NWA Power Hour – 1989 Results

6/23/89 – debut episode:
The Road Warriors vs. the Samoan Swat Team
Ranger Ross & Scott Hall vs. NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin
Terry Funk vs. Ricky Santana

6/30/89 – hosted by Jim Ross & Jim Cornette; included a Wrestling News Network segment hosted by Gordon Solie who hyped NWA World Champion Ric Flair’s decision the next day to either retire or resume his career, with Solie then wishing the WWF’s Jake Roberts a speedy recovery from neck surgery; featured a Funk’s Grill segment with Terry Funk welcoming NWA US Champion Lex Luger, with the two mocking Flair and Ricky Steamboat and both men agreeing to give each other a World Title shot once they beat Flair for the title; included NWA TV Champion Sting being named the Wrestler of the Week:
NWA TV Champion Sting pinned Ron Simmons at 6:46 with a roll up after a Stinger Splash to Simmons’ back
Brian Pillman & Ricky Santana defeated Jeff James & Al Greene at 4:11 when Pillman pinned James after a splash off the top onto James’ back (Pillman’s TV debut)
Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey (w/ Teddy Long) defeated George South & Trent Knight at 4:49 when Spivey pinned Knight with a powerbomb (debut of Skyscrapers as a team)
Steve Williams, Eddie Gilbert, & Rick Steiner fought Terry Gordy & NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin to a double disqualification at 13:23 when all six wrestlers brawled in the ring and then out onto the arena floor, with Gilbert chasing the Freebirds away with a steel chair before he was helped to the back by his partners

7/7/89 – Jim Ross provided sole commentary for the show:
Scott Steiner (w/ Rick Steiner) vs. the Bounty Hunter
Tommy Rich vs. Jim Bryant
Brian Pillman, Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace defeated Bill Irwin, Rip Morgan & Jack Victory at 13:33 when Pillman pinned Irwin with a springboard sunset flip as the other four men fought in the ring

7/14/89 – hosted by Jim Ross & Jim Cornette, with Ross providing sole commentary; featured Gordon Solie hosting the Wrestling News Network in which he mentioned the feud in Calgary between the former British Bulldogs, the return of the Olympians to the AWA after injuries from the Destruction Crew, the Ringlords facing the MOD Squad in the Atlantic Coast, and Robert Gibson’s new tag team partner being Sam Houston; included the Weekly Top 10 rankings: 10) Tommy Rich, 9) Dick Murdoch, 8) Eddie Gilbert, 7) Steve Williams, 6) Terry Gordy, 5) the Great Muta, 4) Terry Funk, 3) NWA TV Champion Sting, 2) NWA US Champion Lex Luger, 1) Ricky Steamboat; Solie closed the segment by saying he personally thought Luger should not give Steamboat a No DQ match at the Great American Bash:
Ricky Steamboat pinned Jack Victory with the crossbody off the top at 9:55 (7/4/89; Fayetteville, NC)
Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey (w/ Teddy Long) vs. two unknowns (7/4/89; Fayetteville, NC)
The Road Warriors fought Terry Gordy & NWA Tag Team Champion Jimmy Garvin (sub. for the Samoan Swat Team) (w/ NWA Tag Team Champion Michael Hayes) to a no contest in a steel cage match at around the 8-minute mark when the SST and Paul E. Dangerously came ringside, with the SST holding referee Tommy Young for Hayes to open the cage door with Young’s keys; prior to the bout, Jim Ross conducted an interview with Paul E. Dangerously, in which Dangerously said he didn’t know where the Samoans were and they were supposed to catch a flight; as Dangerously spoke, the crowd chanted “Bullshit;” Dangerously then said the Freebirds had accepted the match and the Samoans would get their hands on the Road Warriors in the Wargames; after the bout, Road Warrior Animal was handcuffed to the ropes as Road Warrior Hawk was repeatedly rammed into the cage and busted open; Fatu then rubbed Hawk’s blood on Animal as the Freebirds fought off enhancement wrestlers that tried to make the save; Hawk was later taken backstage on a stretcher (7/6/89; Marietta, GA)

