1989 was a very interesting year for the NWA. First of all, they were in transition after their buyout by Ted Turner. Now known as World Championship Wrestling, the company looked much different than it did in 1988. First of all, the absences of Dusty Rhodes, Arn Anderson, Barry Windham and Tully Blanchard, all of whom jumped ship to the WWF, really put a hurtin' on the company. For the first time in almost four years, Ric Flair had to defend his title without the aid of the Four Horseman. Despite this fact, Ric Flair went on to have probably the best year of his career in 1989. He spent the first half of the year in a feud with Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, one that is considered by many to be the best in both men's career. The two wrestled some of the greatest matches ever witnessed around the country, with the best of the lot being right here at Wrestle War '89.

With the absence of the many WWF defectants, other superstars were given a chance to shine. Guys like Sting, Lex Luger, and the Steiner Brothers all rose to superstardome in 1989-90. These guys, along with Ric Flair would be the company's most loyal superstars until it's demise in the spring of 2001. Despite the fact that these superstars were given a chance to make a name for themselves, they were still young and had a lot to learn. 1989 would not go down as one of the best in NWA/WCW's history. First of all, the storylines were pretty weak throughout the year, with the exception of Ric Flair's feuds with Steamboat and Terry Funk later in the year. In fact, most of the matches at Wrestle War '89 are pretty weak. Only the World Title match between Flair and Steamboat and the US Heavyweight Title match between Lex Luger and Michael Hayes are decent enough to be remembered. However, this does not mean that this tape is not worth purchasing. Just the Steamboat-Flair match alone is worth twice the price of this video. That match, which was PWI's Match of the Year in 1989, is considered by many to be the greatest match ever wrestled.

After all is said in done, this will not go down as one of the most well-rounded wrestling events of all time. It will, however, be remembered for it's main event of all main events, which pitted two of the greatest superstars to ever step inside the squared circle. And while most of the other matches pail in comparison to this one, they are still worth taking a look at, as many of those superstars in those matches would go on to shape the wrestling world of the 1990's.

Match Listing

1. Great Muta vs Doug Gilbert: This match was a decent opening match that was mainly used to put over Muta, who was an unknown in the states at that time. He would go on to become one of the greatest wrestlers to ever come out of Japan. I believe that he could have been even greater in the US than he was if he had been given the chance. He would go on to wrestle off and on for NWA/WCW until it's end.

2. Butch Reed vs Ranger Ross: This is another squash match used to put over the big man, Butch Reed, who had just come from a decent run in the WWF. Reed had taken part in the main event of the WWF Survivor Series 1987 and was involved in the huge 14-man tournament for the World Title at Wrestlemania IV, only to be beaten out by Randy Savage, who would go on to win the Title. This was just the beginning for Reed in WCW, as he would go on to become one half of Doom, along with Ron Simmons(Farooq). Doom would wipe the floor with most of WCW's tag teams in the early 1990's. Ranger Ross was basically a Sgt SLaughter/Cpl Kirchner wannabe who never won many matches. The fans only cheered him because he was a "former Army Ranger" and carried a US flag.

3. Bull Rope Match=> Cpt. Redneck vs Bob Orton: This match is a bit sloppy and is basically just one big brawl. But I guess that is what you would expect from a bullrope match. It pales in comparison with some of the ones that Dusty Rhodes was involve in a few year before. Capt Redneck is the infamous Dick Murdoch. Bob Orton is that guy with the cast on his arm for two years in the WWF in the mid 1980's who seconded "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and "Mr Wonderful" Paul Orndorff in the main event of Wrestlemania I. Oh yeah, he is also current WWE superstar Randy Orton's father. He was a decent wrestler, but his best days were behind him at this point--same with Murdoch.

4. Dynamic Dudes vs Samoan Swat Team: This was actually a pretty good tag team match. The Dynamic Dudes are future multiple time ECW Champion Shane Diuglas and current WWE booker Johnny Ace(also brother of Road Warrior Animal). The Samoan Swat Team was the team of Samu and Fatu(Rikishi), who would go on to become the Headshrinkers in the WWF in the early 1990's. This tag match is better than the two title tag matches later in the evening.

