[PPV Recap] ‘WCW HALLOWEEN HAVOC ’90’ – Sting(s) vs. Sid, Steiners vs. Nasty Boys, Black Scorpion Shenanigans

DATE: October 27, 1990
VENUE: UIC Pavilion (Chicago, IL)
COMMENTATORS: Jim Ross & Paul E. Dangerously

Halloween Havoc ‘90 features four title matches, including Sid Vicious’ first PPV main event, as well as a whole lot of fluff in the undercard and Black Scorpion shenanigans. It’s a…mixed bag of a show to say the least.

CHAMPIONS

NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: Sting
NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: “The Total Package” Lex Luger
NWA WORLD TELEVISION CHAMPION: “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson
NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: Doom (Ron Simmons & “Hacksaw” Butch Reed)
NWA UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS: The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner)

LINEUP

Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich vs. The Midnight Express (***)
Terry Taylor vs. Bill Irwin (**)
Brad Armstrong vs. J.W. Storm (*1/2)
The Southern Boys vs. The Master Blasters (*1/2)
The Renegade Warriors vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (*3/4)
The Steiner Brothers [c] vs. The Nasty Boys for the NWA UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (****)
The Junkyard Dog vs. Moondog Rex (*1/4)
Doom [c] vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson for the NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (***1/2)
Lex Luger [c] vs. Stan Hansen for the NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (***)
Sting [c] vs. Sid Vicious for the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (**1/4)

*****

-OPENING VIDEO: A spooooky haunted house full of the ghosts of…wrestlers who are still alive.

-Ross and Dangerously open the show. Ross is dressed like a 1930s gangster while Dangerously is dressed like Count Dracula. Dangerously is excited about the HAVOC of four title matches and the high-impact wrestling of WCW.

-Cut to The Phantom of the Tony Schiavone, who’s with Ricky Morton and “Wildfire” Tommy Rich. Morton shouts out his partner Robert Gibson, currently on the shelf with a knee injury, and says he and Rich are going to TRICK The Midnight Express. Into what?

Ricky Morton & “Wildfire” Tommy Rich vs. The Midnight Express (“Beautiful” Bobby Eaton & “Sweet” Stan Lane) [w/ Jim Cornette]

Orange ropes, orange canvas, I love themed stuff like this. Even with Robert Gibson injured Morton can’t get away from facing The Midnight Express. Destined to do this forever…or last time I guess since Stan Lane and Jim Cornette about to book it from the company.

Eaton controls things early, throwing Morton across the ring repeatedly with hip tosses and a gorgeous right hook in the corner. Morton reverses an Irish whip, Eaton catches him with a back elbow and heads to the top but gets met with a right to the bread basket. Morton and Eaton criss cross the ropes, Morton with a headscissors and Eaton gets into Rich who throws a right hand to get in on the action. Lane tags in, Morton escapes the corner and connects with an armdrag into an armbar. Rich holds Lane for rights from Morton, Eaton runs over and eats a right as well. Rich tags in and bowls Lane over with a shoulderblock. Lane accuses Rich of a closed fist, forcing referee Nick Patrick to admonish him for no reason. Lane escapes a headlock, Rich with hip tosses to both Midnights followed by a double noggin knocker and DOUBLE ABDOMINAL STRETCH while Morton climbs his back for extra oomph; Cornette climbs the apron and he gets dropped to the joy of the crowd.

Lane dazes Rich with martial arts, Eaton tags in and eats a hip toss, Morton tags in for a monkey flip out of the corner (and Rich’s grasp). Eaton rakes the eyes, Lane tags in and accidentally monkey flips his own partner. Rich joins in on the fun and whips Lane into Eaton in the corner, causing the Midnights to once again slow things down and regroup. Eaton and Lane start arguing and shoving, Cornette climbs the apron to play peacemaker; it works and they apologize to each other. Good managerial skills there. Another criss cross, Rich leaves the ring as Eaton runs the ropes and chases Cornette in, causing Eaton to run into his own manager! SO GOOD. A dazed Cornette rolls to the floor, match resumes. Morton and Eaton trade rights, Lane tags in and the Midnights hit a backdrop/powerslam combo that pops the crowd. The Midnights go to work on wearing Morton down, using their various double team moves to great effect but not enough to get the pinfall. Morton reverses a whip and charges, Eaton dodges and he goes shoulder-first into the post and gets dropped from the apron with a right hand. Ref distracted, Eaton tries a flying something on Morton but he is too far away and he only gets a small piece of it. Cornette gets into the action, jabbing the edge of his tennis racket into the throat of Morton. Morton surprises Lane with a sunset flip, Cornette distracts the ref so Eaton can break it up. Lane tosses Morton back out to the floor, Cornette distracts the ref for a ROCKET LAUNCHER ONTO THE RAMP. HELL YEAH. ROCKET LAUNCHER FOREVER. Morton with an O’Connor Roll, Eaton gets the blind tag and breaks it up with a brutal neckbreaker followed up by a slingshot backbreaker for the 1…2…Morton gets the shoulder up.