7/21/89

7/18/89; Amarillo, TX; Civic Center
7/28/89 – featured Norman as a guest of Funk’s Grill:
Dan Spivey vs. Johnny Rich
Scott Hall & Ranger Ross vs. Rip Morgan & Jack Victory
Tommy Rich fought Eddie Gilbert to a draw

7/31/89; New Orleans, LA; Municipal Auditorium
8/4/89 – featured an opening introduction by Jim Cornette, with scenes from downtown New Orleans; included Jim Ross on commentary; featured a segment of the Wrestling News Network hosted by Gordon Solie in which he announced Ricky Steamboat had left the NWA and cited it to Steamboat needing foot surgury; Solie then discussed Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard had won the WWF Tag Team Titles, Eric Embry’s feud with PY Chu Hi in WCCW, and then introduced the Top 10 rankings: #10: Eddie Gilbert, #9: Tommy Rich, #8: Sid Vicious, #7: Dan Spivey, #6: Mike Rotunda, #5: Steve Williams, #4: the Great Muta, #3: Terry Funk, #2: NWA TV Champion Sting, and #1: NWA US Champion Lex Luger; Solie then discussed why Luger had been insulting Rich upon Rich’s return to the NWA; included a “Fan-Scan Camera” with a fan cutting a promo on Funk and saying NWA World Champion Ric Flair was the best thing going today; featured a segment of Funk’s Grill with Norman & Teddy Long as the guests, with Norman & Long saying they didn’t want to hear the “L” word and Funk offering to change Norman’s name if he could pass his test; after Funk drew pictures and Norman correctly guessed what they were, Funk officially changed his name to Norman the Maniac; included a closing announcement that Sting & Gilbert would face Rip Morgan & Jack Victory the next night on World Championship Wrestling:
Eddie Gilbert (w/ Missy Hyatt) pinned the Bounty Hunter with the Hot Shot at 8:01; during the bout, Rick Steiner joined Hyatt at ringside with a box of popcorn; it was noted during the match that the following week’s show would follow World Championship Wrestling and Gilbert would face the Great Muta; after the bout, Steiner celebrated with Gilbert in the ring
Scott Steiner pinned Rip Morgan at 9:00 with the Frankensteiner, with the legs under the arms instead of around the head; during the bout, it was noted the Danger Zone on World Championship Wrestling would feature NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin as guests
Sting & Steve Williams defeated Terry Funk (w/ Gary Hart) & Terry Gordy via disqualification at 11:43 when Sting attacked an interfering Hart; during the bout, the crowd chanted “Funk ain’t shit;” it was noted during the bout that a member of the Road Warriors would face a member of the Samoan Swat Team the following week; after the bout, Williams dropped Gordy with a gorilla press slam as Sting hoisted Hart up in the air with a choke; moments later, Funk struck Sting with his branding iron, with Williams then taking the weapon and clearing the ring as NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin appeared ringside; Hayes & Garvin climbed up on the ring apron and faced off with Sting & Williams before the commercial break

8/1/89; Baton Rouge, LA; Centroplex
8/12/89 – Saturday night showing; hosted by Jim Ross & Jim Cornette, with Ross providing sole commentary; featured Rick & Scott Steiner as guests of Funk’s Grill:
Mike Rotunda pinned Shane Douglas at 8:58 with an inside cradle as Douglas climbed back into the ring, moments after Rotunda tossed Douglas over the top rope behind the referee’s back; prior to the bout, Rotunda took the mic, mocked the injury to Johnny Ace, and said he would give Rotunda his letter jacket if the referee catches him using an illegal blow in the contest; during the bout, it was noted Ace would be out a few weeks with a broken cheekbone
Eddie Gilbert defeated the Great Muta (w/ Gary Hart) in a No DQ match at 7:14 by pinning an interfering Hart with a crossbody off the top; Missy Hyatt escorted Gilbert to the ring before the bout; following the entrances, Muta grabbed Missy on the ring apron and sprayed green mist in her face; moments later, Rick & Scott Steiner came out and helped Missy backstage as Gilbert attacked Muta; Tommy Rich appeared ringside at the 3-minute mark to support Gilbert; late in the contest, Rich chased Hart into the ring, with Muta spraying Rich in the face with red mist; after the bout, Muta sprayed green mist in Gilbert’s face and left the ring
Road Warrior Hawk (w/ Paul Ellering) pinned Samu (w/ Paul E. Dangerously) at 9:10 after hitting him with Dangerously’s phone behind the referee’s back, moments after Dangerously gave the weapon to Samu to use; after the contest, Samu argued with Dangerously about the loss, destroyed the phone, and left the ring alone

