knee to the back of Youngblood. Back breaker by Orton and he misses an elbow drop. Youngblood chases Orton around the ring and back in, he hip tosses Orton. Slater tags in and they hit a back breaker/elbow drop combo. Gut wrench suplex by Slater gets 2 and he dumps Youngblood to the floor. Orton works him over on the floor and hits a back breaker onto the railings!!!! Back in, Orton grabs a chin lock but Youngblood fights out. Big boot by Orton cuts off the comeback and he stomps the head of Youngblood. Orton goes back to the chin lock but Youngblood rolls out. Tag to Slater and he hits a back elbow. Suplex by Slater gets 2. Youngblood backdrops Orton and they collide mid-ring, knocking both men down. Tag to Wahoo and he fires away. Inverted atomic drop by Wahoo and he hits a tomahawk chop. Slam by Wahoo and he drops an elbow for 2. Tag to Orton and he stomps away on Wahoo. Slater and Wahoo slug it out and Slater catches him with a back suplex for 2. Leg drop by Slater and they hit a double back elbow. Knee drop by Orton gets 2 and Slater tags in. He goes for an axe handle off the top but misses and nails Orton by mistake. Atomic drop by Wahoo and Youngblood tags in. Double chop to Slater and Youngblood hits a leg drop. Orton tags in and Youngblood catches him with a dropkick. He misses another one and Orton chokes away. They put Youngblood on top and Orton follows up. Superplex by Orton gets 3. Wahoo attacks after the match but Orton and Slater overpower him and attack his arm.
Winners- Dick Slater and Bob Orton ***1/2 ( A perfect mid-card tag team match. You had the physical, dirty heels in Orton and Slater that were a well oiled machine in the ring while Youngblood and McDaniel showed tremendous resiliency and hart but couldn’t stop the onslaught. Just a super hot match from start to finish. )

Ric Flair says he, Jay Youngblood, and Ricky Steamboat are ready for anything tonight. Youngblood and Steamboat promise the end of the Briscos’ reign tonight.

NWA TV Championship vs. Mask- The Great Kabuki w/Gary Hart © vs. Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown is Jimmy Valiant under a mask. Brown fires away to start and he knocks Kabuki to the floor. He sends Kabuki into the post and he drives a chair into the midsection and neck of Kabuki. Brown crotches Kabuki in the post and he continues to work over Kabuki in the ring. Sleeper by Brown but Kabuki rakes the eyes to break. Brown goes back to the sleeper but Gary Hart puts Kabuki’s foot on the ropes to force a break. Kabuki fires back and he grabs a Claw. Brown fights out and catches Kabuki with a backdrop. Kabuki regains control and goes back to the claw. Brown fights out and Kabuki catches him with a super kick. Kabuki once again goes back to the Claw. He releases and goes up for a dropping tomahawk chop off the top for 2. Kabuki goes for the mask and he catches Brown with a spin kick. Brown fires back and Kabuki misses a corner dropkick, allowing Brown to drop an elbow for 3!!!
Winner and NEW NWA TV Champion- Charlie Brown ** ( Early on this was the most energy I’ve seen from a Jimmy Valiant match and then they resorted to use the Claw for the remainder of the match, which is a shame because they actually could have had a pretty good brawl if they kept the pace they started off with. Still, the crowd was super hot for the Charlie Brown gimmick and the victory got over huge, so it succeeded in its purpose. )

Bob Orton Jr. and Dick Slater, discuss collecting the bounty on Ric Flair’s head and claim Ric Flair still isn’t out of the woods yet since he still has to face Harley Race tonight. Harley promises to piledriver the neck of Ric Flair and put him out for good.

Dusty Rhodes issues a challenge to the winner of the main event, but directly says he’s coming after Harley Race.

Dog Collar Match- Roddy Piper vs. Greg Valentine
They look for their opening and Piper whips Valentine with a chain to land the first strike. Piper fires away on Valentine and he drives the chain into the head of Valentine. Valentine fires back with bionic elbows and he hammers Piper with the chain. He wraps the chain around the head of Piper but Piper comes back with a knee lift. He wraps the chain across the MOUTH of Valenine and he vices the head of Valentine using the chain. He uses the ring post to strange Valentine with the collar and he bites the head of Valentine. Valentine is busted open and he starts to choking away on Piper. They head to the floor and Piper continues to fire away. They fight on the apron and the ref tries to pull Piper back which allows Valentine to drill Piper in the injured ear with the chain!!! Valentine clubs the ear of Piper and he tosses Piper into some chairs. Piper’s bleeding by the ear as Valentine cuts off every attempt by Piper from reentering the ring. Valentine drives the chain into the ear of Piper a few times and he continues to club away at the ear. Elbow drop by Valentine gets 2. Another one by Valentine gets 2. Piper pulls the chain to bring Valentine down to the mat and he tackles Valentine before pounding away on him. Piper whips Valentine with the chain and he drives the chain into the top of the head. They slug it out and Valentine catches Piper with a clothesline. Knee drop by Valentine gets 1. They fight for a suplex and Piper wins that battle, taking both men down. Sleeper by Valentine but Piper refuses to quit. Piper wraps the chain around his hand and nails Valentine to force the break. Second rope axe handle by Valentine and he drops another elbow. He goes back up but Piper pulls the chain to bring him down. He pummels Valentine with the chain and he uses the chain to hook the leg for 3!!! Valentine attacks after the match and he strangles Piper with this match.
Winner- Roddy Piper ****3/4 ( I Loved, loved, loved this match. This was so violent for a match in 1983, so just felt the hatred these two had for each other. Piper was the wild man looking for revenge and just went to town on Valentine with the chain while Valentine remained calm and wrestled his match, knowing he could take control at some point when Piper was acting like a loose cannon. The finish was felt flat after everything we just saw but this is such an underrated classic. This is what a bloody, violent grudge match looks like. )

Ric Flair says Orton and Slater will get what’s coming to them for what they did to Wahoo McDaniel. Flair thanks Wahoo for getting him ready for tonight and he says he is prepared for tonight.