Lane tags in, Cornette with another racket shot behind the ref’s back. Rich gets goaded into the ring, Lane throws Morton over the top rope which would’ve been a DQ if the ref had seen it. Eaton charges at Morton but eats nothing but post and Morton follows up with a headscissors. Eaton takes flight with the ALABAMAMAMAMA JAM but wants the ref to count him out instead of going for the pin. Morton gets up before the count of ten, Lane tags in but Morton fights him off with a whole lot of jabs. Eaton tags in, Morton counters the Rocket Launcher with a pair of knees! Lane tags in but SO DOES TOMMY RICH and Wildfire lives up to his name. Thesz Press to Lane, Eaton breaks the count. All four men in the ring, Rich heads to the top but Cornette nails him with the racket and falls to the canvas. Out come The Southern Boys (Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong) dressed like Cornette. Cornette’s racket gets tossed in, Rich uses it on Lane for the 1…2…3!

RICKY MORTON & TOMMY RICH DEFEATED THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS VIA PINFALL (20:48)

The match tested my attention span but for the most part I enjoyed it. All the goofy spots with the Midnights and Cornette were immensely entertaining, and Morton is the king of being the babyface-in-peril so it kept me interested. Ending was a little clusterf*cky which I didn’t care for but I guess that was a feud going on at the time and I don’t have context because I hate Google so I’ll go along with it. A fun enough match for The Midnight Express’ PPV career to go out on, I guess. (***)

Despite Morton & Rich winning, it’s the Midnight Express’ theme that plays during the replay. Who can blame them though? Best theme in the NWA at the time since The Great Muta was no longer making appearances.

–The Wicked Witch makes some predictions for tonight’s big matches. I think that’s Missy Hyatt but I don’t know for sure.

Terry Taylor vs. “Wild” Bill Irwin

Taylor has returned to WCW after a couple of years being absolutely humiliated in the WWF as “The Red Rooster”. I bet he was clucking excited to leave HA HA HA I AM FUNNY. Irwin is a journeyman, most notably for his stint in World Class Championship Wrestling, but he’s cut his hair and shaved his big ol’ mustache so WHAT IS EVEN THE POINT?

Chicago sports/broadcast legend Jack Brickhouse joins Ross & Dangerously on commentary for this one. Taylor controls things at the outset with a wristlock, Irwin escapes via scoop slam but misses the follow-up elbow so they reset. Corner whip, Irwin runs into a big boot and Taylor follows up with a MISSILE DROPKICK for an early two-count. Taylor with a side headlock takeover, Irwin tries to shift weight and sneak a pin but Taylor shifts back. Irwin misses a kneedrop, Taylor goes for a figure-four but gets kicked away so he goes back to the side headlock. Taylor counters a hip toss with a backslide for the 1…2…Irwin kicks out and just absolutely f*cks Taylor up with a right hand. Taylor ducks a clothesline but Irwin hits all of a pump kick so impressive the crowd pops loudly. Irwin continues the offense as Brickhouse name drops ALL OF THE WRESTLERS he’s seen over the years, settling into a reverse chinlock when Taylor kicks out of a lateral press. Scattered “BORING” yells from the Pavilion crowd, Irwin makes them pay for it with another reverse chinlock. Brickhouse is now naming different wrestling holds, a young Chris Jericho likely taking notes. Taylor escapes, Irwin re-catches him with a sleeperhold; Taylor almost passes out but escapes just in time with a jawbreaker. Irwin goes for a backdrop, Taylor leapfrogs over and connects with a clothesline, following up with an atomic drop into a bridging belly-to-back suplex for the 1…2…not yet. Irwin bounces back, countering Taylor with a Tombstone Piledriver for the 1…2…Taylor gets the shoulder up.

Action moves to the ramp, Taylor rams Irwin throat-first into the top rope and he tumbles down the wooden steps. Taylor rolls him in and connects with a snap suplex followed by a kneedrop for the 1…2…Irwin kicks out. Irwin counters a splash with a pair of knees as Brickhouse remembers Killer Kowalski ripping Yukon Eric’s ear off with a kneedrop. Taylor with a sunset flip, Irwin kicks out and immediately lays him out with a clothesline for the 1…2…kickout. Taylor counters a suplex with a small package for the 1…2…Irwin kicks out and argues with the ref, Taylor rolls him up again for the 1…2…Irwin kicks out and slams Taylor’s face into the canvas. Taylor dodges a corner splash and follows up with a neckbreaker for the 1…2…kickout. Irwin reverses an Irish whip, driving him into the canvas with a spinebuster. He arrogantly covers for the 1…2…Taylor counters into a crucifix for the 1…2…3!

