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Text By Simon RawlsWhat if...Ric Flair helped Dusty Rhodes after the cage match?
Part IV
August-September 1986
The Bash is finally over, but the action in the NWA is as hot as the August sun. After a successful title defense against George South and the Thunderfoots [1] , Dusty, Magnum, and Wahoo have an interview. "Well Dusty, I know you and Magnum must have something to say after last Friday." David Crockett says. Dusty Rhodes replies "Well David Crockett, it goes like this: Those no good Russians ripped off Magnum T.A.'s U.S. Heavyweight Title belt. Then they snuck attack me, Magnum and 'The Nature Boy'. To add insult to injury, they hit me with that no good dirty flag of theirs. Well guess what, this here flag (Dusty pulls an American flag from behind the podium to the crowd's cheers) is the only flag we care about. And Russians, anytime, anyplace, we'll put this Six Man trophy on the line in a flag match. Old Glory vs. that dirty red rag of yours." "What a challenge." Tony Schiavone says. "Magnum?" "Well Tony Schiavone, Nikita got lucky and was able to take the U.S. Title after I worked so hard to get it back. But that doesn't matter. That Rusky's time's coming. Meanwhile, myself, Dusty and Wahoo are going to whip some Commie butt all over America!" Magnum says as the crowd cheers on." "And Russians, you don't have any clue what you're dealing with. You're messing with three proud Americans who don't like Red no gooders running their mouths on our land. Just wait, flag match is a comin'." "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel says to end the interview.
On World Wide, the World Six Man Title Flag Match is ready to happen. For the whole show, the beloved Stars and Stripes flies high over one ring post while the reviled Soviet Hammer and Sickle flag flies over the other. The loyal American crowd waits for the main event. The Russian team enters first to typical jeers which bothers them not at all. The World Six Man Tag Team Champions are introduced next and are greeted like the heroes that they are. The rules of the match are simple. It will be an otherwise standard six man match, but a team can only win by having the legal man capturing their own country's flag, which each will be hanging in one of the two unteamed corners. Nikita and Magnum start out and these two stare each other down without blinking an eye. Nikita throws a punch which Magnum promptly blocks and the match is on. It is a predictably roughhouse affair, no love lost between either of the opposing sides. The action goes on for several minutes, the Americans get an early advantage after a botched Koloff double team on Dusty Rhodes, and they proceed to work over Ivan. After a hard chop knocking "The Russian Bear" to the ground, Wahoo McDaniel makes the first go for old glory, but Krusher Khrushchev runs in and pulls him down. This brings in Dusty and Magnum and then Nikita and it is a pier six brawl with all parties involved. Pee Wee Anderson eventually restores order, and Ivan tags in Krusher. He and Wahoo go at it, then after getting an armbar on him, Wahoo tags in Dusty, who climbs to the top rope dropping a hard elbow on the Russian's arm. Dusty takes it to Krusher with all he has then tags in Magnum who continues where "The Dream" left off. After a few holds, he throws Krusher against the ropes and starts running, aiming for a clothesline, but Krusher ducks. An Ivan Koloff kick as he is near the Russian corner hurts Magnum, allowing Krusher to nail the Russian sickle. Instinctively, he goes for the pin. Ignoring Randy Anderson's pats on the back, it is several seconds before he hears Ivan yelling "No pin, get flag." at him. He finally gets up and goes for the Russian flag, but Magnum recovers quickly enough and climbs the ropes with him. Krusher tries to elbow him down, but Magnum gets the better of him and takes him down with a big back drop. Both men are clearly hurt as Randy Anderson starts the ten count. He gets to nine before Krusher gets to his feet and is able to tag in Ivan. Rather than go after a still dazed Magnum, the wise Ivan goes straight for his nation's flag. This causes Dusty Rhodes to return Krusher's earlier run in, pulling Ivan down. Nikita comes in, which brings in Wahoo and sure enough all six men are once again soon in the ring. Dusty and Ivan go at it while Nikita and "The Chief" swing at one another. Seeing Magnum just getting up with the help of the ropes, Krusher decides to take him out once and for all with another sickle. He charges, but this time Magnum sees him coming and back body drops him over the top rope while Randy Anderson is not looking. Seeing his other two opponents occupied with his partners and himself still the legal man, Magnum climbs the turnbuckle and grabs Old Glory, right as Pee Wee Anderson turns his head. The crowd goes nuts when the bell rings. Magnum helps Dusty and Wahoo clear the ring of Russians and proudly waives the red, white and blue for everyone to see.
