Jim Ross and Tony Schiovane are on commentary for this match. Barry Windham enters first, followed by Steve Williams wearing a Sooners jersey. Both theme tunes are so 1980's they have to be dubbed for the Network. Barry Windham is the Western States Heritage champion at this point in time, but only Steve Williams' UWF title is on the line. JR gets through the introductions without mentioning Oklahoma or football.
STEVE WILLIAMS © VS. BARRY WINDHAM (UWF Heavyweight Championship)
Jim Crockett Promotions Starrcade 1987 (26th November 1987)
They shake hands and crisscross the ring. Steve Williams goes prone and sends Windham over with a hip toss. He sends Windham across the ring, lifting him overhead for a military press. Barry Windham drops to his feet behind Dr. Death, Williams is sent into the ropes and they go back into an O'Conor roll for 1. They get back to their feet and there's a show of respect between them. Ross gets to football, not wanting to disappoint as the Sooners were ranked #1 in College football at this time. Williams gets a waistlock but Windham reverses into one of his own. He takes Williams down but is taken over in a fireman's carry. They get to their feet again, Williams shoots for the takedown and Windham takes control of the arm as they go to the mat. Williams uses his weight advantage to roll them into the ropes, the referee starts the count but they roll all the way out of the ring. Breaking it as they get to the floor.
Barry Windham recommends getting back in the ring and they do. They lock up and Windham gets a headlock. Williams hits a back suplex, Windham looks like he might have landed on his head, shaking off the cobwebs as he gets to his feet. He takes Williams over with a gutwrench suplex. Jim Ross mentions that Windham's 6ft 6 which surprises me. Steve Williams puts another headlock on, Windham takes him over with a suplex but the headlock isn't released. Williams moves into a chinlock, Windham sends him over but again, Steve Williams is able to keep the hold on. Windham makes it to his feet and sends Williams over, they circle each other as commentary agrees they're acting cautious in the match due to their familiarity. Barry Windham gets a headlock but Williams sends him into the ropes, he gets sent across the ring and Windham drops Dr Death with a shoulder block. Williams goes prone, Windham ducks but is caught in a waistlock, no he gets out and carries on running the ropes. He leapfrogs Williams but runs into him. Schiovane covers it as inadvertent as we see a woman in the crowd looking smug.
Barry Windham refuses to cover Williams and even tells the referee to stop counting Williams down. I'm not sure how that would count for title changes, so that might not be as selfless as Jim Ross makes out. Steve Williams gets to his feet in the corner as the emcee tells us 5 minutes has gone in the match. They lock up and Windham takes him down with a headlock, Williams counters into a headscissors and they get back to their feet. Windham goes back to the headlock and is sent off the ropes. Steve Williams goes prone and gets back to his feet, but drops with amazing agility again sending Windham over the top rope to the floor, hitting the apron and table on the way down. He slowly makes his way back into the ring but is instantly rolled up for the 3.
WINNER: STEVE WILLIAMS (STILL UWF World Champion)
The match was a nice sprint. Barry Windham showed respect to Steve Williams, allowing him to his feet early in the match, but Steve Williams used the element of surprise to retain his championship. – As a match it's ** but personally I'd rate it 5.5/10
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