TERRY TAYLOR DEFEATED BILL IRWIN VIA PINFALL (11:48)

Taylor and Irwin did what they could to get the keep the crowd and viewers engaged, peppering in missile dropkicks and a beautiful pump kick, but for the most part this was pretty dry. Props to Taylor for trying to get his career back on track post-WWF though; at least no one chanted “ROOSTER” at him. I also enjoyed Jack Brickhouse’s nostalgia-waxing on commentary; I bet he had some great stories. (**)

INTERVIEW STAGE

The Phantom of the Tony Schiavone welcomes the World Champ Sting. Sting has a lot on his mind, from his match with Sid Vicious tonight to the ominous presence of The Black Scorpion (yeesh). Sting knows how big Sid is but he’s psyched and ready to go.

Suddenly The Black Scorpion appears to show off his “black magic”, stealing a female stage hand and doing a whole vanishing magic act in a box. Black Scorpion reappears behind Sting and he saves the stage hand lady but doesn’t get his hands on the Scorpion. What the F*CK? Dangerously, who has never seen a magician before, is confused by all of this.

“Candyman” Brad Armstrong vs. J.W. Storm

Storm made his debut at the Sept 90 Clash of the Champions as one-half of the team Maximum Overdrive; that appeared to quickly fizzle and now as a singles star he heads into this one with a winning streak. Armstrong…likes candy or some sh*t, I don’t know. Makes sense that he’s here since it’s Halloween at all but I don’t understand the point of the gimmick.

Armstrong goes for a hip toss, Storm blocks it and levels him with a clothesline. Armstrong rebounds with a hip toss and dropkick, Storm bails to the floor to gather his thoughts. That dude is JACKED and has great hops, leaping to the apron Brock Lesnar-style and once again drops Armstrong with a clothesline. Irish whip, back elbow, Storm grabs a reverse chinlock. Apparently Storm won both a boxing fight and a wrestling match in the same day, Dangerously calling him the “consummate wrestler of the 90s”. Armstrong breaks free and takes Storm to the mat with a tackle. Storm catches Armstrong mid-leap and drops him across the top rope, earning applause from the crowd. SMARKS. SMARKS EVERYWHERE. Storm connects with a snap suplex and tries to cover Armstrong with one hand, but he easily gets the shoulder up. Storm connects with a gutwrench slam and covers with his hands again for the 1…2…Armstrong kicks out. Armstrong dodges a dropkick and embarks on a string of offense, including a kneelift and standing dropkick. They trade rights, Storm tries an O’Connor Roll but fails at it and Ross covers for it. Armstrong catches Storm in a surprise inside cradle for the 1…2…3!

BRAD ARMSTRONG DEFEATED J.W. STORM VIA PINFALL (5:03)

All that hype for Storm on commentary and he goes out in five minutes to a smaller guy. Gotta love it. Storm would embark on a losing streak after this and be gone from WCW in the blink of an eye, this being his one and only PPV appearance. I’ll give it to him, he had some good athleticism for a guy with the muscle mass he had but there just seemed to be NO personality there. Like none. (*1/2)

Armstrong quickly escapes the ring as Storm throws a tantrum.

INTERVIEW STAGE

The Phantom of the Tony Schiavone is with Jim Cornette, dressed as a Confederate soldier (UGH). Cornette says The Southern Boys are going to pay for interfering earlier and they will rectify the situation later. Cornette then says Sting is going to need his mind & body together to beat Sid Vicious, but The Black Scorpion has his mind so he’s going to lose. Cornette then addresses the costume and says he has had some DNA work, which he will explain as he helps Ross and Dangerously call the next match.

–Norman The Lunatic and The Juicer are shown throwing candy to the kids in the crown, the former dressed as a pumpkin and the latter as a court jester.

The Southern Boys (Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong) vs. The Master Blasters (Blade & Steel)

The Master Blasters were WCW’s attempt to create their own Road Warriors after the legendary team booked it to the WWF earlier in the year. It…didn’t work, but it gave Kevin Nash his first break on the main stage. Unfortunately WCW had much goofier plans for him in the years to come. As threatened before Cornette joins Ross & Dangerously on commentary, ostensibly to talk trash about the Southern Boys and distract them.