The next week on World Championship Wrestling, Jim Crockett Promotions President Jim Crockett, Jr. comes out to make an announcement at the interview podium. "Folks, as you well know, we've retired a lot of titles in the last year or so; the National Title, the National Tag Team Titles, the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title, now all defunct. But with all the competition here in the NWA, there has been talk of bringing back a title. Well, I thought about it and have decided rather than reinstate an old title, why not create a new one? And I realize our tag team division only has one title, the World Tag Team Title currently held by the Rock 'n' Roll Express. And that is a very intense division." "It is." agreed his brother. "So after careful consideration, the NWA will now have two tag team titles; the World Tag Team Title and now" he says while unraveling two new belts, "the United States Tag Team Title. We will have a tournament right here in the Omni very shortly to determine new United States Tag Team Champions." All of a sudden, Ivan Koloff comes out. "Excuse, Mr. Crockett. Did I just hear you right? Did you say that there will now be a U.S. Tag Team Championship? "Yes I did." Jim Crockett responds. "Well as you know, Nephew Nikita is already U.S. Heavyweight Champion. And comrade Krusher and myself would love to complete the circle and win the U.S. Tag Team Titles. How can we arrange this?" "Well, Ivan, you and Krusher are a perennial tag team powerhouse here in the NWA. I think you have little to worry about as far as being in the tournament." "Very good." Ivan happily responds right before a commercial break.
The action in the NWA Crockett area heats up even more. All team are vying for a spot in the U.S. Tag Team Title Tournament; the Russians, America's Team, The Andersons, The Road Warriors, The Midnight Express and all other regular and patchwork tag teams are putting their names in the hat for tournament consideration.
As the U.S. Tag Team Title Tournament grows near, the teams are more avidly stating their intentions. In an America's Team interview, Dusty Rhodes states "Now we already have one dirty Russian holding a U.S. Championship which is bad enough. But there's no way Magnum and I are going to stand for two U.S. Titles to be in Russian hands. Tell them Magnum." "Dusty you're totally right. And Nikita, you've been keeping that title by having your no good Uncle and Comrade Krusher interfere on your behalf either causing me to lose or getting you disqualified. Well, in the game of numbers your luck's going to run out and I'll once again have MY U.S. Title back around MY waist!"
On a top notch match on World Wide, Wahoo McDaniel beats Baron Von Raschke with his patented chop. Right after, the Russians storm the ring and proceed to triple team the "Chief". Baron gets up and the Russians gleam at the now four on one. But the gleams turn to frowns as the Baron clamps the iron claw on Nikita's head! This causes, the Russians to attack him. A few seconds later, Wahoo rejoins the fight and repays the German's favor. After finally fighting the Koloffs off and staring at each other, the two former and now current friends shake hands, much to the crowd's delight.
It is announced that because of his victory against Baron Von Rashcke and other top stars in recent weeks and because of the Russians cowardly attack, the NWA Board of Directors has given Wahoo McDaniel a U.S. Title shot, to be had the night of the U.S. Tag Team Title tournament.
Making his return shortly before the tournament, Jim Cornette says this right before another no doubt Midnight Express win against the Mulkey Brothers: "You thought I was done and that the LOD put me down and laid me down to rest. But as long as there is life in this body I will never quit this sport at anyone's behest. Introducing to you the next United States Tag Team Champions, 'Beautiful' Bobby and 'Loverboy' Dennis, the Midnight Express!"
September 28, 1986: The United States Tag Team Title Tournament
1st Round
B & B Connection
v.
The Barbarian and Shaska Whatley
For Second Round, Winner Meets Winner of
Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khrushchev
v.
Kansas City Jayhawks
America's Team
v.
The Andersons
For Second Round, Winner Meets Winner of
The Road Warriors
v.
The Midnight Express
And the two teams that win in the Second Round meet in the Finals.