8/14/89; Charleston, WV; Civic Center
8/18/89 – hosted by Jim Ross & Jim Cornette, with Ross providing sole commentary; featured Teddy Long & Norman as guests of Funk’s Grill:
Sting pinned Ron Simmons at 10:48 with a roll up after avoiding a suplex into the ring
NWA World Champion Ric Flair defeated the Cuban Assassin via submission with the figure-4 at 5:07
NWA US Champion Lex Luger pinned Tommy Rich at 12:34 by sliding through the ropes and putting his feet on the middle rope during the cover

8/15/89; Cleveland, OH; Convention Center
8/25/89 – hosted by Jim Ross & Jim Cornette, with Ross providing sole commentary; featured Teddy Long & Norman as guests of Funk’s Grill:
Brian Pillman vs. Jerry Price
Tommy Rich pinned the Cuban Assassin at 10:00 with a roll up after avoiding a splash off the top; late in the bout, the crowd chanted “Boring”
NWA US Champion Lex Luger pinned Brad Armstrong at 13:58 after catching the challenger coming off the top and hitting a powerslam, then hitting a second powerslam; Armstrong’s foot was on the ropes during the cover until Luger knocked it off

8/15/89; Cleveland, OH; Convention Center
9/1/89 – featured the Road Warriors as guests of Funk’s Grill:
The Cuban Assassin vs. Greg Evans
Tommy Rich vs. Bill Irwin
Sting defeated the Great Muta (w/ Gary Hart) via disqualification at 13:51 when Hart pulled Sting over the top rope as Sting punched at Muta in the corner

9/8/89

9/15/89

9/22/89 – included Jim Ross & Cornette on commentary; featured a Wrestling News Network segment with Gordon Solie in which Solie discussed Terry Funk being suspended from wrestling and fined by the NWA for his actions at the Clash of the Champions; Solie then said the Samoan Swat Team had disappeared following the Clash, NWA TV Champion the Great Muta was named the top wrestler by the Japan press, and Robin Green showed her true colors at the Clash; included the NWA Weekly Top 10 rankings: 10) Tom Zenk, 9) Norman, 8) Steve Williams, 7) Sid Viscious, 6) Dan Spivey, 5) Tommy Rich, 4) Brian Pillman, 3) Sting, 2) Muta, and 1) NWA US Champion Lex Luger; featured an ad promoting the 1989 Great American Bash VHS; included a segment of Funk’s Grill in which Funk, his arm in a sling, stood beside Gary Hart and blamed Jim Herd for suspending him and fining him $100,000; Hart then questioned why Herd didn’t fine and suspend NWA World Champion Ric Flair as Funk showed off his heavily stitched arm; Funk said he wouldn’t apologize for putting the plastic bag over Flair’s head but told the kids watching not to do it; featured highlights of Luger vs. Rich, Steiners vs. Freebirds, and Flair & Sting vs. Muta & Dick Slater matches from the Clash:
NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin defeated Bobby & Jackie Fulton at 5:17 when Hayes pinned Bobby after Garvin hit the DDT behind the referee’s back as the challenger had Hayes in an abdominal stretch
Ranger Ross pinned Bill Ford with the Combat Kick at 2:28; during the bout, it was noted Brian Pillman would face Eddie Gilbert on World Championship Wrestling and Bobby Eaton would face Dick Slater the next night on The Main Event
Rick Steiner (w/ Robin Green) pinned Norman (w/ Teddy Long) at around the 8-minute mark with a release back suplex after Norman became distracted by Robin on the ring apron