Blade tries to power Armstrong in the corner, Armstrong uses his speed to escape as Cornette talks about the “Armstrong family history”. Armstrong connects with an atomic drop followed by a clothesline out to the floor. Over the top rope, but no DQ is called. Smothers tags in, Southern Boys connect with a double chop. Blade gives up and tags in his MUCH TALLER and some would say (big) sexier Steel. Smothers tries to grapple and gets immediately tossed to the floor. Steel seats Smothers on the top buckle, Smothers fights back with strikes and gets caught in mid-air, Armstrong dropkicks Steel down for the 1…2…Steel EMPHATICALLY kicks out. Both Southern Boys cover, Steel easily throws them off as well. Blade tags in, Steel hits Smothers from behind to give his team the advantage, which Blade jumps on with a sidewalk slam. Smothers tries to tag, Blade WRECKS HIM with a clothesline. Awesome. Master Blasters hit a double back elbow, Steel hits a powerslam after a LEAP FROG. Cornette leaves the commentary table to be at ringside to antagonize the Southern Boys. Dangerously mocks Cornette for wearing a Confederate uniform but he’s being pegged as the HEEL. Amazing. Master Blasters keep the offense going, hitting a double clothesline that looked like a game of Red Rover. Smothers counters a top rope nothing with a boot, Armstrong gets the tag and connects with a powerslam and dropkick on Blade. Steel runs in, Southern Boys knock him off his feet with a double dropkick. Double shoulderblock to Blade, Doomsday Flying Dropkick but the ref is distracted. Cornette grabs the leg, Armstrong pulls him to the apron and Steel clotheslines him from behind, Blade covers for the 1…2…3.

THE MASTER BLASTERS DEFEATED THE WILD-EYED SOUTHERN BOYS VIA PINFALL (7:17)

The Master Blasters looked ROUGH here; uncoordinated and weirdly begging off from their much smaller opponents. If they’re gonna be the Road Warriors, then let them be Road Warriors. Cornette’s beef with the Southern Boys took center stage here and drowned out the match, filled with unfunny jokes about family trees and pro-Confederacy bullsh*t. Didn’t like a lot of this. (*1/2)

Cornette spends too much time gloating and gets pulled into the ring by the Southern Boys, who stomp his Confederate hat. Cornette pleads for mercy, Armstrong responds with a slam, and the Boys rip off his Confederate uniform and SPANK HIM. An embarrassed Cornette runs off, Southern Boys bask in the…mixed reception. Yeah. We’re in the NORTH.

INTERVIEW STAGE

The Phantom of the Tony Schiavone is with “Candyman” Brad Armstrong. Armstrong wants everyone to have a happy and safe Halloween and will be glued to his seat watching the rest of the show. Very informative.

The Renegade Warriors (Chris & Mark Youngblood) vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “P.S.” Hayes & Jimmy “Jam” Garvin) [w/ “Little” Richard Marley]

Marley, formerly Rocky King, comes out dressed as Robert Gibson complete with taped up knee to mock the man the ‘Birds have put on the shelf for the next half-year. Great shade thrown there. Apparently the Freebirds hurt Allen Iron Eagle, friend of the Renegade Warriors, leading to this heated matchup.

Warriors control early with chops and a top rope double clothesline from Chris Youngblood that clears the ring. “BADSTREET USA” starts playing randomly in the background then stops. MATCH AIN’T OVER YET, PRODUCTION GUY. Mark connects with a hip toss, Hayes bails to the corner asking for a timeout and gets his hair fixed by Garvin. Mark fights out of the ‘Bird corner and Garvin tags in, apparently having not gotten Hayes’ “WEAR GLITTERY OVERALLS” memo. Chris tags in as well, hip toss to Garvin into a standing side headlock. Hayes tries to tag in, Chris kicks his hand away. Hayes runs in, Chris backdrops Hayes and takes them both down with a headscissors/headlock combo thanks to a dropkick from Mark, and once again the ‘Birds bail to the floor. Hayes chops Mark in the corner, Mark responds with chops of his own and throws Hayes out of the corner. Another timeout requested, ref tells him he’s an idiot. Dangerously mentions that he’s only 25 at the time of this PPV which is insane to me. Hayes escapes an armbar, Mark attacks Garvin on the apron and tags in to Chris who keeps working the arm with a top wristlock that brings him to the canvas. Chris dodges a dropkick, back to the armbar we go. Chris blocks a kick, atomic drop into Mark, Renegade Warriors play pinball with him and Hayes bails to Garvin for a hug before quickly brushing themselves off. You can guess what some of the Pavilion folks chant, sadly. Garvin tags in, Chris rolls him up for the 1…2…Garvin kicks out and sends Chris into a left hook to turn the tide.