First Round
The tournament starts off with Jimmy Valiant and the Raging Bull taking on Paul Jones' team of Shaska Whatley and the Barbarian. As the bad blood runs deep here, it is not surprising this one is a drag out knock down fight. Paul Jones attempts to interfere, but Baron Von Raschke runs down to ringside preventing his former manager from doing so. This allows Jimmy Valiant to hit an elbow drop on Shaska for the pin.
Next is the Russian team against "Dirty" Dutch Mantell and "The Hangman" Bobby Jaggers, two rugged veterans now teaming as the Kansas City Jayhawks. This is a pretty rough and tumble match with all four men being double tough as well as skilled wrestlers. But the Russians who are more experienced as a team work together as collective unit more proficiently than their opponents, giving them the edge to get the win after a Khrushchev sickle to Jaggers.
The next match is definitely not between strangers. J.J. Dillon is determined to walk away with a title victory over his hated rivals. From the opening bell this one is not pretty. The Andersons take the early advantage on Magnum, working on his arm in typical Anderson fashion. But a miscued Ole punch intended for Magnum hits Arn instead when Magnum breaks Arn's grip allowing him to tag in Dusty Rhodes, who promptly gets "funky like a monkey" on both Anderson brothers. This causes J.J. to jump on the apron, which earns him a bionic elbow for his efforts. Dusty then nails Arn with a hard lariat and showing he is not at all above bending the rules, pins Arn with his feet on the ropes, unbeknownst to Earl Hebner, while Magnum prevents Ole from getting the save.
The final first round match is a grudge match if their ever was one. The Midnights show learned (and wise) caution against the LOD. The Warriors tend to dominate, but the Midnights show great resilience being top notch competitors themselves. After several minutes, the Warriors have the Midnights on the rocks when "Big" Bubba attacks Paul Ellering. This causes Hawk, the legal Road Warrior, to promptly quit fighting a hurt Dennis Condrey and leave the ring and help out his manager while Animal is having it out with Bobby Eaton. Tommy Young counts ten and the Warriors are eliminated, giving Camp Cornette, who promptly makes haste, a small amount of revenge for their past grievances.
Second Round
The B & B Connection is pumped to upset the Russians. They come at Koloff and Khrushchev full force and actually are able to dominate a lot of the match, with the Russians still holding their own. At the 15 minute mark, Manny Fernandez hits Ivan with the flying burrito and covers him, but Krusher stops the pin, which brings in Jimmy Valiant. All four now fighting in the ring, Teddy Long attempts to regain order to little avail. After getting punched by Krusher several times, "The Boogie Woogie Man" has enough and starts to bite the Russian's forehead, causing Teddy Long to demand a break. When he won't stop biting, Long calls for the bell, giving the Russians a DQ berth to the finals.
The Midnight Express, happy to be done for the night with the Road Warriors, use all their speed and skill against Dusty and Magnum. But America's Team will not be outdone. They take everything the Midnights give them and throw it right back at them. It looks bleak for Eaton and Condrey, but when Dusty is running across the ropes, Jim Cornette drops the top rope with his hand, causing the large Rhodes to spill to the floor and hurt himself right when Bubba distracts Earl Hebner. Dennis Condrey promptly exits the ring and begins kicking and punching Dusty with everything he has, even ramming his head against the ring post. He throws him back in and follows, just beating a count out. A livid Magnum T.A. tries to help out, but is held back by the referee, allowing Cornette's team to double up on Dusty. Condrey and Eaton work on putting away an injured "Dream" but he will not go down for the count. After several minutes, Eaton goes for a top rope body press, but Dusty turns it into a powerslam and nearly gets the three. Both men struggle to their corners, with Eaton making it to Condrey first. But Dusty makes it to Magnum who comes in with a vengeance! After a couple of minutes of fighting, Magnum hits a dropkick on Condrey. He notices Jim Cornette has moved to opposite sides of the ring as "Big" Bubba is once again trying to distract Earl Hebner. Sensing foul play- and wanting revenge for the earlier hurting of his partner- Magnum all of a sudden slides out the ring and punches "Corny" right in the nose, instantly dropping the 90 pound weakling while at the same time bloodying his nose. He quickly slides back into the ring. Bubba is incensed, but knows he can't charge the ring or he'll cause a disqualification. Bobby Eaton, does however, enter the ring and starts swinging at Magnum. This prompts a now refreshed Dusty to follow suit. Initially the Midnights get the better of America's Team and prepare to ram them together from opposing turnbuckles. But, Dusty and Magnum both reverse the Irish whip, causing Eaton and Condrey to bump heads. Eaton is then met with a Magnum right hand while Condrey faces "The Dream's" bionic elbow. They then both simultaneously whip their opponents across the ring, hit dual belly to belly suplexes and get the pin to advance to the finals.
