Starrcade '88: True Gritt

{{short description|1988 World Championship Wrestling pay-per-view event}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{Infobox wrestling event |caption = VHS cover featuring [[Ric Flair]] and [[Lex Luger]] |name = Starrcade '88: True Gritt |image = Starrcade88.jpg |tagline = True Gritt |promotion = [[National Wrestling Alliance]]<ref name=411mania/><br>[[World Championship Wrestling]] |date = December 26, 1988<ref name=411mania>{{cite web|url=https://www.411mania.com/wrestling/video_reviews/64983|title=Going Old School: Starrcade '88|first=Matt|last=Adamson|date=2008-02-06|publisher=411mania|accessdate=2008-06-05}}</ref> |venue = [[Norfolk Scope]]<ref name=411mania/> |city = [[Norfolk, Virginia]]<ref name=411mania/> |attendance = 10,000<ref name=411mania/> |buyrate = 150,000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/resources/wcw-pay-per-view-buys-ppv-buys-ppv-buyrate/|title=WCW Pay-Per-View Buys (1987-2001)|work=Wrestlenomics|date=25 March 2020|access-date=January 22, 2021}}</ref> |lastevent = [[The Great American Bash (1988)|The Great American Bash]] |nextevent = [[Chi-Town Rumble]] |event=[[Starrcade]] |nextevent2=[[Starrcade (1989)|1989]] |lastevent2=[[Starrcade (1987)|1987]] }} '''Starrcade '88: True Gritt''' was the sixth annual [[Starrcade]] [[professional wrestling]] [[pay-per-view]] (PPV) [[List of NWA/WCW closed-circuit events and pay-per-view events|event]] produced under the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA) banner. It was the first Starrcade event produced by [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), and took place on December 26, 1988, from the [[Norfolk Scope]] in [[Norfolk, Virginia]]. Shortly before the event, [[Ted Turner]] bought [[Jim Crockett Promotions]] (JCP), and the company became WCW.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/jun27_feds.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310090513/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/jun27_feds.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 10, 2016|title=Ted vs. Vince, winner take all|first=Larry|last=McShane|date=1999-06-27|publisher=SLAM! Sports|access-date=2008-06-05}}</ref>

The [[Card (sports)#Main event|main event]] featured [[Ric Flair]] and [[Lex Luger]] for the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]]. They were once members of the [[The Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|Four Horsemen]] [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Stable|stable]], but Luger left the group. Luger started a [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] with Flair when [[Barry Windham]], Luger's tag team partner, turned on him, and joined the Four Horsemen.<ref name=dvd>{{cite video|date=2007-04-10|title=Ric Flair & The Four Horsemen|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1103172/|medium=DVD|publisher=[[WWE Home Video]]|accessdate=2008-05-29 }}</ref> Other matches included [[The Road Warriors]] against [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] and [[Dusty Rhodes]] for the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship]], [[Barry Windham]] against [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] for the [[WWE United States Championship|NWA United States Heavyweight Championship]], and [[Mike Rotunda]] against [[Rick Steiner]] for the [[WCW World Television Championship|NWA World Television Championship]].<ref name=411mania/> A 17-Man $50,000 Bunkhouse Battle Royal was won by the [[Junkyard Dog]]

==Storylines== The event featured wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and [[Narrative thread|storylines]]. Wrestlers portrayed [[Heel (professional wrestling)|villains]] and, [[Face (professional wrestling)|heroes]] in the scripted events to build tension and lead to a wrestling match.<ref name="HSW">{{cite web|url=https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/pro-wrestling.htm|title=How Pro Wrestling Works|last=Grabianowski|first=Ed|work=HowStuffWorks, Inc.|date=13 January 2006 |publisher=[[Discovery Communications]]|accessdate=2015-11-15}}</ref>

