|Date: December 16, 1990
|Venue: Kiel Auditorium |City: St Louis, Missouri
|Attendance: 7,200 |Buys: 165,000

|tweet me: @BastionBlogger

The show kicks off with a quick opening video before Jim Ross welcomes us to Starrcade. He’s joined by Paul E. Dangerously.

Sam Muchnick thanks everyone for this event.

Z-Man vs. Bobby Eaton

Previous PPV matches: This is a first singles PPV match between these two men.

Starrcade PPV Record: Bobby Eaton is 1-3 at Starrcade, Z-Man wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: A first singles PPV match for Bobby Eaton. Z-Man wrestled a quick pace in the early going. We’re told that Ric Flair has pulled out of the tag team title match later and will be replaced by Barry Windham. There’s some technical wrestling between the two men. Jim Cornette and Stan Lane recently left wcw. Z-Man suplexes Eaton onto the entrance ramp and then hits a dive to the outside. Beautiful Bobby hits a bulldog and a top rope legdrop but missed with a splash in the corner. Both men miss with moves off the top and Eaton rolls up Z-Man for the three!

Result: Bobby Eaton wins by pinfall.

Review: This wasn’t a bad match to kick this off with. It had a good pace to it. Bobby Eaton begins his singles run with a huge win on the grandest stage. I think this was the right result. And it’s probably a reward for it leaving with Jim Cornette and Stan Lane

Rating: 5.75/10

Tony Schiavone is with Dick The Bruiser who says that he will make sure there’s a winner in the cage match tonight.

There’s a parade of flags for the 8 nations represented in the tag team tournament tonight.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner) (USA) vs. Col Deklerk & Sgt Krueger (South Africa) – Pat O’Connor Memorial International Cup Tag Team Tournament Quarter Final

Previous PPV matches: This is a first.

Starrcade PPV Record: Rick Steiner is 3-1-1, Scott Steiner is 2-1.

Match: I’ll be shocked if The Steiners don’t go the distance in this tournament. We actually saw the South African team qualify at Clash Of The Champions 13. Rick Steiner kicks off the match against Sgt Krueger. Krueger actually gets the first few moves in before getting nailed with a Steinerline. Deklerk tags in and doesn’t have a lot of luck either. He nearly killed himself with a plancha to the outside. Scott Steiner tags in, hits a tilt a whirl slam and a frankensteiner for the win.

Result: The Steiner Brothers win by pinfall.

Review: This was exactly what I thought it would be. And to be honest it had no place on the biggest show of the year. It was a squash match made slightly more entertaining by the flying plancha.

Rating: 2.5/10

Norman Smiley & Chris Adams (Great Britain) vs. Rey Misterio & Konnan (Mexico) – Pat O’Connor Memorial International Cup Tag Team Tournament Quarter Final

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match between these two teams.

Starrcade PPV Record: All four of these men wrestle at Starrcade for the first time tonight.

Match: Rey Mysterio and Norman Smiley lock things off but it’s basically all four men going at it from the get-go. Chris Adams officially tags in and hits a big superkick on Mysterio, sending him to the outside. Konnan and Smiley tag in and we get some nice wrestling between the two. There’s lots of quick tags between both teams. Konnan hits an inverted suplex on Smiley and then a strange pinfall and gets the three. Mysterio dives out at Chris Adams and wipes himself out.

Result: Konnan and Rey Misterio win by pinfall.

Review: This was definitely an improvement on the previous match. It was back and forth and there was some good wrestling. It was far from perfect but it was entertaining and had a good pace.

Rating: 4/10

Missy Hyatt is with Michael Wallstreet and Alexandra York. They say that Wallstreet will beat Terry Taylor in less than 8 and a half minutes tonight.

The Royal Family (Rip Morgan & Jacko Victory) (New Zealand) vs. The Great Muta & Mr Saito (Japan) – Pat O’Connor Memorial International Cup Tag Team Tournament Quarter Final

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two teams.

Starrcade PPV Record: The Great Muta is 0-3, the other three men wrestle at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: The Great Muta starts against Jacko Victory. It’s Victory’s strength against Muta’s speed until they both tag out. The Royal Family get the better of Mr Saito and make some quick tags. Muta tags back in, he’s so good. He lays into Morgan. All four men get involved. Morgan accidentally nails his own partner and Muta hits a German suplex on Victory for the win.