United States Title Match
Nikita Koloff and "Chief" Wahoo McDaniel are next. Wahoo, a former U.S. Champion himself, is determined to send the rambunctious Russian packing back to Moscow. He and Nikita, both hard hitters, go at it full force. Wahoo, the consummate ring veteran uses his skill and craftiness, while the Russian relies more on power and brute force, which he possesses in mass. Wahoo is able stun Nikita with a barrage of punches and kicks and wears Nikita down with all around great wrestling. He then throws him across the ropes and nails the Indian chop and makes the pin. But Koloff is too strong to lose to a chop and kicks out at two. A bit flustered and frustrated, McDaniel picks Nikita up and hits him across his skull with several chops. He then throws him across the ring for a finishing big chop, but this time Nikita dodges and knocks the Indian chief down with a hard running shoulder block. He then easily slams the not at all light McDaniel hard to the mat. When picking him up, McDaniel rakes his eyes and starts pounding away on Nikita. He again throws him across the ring, but this time Nikita catches him off guard and charges full speed ahead, nailing Wahoo with the Russian sickle. He then makes the pin, retaining his U.S. Title.
Final Round
It's the final match of the tournament. Ivan and Krusher are determined to monopolize all N.W.A. U.S. gold while Dusty and Magnum are equally determined to not let that happen. By now both teams are somewhat beaten and tired, but both nonetheless give nothing but their all. The Russians having had a bit easier trek, seem to hold up better. Dusty and Magnum rely on quick tags so as not to run out of gas. The Russians wisely focus more on Rhodes who is not in as good a shape as Magnum and took a nasty spill earlier on. However, "The Dream" will not go gently into the night for anyone and he and Magnum are able to stand toe to toe with the grisly Russians. In fact, after 18 minutes, it looks like Magnum is going to finish off Ivan while Dusty takes care of "Comrade Krusher". He nails Ivan with an atomic drop and then follows up with a gorilla press slam. He then hits starts running for a diving knee drop. All of a sudden the crowd perks up, as out of the locker room with a heavily bandaged nose comes Jim Cornette. Right when Magnum hits the knee drop, Cornette times a dead on swing of his loaded tennis racket right into Magnum's face. Teddy Long, who was separating Dusty and Krusher, does not catch it. Ivan instinctively rolls over on Magnum. Teddy Long, now in position, makes the three count, leaving the Atlanta fans with a bad taste in their mouth to go home with ... and regrettably leaving the Russians with all three U.S. Title belts.
September-October 1986
The Russians immediately start to proudly showcase their trio of U.S. gold around house shows and television tapings, really rubbing their dominance into the wounds of the loyal American crowds. On World Championship Wrestling, Dusty, Magnum and Wahoo show up for their first post tournament interview.
"Dusty, Magnum, Wahoo," David Crockett begins. "I know the three of you must be disappointed about the happenings at the United States Tag Team Tournament. "David Crockett," Magnum T.A. replies. "'Disappointed' doesn't even begin to cover it. Dusty and I beat the Andersons, beat the Midnight Express and we were going to beat the Russians. But that no good weasel, Jim Cornette had to come and sucker punch me with that loaded tennis racket of his. Well, Cornette, laugh while you can you 90 pound brat, because I'm gonna beat you senseless and neither your mother's money nor Bubba can stop me!" "Jim Cornette, it goes like this." Dusty Rhodes says. "You think that tag team of yours and Bubber can protect you? You try to hurt me, so then my best friend, my brother Magnum T.A. steps up to the plate for the 'American Dream' and breaks your little ugly nose. Then you stick that broken nose where it definitely don't belong- in our U.S. Tag Team Title match. And if you and your men want to get 'funky like a monkey' with Magnum and Dusty, well remember this: we go all night long. We don't stop at Midnight. And next week, gear up the Midnight Express, gear up Bubber, cause next week, they gonna meet yours truly, Magnum and 'Chief' Wahoo McDaniels for the World Six Man Tag Team Titles!" "The Dream" announces to the cheers of the crowd. "And Russians, we haven't forgotten you either." says the "Chief". "Your time is coming, too. But first we're going to have a little Midnight snack." The crowd cheers as the interview ends, with a huge main event promised for next week.
