Hi Scott,
First Time, Long Time, Yada. I have a question that I have wondered about for a while.
Going into Starrcade 89 the NWA was on an awesome hot streak. Yet, as we all know they decided to run the Iron Man Tournament instead of a normal wrestling card. I know part of it was to set up Sting - Flair but there were a million ways to do that. That being said how do you they should have booked the event? I think they should of waited on the Flair/Funk I Quit and done it here but as a kid and getting to see that match live on Free TV is on of my favorite wrestling moments, so I will let it slide and that match has already happened and Funk is "Retired".
This is what I was thinking, let me know your thoughts.
Flair v Muta - World Title vs. Undefeated Streak. - Flair wins.
Sting v Luger - US Title - Luger wins, pulls tights, feet on the ropes, something like that
Steiners v LOD - World Tag Titles - Steiners win
MXE V Doom - Pick Em - Double Count out, DQ, whatever.
Pillman, Zenk, Gilbert v. The SST - 6 Man - SST but the youngsters put up a hell of fight.
Steve Williams v Dan Spivey - Williams wins.
- Some filler featuring Rich, Rotunda, stulliva, freebirds, Dynamic Dudes, etc. -
I know the under card leaves a bit to be desired but it wasn't until the next year they really started to bring in some younger talent. I would of loved to use Cactus Jack (v. Pillman - where Pillman gets mauled but fights back and proves his toughness) even though he was only there for a cup of coffee prior to 91, Gordy and Steamboat had already left, Sid had a punctured lung, Mean Mark wasn't there yet, etc.
We can then move into 1990 and hope that Sting's patella stays in one place.
Thanks in advance. Keep up the great work.
Ed
Tricky. Honesty, I would have run with Luger-Flair with the switched heel-face dynamic from the year before, so that Flair could get his big win to set up the Sting feud, and then let Sting end Muta's undefeated streak and get his revenge for good. The rest looks fine, because as you noted the roster was getting really thin by that point. Maybe instead of MX v. Doom, we could run MX v. Dudes in a gimmick match to blow that feud off instead.
It's actually a tough card to make fit into that period, what with booking upheavals and suchlike.
Doesn't matter who, they just needed to get the belt off the black hole of heat that was Ric Flair. Sting may have been too soon, so maybe have Muta go over for the belt, keep his streak, and then set up Muta(still undefeated) vs Sting for GAB 91.
ReplyDeleteMy god I want to see that hypothetical Pillman-Cactus match
ReplyDeleteWould've or would have, not would of. Drives me apeshit
ReplyDeleteI think Flair was overrated
ReplyDeletebut no way you can say he was a black hole of heat
Luger over Sting does nothing for anyone. Sting was the man at that point, and it was time to go that route. With better booking, his first reign would've been fine.
ReplyDeleteI had no issue with the booking of Starrcade '89, frankly. It wasn't great, but it was fine.
What booking upheavals? That didn't take place until May.
ReplyDeleteFlair/Muta would have been very logical, and branching off from the recent Ryback discussion, Streak vs. Title has some value. There's a stake where something significant happens no matter who wins. A change is guaranteed. Sting and Luger could have fought for the next title shot (creative booking could have had Sting win without switching the US title--maybe Luger finds a contract loop-hole which says he doesn't have to defend the gold that night). Every combination of outcomes would have led to an interesting match. Even Muta/Luger would have had some potential if Muta turned face as part of the angle and played his finesse and martial arts skills against Luger's raw power.
ReplyDeleteOf course Sting's patella was what really ruined everything but if they'd kept Muta strong they wouldn't have had to derail the train further with the Luger face turn. Maybe Muta turns face out of respect for Sting and fills in by rematching Flair with the face/heel dynamic switched. The Clash cage match showed that fans would cheer Muta over the suddenly mega-heel Flair. He could have easily consolidated the turn by quitting J-Tex and winning a mini-feud against Sawyer and The Dragonmaster.
Of course he would have needed a mouthpiece. How about Paul Ellering? He could have said he has a history of working with face-painted lunatics who hate Ric Flair. It could come together organically enough with a Road Warriors/Muta vs. J-Tex (Sawyer/DM/Dick Slater) match, blowing off the feud and establishing the new alliance.
ReplyDeleteThe NWA had a hot summer in 1989, but the rest of the year business wise was pretty rough. This show -- a show featuring every main eventer against every other main eventer -- did a lower than average buyrate. Seems like the really blew their load in terms of potential future matchups for a Wednesday evening PPV by giving away so much.
ReplyDeleteI like it. Sting beating Muta, with Muta going face after losing the streak. Flair beating Luger. Freebirds vs MXE?
ReplyDeletenot in 89.
ReplyDeleteId go for 93-94 thats a better program
a part time World Champion?!?!
ReplyDeleteVince? Is that you?
And Im assuming you mean GAB 90, not 91 or maybe you want Muta to be champ for a year and a half
ReplyDeleteNot trying to be a dick but its MX, not MXE
ReplyDeleteThat drives me nuts.
You're right, I wasn't even thinking of the year, just really liked that idea.