Result: The Great Muta and Mr Saito win by pinfall.

Review: The Great Muta was the star of this match obviously. There was no way he was losing to The Royal Family. This match wasn’t great and again, had no place on this show. Muta and Saito advance.

Rating: 2.5/10

Paul E Dangerously grabs The Great Muta and Mr Saito for an interview after the match and they say they’re going the distance tonight.

Danny “Bull” Johnson & Troy Montour (Canada) vs. Victor Zangiev & Salmon Hasimikov (USSR) – Pat O’Connor Memorial International Cup Tag Team Tournament Quarter Final

Previous PPV matches: This is a first and presumably a last match between these two tag teams.

Starrcade PPV Record: They’ve never wrestled on Starrcade before.

Match: Who the hell are these two teams. It’s ridiculous that these four men have at least one match on the biggest show of the year. Danny Johnson kicks off against the hairier of the two Russians. The Russians have an amateur style but decides to hit a belly to belly and absolutely botches it, nearly killing Johnson. Troy and Salmon tag in and there’s a couple of boring chants. Were the Koloff not available? Salmon hits a suplex and gets the three.

Result: Victor Zangiev & Salmon Hasimikov win by pinfall.

Review: Yeah this was awful. Why was this on Starrcade? Two teams that nobody knows. No chemistry. Just bad.

Rating: 1/10

Tony Schiavone is backstage with Sting who says his head is clear and he knows what to do tonight to find out who the Black Scorpion is.

We’re shown some footage from last night with Alexandra York slapping Terry Taylor.

Terry Taylor vs. Michael Wallstreet

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two men.

Starrcade PPV Record: Michael Wallstreet is 0-1, Terry Taylor is 0-2.

Match: This is the first match tonight with a bit of build to it. This is a really good gimmick for Rotunda. Terry Taylor attacks Michael Wallstreet before the bell. Due to Wallstreet and York’s prediction of beating Taylor in less than 8 and a half minutes we actually have a countdown clock on screen. Taylor tried to finish the match early. It’s back and forth from here. Wallstreet wrestles a slower, more technical pace. Rotunda hits a big clothesline and dominates for a while as we reach the halfway point on the countdown. Terry Taylor avoids a dropkick and picks up the pace. He hits an atomic drop into a belly to back suplex for a near fall before hitting his trademark fivearm but Wallstreet gets his foot on then bottom rope. Wallstreet hits a hotshot and the stock market crash for the three with a minute and forty to spare.

Result: Michael Wallstreet wins by pinfall.

Review: This was a good back and forth match. I like Michael Wallstreet and I’m glad he got the win. It gives him a lot of momentum. I don’t think it hurts Terry Taylor too much, it was a match that could’ve gone either way.

Rating: 6/10

There’s an ad for Wrestlewar 91 in February which features War Games.

The Skyscrapers (Sid Vicious & Dan Spivey) vs. The Motor City Mad Man and The Big Cat

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time PPV match between these two teams.

Starrcade PPV Record: All four men wrestle at Starrcade for the first time tonight.

Match: This match marks a couple of PPV debuts for the Motor City Mad Man and Big Cat. Apparently Sid hasn’t left The Four Horsemen, this is just a one off. All four men go at it as the bell rings. Sid took out The Night Stalker last night so he was replaced in this match by The Mad Man. The Skyscrapers hit a double powerbomb on said Mad Man and they get the three very quickly.

Result: The Skyscrapers win by pinfall.

Review: Well this was over very quickly. The Skyscrapers were always getting the win but I didn’t expect them to get it this quick. A big win for a team we won’t see again. Sid deserved to win whoever he faced.

Rating: N/A

Paul E. Dangerously interviews The Skyscrapers after the match and they say that it might not be a one time only deal tonight.

Ricky Morton & Tommy Rich vs. The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael “PS” Hayes & Jimmy Garvin)

Background: The Fabulous Freebirds injured Robert Gibson a few months ago, putting him on the sidelines for 6 to 8 months. Ricky Morton vowed revenge and recruited Tommy Rich as his tag team partner.

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match between this combination of teams.