After a very long seven days, another World Championship Wrestling comes, and after an hour and a half, it is time for the Six Man Championship main event. Jim Cornette introduces his team to the jeers of the crowd. Then the favorites are introduced and the Omni gives a predictable pop. Once in the ring, there is plenty of trash talk from both corners, but Tommy Young insists they wait until the bell. Finally the match starts with Magnum and Bubba. Not even bothering to lock up, Magnum starts swinging at his larger opponent, with little effect. "Cornette choose the pick of the litter." David Crockett says on commentary. Rogers gets the early upper hand, unpredictably manhandling Magnum. But just when it looks bleak for the ever popular hero, he dodges a Bubba clothesline and nails a hard dropkick, sending Bubba into the ropes. He doesn't quite go down, but he falls on the ropes and his arms get stuck. No love lost between them, Magnum starts to hammer the big man, ignoring the reprimands of the referee. Cornette is screaming for an intervention and the Midnights oblige. This brings in Dusty and Wahoo and soon it is a free for all. Eventually, the faces clear the ring, while Camp Cornette regroups outside with "The Louisville Lip" giving advice. Bubba comes back in and locks back up with Magnum. But he quickly rakes Magnum's eyes and tags in Bobby Eaton. They then quickly double team their opponent. They are able to isolate Magnum for a bit, but a mistimed Dennis Condrey kick leads him to be knocked senseless by Magnum, who drags him to his corner, where he tags in Dusty Rhodes, who proceeds to nail Condrey with a barrage of bionic elbows. The fan favorites hold advantage for quite a while, not quite being able to put "Loverboy" away. A desperate Dennis is able to dodge a Wahoo Indian chop and hits an enzugiri to the "Chief's" head. He tags in "Beautiful" Bobby who takes it to McDaniel with sheer mastery. The Midnights and Bubba use every tactic they know to work their opponent down, double and triple teaming him, taunting Dusty and Magnum to enter illegally allowing more illegal moves and having Jim Cornette distract Tommy Young so they can cheat yet even more. After taking so much of this, Wahoo is almost out. "Big" Bubba slams him down, then slides out the ring and slugs the "Chief" right in the face. He then rolls back in the ring, picks Wahoo up and takes him down with an arm wrench short-arm clothesline and tags in Bobby Eaton, who immediately climbs to the top rope. The plan is obvious. Bubba is going to launch Eaton on to McDaniel while simultaneously launching Camp Cornette right to the Six Man Trophy. But right before he lands, Wahoo, sticks up a foot, hitting "Beautiful" Bobby right in the mouth. Panicking, Dennis Condrey climbs the top rope and Bubba launches him ... to the exact same result. Bubba then tries to splash Wahoo, but the "Chief" moves out the way. He crawls to his corner and is able to tag in Dusty Rhodes, who gets "funky like a monkey" like never before. Magnum joins in the fray and it is once again a pier six brawl. Bubba attacks Magnum, but now he is all stoked and sends the big bodyguard reeling with a series of hard punches. He throws him against the ropes and nails him with a belly to belly suplex. Dusty is taking it to both Eaton and Condrey while Wahoo finally starts to recover. Tommy Young demands Magnum and Wahoo return to their corner. In desperation, Jim Cornette jumps on the ring apron. Dusty Rhodes immediately grabs him and starts to scream in the wimp manager's face. He lifts his elbow up, but right before he does, Bobby Eaton nails a low blow. He then rolls Dusty up and Tommy Young, having just returned Dusty's partners to their corner, counts the pin. Jim Cornette jumps up and down like a kid on Christmas, his team having just won the World Six Man Title.