[[File:Starrcade-1988-Flair.jpg|thumb|right|180px|[[Ric Flair]], the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship|NWA World Heavyweight Champion]], before his match at Starrcade]] The main [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] heading into Starrcade was between [[Ric Flair]] and [[Lex Luger]] over the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]]. In March 1987, Luger joined the [[The Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)|Four Horsemen]] [[Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Stable|stable]]. Luger remained a member until early 1988, when Luger felt he was held back and quit the group. Luger then teamed with [[Barry Windham]]. Windham turned on Luger, however, and joined the Four Horsemen.<ref name=dvd/> Luger feuded with Flair, and they faced each other in several title matches, including at [[The Great American Bash (1988)|The Great American Bash]], where the match was stopped due to Luger bleeding. Flair remained champion, and a rematch was made at Starrcade.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.wwe.com/shows/thegreatamericanbash/history/alltimeresults|title=Great American Bash Pay-Per-View History|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-06-05 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080331213119/http://www.wwe.com/shows/thegreatamericanbash/history/alltimeresults  |archivedate = 2008-03-31}}</ref>

In late 1988, [[Jim Crockett Promotions]], which originally produced Starrcade, was on the verge of bankruptcy. [[Ted Turner]] bought the company in November, and it became [[World Championship Wrestling]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Bischoff|first=Eric|authorlink=Eric Bischoff|author2=Roberts, Jeremy|title=Controversy Creates Cash|date=2006-10-17|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|isbn=1-4165-2729-X|pages=[https://archive.org/details/controversycreat00bisc/page/60 60]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/controversycreat00bisc/page/60}}</ref> Previous Starrcade events were held on [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]], but moved to December to avoid direct competition with the WWF's [[Survivor Series]]. Future WCW Starrcades were also held in December. This was the last to be held in a traditional format until 1993. The following four Starrcades featured tournaments.<ref name=411mania/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/dec17_starrcade.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626235742/http://slam.canoe.com/SlamWrestlingArchive/dec17_starrcade.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 26, 2015|title=Starrcade, the original "super card"|first=John|last=Molinaro|date=1999-12-17|publisher=SLAM! Sports|access-date=2008-05-04}}</ref>

==Event== {| class=wikitable style="font-size:90%; margin: 0.5em 0 0.5em 1em; float: right; clear: right;" |+ Other on-screen personnel !Role: !Name: |- |rowspan=2|Presenters |[[Tony Schiavone]] |- |[[Magnum T. A.]] |- |rowspan=2|Commentator |[[Jim Ross]] |- |[[Bob Caudle]] |- |rowspan=2|Referee |[[Theodore Long|Teddy Long]] |- |[[Tommy Young]] |- |rowspan=1|Interviewer |Magnum T. A. |- |rowspan=1|Ring announcer |[[Gary Michael Cappetta]] |} The first match was between the team of [[The Varsity Club]] ([[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] and [["Dr. Death" Steve Williams|Steve Williams]]) and [[The Fantastics]] ([[Bobby Fulton]] and [[Tommy Rogers (wrestler)|Tommy Rogers]]) for the [[WCW United States Tag Team Championship|NWA United States Tag Team Championship]]. The match began with The Fantastics having the advantage. Sullivan and Williams fought back after Sullivan blocked a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Splash|splash]] from Rogers with his knees. They dominated Rogers until Fulton tagged in and attacked both. After performing mounted punches to Williams, Fulton applied the [[Professional wrestling holds#Sleeper hold|sleeper hold]]. As Fulton ran at Williams, Williams dropped him on the top rope, and pinned him to win the match and the titles.

