ROAD WARRIOR ANIMAL VS. DUSTY RHODES

 This match comes after The Road Warriors stabbing Dusty Rhodes in the eye, a sickening storyline for the time which took Dusty from the booking committee. The spot is shown to start the show, in case you somehow missed it. Road Warrior Animal and Paul Ellering are in the ring as Jim Ross explains that the disqualification rule has been waved. The winner of this match holds control of the NWA 6-Man Tag Team Championships.

Jim Ross says Dusty Rhodes is late getting to the arena, we go to Magnum TA interviewing Rick Steiner on a raised platform in the crowd. Rick recently removed himself from the Varsity Club and Magnum says he used to use the same belly-to-belly suplex that Steiner uses. Rick Steiner introduces Magnum to Alexander, his hand that talks to him. Magnum says he hopes Alexander is getting him ready for his title shot at Starrcade. Rick shushes Magnum and shouts that he’ll beat Mike Rotunda to death.

  We go back to the ring, where Animal is getting impatient. We go to a commercial break, including one for Starrcade later this month. We get a graphic for the match and Dusty finally makes his way out, eye patch and all.

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

 

ROAD WARRIOR ANIMAL VS. DUSTY RHODES

Jim Crockett Promotions Clash of the Champions IV (7^th December 1988)

  Dusty Rhodes hits Ellering with a Bionic Elbow, so he leaves the ring. Animal is cut off with right hands, and some lefts thrown in for good measure.

  Road Warrior Animal kicks Dusty in the midsection and connects with right hands, Dusty ducks the clothesline, he has to hit Animal with two to knock him down and Dusty celebrates too early. Animal moves out of the way of an elbow drop, hitting one of his own. Dusty Rhodes is sent into the corner, but he moves out of the way of Animal and rolls out to the floor. Dusty Rhodes brings Animal to the ring post, focusing on the left leg. Dusty kicks Animal down with a kick to the knee, setting up a Figure Four leglock. Dusty Rhodes knocks the referee out of the ring as he puts the move on, Paul Ellering attacks Dusty’s eye, giving Animal the advantage. Animal tries to remove Dusty’s eye patch and bandage but Dusty low blows Animal and rakes at Animal’s eyes. Hawk runs in as we get a shot from above the ring, Road Warrior Hawk hits a shot on Dusty Rhodes from the middle rope. Animal calls for the Doomsday Device but Sting is here! He cuts off the attack and fights Hawk to the outside. Dusty Rhodes returns with a chair and aims it at Animal’s leg. The bell rings as Dusty goes to town on his left knee.

  Sting sends Hawk into the barricade, according to Jim Ross, before celebrating in the ring. The official word comes that Dusty Rhodes was disqualified for using the chair.

WINNER: ROAD WARRIOR ANIMAL (via Disqualification)

 . This was really angle advancing disguised as a match. It was building to a match at Starrcade, giving Dusty and Sting an equaliser against the Road Warriors.  [*] /2.2510