5. US title=> Lex Luger vs Michael Hayes: This is definitely the second best match of the evening. Luger, although he had a bad rap his last few years in the ring as being stiff and untalented, was a hungry young wrestler back in these days. He could put on a good match when needed. The fans loved him, and he was truly the "Total Package" back then. Michael P.S. Hayes, one half of the legendary Fabulous Freebirds tag team, along with Jimmy "Jam" Garvin, was wrestling as a singles wrestler during this time. These two put on a spectacular match. The ending is one of the better finishes I have seen.

6. TV Title=> Sting vs Iron Sheik: Sting was in the midst of his first title run in WCW. He would go on to win the US Title and then the WCW Heavyweight Title before the end of 1990. Sting was the most faithful wrestler WCW ever had, as he stayed with the company from 1987 to it's end in 2001. Unfortunately, this is not the match to see if you want to see what a good Sting match looks like. While the Iron Sheik will go down as one of the all time legends in professional wrestling, his best days were but a distant memory in 1989. The former WWF Heavyweight and Tag Team Champion still was actually still pretty fit and agile for being 50 years old, but he was still but a shell of his former self. He would go on to have one more run in the WWF as Col. Mustafa, seconding Sgt Slaughter to the ring during his pro-Iraq storyline. If you want to see a good Sting match from this time period, try and get your hands on a copy of his classic match with Flair at the first Clash of the Champions, or even his match with Butch Reed from the Chi-town Rumble in 1989.

7. WCW Title=> Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat: This match is THE match of the year, and maybe of all time. While Steamboat and Flair had probably over 1000 matches against each other in their 16 year+ feud, this is the crown jewel of the Flair-Steamboat chapter in wrestling history. These two seem to flow like water. Their ring knowledge, agility, smootness, and endurance are second to none. While Flair was already 40 years old, he could have run circles around most guys half his age. This match just makes you sit back and watch in awe, as two of the sports all time greats take it to each other like there is no tomorrow. HHH readily acknowledges this match as the one that put his love of wrestling in him and made him want to become a professional wrestler. I cannot stress enough that this match alone is worth any pricetag that you will find on this video. That is, unless you are a huge Ric Flair fan and want to purchase the Ultimate Ric Flair Collection, a three-disc DVD set put out by the WWE in 2003.

8. Tag Team Titles=>Road Warriors vs Steve Williams/Mike Rotunda: This match was not too bad, but considering it involves probably the greatest tag team ever, The Road Warriors, it does not nearly do them justice. "Dr Death" Steve Williams and Mike Rotunda(IRS in the WWF) were part of the "infamous" Varsity Club. They were basically a group of jocks who wore letter jackets to the ring and wrestled in NCAA wrestling gear. They were a decent enough group, but they did not last too long.

9. US Tag Team Titles=> Eddie Gilbert/Rick Steiner vs Dan Spivey/Kevin Sullivan: This match ends up in all out chaos, as outside wrestlers get involved in the match, and guest referee Nikita Koloff has to fend them off. Dan Spivey wrestled for the WWF for a short time in the mid '80's, most notably taking part in the gigantic 20 man WWF/NFL battle royal at Wrestlemania 2. He gained most of his notoriety wrestling in his home state of Florida. Kevin Sullivan is most famous for his devil-worshipping gimmick and his brutal matches with the likes of Abdullah the Butcher and Carlos Colon. He would go on later to help make a name for Chris Benoit in WCW with a great feud between the two in 1996-97. "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert was a very talented wrestler who also gained most of notoriety in Flaorida. Rick Steiner, of course, would later in the year join up with his brother, Scott, and the two would go on to be THE tag team of the 1990's. For all of the talent thrown into this big mix, the results are not as good as they should have been.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older