LEX LUGER (C) VS. RICKY STEAMBOAT

 At the previous month’s Clash of the Champions VII Ricky Steamboat faced Terry Funk in the main event. After that match Lex Luger came out and attacked Steamboat, leading to this match.
Before the match, Lex Luger is backstage with Gordon Solie, he says he has been with a team of lawyers and he’s had the No Disqualification stipulation dropped from the match.

  Ricky Steamboat makes his way out first with his wife Bonnie, son Richy and a Komodo Dragon. Lex Luger poses on a rotating platform before making it to the ring, some of the crowd are still giving Luger a babyface reaction. The match is still announced as No Disqualification, so Luger threatens to walk out if Steamboat doesn’t agree to his terms. Ricky Steamboat accepts since the alternative is losing his title shot. Disqualifications are officially back on! Ricky Steamboat looks pissed off as Luger prepares for the match.
 Jim Ross and Bob Caudle are on commentary for this match.

LEX LUGER © VS. RICKY STEAMBOAT

(NWA United States Championship)

JCP Great American Bash 1989  (23^rd July 1989)

  They lock up and Lex Luger shoves Steamboat across the ring. They go again with Steamboat being pushed further back.
  Ricky Steamboat is backed into the corner from the third lock-up, he avoids the cheap shot and rolls Luger up for 2. Ricky Steamboat chops Luger as they get to their feet. Luger reverses an irish whip but gets caught with an inside cradle for 2, Ricky Steamboat trips Luger and gets 2 from a jackknife cover. Steamboat connects with dropkicks and chops Luger back into the ropes, Lex Luger is whipped into a backdrop and a right hand and chop send Luger out to the floor. He only gets a short break as Steamboat follows, alternating between knife-edge and overhand chops before sending Luger’s head into the apron. Ricky Steamboat ducks a haymaker and hits an atomic drop, Luger is sent back into the ring but cuts Steamboat off with a knee to the midsection through the ropes. Steamboat is kicked to the arena floor, Luger clubs Ricky Steamboat across the back and knocks him down with a clothesline before talking to some fans at ringside. Lex Luger breaks the referee’s count and is met with chops from Steamboat, a lot of them. Lex Luger is sent into what was considered a guardrail for this event in front of the Commissioner’s table before Steamboat sends him back into the ring.

  Ricky Steamboat climbs to the top rope but is caught on the way down with a right hand to the midsection. Lex Luger clubs Steamboat across the back and connects with right hands before sending him off the ropes into a press slam. Luger attacks Steamboat’s back and covers but only gets 2. He forces Steamboat’s shoulders down but Steamboat rolls one of them up at 2. Lex Luger talks to the referee about his counting abilities and Steamboat rolls Luger up, 1,2, no! That was a fast-count to 2, to be honest. Lex Luger runs through Steamboat with another clothesline. Luger clotheslines again, then a third consecutive one leaves Steamboat out on his feet fighting the invisible man. Lex Luger drops Steamboat across the top rope, Ricky Steamboat backs Luger into the corner with a series of chops, Tommy Young restrains Steamboat which allows Luger to connect with a free shot. Luger and Young have a shoving match to show they’re not working together and Lex Luger sends him off the ropes into a powerslam for 2. Steamboat off the ropes again, he ducks a back elbow and hits the crossbody but Luger kicks out at 1.

  Lex Luger kicks Steamboat in the midsection and hits the inverted atomic drop before wasting time, Luger sends Steamboat off the ropes but ducks too early, Steamboat whiffs the spinning neckbreaker and Luger lands on his feet from the slam attempt. Lex Luger charges with a clothesline, Steamboat ducks it and Lex Luger sends himself over the top to the floor. Ricky Steamboat helps him back up to the apron and connects with right hands and a shot across the chest. Steamboat isn’t able to hold Luger up as he tries to slam the champion back in the ring, Luger falls on the cover but Steamboat kicks out at 2½. Ricky Steamboat is sent from one corner to the other, he jumps onto the turnbuckle and leapfrogs over Luger, but runs into the boot in the corner. Lex Luger goes to the top rope but Steamboat slams him back down to the mat, Steamboat connects with a chop and dropkick before picking up some speed to knock Luger down with right hands. Ricky Steamboat hits a chop from the top rope and covers, but Luger kicks out at 2! After a discussion with the referee, Steamboat runs at Luger and is sent over into the next ring. Lex Luger grabs a steel chair from ringside and stalks Steamboat with it, the referee tries to get in his way but Luger shoves him off.

  Ricky Steamboat trips Luger, who kindly holds the chair in front of his face so Steamboat can catapult him into the turnbuckles. Ricky Steamboat grabs the chair and hits Luger across the back with it, causing the DQ.

WINNER: LEX LUGER (via Disqualification – STILL NWA United States Champion)

This was a strange clash of styles, Lex Luger needs a ring general like Steamboat to carry him through the match and Steamboat did that well here, they just didn’t seem to have much chemistry. Add in the strange reaction towards Luger from the crowd and something felt off about this match to me and the finish was just fucking terrible. [**] 4/10

After the match Ricky Steamboat keeps up the attack, knocking Luger down with a chairshot to the chest. Tommy Young tries to take the chair from Steamboat and is sent out of the ring. Ricky Steamboat chases Lex Luger up the walkway with the chair.