KEVIN SULLIVAN VS. DUSTY RHODES

 Jim Ross and Bob Caudle are on commentary for this match

 

KEVIN SULLIVAN VS. DUSTY RHODES

JCP Clash of the Champions 3 (7^th September 1988)

Kevin Sullivan bails to the apron as the bell rings. He gets back in the ring, locking up with Dusty in the corner. Kevin Sullivan fires off overhand chops and sends Dusty across the ring.

  Dusty Rhodes walks through a clothesline from Sullivan and the Bionic Elbow connects. Sullivan is sent through the ropes and Dusty bounces him off the announce table as you hear the thud. Dusty Rhodes gets a shot in on Gary Hart and sends Sullivan into his manager. Dusty makes it back in the ring before Hart can get his hands on him. Gary Hart complains to the referee as Sullivan gets in  the ring with an object, it looks like a squeegee! Dusty Rhodes bails to the floor so the referee can get it away from Sullivan. Kevin Sullivan locks back up with Rhodes as he’s back in the ring and connects with right hands in the corner. Sullivan sends Dusty into the turnbuckles but is knocked down with a clothesline. Sullivan is sent to the floor again and decides to have a talk with Gary Hart before getting back to the apron. Dusty strikes first with right hands but is caught with a karate thrust to the throat. Dusty is stomped on the mat and brought to the arena floor, where he meets the pathetic excuse for a guard rail.

  Gary Hart has removed his shoe, taking some cheap shots at Dusty. Sullivan rolls Dusty back in the ring and puts on a chinlock as the fans chant “Dusty” who backs Sullivan into the ropes. Gary Hart hands Sullivan a spike and he jams it into Dusty Rhodes’ throat out of the referee’s sight. Kevin Sullivan covers but Dusty Rhodes kicks out at 1 so Sullivan goes back to the chinlock on the mat. Dusty is able to grab the rope, but he can’t hold on long enough to break the hold. A low blow does the trick instead. Dusty connects with a double windmill and slaps Sullivan around before knocking him down with a double sledge. Kevin Sullivan thumbs Dusty in the eye and tries to use his spike again, but he’s cut off with the Bionic Elbow. Dusty picks up the spike, sending Kevin Sullivan off the ropes to gain some momentum before getting jabbed with it as Gary Hart stil has the referee “distracted” he ignores the spike as he goes down to make the count. Gary Hart pulls Dusty out of the ring and backs down immediately. Al Perez shows up and attacks Dusty with the chain as the referee is signaling but no bell as of yet. Sullivan and Perez double-team Rhodes.

  They send him off the ropes but he jumps into a clothesline with the chain. He rolls up Gary Hart and the referee makes the 3 count because why the fuck not at this point?

WINNER: DUSTY RHODES

This match was used to hype up the dog collar matches Rhodes and Sullivan would be having over the circuit, and because of that never got out of second gear. It wasn’t a bad match but it seemed like they were simply making up time until the confusing finish. [*] 2/10