NWA World Tag Team Championships- Brisco Brothers (Jack and Jerry Brisco) © vs. Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood
Angelo Mosca is the guest ref. Steamboat and Jack start. Jack goes after the arm and Jerry tags in. Drop toe hold by Steamboat and Jack quickly tags back in. Arm drag by Steamboat and Jerry tags in. Forearms by Jerry and he works Steamboat over in the corner. Steamboat fights back and Youngblood tags in. He works the side head lock and he drives his shoulder into the midsection of Jerry in the corner. Youngblood goes after the arm and Steamboat tags in. Karate chop off the top to the arm by Steamboat and the challenges taker turns going after the arm. Steamboat runs into the boot of Jerry and Jack tags in. Hot shot by Jack and he hits a knee drop. Chin lock by Jack but Steamboat fights out so Jack catches him with a back drop. Tag to Jerry and he hits a butterfly suplex for 2. Hip toss by Jerry and he grabs a short arm scissors. Steamboat powers him up and brings him down to the back with a suplex to break. Tag to Youngblood and he fires away on Jack. Jack reverses a suplex into his own and Jerry tags in. Double shoulder tackle by the Briscos gets 2 as Youngblood gets his foot on the ropes. Suplex by Jerry gets 2. Abdominal stretch cradle by Jerry gets 2. He argues with Mosca and they shove each other, allowing Youngblood to knock Jerry down. Tag to Steamboat and he cleans house. Tag to Youngblood and they hit a double chop to Jerry. Assisted dropkick to Jerry and Steamboat presses Youngblood onto Jerry for 3!!! The Briscos attack Youngblood and Mosca after the match and Jack grabs the Figure-4 on Steamboat. Jerry goes for a flying dive but Mosca gets in the way to save Steamboat. The new champs clear the ring of the Briscos.
Winners and NEW NWA World Tag Team Champions- Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood ***1/2 (The Briscos pretty much put on a wrestling clinic as their offense was very methodical and they use their amateur backgrounds to try and ground the more high octane challengers. Match had great heat and the Steamboat/Youngblood combo is as great a baby face unit as you are going to get, so both teams essential executes a perfect textbook tag team match. )

Steel Cage Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship- Harley Race © vs. Ric Flair
Gene Kiniski is the guest ref. Flair fires away to start and Race drives a knee to the midsection of Flair. Flair returns the favor and he grabs a chin lock. Race catches Flair with a high knee but he misses the dropping head butt. Flair knocks Race down with a chop for 1 before going to the side head lock. Race battles up and he breaks it up with a suplex for 1. Elbow drop misses and Race blocks a slam for 2. Knee drop by Race and he drives his knee into the neck of Flair. Kiniski pulls him off and Race catches Flair with the pile driver. He drops an elbow for 2. Swinging neck breaker by Race gets 2. Race drives some knees into the neck of Flair again and he sends Flair into the cage. Running powerslam by Race gets 2. Race catches Flair with a head butt and he misses the dropping head butt. Race sends Flair into the cage and Flair is busted open. Race goes after Flair in the corner but Kiniski pulls him back, allowing Flair to get a shot in. Flair works over Race in the corner and Kiniski tries to pull off, allowing Race to catch Flair with a head butt. Flair sends Race into the corner post and Race is busted open. Flair sends Race into the cage and he hits a knee drop. Piledriver by Flair gets 2!!! Butterfly suplex by Flair gets 2. Flair slams Race’s head off the cage and Kiniski and Flair have an argument. Race drives the head butt into the midsection of Flair and he rakes Flair’s head against the cage. Race sends Flair into the cage and Flair comes back with a chop for 2. Flair drops an elbow and he pounds away on Race. Back suplex by Flair and he grabs the Figure-4. Race turns it over, forcing Flair to break. Head butt by Race and he goes for a suplex but Flair blocks for 2. Head butt by Race and he goes up. Diving head butt by Race gets 2. Suplex by Race gets 2. Race pounds Flair on the mat and he hits a knee drop. He steps on the head of Flair but Kiniski pulls him by the hair to create separation. They battle for a suplex and Flair wins that battle. Elbow drop misses and Race goes for a head butt but he misses and nails Kiniski by mistake. Flair fires away and goes up. He catches Race with a crossbody for 3!!!!
Winner and NEW NWA World Heavyweight Champion- Ric Flair ****1/4 ( I’m mixed about Kiniski’s performance as the ref here. I’m OK with the idea of his being a purist to a fault and not wanting to make things too barbaric but he was super slow on making counts and he was out of place for the finish so he took away from the match in many capacities. That being said, this was an awesome match that had the big fight atmosphere. Both men came in with the intention to hurt one another and you saw the fatigue as the match progressed, showing the toll the intensity and brutal nature of the brawl was on them. Hell of a main event and this match cemented Flair as the face of the NWA for the rest of the decade. )

8.5

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

The first Starrcade lived up to all the hype, as it was one hell of a show. The show had some really good wrestling and the two marquee matches were incredible bloodbaths, culminating in the crowning of Ric Flair as the official face of the NWA and Harley passed the torch off to him for good. For the major blowoff show, there was too many instances of guys getting their head back and trying to draw out feuds that should have been settled here, but for the most part the finishes in every match were clean and the booking was solid throughout. This ended being an incredible showcase for the NWA and launch a mega event in pro wrestling that would only be topped by a concept called WrestleMania a few years later. This is one of those every fan should watch type shows and for once, the wrestling on the show lives up to the prestige of the event.