The second match was between [[The Midnight Express (professional wrestling)#Randy Rose and Dennis Condrey|The Original Midnight Express]] ([[Dennis Condrey]] and [[Randy Rose]]) (accompanied by [[Paul Heyman|Paul E. Dangerously]]) and [[The Midnight Express (professional wrestling)#Bobby Eaton and Stan Lane|The Midnight Express]] ([[Bobby Eaton]] and [[Stan Lane]]) (accompanied by [[Jim Cornette]]). The match started with Eaton and Lane dominating, and Cornette interfering using his [[Racquet|tennis racket]]. This continued until Eaton missed a corner attack on Rose. Condrey and Rose attacked Eaton, and attempted a [[Professional wrestling double-team maneuvers#Rocket Launcher|Rocket Launcher]]. Eaton avoided it, and Lane tagged in. Lane attacked both men and pinned Rose after a double-team to win the match. After the match, Condrey, Rose and Dangerously attacked Eaton, Lane and Cornette until Eaton fought them off with the racquet.

The third match was between The Russian Assassins ([[David Sheldon (wrestler)|#1]] and [[Jack Victory|#2]]) (with [[Paul Jones (wrestler)|Paul Jones]]) and the team of [[Ivan Koloff]] and The [[Junkyard Dog]] (replacing [[Nikita Koloff]]). The Junkyard Dog and Koloff had the early advantage. After a [[Professional wrestling double-team maneuvers#Double clothesline|double clothesline]] to #1, The Junkyard Dog missed a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Headbutt|falling headbutt]]. The Russian Assassins fought back with attacks until #2 missed a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Back press|Russian Missile]] to The Junkyard Dog. The Junkyard Dog and Koloff had the advantage until #1 placed a [[Foreign object (professional wrestling)|foreign object]] in his mask. #1 performed a headbutt to Koloff, and pinned him to win the match.

The fourth match was between [[Rick Steiner]] and [[Mike Rotunda]] for the [[WCW World Television Championship|NWA World Television Championship]]. Kevin Sullivan, who accompanied Rotunda, was locked inside a cage. Rotunda had the advantage after Steiner hit the floor outside the ring, and Rotunda applied the [[Professional wrestling holds#Chinlock|chinlock]]. Steiner avoided a [[dropkick]], and fought back with [[Professional wrestling attacks#Mounted punches|mounted punches]]. After Steiner performed a [[Suplex#Belly-to-belly suplex|belly to belly suplex]], Steve Williams rang the bell, confusing Steiner and the referee. Sullivan was released from the cage, and climbed on the apron. Steiner sent Rotunda into Sullivan, and pinned Rotunda to win the match and the title.

The fifth match was between [[Barry Windham]] and [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] for the [[WWE United States Championship|NWA United States Heavyweight Championship]]. Bigelow had the advantage, and performed a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Slingshot|slingshot]] splash. Bigelow then missed a splash, and Windham fought back. Windham applied the [[Professional wrestling holds#Clawhold|clawhold]], and attempted a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Diving elbow drop|diving elbow drop]]. Bigelow avoided it, and fought back until Windham sent them both outside the ring with a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Crossbody|crossbody block]]. Windham avoided an attack, and Bigelow ran into the ringpost. Windham returned to the ring, and Bigelow was counted out. Windham won the match, and retained the title.

The sixth match was between [[The Road Warriors]] ([[Road Warrior Hawk|Hawk]] and [[Road Warrior Animal|Animal]]) (accompanied by [[Paul Ellering]]) and the team of [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] and [[Dusty Rhodes]] for the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship]]. The match went back and forth until Hawk repeatedly [[Professional wrestling attacks#Eye rake|raked the eyes]] of Rhodes. Animal applied the neck vice on Rhodes, and Hawk applied the [[Professional wrestling holds#Sleeper hold|sleeper hold]]. Rhodes performed a [[Professional wrestling throws#Jawbreaker|jawbreaker]], and Sting and Animal tagged in. Sting performed a [[Professional wrestling attacks#Stinger splash|Stinger splash]], and attempted to apply the [[Sharpshooter (professional wrestling)|Scorpion Deathlock]]. Hawk attacked Sting, and attempted to double-team Rhodes with Animal. Rhodes fought out, and Sting performed a [[Professional wrestling aerial techniques#Plancha|diving crossbody]] to Animal. As Sting attempted to pin Animal, Ellering interfered, and the Road Warriors were disqualified. Rhodes and Sting won the match, but the Road Warriors retained the title.