Chris gets tossed over the top rope behind the ref’s back, Hayes and Marley get their licks in before Mark runs over to break it up. Snapmare into a reverse chinlock. Chris escapes, Garvin catches him with a knee and Hayes tags in to keep the offense going while also throwing in some dance moves before settling into a reverse chinlock of his own. Chris escapes and grabs a sleeper but Garvin gets the blind tag and attacks from behind. “DDT” chants from the crowd, which I’m sure the Warriors appreciate. Hayes tags in, Chris trades rights with him and gets sent into the buckles, snapmare and we’re back into a reverse chinlock as another “DDT” chant breaks out. Cappeta announces that 15 minutes have gone by but I’ve got 12. Chris reverses an Irish whip and counters a DDT attempt with a backdrop. Garvin quickly tags in and tosses Chris to the floor (this time through the ropes as the ref’s watching). Hayes runs over for a cheap left hook before Mark can help. Back in the ring and we’ve got ANOTHER reverse chinlock. Chris breaks out, Hayes pokes him the eye but gets caught with a crossbody for the 1…2…Hayes kicks out and immediately grabs the waist to pull him back and go back to the chinlock. Hayes signals for the DDT but instead climbs the buckles and gets slammed off. He played himself. Garvin tags in BUT SO DOES MARK YOUNGBLOOD. Backdrops and chops for both ‘Birds, Chris runs in for a double clothesline. Marley gets involved, Mark rolls Garvin up but Hayes runs in for a DDT and Garvin covers for the 1…2…3.

THE FABULOUS FREEBIRDS DEFEATED THE RENEGADE WARRIORS VIA PINFALL (17:28)

I remember absolutely hating this match the first time I watched it, but now I was fine with it. A definite low-effort from the Freebirds, and way too many chinlocks, but overall it worked well enough. Ross being absolutely INCENSED at the Freebirds injuring people and laughing about it while tearing a hole into Dangerously was great commentary. I appreciate an impassioned man on the mic. I don’t know this happened and wasn’t bad but also maybe didn’t need to happen on PPV. (*3/4)

INTERVIEW STAGE

Tony Schiavone (bored with the joke) is with The Horsemen (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, & Sid Vicious). Anderson hypes up his Tag Team Title match with Flair against Doom; they aren’t going to ask anything from them except be there and be all the men they can be. Flair will WALK THAT AISLE to the World Tag Team Title and then watch Sid take the World Title from Sting. Vicious says he’s Sting’s treat tonight, THE MAN THAT RULES THE WORLD.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner) [c] vs. The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs & Jerry Sags) for the NWA UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

It doesn’t make sense to feel like this now all these years later, but seeing The Nasty Boys on a WCW PPV the year before their star-making run in the WWF still feels weird to see. I remember renting the VHS as a kid and being stunned to see that they existed before 1991 (when I started watching wrestling). Super cool though, I love when wrestlers go to different companies with the same gimmick.

Steiners rush the ring and a brawl breaks out immediately. HELL YEAH. Sags sends Scott into the guardrail and cracks a chair to the back of the head while Rick and Knobbs fight on the other side. Sags rolls Scott in and goes for a superplex but Scott escapes and instead we got us an AVALANCHE RELEASE OVERHEAD BELLY-TO-BELLY SUPLEX F*CK YEAH. Knobbs rolls in to break the pinfall attempt, Rick sends him packing with a right hand and finally the ref finally gets things under control. Scott ducks a clothesline, counters a backdrop with a butterfly sit-out powerbomb, Rick knocking Knobbs back to the floor with another right hand. Scott puts Sags on his shoulders, RICK STEINER WITH A TOP ROPE BULLDOG. Scott covers, Knobbs hit him with a chair behind the ref’s back and covers for the 1…2…Scott gets the shoulder up. Knobbs connects with a powerslam, lateral press but Scott kicks out just in time once more. Toss to the floor, Sags connects with a kneedrop from the apron. Sags tags in, pumphandle slam and a headbutt to the lower back. Sags connects with a Salto slam, Rick breaks up the pinfall and Knobbs phantom tags in for an abdominal stretch to continue hurting the injured back. Rick breaks it up, ref sends him back and Sags phantom tags in to drop an elbow across the lower back. Sags drops down and applies a bearhug which I normally hate but THIS MATCH SLAPS so I’ll let it go.

Scott almost fades, then finds the energy to break free with a belly-to-belly suplex. Knobbs quickly tags in to stop the tag but Rick comes in anyway and blasts the motherf*cker with a STEINERLINE. Rick gets sent to the floor on his head, Nasty Boys connect with a SPIKE PILEDRIVER on Scott for the 1…2…ref gets distracted with Knobbs and stops the count, allowing Rick to hit Sags with a steel chair and break the cover. Scott connects with a belly-to-back suplex, Knobbs tags in and cuts Scott off once more, applying a bearhug of his own. Scott catches a charging Knobbs with a big boot, Sags tags in and Knobbs hangs onto the leg so he can’t make a tag as well. Sags, bloodied up thanks to that chairshot from Rick earlier, locks in a Boston Crab in the center of the ring but Scott bucks him off with LEG STRENGTH. Knobbs tags in and locks in a Camel Clutch. Scott gets to his feet and drops back to release the hold, Sags tags in and rakes his boot across Scott’s eyes. Scott dodges a corner splash by Knobbs and hits a Steinerline to Sags. FINALLY RICK STEINER TAGS IN AND THE CROWD GOES WILD. Right hands and Steinerlines for everyone, double noggin knocker. Rick connects with a belly-to-belly suplex, Sags breaks up the pin with an elbow. Nasty Boys toss Rick to the floor and celebrate for some reason, Rick catches them with a top rope DOUBLE STEINERLINE. Nasty Boys slam Scott on the protective mats, Scott trips both Nasty Boys and sends Sags into the ring post. STEINERLINE to Knobbs followed by a FRANKENSTEINER for the 1…2…3!

