RON BASS (C) VS. DICK SLATER

 Before the match Tony Schiavone is backstage with Ric Flair. He talks to Flair about his year-long reign with the NWA World Heavyweight Champion since beating Harley Race the previous year (here). He says he is more prepared for this match, there are a million dollars on the line, the biggest wrestling purse in history and he tells Dusty Rhodes he needs to be twice as ready for their main event tonight

Bob Caudle and Gordon Solie are on commentary for this match,but they have to stretch out by talking of the pressure of being NWA World Champion before Ron Bass and JJ Dillon make their way to the ring. Dick Slator is already in the ring and cuts Dillon off, Dillon stays on the apron for the introductions.

 

RON BASS © VS. DICK SLATER

(NWA Mid-Atlantic Championship)

Jim Crockett Promotions Starrcade 1984 (22^nd November 1984)

  Ron Bass also holds the Mid-Atlantic tag team championships with Black Bart as the Long Riders The hard camera is shaking from the reaction in the crowd, it needs securing better. They lock up and Ron Bass sends Slater off the ropes.

  Dick Slater goes to the floor, chasing JJ Dillon. Dillon runs through the ring, Slater gives chase and Ron Bass gets some shots in. Slater taunts him from the floor. Dick Slater takes his time getting back into the ring and draws Bass in, ducking an obvious shot in the corner and connecting with a chop and taking Bass down with a headlock. Ron Bass tries to roll Slater into a cover but can’t get both shoulders down. Dick Slater grabs the hair to get back to an advantageous position on the mat before they get to their feet. Ron Bass fights out of the headlock and sends Bass off the ropes into a back elbow, but misses the elbow drop. Dick Slater headbutts Bass before another headlock takedown. Ron Bass gets Slater over into a pin but only gets 2.

  They work back to their feet and Ron Bass rakes the eyes, we see JJ Dillon at ringside but I think Bass misses the right hand because he ends up in an atomic drop. Dick Slater goes back to the apron and JJ Dillon hides behind Bass on the floor. Ron Bass gets back to the apron and Slater connects with a crawling headbutt like Junkyard Dog did. Bass gets to his feet and is snapmared over the top rope into the ring. The referee stops a stomp and Ron Bass gets to his feet, raking Slater’s eyes again. Bass knocks Slater down with a kneelift and sends Slater’s head into the top turnbuckle. Dick Slater ends up tied in the ropes, Ron Bass connects with right hands, and Slater goes down and back up like a pendulum. JJ Dillon gets in a cheap shot too. Dick Slater drops to the apron but rolls into the ring quickly.

  JJ Dillon plays innocent on the floor as Ron Bass hits a suplex for 2. Ron Bass hits a bulldog out of the corner and Slater punches the air to sell it. Ron Bass decides to bring Slater to his feet so he’s caught with a bodyshot. Dick Slater gets some momentum with jabs and a roundhouse right, he covers but Bass kicks out at 1. Slater takes him over with a snapmare and twists his boot in Ron Bass’ face. Ron Bass gets the momentum back with a rake to the eyes. Dick Slater is dumped through the ropes and JJ Dillon is back on the attack before sending Slater back in as Ron Bass talks about the weather with the referee. Dick Slater is knocked back into the corner by Bass, he takes some shots to the jaw, walking around the ring for some respite, digging as deep as he can. Ron Bass sends Slater across the ring but is caught on the charge and sent into the turnbuckles. Dick Slater fires off right hands in the corner, he throws the referee down in the scramble and hits a back suplex to Ron Bass. Dick Slater covers but JJ Dillon breaks up the cover, pissing off Dick Slater in the process. Dick Slater slams Dillon and sends him out of the ring.

  Hell of a bump by JJ there, Dick Slater slams Ron Bass before hitting the legdrop. He covers but the referee is there to tell Dick Slater he’s been disqualified.

WINNER: RON BASS via Disqualification (STILL NWA Mid-Atlantic Champion)

 

This was a pretty good match, Dick Slater was really feuding with JJ Dillon at this point, so he wanted tog et his hands on the manager. [star rating] /10

After the match, Dick Slater takes on both Ron Bass and JJ Dillon, clearing the ring.