[[File:Starrcade-1988-Luger.jpg|thumb|right|180px|[[Lex Luger]], who challenged [[Ric Flair]] for the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] at Starrcade]] In the [[Card (sports)#Main event|main event]] for the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]], Lex Luger gained the early advantage, and targeted the left arm of Ric Flair. Luger applied the [[Professional wrestling holds#Hammerlock|hammerlock]], and used the guard rail and ringpost. Flair fought back after avoiding an [[Professional wrestling attacks#Elbow drop|elbow drop]], and sent Luger headfirst into the guard rail. Luger applied a sleeper hold, but Flair fought out with a [[Suplex#Belly-to-back suplex|belly to back suplex]]. Luger fought back with a [[Suplex#Superplex|superplex]], and applied the [[Professional wrestling holds#Figure-four leglock|figure four leglock]]. Luger continued to have the advantage until Flair hit Luger's left knee with a [[Folding chair|steel chair]]. Flair then targeted Luger's left leg, and applied the figure four leglock. Luger fought back with a [[Professional wrestling throws#Gorilla press slam|gorilla press slam]]. After performing mounted punches and a [[Powerslam#Scoop powerslam|scoop powerslam]], Luger applied the [[Backbreaker#Argentine backbreaker rack|Torture Rack]]. However, his knees buckled, and Flair fell on top of him. Flair then pinned Luger with his feet on the rope to win the match, and retain the title.

==Aftermath== After Starrcade, the [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feud]] between [[Ric Flair]] and [[Lex Luger]] ended. The Four Horsemen faction, down to two after [[Tully Blanchard]] and [[Arn Anderson]] went to the WWF in the summer of 1988, officially disbanded after James J. Dillon left for a front office job in the WWF, and Flair and Windham were managed by [[Hiro Matsuda]]. (In storyline, never seen on camera, Dillon sold the contracts of Flair and Windham to Matsuda). Flair and Windham feuded with [[Eddie Gilbert (wrestler)|Eddie Gilbert]], resulting in Gilbert bringing in a mystery partner to wrestle in a tag team match on ''World Championship Wrestling''. Gilbert's partner was revealed to be [[Ricky Steamboat]], and Steamboat pinned Flair on television, rekindling their feud from several years earlier. They were presented as polar opposites, with Steamboat as a family man in contrast to Flair's persona. Steamboat won the title at [[Chi-Town Rumble]], and had a series of rematches<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.411mania.com/wrestling/video_reviews/33129|title=411 Video Review: Chi-Town Rumble (1989)|first=Sydney|last=Brown|date=2002-11-26|publisher=411mania|accessdate=2008-06-05}}</ref> which ended when Flair regained the title at [[WrestleWar#1989|WrestleWar]] in a match considered among the greatest matches of all time.<ref>{{cite video|date=2003-11-18|title=The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401851/|medium=DVD|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-05-29}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/flair.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522073933/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/Bios/flair.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 22, 2015|title=Ric Flair|first=John|last=Milner|author2=Kamchen, Richard |date=2004-11-18|publisher=SLAM! Sports|access-date=2008-06-05}}</ref> Luger defeated [[Barry Windham]] at Chi-Town Rumble to win the [[WWE United States Championship|NWA United States Heavyweight Championship]]. Windham then returned to the WWF as "The Widowmaker".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/30445412131|title=History of the United States Championship: Lex Luger|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|accessdate=2008-06-05|archive-date=2005-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051026102541/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/30445412131|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After Starrcade, Dusty Rhodes, fired for blading on an episode of [[WCW Saturday Night|World Championship Wrestling]], joined Steve Keirn and Mike Graham to revive the old Florida territory (called Professional Wrestling Federation) before joining the WWF in 1989. Announcer Tony Schiavone left WCW in February 1989 for the WWF, announcing for the weekly Wrestling Challenge program and calling PPVs before returning to WCW in 1990. Paul Jones left WCW after Starrcade and retired in 1991.