THE STEINER BROTHERS [C] DEFEATED THE NASTY BOYS VIA PINFALL TO RETAIN THE NWA UNITED STATES TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (15:27)

Got a little dull when it devolved into a regular wrestling match but for the most part this thing f*cking rocked. Four dudes with no qualms about potatoing the sh*t out of one another and it ruled hard. Poor ref had to pretend rules didn’t exist and I’m glad they went that route. Great, great match here, so much goddamn fun. Nasty Boys should’ve had a longer run in WCW…uh before their actual long run in WCW. (****)

Nasty Boys attack The Steiners, interrupting the instant replay, the ref even getting thrown around. Nasty Boys throw Rick Steiner shoulder-first into the ringpost, Scott scares them off and he checks on his brother. NOW it’s time for the replay. Brian Knobbs took ALL OF THE FRANKENSTEINER, goddamn.

INTERVIEW STAGE

Schiavone is with The Fabulous Freebirds and “Little” Richard Marley. The ‘Birds let Marley show off his impression of Robert Gibson, which is just him limping around. I GET IT. Michael Hayes says the Freebirds are the ONLY ROCK ‘N’ ROLLERS and tell Ricky Morton that he’s next.

The Junkyard Dog vs. Moondog Rex

JYD comes out wearing a Werewolf mask, but has to awkwardly wait to go to the ring so Moondog Rex can get his in-ring introduction.

JYD and Rex trade fists, latter gets sent to the floor so the former can take the mask off. JYD drops Rex with a clothesline and sends him packing with some crawling headbutts. Rex tries to bring a chair in but JYD grabs it instead and repeatedly hits himself in the head with it to prove it’s not going to work. JYD misses a falling headbutt which somehow hurts him despite the chairshots, but he fights back relatively quick. Ref gets in between the two, Rex grabs his bone and catches JYD in the guts with it. JYD no-sells Rex’s various strikes, JYD catches him with a series of rights and a clothesline. JYD reverses a corner whip and clotheslines him in the back of the head. Rex grabs the bone again but the ref takes it from him and JYD connects with a headbutt for the 1…2…3.

THE JUNKYARD DOG DEFEATED MOONDOG REX VIA PINFALL (3:14)

Did its job cooling things down after that chaotic Steiners/Nasty Boys match. Not going to say it was any good but seeing MOONDOG REX on PPV in 1990 is weird and I appreciate that. Ole Anderson helping his friends out. (*1/4)

–Trucker Norman and The Juicer are back throwing candy/WCW merch out to the crowd…and spraying silly string at each other.

–”The Good Fairy” talks about how bright, witty, and intelligent Missy Hyatt (ahem) is, and tells everyone to be safe and have fun.

INTERVIEW STAGE

Schiavone is with Scott Steiner. Steiner said there was going to be blood & guts tonight and there was, but it’s not his that’s on his singlet. Steiner vows revenge on The Nasty Boys for what they did to Rick Steiner…then gets blindsided by a concessionist who turns out to be Jerry Sags! Brian Knobbs joins in on the attack then grabs the mic to say the war has just begun BAYBAY.

Doom (Ron Simmons & “Hacksaw” Butch Reed) [c] [w/ Theodore R. Long] vs. The Horsemen (“Nature Boy” Ric Flair & “The Enforcer” Arn Anderson) for the NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

A rare heel vs. heel match and an even rarer demotion of Ric Flair to the tag team ranks. Odd to see him come out to Anderson’s generic music instead of the usual pomp & circumstance. All of this is weird but I’m into it.

Simmons shows off his strength in initial lockups, throwing Anderson to the mat with ease. Anderson backs Simmons into the ropes, Simmons dodges a left and connects with a right hook. Anderson tries to suplex him to the floor, Simmons easily counters and brings him back into the ring before sending him back out with a series of headbutts. Flair runs in but so does Reed, so he exits to check on Double A. Flair hits Simmons from behind and Anderson connects with a suplex, but Simmons pops up right away and lays in the right hands. Irish whip into Reed’s knee, Simmons connects with a powerslam for the 1…2…Flair breaks it up. Flair & Anderson try a double-team, Simmons drops them with a double clothesline. Flair chases Long into the ring and grabs him, Long slaps him and Simmons gets in the way to avoid repercussions. Reed tags in as does Flair. They go to lock up, Flair fixes his hair instead and gives everyone a “WOO!”. Flair uses the ref to get in a cheap kick and trash talks Reed as he lays in a series of rights, including a concealed fist. Reed gets fired up after a chop and connects with a series of jabs followed by a military press. Anderson runs in, Simmons sends him flying with a military press of his own. Reed drops Flair with left hooks, Nature Boy’s chops doing nothing but making Hacksaw mad. Reed hits a series of jabs, Flair Flop but misses the tag. Flair whipped into the corner and to the apron, taking out a cameraman, and Simmons gets his shots in.

