BARRY WINDHAM (C) VS. STING

 Before the match, Jim Ross interviews Jim Ayers from the San Francisco 49ers. JR goes through his football credentials and reminds us he will be the referee for Lex Luger vs. Ric Flair. Ayers stumbles through the interview but does say he won’t be intimidated. Both guys are already in the ring for our introductions.

Jim Ross, John Ayers and Bob Caudle are on commentary for this match.

 

BARRY WINDHAM © VS. STING (NWA United States Championship)

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

  JJ Dillon is with Barry Windham, as would be expected. Sting begins the match with a “Wooo” to get the crowd going before they lock up.

  Sting takes Windham down with arm drags so the Horseman backs off to the corner early. They lock up again, Sting backs Windham in the corner and breaks but is caught with a cheap shot, sending him across the ring. Another right hand keeps Sting in the corner but he sends Windham off the ropes from the headlock. Barry Windham tackles Stinger down and he goes prone, leapfrogs the 6 foot 6 Windham then drops down again. The second leapfrog is caught. Sting scrambles down to his feet and runs through Windham with a shoulder tackle. Barry Windham is sent through the ropes with a pair of dropkicks. Windham takes some time to confer with JJ Dillon on the floor before getting put in a headlock back in the ring, he back suplexes Sting who pops back up and sends Windham back down to the concrete with another dropkick. Windham is in no hurry to get back in the ring to face Sting, he asks for a test of strength and kicks Sting in the midsection then connects with a right hand.

  Sting interrupts the 10 punches in the corner with an inverted atomic drop before Windham is sent off the ropes into a backdrop. Sting hits some punches in the corner, Windham falls flat on his face and Sting hits facebusters but eats shit on the jumping elbow drop. Barry Windham connects with knee strikes and dumps Sting through the ropes. Jim Ross says he hates it when matches go to the floor because they should be settled in the ring but Windham is utilising the 10-count. Sting is knocked from the apron and Windham hits a clubbing blow to Sting’s back as he jumps down to join the challenger on the floor again. Windham slams Sting on the floor and high-fives Dillon before returning to the ring. A stiff shot stuns Sting on the apron and a suplex brings him back in the ring. Sting tries to swing the momentum with elbows to the ribs but Windham rakes his face. Sting is sent off the ropes but Windham ducks too early and gets caught with a sunset flip for 2.

  Barry Windham scrapes his knee across Sting’s face and sends him off the ropes for a powerslam before going back to JJ Dillon for some advice, Windham picks up some speed in the corner and hits a knee drop before covering and Sting bench-presses the champion, sending him across the ring. Sting catches Windham off guard with an inside cradle but only gets 2. Barry Windham strikes first as they get to their feet and backs Sting into the corner, sending him across the ring into the turnbuckles. Windham charges but hits the corner, hanging himself over the top rope, half in and half out, so Sting helps him over to the floor where Windham hits his head on the guard rail. JJ Dillon wants a disqualification but the referee tells him to go fuck himself as Windham is sent into the ring post. Sting gets a run-up to send Windham into the other ring post and one of those shots cut Windham’s head open. Sting sends Windham’s head into the announce table and Windham stumbles into the crowd as Sting gets back in the ring.

  Jim Ross says Sting needs Windham in the ring as Windham makes his way there, Sting bites at Windham’s cut and rakes his back because he’s the babyface and it’s cool when he does it. Sting scrapes Windham’s cut across the top rope and connects with right hands and a dropkick, he covers Windham but he’s under the bottom rope. Sting sends Barry Windham off the ropes into a sleeper hold, wearing him down. Barry Windham fights it enough to get back to his feet, he gets to the ropes but not for long enough for Sting to break the hold, Sting sends Windham into the turnbuckles and then goes right back to the sleeper until Windham breaks it with a shinbreaker. Barry Windham targets the knee with kicks and stomps, beating Sting down to the mat and putting on the Figure Four leglock. Windham is able to use the middle rope for leverage, and then James J. Dillon gives him an assist from ringside.

  Tommy Young catches Windham cheating and forces him to break the hold, but the damage is already done. Windham hits a back suplex on Sting. Sting fights back with right hands as he keeps his weight on the good leg before suplexing Windham, but he can’t capitalise since he’s favouring the knee. Barry Windham puts the Claw on Sting’s pectoral muscle, but Sting fights to his feet. Right hands from Sting don’t break the hold but it is loosened enough for him to send Windham back out to the floor so Sting can buy some time. Sting slingshots Windham back into the ring and sends him off the ring into a backdrop. Sting connects with elbow drops and a hip toss sends Windham across the ring. Barry Windham reverses an irish whip, and Sting ducks a right hand which sends Tommy Young out to the floor. Sting hits the Stinger Splash in the corner, JJ Dillon brings a chair into the ring but is intercepted by Sting, who releases the Scorpion Deathlock.

  Barry Windham takes advantage, hitting Sting with the chair. John Ayres doesn’t let the referee count, explaining what just happened. Tommy Young takes his word for it and disqualifies Barry Windham.

WINNER: STING (via Disqualification)

This was a good match, it could have done with trimming down the time as a good portion was taken with submissions, but the methodical pace didn’t bother me too much. The finish, however, was a different story. I understand why it happened and it would have meant more to the fans in attendance at the time, but it was still a screwy finish which barely works for me, personally. [***½] 6.25/10

After the match, JJ Dillon gets in John Ayers’ face but immediately backs down, cowering in the corner. Windham has the US Championship belt but Sting knocks him through the ropes with a dropkick before celebrating with Ayers.