October 14, 1986
In one of the most tragic moments ever to hit the wrestling world, Magnum T.A. is in a horrible, near life ending car accident. He crashes his car into a utility pole at 2:30 a.m. in Charlotte, North Carolina. His fifth cervical vertebrae from the top explodes, sending bone fragments into his spinal cord. Eyewitness reports say he had not been drinking and subsequent forensic reports prove he was not speeding. The road was wet due to rain.
October-November 1986
The mood in the NWA is very somber over the next few weeks. Everyone is utterly devastated over the career ending injury of Terry Allen, better known as Magnum T.A. His fate at this time is not known. [2] Friend and foe alike express their love and respect for this fallen champion.
Shortly after Magnum's tragic accident, Magnum's biggest in ring rival makes the ultimate gesture. On an episode of World Championship Wrestling, in a pre-taped interview, Magnum T.A.'s best friend, Dusty Rhodes said he has found a new partner, a great athlete, though he does not agree with him on everything, he has infinite respect for this man. This athlete said he is so emotionally affected by Magnum's accident it had caused him to change. Though they were rivals, he knows Magnum was a great champion and wishes to whatever extent he can to fill his shoes. This athlete is Nikita Koloff and from this moment forward, he and Dusty Rhodes are to be known as the Super Powers. [3]
The effects of this announcement are immediate and gargantuan. Announcers and wrestlers alike are talking about Nikita's sudden change of heart. Not surprisingly, no one has more to say about it than Nikita's Uncle Ivan and Krusher Khrushchev. On World Championship Wrestling, they are interviewed by David Crockett and Tony Schiavone. "Ivan, Krusher, what do you two think of Nikita and his new alliance with 'The American Dream' Dusty Rhodes?" "Nikita, what have you done to me?" Ivan Koloff says in a highly distressful voice. For the last week I have been getting calls from Kremlin, from the president, from the Politburo, from the athletic committee. They want to send me home! 'Ivan, we trust you to watch your nephew and this is what happens?' they tell me." He then lowers head his on his hand and shakes it in distress. "Nikita... Nikita... Nikita. "Look what you've done to your uncle, Nikita." Krusher Khrushchev says sickeningly. "He's given you everything and you stab him in the back like this? You are dead to me, you TRAITOR!" "Just a second, who are you calling a traitor?" David Crockett counters. "After all, before you started flying a red flag, your name used to be 'Crusher' Barry Dars..." Krusher Khrushchev grabs David Crockett by his jacket and pulls him hard, stopping the much smaller Crockett in mid-sentence. "Don't you ever call me by that name! I am Krusher Khrushchev and I want no affiliation with your sick, corrupt capitalist system ever again!" He then pushes David Crockett away and concludes "And Nikita, as you well know Ivan and myself had a U.S. Tag Team Title defense against Dusty Rhodes and Magnum T.A. scheduled for next week. I suppose you'll be taking Magnum's place in that. Well, Ivan and I are looking forward to it. Let's go, Ivan." He puts his arm around his heartbroken friend's shoulder and the two Russians walk away.
Later on, the Super Powers come out for their maiden interview after announcing their formation. "Dusty, Nikita" a much more upbeat than earlier David Crockett says. "You've heard Ivan and Krusher." "Well David Crockett, it goes like this. Those two no gooders are running around with belts that just do not belong to them. And yes, Magnum and I had planned on winning them next week. But we all know that is no longer possible, so instead..." Before Dusty can finish his sentence, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair comes out looking very flustered. "Dusty, listen, please listen. I know what you're going thru right now. Brother it's affecting me, too." Pointing at Nikita he says, "But, 'Dream', I don't trust this big S.O.B. as far as I can throw him. Not one bit! The Russians are no good, he's no good and I'm willing to bet him, his uncle and that other idiot are plotting to stab you in the back!" Becoming incensed, Nikita immediately counters. "How dare you say that about me? You don't know what I am thinking! I would never turn on Dusty Rhodes!" "You think I am going to buy that malarkey, Nikita? I was born at night, not last night, Commie!" Nikita tries to rush the World's Champion and Dusty Rhodes has to step in between them. "Ric, please. This is not the time. I trust Nikita and believe he is sincere." "All right 'Dream', all right. Just one thing: For weeks Magnum was telling me how bad he wanted back the United States Title and the United States Tag Team Title. He wanted to win them for America. And as tough as that one is," Flair says pointing to Nikita, "he ain't an American. Never was, never will be. Dusty, let's fulfill Magnum's wish. Next week, you and I ride as America's Team." emphasizing the last two words while looking at Nikita. Dusty is silent for several seconds, then he turns to his new ally. "Nikita, Ric Flair is right on this one. That was Magnum T.A.'s wish. Would it be OK if this one time, I teamed with 'The Nature Boy'?" "Dusty," Nikita responds, "if that was Magnum T.A.'s wish, then of course I fully respect it. Go ahead and team with Ric Flair." Flair nods his head and says "Next, week 'Dream', next week." and walks off as the interview concludes.