ReplyDeleteI loved Flair's promos and out of the ring escapades more than his matches. He had a few I loved, especially early on such as Steamboat(pick one, they're all great), his Clash match with Sting, and a few others. But by the time he got to the WWF and beyond, I was bored with his ring work. It was still good, but it was more or less the same formula so that any one could be plugged in and do okay. I own both Flair sets the WWE released, and to be honest, the extras and interview bits got more attention than the matches, unless it was one I didn't remember seeing. I know alot of people's favorite saying is he could wrestle a broomstick to a three-star match with his formula, but it's still a broomstick.
ReplyDeleteThe easiest thing to do to make Starrcade 89 better is hold off the blowoff of the Funk/Flair feud a month. Why did they blow off the best feud of the near on free TV? They could have done Flair/Funk at the Clash of Champions in November as just a straight up match, then go to the "I Quit" stip for Starrcade, or just do a contract signing in November for the match in December. Funk was a crazy awesome heel and Flair was great in his babyface roll, the heat between them was amazing and saving the "I Quit" match for Starrcade would have made a world of difference.
ReplyDeletei love the idea.
ReplyDelete89 pillman was awesome but had no psychology
jack was nothing takin stupid bumps for mil mascaras.
at least by 93-94 they had established characters and get some emotional connections to. so at least the bumps mean something.
otherwise thats a great matchup.
I agree
ReplyDeletethats a long stretch for flair to be winning.
ReplyDeleteflair got piledriven in may iirc, sat out til gab 89 til july... and won.
then they had the tag match at havoc 89... and won
imo in order to flair/funk i quit at starrcade, funk should have won the world title in the interim.
jvc113 said something that intrigued me so im gonna expound on booking the flair/funk program.
ReplyDelete-Flair wins the title back from Steamboat, Funk challenges, Flair refuses and get piledriven.
-Flair sits out and swears revenge at GAB 89, but loses after Funk goes after the neck.
-Flair is unsuccessful in getting his revenge because of the J-Tex, so he brings back the Andersons to even the odds.
-Flair and the Andersons are outnumbered by J-Tex (with Muta) so Sting (who is feuding with Muta) comes down to even it all out. Sting becomes a Horsemen.
-Sting/Flair team up to face Funk/Muta at Havoc.
-Flair does the Iquit stip for starrcade at Clash 9
-Flair beats Funk at Starrcade, then turns on Sting as Horsemen celebrate in the ring.
I would have loved to see a Hollywood Blondes-Jack/Sullivan fued.
ReplyDeleteStarrcade 1989 is the equivalent of Wrestlemania 16 --- in an otherwise great year of wrestling for a company, their biggest show is a curious letdown
ReplyDeleteLove it! To follow that scenario, Sting wins the belt from Flair, clean at the next big show.
ReplyDeleteYeah, good call. Not sure where MXE thing came from.
ReplyDeletesXe?
ReplyDeleteI never understood why Sting and Flair won the tag match at Havoc if they were going to continue the feud, even the one match at the Clash. Muta and Funk should've won that match to set up the finale. I agree, though, they should have blown off the feud at Starrcade.
ReplyDeleteDude Love vs. Pillman! Nothing could go wrong booking a match like that, right?
ReplyDeleteFlair/Funk I Quit is the most overrated match of all time. Bring on the downvotes.
ReplyDeleteHollywood Blonde Pillman vs Babyface Cactus Jack after the feud with Vader.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The Funk/Flair I Quit is a good match, but the GAB 1989 match is all kinds of awesome. Perfect atmopshere and it just feels like both guys are out for blood. The I Quit match loses a little steam for me angle wise too, because of Funk's whole "I'll shake your hand, you salty dog" thing. I think it gets the nod for a lot of people due to the fact that they saw it first instead of the GAB 1989 match.
ReplyDeleteStick an ending the GAB 1989 match and it's an easy ***** IMO.
Took me a few minutes until I got it. Bravo sir.
ReplyDeleteTotal nonsense.
ReplyDeleteBlack hole of heat? What in the HELL are you talking about? The crowd went wild for him as a face from May '89 until he turned back to heel in Feb. '90. Give me a break!
ReplyDeleteHow is my opinion total nonsense, ya know just being my opinion and all?
ReplyDeleteFlair is one of those people you get an automatic thumbs down for badmouthing no matter how valid your points are, just like some people still defend Benoit.
ReplyDeletePossibly, I just thought it was about my comment sense it was as a reply to me instead of the original comment. If that's the case then that's cool.
ReplyDeleteToo soon???
ReplyDeleteMost Extreme Elimination Challenge.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed. I was at that Wrestlemania and it was a huge letdown. Strange, considering Royal Rumble, No Way Out, Backlash, and Judgment Day were tremendous.
ReplyDeleteMuta went back to New Japan in January, WCW only had him 'on loan' for seasoning. Go watch Bash '89 and see what a black hole of heat Flair was. And really, you use Starrcade '89 to set up Bash '91? NINTEEN months later? Get a grip, son.
ReplyDeleteThanks for answering my email!! Reading this and thinking about it makes a lot of sense to flip the matches so we don't neuter Sting and he gets to blow off his feud with Muta. Then Flair could use the returning Andersons to help him beat Luger and set up the impending Horsemen angle with Sting. Also, I agree I should have put Dudes against the MXE with Cornette hanging in a cage over the ring.
ReplyDeleteSee, now people who say "fantasy booking is soooo gay" should pump their breaks. I see nothing wrong with this sort of "broadstrokes" approach to outlining a story arc. They do it all the time in every other story-writing endeavor. Bravo, sir
ReplyDelete