Simmons brings Flair back in, Anderson and Reed trading jabs inside the squared circle. Things settle back down and Anderson tags in proper. Reed reverses a whip and connects with a high knee to the nose. Simmons tags in, double clothesline from Doom (doom-ble clothesline? Wait that’s terrible, I quit). Anderson gets the better of Simmons, applies a Boston Crab while Flair drops a knee across the back of the head. The Horsemen take control, quick tags to wear down Simmons including a beautiful Spinebuster for the 1…2…Simmons throws Double A off. Focus turns to Simmons’ left leg/knee, leading to a Figure Four while Anderson helps with leverage/stomps the knee while the ref is distracted. Simmons manages to turn it over, Anderson tags in and applies a toehold as Flair helps him with extra leverage. Simmons fights back, Anderson dodges a dropkick and covers for the 1…2…shoulder up. They lock knuckles, Simmons counters a splash with a pair of knees. Flair tags in and charges at Simmons but falls right over. Anderson quickly tags in to stop a tag on the Doom side. Simmons gets tossed to the floor but fights off Flair and gets a sunset flip on Anderson but Flair tags in as he goes down to prevent the pinfall. Simmons ducks an elbow and hits a clothesline that’s more of a wristline. Anderson tags in and Simmons drops him as well.

Flair gets the tag but SO DOES BUTCH REED and it’s jab city for the Horsemen. Dropkick and shoulderblock to Flair, Anderson easily breaks the pinfall attempt. Simmons comes in to brawl with Anderson while Flair and Reed battle on the floor. Flair gets sent into the guardrail, Reed hits a flying shoulderblock for the 1…2…Flair breaks it up. Anderson plants Reed with a DDT for the 1…2…Simmons breaks it up. All four men brawl, Reed works on Flair in the ring while Simmons and Anderson brawl. Flair leaves to help his partner, as does Reed. All four brawl up the aisle and the ref is forced to count both out.

DOOM [C] AND RIC FLAIR/ARN ANDERSON FOUGHT TO A DOUBLE-COUNTOUT; DOOM RETAINS THE NWA WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (18:20)

Doom playing the role of a babyface tag team was strange but someone had to do it and they did it well; had they stuck together for longer into 1991 I think it would’ve worked. I liked this match a lot, great brawling and some awesome drama at the end with the various pinfall breaks. Double countout is a disappointing way to end things but it seems like this feud is going to continue so I’ll let it go. Who knew Ric Flair has tag team chops in him? (***1/2)

-Cut to some pre-recorded comments from Stan “The Lariat” Hansen, who threatens Lex Luger by spitting his tobacco at a pumpkin. Oh damn.

“The Total Package” Lex Luger [c] vs. Stan “The Lariat” Hansen for the NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

If you think I’m going to complain about a Stan Hansen appearance you’re f*cking CRAZY. What a strange contest this is, I’m all about it. Luger’s usually great hair is RUINED by what looks like a mullet. I am heartbroken.

Hansen attacks early, Luger fights him off and clears him from the ring with a clothesline. After a tantrum Hansen goes to work with a series of chops and an elbowdrop but Luger kicks out of the lateral press. Luger reverses a whip and connects with a slam but Hansen continues trying to maul the champion with various brawling moves before settling into a side headlock on the mat. Hansen misses a corner splash and sends himself crashing to the floor/part of the ramp. Luger shows some brawling prowess himself then brings Hansen back in the ring for more right hands. Hansen powers back, connects with a snap suplex and another elbowdrop for the 1…2…Luger kicks out. Hansen with a scoop slam, then moves his kneepad down for a bare bone kneedrop and another two-count. Hansen with a bulldog out of the corner for the 1…2…Luger kicks out once more. Luger fights back with count-along corner rights, Hansen stops him with a waistlock slam for the 1…2…not yet. Luger dodges a middle-buckle elbow and finds his second wind, connecting with a dropkick and a slam followed by a forearm drop for the 1…2…Hansen kicks out. Luger with a vertical suplex, lateral press for the 1…2…Hansen kicks out again. Hansen reverses a corner whip and follows him in with a clothesline with his non-Lariat arm. Hansen bumps the ref and sets up for the Lariat, Luger hits one of his own. Out comes “Dangerous” Dan Spivey, Hansen’s protege in Japan, to throw the cowbell in the ring. Hansen grabs it and charges, Luger counters with a backdrop followed by a bulldog. Luger signals for the Torture Rack and charges, Hansen drops him with a Lariat FROM OUTTA NOWHERE for the 1…2…3!