The wrestling world is abuzz for this epic tag match. Dusty Rhodes and Ric Flair, forming a new America's Team, fighting for the U.S. Tag Team Title, held by two loyal Russians. After a week of much anticipation, match time arrives. To say tensions are high would be an understatement. While disappointed they are not getting their hands on Nikita just yet, Ivan and Krusher are venting at the chance to take out their frustrations on the man who they perceive had him turn on them, Dusty Rhodes, and Ric Flair who of course is no ally of theirs. The match gets underway with Dusty and Krusher starting out. It is a predictably rough affair, with tensions running high and both teams on edge. Though not nearly as experienced a team as the Russians, Rhodes and Flair work great together, not surprising with the credentials of six World Heavyweight Titles between them, But Ivan and Krusher are determined not to disappoint the Kremlin for a second time in such a short period. Control of the match goes back and forth between the two teams, neither able to put the other one away. After an exhausting 20 minutes, Ivan is punching away at Dusty Rhodes, both of them being the legal men, and is ignoring all of Tommy Young's warnings to stop. Having a man who is so loyal to a nation so opposed to his own, coupled with the facts that he believes Dusty drove his nephew Nikita away from him and that his government has given him the blame for the transgression is too much for "The Russian Bear". He snaps. He pushes Dusty into his corner, then calls for Krusher Khrushchev to get his chain, which Krusher promptly does. From the outside, Krusher starts choking Dusty while Ivan works away on him, getting an instant disqualification. Ric Flair storms in the ring and slugs Ivan, then swings at Krusher, causing him to drop the chain and quit choking Rhodes. Flair grabs the chain, but before he can use it, Ivan starts punching him, causing him to drop the chain and retaliate. While Ivan and Flair are going at it, Krusher enters the ring and picks up the chain, preparing to use it on a still woozy Dusty Rhodes. But before he can, Nikita storms the rings to the crowd's delight. He gets in Krusher's face, the two former comrades seething at each other. Nikita yanks the chain and wraps it around his fist. Not backing down an inch, Krusher dares Nikita to slug him. "You haven't got the guts you yellow belly chicken traitor!" Krusher yells at Nikita with absolute disgust." Nikita just shakes his head and starts to leave the ring. But while his back is turned, Krusher smacks him in the head. This sets Nikita off who now does swing at Krusher... but before he can connect, Ivan pushes Ric Flair right into the path of the punch and Nikita accidentally knocks the World's Champion's lights out instead. Krusher then attacks Nikita, but a now recovered Dusty Rhodes joins in. He and Nikita are able to clear Ivan and Krusher in short notice, afterwards attending to Ric Flair.
On World Wide, a clip of the previous World Championship Wrestling's main event is shown along with what happened after. Ric Flair is finally revived. But he immediately slaps Nikita and pushes him away. Dusty Rhodes gets in between the two, only to have Ric Flair push and curse him and leave the ring by himself in disgust. Dusty asks Nikita what happened, and Nikita explains. Dusty shrugs his shoulders and the two leave the ring. It is then announced that Ric Flair has demanded a World Title defense against Nikita for the next World Championship Wrestling and that Nikita has accepted the challenge. Ric Flair is interviewed by Bob Caudle to close out the show. "Now Ric," Bob Caudle says. "By now you've surely seen the tape of last week's match and must know Nikita didn't mean to hit you with that chain. It was an accident." Having a near crazy look on his face, the normally always energetic Flair slowly and coldly says "Accident? You think it was an accident? Let me ask you, was it an accident when the Russians starved millions of Ukrainian farmers to death? Was it an accident when they shot 25,000 Polish POWs in the Katyn forest during World War 2? And was it an accident when the no good SOBs killed and tortured hundreds of thousands of Hungarians which led them to try and free themselves in the October 23 uprising?" Getting louder, he yells "No! And it was no accident when Nikita punched me! And if Dusty Rhodes really thinks that Russian has changed ... well..." Flair ends the thought just shaking his head. "But Nikita, rest assured, in a short couple of days, you're all mine and if your uncle and Krusher show up, they will face the consequences." he says to conclude the interview.