9/18/89; Roanoke, VA; Civic Center
9/29/89 – hosted by Jim Ross & Jim Cornette; featured the Shane Dogulas & Johnny Ace vs. Jack Victory & Rip Morgan match from the 9/23/89 Worldwide; included a segment of the Wrestling News Network in which Gordon Solie said NWA World Champion Ric Flair would make an announcement regarding Terry Funk, Scott Steiner is back in action, Robin Greene would explain her actions, Jake Roberts was back in action and seeking revenge on Ted Dibiase, and noted the passing of Edouardo Perez; featured the Weekly Top 10 rankings: 10) Tom Zenk, 9) Norman, 8) Steve Williams, 7) Sid Vicious, 6) Dan Spivey, 5) Tommy Rich, 4) Brian Pillman, 3) Sting, 2) NWA TV Champion the Great Muta, and 1) NWA US Champion Lex Luger; included a segment of Funk’s Grill in which Funk noted he was suspended and fined $100,000 and then told the kids “no” before telling the NWA he wouldn’t pay their fine; Gary Hart then walked in and offered to fly Flair first-class to Amarillo so he could fight it out with Funk man to man; Funk said he loved the idea because it would mean either he or Flair would have to quit:
NWA World Champion Ric Flair pinned Bill Irwin at 7:19 with a backslide in a non-title match; the commentary noted it was non-title but the ring announcer announced Flair as “still” world champion when it ended
NWA TV Champion the Great Muta (w/ Gary Hart) pinned Dick Murdoch at 13:39 after Dick Slater appeared ringside, moments after Murdoch punched Hart off the apron, and struck Murdoch over the head behind the referee’s back with the cast on his arm; during the bout, it was noted Slater would face NWA World Champion Ric Flair and Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace would face NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin on The Main Event; it was also noted Sting would face Muta Oct. 8 at the Omni, with Hart in a cage

9/25/89; Johnstown, PA; Cambria County War Memorial Arena
10/6/89 – included Jim Ross & Jim Cornette on commentary:
Road Warrior Animal (w/ Paul Ellering) pinned Jack Victory (w/ Rip Morgan) at 5:08 after hitting a double clothesline to both Victory and an interfering Morgan; during the bout, Teddy Long, with Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey, cut an insert promo on his men facing the Road Warriors at Halloween Havoc

10/13/89

10/9/89; West Palm Beach, FL; Auditorium
10/20/89 – featured Jim Ross & Jim Cornette on commentary:
NWA TV Champion the Great Muta (w/ Gary Hart) pinned Eddie Gilbert at around the 15-minute mark with a spin kick to the face as the challenger re-entered the ring, moments after Gilbert punched Hart in the face on the floor; during the closing moments of the bout, Gilbert hit the Hot Shot and went for the cover but Hart put Muta’s leg on the bottom rope to break the count

10/27/89

10/24/89; Little Rock, AR; Barton Coliseum
11/3/89 – featured an opening introduction by Jim Cornette; included Jim Ross & Cornette on commentary; featured a segment of the Wrestling News Network, hosted by Gordon Solie from backstage at Halloween Havoc in which Solie ran down the results from each match at the show; featured the announcement that Stan Lane & Bobby Eaton would face Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace at the Clash of the Champions; included an ad promoting the NWA Hotline; featured a segment of Funk’s Grill, with guest via satellite NWA World Champion Ric Flair; Funk told Flair to quit while he was ahead and saying he didn’t want Flair’s belt or money but rather his pride, and he would take that from him at the Clash; Flair went on to remind Funk that he would have to shake Flair’s hand if Flair won the match, with Funk saying he would never do that; included the closing announcement that Saturday’s World Championship Wrestling would feature a flag match between Ranger Ross and the Cuban Assassin and Doom would be in action, the Main Event would have Brian Pillman vs. Bill Irwin vs. Eddie Gilbert vs. the Assassin in a $5,000 match and Pillman vs. Mike Rotundo, and the following week’s show would have Dick Murdoch vs. NWA US Champion Lex Luger and NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin would appear on Funk’s Grill:
Steve Williams pinned Rude Dog with the Oklahoma Stampede at 3:33; during the match, Teddy Long appeared ringside to watch Williams
NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin defeated Tommy Rich & Ranger Ross at around the 15:30 mark when Hayes pinned Ross with the DDT
The Samoan Savage & the Samoan Swat Team (w/ Sir Oliver Humperdink) defeated Dick Murdoch, Scott Hall, & Eddie Gilbert at 13:46 when Samu pinned Murdoch after another Samoan hit a headbutt off the top behind the referee’s back as Murdoch had Samu covered

