wrestling / Columns
Blast From The Past (Ep. 3): War Games: The Match Beyond
Image Credit: WCW
Hello gang and welcome to the third episode of “Brandon’s Blast from the Past”. I would like to thank everyone from coast to coast for all the wonderful feedback. I enjoy taking a stroll down memory lane with each of you as we analyze and reflect on wrestling’s past. My topic for today was inspired by the resurrection of one of my all-time favorite concepts: War Games: “The Match Beyond”.
A few weeks ago. WWE announced the return of War Games taking place at NXT Takeover on November 18th. This announcement generated a huge buzz throughout social media and brought excitement to many wrestling fans, young and old. As we await the return of War Games on November 18th, let us go back in time and revisit it how it all began…
War Games was the brainchild of the late Dusty Rhodes. He was the booker for the National Wrestling Alliance (Jim Crockett Promotions) in 1987. To those who are unfamiliar with the concept of War Games, here are the rules:
The match is setup with two rings side by side surrounded by a giant steel cage. Doors are placed at the far corners of the ring to prevent the two teams from contacting each other.
The match consists of two teams of four or five wrestlers.
The match begins with one wrestler from each team. After the first five minutes of the contest. A coin toss is held to determine which team will have the temporary advantage.
Every two minutes thereafter, a member of the opposing team will enter the match.
The process continues every two minutes following until all members of each team have entered the ring.
When all members of each team have entered the ring. The “War Games” can officially begin.
The only way to win the match is by making your opponent submit or surrender. No pin falls. No count-outs or disqualifications.
The match was a culmination of Rhodes’ long rivalry with “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. The two men had many battles over the NWA World Heavyweight Championship over the years. Ric Flair and the Four Horseman were running roughshod over Dusty Rhodes and the top babyface of JCP during this time. The only way to settle the score was to go to war (literately). Dusty Rhodes formed “The Dream Team” with Nikita Koloff along with The Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal), and their manager Paul Ellering to battle The Four Horsemen, consisting of Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Lex Luger, Tully Blanchard and J.J. Dillon.
This matchup would take place at the 1987 “Great American Bash”, as part of their July tour as a special attraction. The match, as you are about to see below, did not disappoint. Let’s take a look!
The inaugural War Games match took place at “The Omni” in Atlanta, Georgia. The Great American Bash became the last closed circuit televised event under the JCP banner, as the promotion would begin airing their events on Pay-Per-View starting with Starrcade 1987 later on. The match began with “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson and the “American Dream” Dusty Rhodes. This would surely test the endurance and durability of these men. Anderson became the first victim as he began to bleed early on and would set the tone for what we would witness throughout the War Games. Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone provided commentary. Ross and Schiavone were on their game and did a tremendous job of selling the match and generating a level of excitement that would make any fan be on the edge of their seat.
This match would prove to not be for the feint of heart. A lot of bloodshed occurred, as to be expected. Arn Anderson, Dusty Rhodes, Tully Blanchard, Ric Flair, Animal and J.J. Dillon all suffered lacerations. The story told throughout the match was all about the advantage game. Naturally, the Four Horsemen won the coin toss and had the upper hand throughout the match. The crowd was very excited and were loving every second of the carnage and mayhem. The camera work and production was what you would expect at this time during the pre Ted Turner era for the NWA (WCW). The production value may not have been up to par with WWF(E), but the camera shots and the wide shot of the double ring setup was amazing for the time.
I loved the art of wrestlers using the steel cage. The steel cage was used as a weapon in many forms. This is something that I feel is a lost cause in today’s generation. During those days, when wrestlers competed inside the steel cage you knew it was not going to end well. You didn’t need to use weapons or foreign objects. The cage was your one and only weapon used to inflict pain and suffering to your adversary. The sight of seeing Tully Blanchard being catapulted numerous times into the cage by Road Warrior Animal was a nice spot. The more bodies that entered the fray, the more chaotic the match would become.
There were a few spots that stood out to me in the match. The first of which was Nikita Koloff suffering a Spike Piledriver not once but twice to inflict major damage to his already injured neck, as made mention by Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone. The second one was seeing J.J. Dillon being brutalized by Paul Ellering and The Road Warriors. Paul [Ellering] driving a spiked wristband into the forehead of Dillon to open him up was a unique touch to add to the match. How about J.J. Dillon being turned inside out by Hawk and Animal after a “Doomsday Device” that resulted in Dillon surrendering? They played off the injury suffered here to J.J. Dillon in the follow-up rematch a couple weeks later in Miami, Florida, as Dillon was replaced by “The War Machine” (a.k.a. Big Bubba Rogers/Big Bossman). J.J. Dillon was very underrated and became the star of the whole match, as he took the most brutality and truly demonstrated what exactly the War Games can do to you when the smoke had cleared and the dust settled.
Over the years, the War Games became a big part of WCW’s legacy until its dying days in 2001. Even though the match concept would become watered down starting with the “Fall Brawl” era due to failed gimmicks, lack of blood, and silly booking decisions. The War Games had a special charm that resonated with fans and left a lasting impression that someday would be reborn on a major platform under the WWE umbrella. Fast forward to 2017. A new generation of wrestling fans will be witnessing the War Games for the first time, or reliving the nostalgia concept all over again for hardcore wrestling fans.
As we are left to ponder how WWE will deliver the goods for the latest installment of “The Match Beyond”. We can all take a look back at memories past and relive the origins of war.
“Get a dream, hold on to it and shoot for the sky.” – “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes.
