• Look Back In History
• Pmessages
• Quiz
• Stump The Staff
• Top Fifty
• Close

REVIEW: Timeline History of WCW 1989 with Jim Cornette

Posted: Jun 3rd 2015 By: Alan Wojcik

?Jim Cornette needs to teach a Master?s program on professional wrestling history.?

While the Mega Powers were exploding in the World Wrestling Federation, World Championship Wrestling (WCW) was going through some issues after Turner Broadcasting purchased it from Jim Crockett at the end of 1988 (see the Timeline with JJ Dillon for all that fun.) Things were going to get worse when Jim Herd left Pizza Hut and joined WCW. Who better to take us through WCW 1989 than the manager of the Midnight Express, JIM CORNETTE? Like his visit during WWE 1997, Jim brings notes from his voluminous wrestling collection including TV formats, PPV rundowns, travel itineraries & more.

As 1989 opened Cornette?s Midnight Express (?Beautiful? Bobby Eaton & ?Sweet? Stan Lane) were feuding Paul E. Dangerously?s Original Midnight Express (?Loverboy? Dennis Condrey & ?Ravishing? Randy Rose. They were going to have an interesting journey working with several teams like the Steiners, Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Jimmy Garvin), Samoan Swat Team, Skyscrapers (Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey) & others.

By the end of the year he would be part of a booking committee led by World Heavyweight champion Ric Flair & Kevin Sullivan. In addition to the arrival of Mr. Herd on January 3rd and his infamous Ding Dongs here?s what else went down:

The major return in 1989 was Ricky Steamboat (from WWE) that led to the amazing three match series over the NWA World championship with Ric Flair (Chi Town Rumble, Clash of Champions 6 & Wrestle War ?89), plus we saw the returns/debuts of Hiro Matsuda (as manager of Flair/Barry Windham), Terry Funk (from retirement), Iron Sheik (from WWE), Cactus Jack, George Scott (as booker after Dusty Rhodes was relieved of duties,) Missy Hyatt (to be partnered with Eddie Gilbert), the Great Muta (managed by the great Gary Hart), TV taping moves to Center Stage in Atlanta, the Dynamic Dudes (Shane Douglas & Johnny Ace), Nikita Koloff, Norman the Lunatic (Mike Shaw), Scott Steiner, Arn & Ole Anderson (to begin the 4 Horsemen reformation), Woman (the late Nancy Benoit) Doom (Butch Reed & Ron Simmons), Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy now with Jimmy Garvin), the WCW Power Hour TV show, Bruno Sammartino (referee for Halloween Havoc PPV main event) & the infamous Iron Man Tournament at Starrcade.

Exits of WCW included JJ Dillon (to WWE offices), Dusty Rhodes (to WWE), Dennis Condrey, Randy Rose & Paul E Dangerously (left or were fired by Ric Flair), Ricky Steamboat (Jim Herd contract issue), Tony Schiavone (to WWE), George Scott (after the failure of Clash VI to draw). Before I watched this I said good luck topping Jim Cornette as a guest in the series until I found out who the guest will be for 1985.

Even without the copious amount of notes, Cornette is a great storyteller. The Jim Herd stories are amazing plus the backstage dealings trying to keep the Midnight Express part of the main storylines. Also you get to enjoy a tease of WCW 1990.

Next to be released by www.KayfabeCommentaries.com is Timeline History of ECW 1996 with Raven (June 2), season 3 of Wrestling?s Most (June 23) plus History of WCW 1994 with Eric Bischoff (August 22). To follow Alan Wojcik?s wrestling coverage; check out @MyNameIsWojcik on Twitter and www.facebook.com/KayfabeWrestlingRadio