STAN HANSEN DEFEATED LEX LUGER [C] VIA PINFALL TO WIN THE NWA UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (9:29)

All that time as U.S. Champion and he goes down in less than ten minutes to goddamn Stan Hansen. Ole Anderson WCW is so weird man. Not that I hated the match, I like Hansen’s smash mouth style and Luger did great trying to match it, it just seems like a weird decision. Also I wish they brought this up when Dan Spivey eventually faced Luger the next year; instead their match felt like it had no real build to it. Either way Stan Hansen is your new U.S. Champion and that’s CRAZY. (***)

INTERVIEW STAGE

Schiavone is with Theodore R. Long, the World Tag Team Titles over his shoulders. Long has proved to the NWA, Ted Turner, Chicago, and the whole world that Doom is the meanest tag team in pro wrestling. Long says Flair & Anderson will NOT get another title shot because they’ve proved what they needed to.

-Ross and Dangerously are joined at ringside by Missy Hyatt. Dangerously and Hyatt have both predicted victory for Sid Vicious. Hyatt says she made the prediction FIRST, Dangerously asks if she always whines that way.

Sting [c] vs. Sid Vicious for the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

Oddly quick introductions for both men, they must be running short on time. Sting ducks a clothesline but gets caught in mid-air. Sid connects with a backbreaker, Sting pops up and goes for a Figure Four but Sid escapes and rolls to the floor. Sid goes for a clothesline, Sting backdrops him to the floor and follows him out, ramming his head into the guardrail. Sid grabs a headlock, Sting shoves him into the post; back in the ring Sting settles into an armbar. Damn dude Sid’s almost as tall as Sting while on his knees. Sid KIPS UP out of a headscissors and drops the champ with a clothesline. Beautiful. Sting goes for a sunset flip, Sid with a right to stop it but takes too long to gloat and Sting finally gets him over for the 1…2…Sid kicks out and levels Sting with a clothesline. Sid goes to work on the muscles with a NERVEHOLD goddammit. Sting breaks out, Sid reverses a whip and connects with a powerslam, arrogantly covering for the 1…2…easy kickout. Sting reverses an Irish whip but misses the Stinger Splash and eats nothing but buckle. Sid bends him backwards over the top and connects with a pair of forearms.

Sid gloats to the crowd and turns his back on Sting, who surprises him with a flying crossbody for the 1…Sid quickly kicks out and connects with a double axhandle to regain control. Sid measures Sting, clotheslines him on the apron then pulls him back in for the 1…2…champ kicks out. Sid with a snapmare, Sting dodges the elbow but misses one himself. Sting with a flurry of offense and a one-handed bulldog. Sid catches a charging Sting with a boot and they fight up the ramp, Sid connecting with a slam. Sid celebrates again for no reason in the ring and Sting charges, hitting a clothesline from the ramp. Sting dropkicks Sid to the floor and follows up with a slingshot plancha. Ric Flair and Arn Anderson show up to distract the ref as Sting and Sid fight up the OTHER aisle and vanish. Suddenly a pudgier Sting and Sid brawl back to the ring, “Sting” picks up Sid but Sid lands on top for the 1…2…3!

~~SID VICIOUS DEFEATED STING [C] VIA PINFALL TO WIN THE NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (11:44)~~

Pyro goes off and balloons start to fall as the REAL Sting shows up, a rope tied around his arm. He attacks Sid, Stinger Splash into an inside cradle for the 1…2…3!

STING [C] DEFEATED SID VICIOUS VIA PINFALL TO RETAIN THE NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP (11:50 I GUESS?)

I joked about the fake Sting looking bigger but to be honest every time I watch this match I actually buy into it being the REAL Sting and not Barry Windham so I’m the real mark here. Goofy bullsh*t to end what was already a mediocre match; it was clear that The Black Scorpion was the actual big deal and this was the placeholder and it suffered for that. Also suffered by not being good either. (**1/4)

Pyro goes off again as Sting stops by Jim Ross. Sting says he’ll always be there to defend the World Title no matter what happens. He walks off, Dangerously protesting the finish, as Ross signs off.

*****

FINAL THOUGHTS: Halloween Havoc ‘90 is a mixed bag to say the least; the U.S. Tag Team, Tag Team, and U.S. Title matches were good to great but the undercard has a lot of pointless filler and the main event was bad from all levels (quality and clusterf*ckness). Trust me when I say the WWE Network is NOT missing out by not having the full event on the service. I think the Turner Home version of this event has all the matches worth watching, so just do that and don’t search the full show out.

MATCH OF THE NIGHT: The Steiner Brothers vs. The Nasty Boys
MOMENT OF THE NIGHT: The Black Scorpion uses spooky Las Vegas magic to mess with Sting’s head