==Results== {{Pro Wrestling results table |results = <ref name=411mania/> |match1 = [[The Varsity Club]] ([[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Kevin Sullivan]] and [["Dr. Death" Steve Williams|Steve Williams]]) defeated [[The Fantastics]] ([[Bobby Fulton]] and [[Tommy Rogers (wrestler)|Tommy Rogers]]) (c) |stip1 = [[Tag team|Tag team match]] for the [[WCW United States Tag Team Championship|NWA United States Tag Team Championship]] |time1 = 15:50 |match2 = [[The Midnight Express (professional wrestling)|The Midnight Express]] ([[Bobby Eaton]] and [[Stan Lane]]) (with [[Jim Cornette]]) defeated [[The Midnight Express (professional wrestling)|The Original Midnight Express]] ([[Dennis Condrey]] and [[Randy Rose]]) (with [[Paul Heyman|Paul E. Dangerously]]) |stip2 = Tag team match |time2 = 17:46 |match3 = The Russian Assassins ([[Angel of Death (wrestler)|#1]] and [[Jack Victory|#2]]) (with [[Paul Jones (wrestler)|Paul Jones]]) defeated [[Junkyard Dog]] and [[Ivan Koloff]] |stip3 = Tag team match |time3 = 06:47 |match4 = [[Rick Steiner]] defeated [[Mike Rotunda]] (c) (with Kevin Sullivan) |stip4 = [[Professional wrestling match types#Variations of singles matches|Singles match]] for the [[WCW World Television Championship|NWA World Television Championship]] |time4 = 17:59 |match5 = [[Barry Windham]] (c) (with [[J. J. Dillon]]) defeated [[Bam Bam Bigelow]] (with [[Oliver Humperdink]]) by [[Countout (professional wrestling)|countout]] |stip5 = Singles match for the [[WWE United States Championship|NWA United States Heavyweight Championship]] |time5 = 16:17 |match6 = [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] and [[Dusty Rhodes]] defeated [[The Road Warriors]] ([[Road Warrior Hawk|Hawk]] and [[Road Warrior Animal|Animal]]) (c) (with [[Paul Ellering]]) by [[Disqualification (professional wrestling)|disqualification]] |stip6 = Tag team match for the [[WCW World Tag Team Championship|NWA World Tag Team Championship]] |time6 = 11:20 |match7 = [[Ric Flair]] (c) (with J. J. Dillon) defeated [[Lex Luger]] |stip7 = Singles match for the [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] |time7 = 30:59 |note8=dark |match8=Junkyard Dog won by last eliminating [[Abdullah the Butcher]].<ref group=note> Other participants were [[Ray Candy|Commando Ray]], Commando Boone, [[Eddie Gilbert (wrestler)|Eddie Gilbert]], [[Dick Murdoch]], [[Kendall Windham]], [[Dustin Rhodes]], Tommy Rogers, Bobby Fulton, Dennis Condrey, Randy Rose, Steve Williams, Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane, [[Larry Zbyszko]], and [[Al Perez]].</ref> |stip8=17-Man $50,000 Bunkhouse Battle Royal |time8=20:15 }} <references group=note/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[https://www.411mania.com/wrestling/video_reviews/64983 Starrcade 1988 Review at 411mania] *[https://wcwrules4lyf.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/starrcade-1988/ Starrcade 1988 Review at The Powerdriver Review]

[[Category:Organized events in Virginia]] [[Category:Starrcade]] [[Category:1988 in Virginia]] [[Category:Professional wrestling shows in Norfolk, Virginia]] [[Category:December 1988 in the United States]] [[Category:1988 World Championship Wrestling pay-per-view events]]