10/30/89; Gainesville, GA; Georgia Mountains Center
11/10/89 – featured an opening introduction by Jim Cornette, wearing a Donald Duck hat; included Jim Ross & Cornette on commentary; featured a segment of the Wrestling News Network hosted by Gordon Solie in which he discussed the upcoming NWA World Champion Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk I Quit match at the Clash of the Champions; included a segment of Funk’s Grill in which Terry Funk said he had a guest (previously announced as NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin) but canceled because he wanted to discuss Solie’s comments earlier in the show, adding Solie was smart to believe Funk would win his upcoming bout against Flair; moments later, Funk brought Solie onto the show with the two talking about the upcoming match; featured a closing segment in which it was announced Dick Murdoch would face NWA US Champion Lex Luger in a rematch the following week and that Saturday’s World Championship Wrestling would have a special 6:00pm start time:
Doom (w/ Woman) defeated Richard Sartain & the Italian Stallion at 4:34 when Sartain was pinned after a catapult / shoulderblock off the top double team
Tommy Rich pinned Norman (w/ Teddy Long) at 4:29 after distracting Norman by giving him back his teddy bear, with a happy Norman laying on the mat and not kicking out when Rich made the cover; prior to the bout, it was announced Tom Zenk & Brian Pillman would face NWA Tag Team Champions Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin the following week; Chris Cruise & Jim Ross provided commentary for the match; after the contest, Norman threatened Long until Long held up the giant key and threatened to lock Norman back up
NWA US Champion Lex Luger fought Dick Murdoch to a double disqualification at 17:51 after both men became physical with referee Nick Patrick; during the bout, it was noted Steve Williams would face Sid Vicious and Tommy Rich would challenge NWA TV Champion the Great Muta the next night as part of World Championship Wrestling, and NWA World Champion Ric Flair would appear; after the bout, Murdoch cleared Luger from the ring

11/17/89

11/24/89

11/20/89; Columbus, OH
12/1/89 – featured Jim Ross & Jim Cornette on commentary; included a Wrestling News Network segment hosted by Gordon Solie in which he discussed the upcoming Iron Man and Iron Team competitions at Starrcade; featured an ad promoting the NWA Hotline; included a segment of Funk’s Grill in which Terry Funk said he was the new co-host of Worldwide, with Chris Cruise, and then brought in Gordon Solie as his guest; Funk said he wanted to be part of Starrcade in the announce team, with Solie saying he was proud of how Funk had transitioned since the Clash of the Champions; moments later, Funk showed off how he would introduce the show at Starrcade, with Solie correcting him each time he made fun of the fans in the introduction:
Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace defeated Rip Rogers & the Avenger at 5:44 when Douglas pinned the Avenger with a crossbody off the top, as Ace held the Avenger in the air; there were chants of “Boring” during the match; Douglas’s crossbody hit Ace more than it hit the Avenger
Kevin Sullivan pinned Ranger Ross at around the 8-minute mark by grabbing the tights for leverage after ramming him into the barricade on the floor; prior to the bout, it was noted Sullivan would join Jim Ross on commentary for World Champinship Wrestling the following night
NWA Tag Team Champions Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Doom (w/ Woman & Nitron) via disqualification in a non-title match at 11:19 after Woman, and then Nitron, entered the ring; after the bout, the two teams continued to fight on the floor, with Rick and Ron Simmons using a steel chair on each other and Scott hitting Butch Reed with a chair on the opposite side of the ring; moments later, Reed dropped Scott with a piledriver on the floor

12/8/89

12/15/89

12/22/89

12/29/89