A couple of days pass and it is now time for this highly anticipated and extremely tense match between Ric Flair and Nikita Koloff. The challenger enters first then Flair. They are both given ring instructions, Tommy Young taking special care to warn both not to break the rules. Both stare dead on at the other while this is going on, daggers in their eyes. The bell rings and the two go at it. Flair with revenge and hate on his mind, Nikita knowing any World Title opportunity can never be taken lightly. It is very fast paced, Flair being untypically aggressive and much less cautious than usual, the fans being divided down the middle. After wearing down Nikita and working on his legs, Flair sets him up for the figure four, but Nikita kicks him away in the rear end before he can lock it on. He then pounces and charges Flair, hitting a Russian sickle, though Flair is able to put an arm up, blocking the full effect of it. Right after this, Ivan Koloff and Krusher Khrushchev storm the ring each with a chain and attack Nikita. Not knowing what to do, Tommy Young calls for the bell, ruling the match a no contest. Shortly after, Dusty Rhodes runs in to help out his new comrade. But a second later, the Andersons, Tully Blanchard and J.J. Dillon enter the ring. Ole had grabbed a chair beforehand and starts attacking Ivan, Krusher, Dusty and Nikita with it. Tully Blanchard pulls a small chain from his tights and is about to hit Dusty Rhodes with it, but "The Dream" blocks it and nails a bionic elbow on Tully causing him to drop the chain. Dusty picks it up, wraps it around his fist and is about to nail Tully with it ... but Ric Flair crawls towards him and hits him with a low blow! Tully slugs Rhodes and grabs the chain and he and Flair join the Andersons and J.J. in attacking everyone. Wahoo McDaniel and Ron Garvin charge the ring but Wahoo gets nailed with a chair by Ole Anderson and J.J. takes off his steel toed shoe and hits Ron Garvin from behind. The Rock 'n' Roll Express comes down. But Flair nails Ricky Morton from behind and he becomes the victim of an Arn Anderson DDT. Tully Blanchard nails Robert Gibson with his chain covered hand. Sam Houston and Jimmy Valiant also try to help out, but by now Arn, Ole, Blanchard, Flair and Dillon are on an unstoppable roll and quickly dismantle them. They use chairs from ringside, the timekeeper's bell, the Russians' chains, their own fists and low blows to stomp a mud hole in anyone in their paths. Even the Road Warriors and Paul Ellering, normally impervious to anything, fall victim to them.
Finally after leaving the ring scattered with a mess of fallen bodies as still as corpses, Flair, the Andersons, Blanchard and Dillon, all panting, make their way to the interview podium, to a shocked David Crockett and Tony Schiavone. "What just happened?" is all David Crockett can muster. "I'll tell you what just happened." Ole Anderson replied. Pointing to Flair, he says "It looks like this man finally just got hit his head on straight. Look at that mess, that mass of human carnage in the ring. It looks like the four horsemen of the apocalypse just rode through." Very observant, Ole. Very observant, indeed." J.J. Dillon says. "After all, I see right before me 1-2-3-4 of the greatest wrestlers in the world." he says as he counts, keeping all four fingers up after finishing. Four horsemen." "The four horsemen. J.J. Dillon I like the sound of that. I like it a lot." Ric Flair now says with a huge grin. He now lifts four fingers up as well. "Four horsemen, indeed!" Tully Blanchard says, lifting up four fingers. "Four horsemen." Ole says lifting his four fingers, too. Finally, just slightly more assertive, Arn Anderson lifts his four fingers and says "Four Horsemen." sealing a bond destined NEVER to be forgotten.
The End
[1] Or Thunderfeet. Not sure which.
[2] Though he would never wrestle again, with extensive therapy and surgery, Magnum would walk miraculously be able to once again walk.
[3] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGbEy0DhAJ0