Starrcade PPV Record: Ricky Morton is 3-0, Michael Hayes drew his previous Starrcade match and Jimmy Garvin drew his previous two Starrcade matches. Tommy Rich makes his Starrcade debut tonight.

Match: Robert Gibson accompanies Ricky and Tommy to the ring. The Freebirds have Little Richard Marley with them. Ricky Morton and Jimmy Garvin kick off the match. Morton fires up in the early going. Morton and Rich apply figure fours to both opponents who roll out of the ring to escape. Tommy Rich brings Little Richard into the ring and gives him a spanking before the makeshift Rock And Roll Express lay into Michael Hayes. The Freebirds can’t get into this match. Hayes hits a big left jab on Rich but Tommy counters a DDT attempt. Both men tag out and once again it’s all Morton. Some double teaming gives the Freebirds the advantage and Little Richard goes up too only for Robert Gibson to nail him with a crutch sending Little Richard into Jimmy Garvin! Garvin chokes Richard just for Ricky to roll up Jimmy for the three. After the match The Freebirds hit Little Richard with a double DDT. Morton and Rich scare them off but they nail Gibson on the way out.

Result: Ricky Morton and Tommy Rich win by pinfall.

Review: This match was ok. It was one sided and the crowd were into it. The Freebirds got their heat back after the match. The right men won tonight.

Rating: 5.25/10

Tony Schiavone interviews Stan Hansen who says he’ll be whipping Lex Luger tonight.

The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner) (USA) vs. Rey Misterio & Konnan (Mexico) – Pat O’Connor Memorial International Cup Tag Team Tournament Semi Final

Previous PPV matches: This is a first PPV match between these two teams.

Starrcade PPV Record: Rick Steiner is 4-1-1, Scott Steiner is 3-1.

Match: Rick Steiner and Konnan kick things off for their teams. Konnan uses some innovative takedowns and submissions. Scott tags in and hits a powerslam before putting Konnan on his shoulders. Rick comes off the top with a bulldog. Rey tags in but doesn’t have much luck either. Mysterio looks for a hurricanrana on Rick but it’s countered into a powerbomb which is enough for the three.

Result: The Steiner Brothers win by pinfall.

Review: This match was short and sweet. Another dominant performance from The Steiner Brothers who predictably advance to the finals.

Rating: 2.5/10

Tony Schiavone is with Arn Anderson and Barry Windham who say that Doom have made things personal.

Victor Zangiev & Salmon Hasimikov (USSR) vs. The Great Muta & Mr Saito (Japan) – Pat O’Connor Memorial International Cup Tag Team Tournament Semi Final

Previous PPV matches: Definitely a first PPV match between these two teams.

Starrcade PPV Record: The Great Muta is 1-3, everyone else is 1-0.

Match: Muta and Zangiev kick things off and we get some amateur style wrestling from Zangiev. Both men make tags and there’s more wrestling from Salmon. A cheap shot from Muta gives the Japanese the advantage. Lots of quick tags in this one. Saito hits a big clothesline and suplex on Zangiev which is enough for the three.

Result: The Great Muta and Mr Saito win by pinfall.

Review: Yeah this was another pretty bad match. They should’ve just had the finals on this PPV. Another predictable win which gives the final theyve been hinting at all night.

Rating: 3/10

Tony Schiavone interviews Teddy Long and Doom. They’re from the streets and more than prepared for a street fight.

Stan Hansen(c) vs. Lex Luger – Texas Lariat match for the United States Championship

Background: This is a rematch from Halloween Havoc where Stan Hansen beat Lex Luger for the United States Championship.

Previous PPV matches: This is a second PPV match between these two men, Stan Hansen won the first.

Starrcade PPV Record: Lex Luger has won 2, lost 2 and drawn 1, Stan Hansen wrestles at this event for the first time tonight.

Match: Stan Hansen attacks Lex Luger before the bell and it’s a brawl between the two men. Luger fired up and actually attempts a pinfall at one point which doesn’t count in this match. It’s a back and forth brawl between the two men for the most part. Hansen hangs Lex over the top rope with the rope which was a nice spot. Stan touches three corners but Lex stops him from touching the fourth. Luger hits multiple legdrops and then touches all four turnbuckles, but knocks out the referee on the fourth one. Hansen knocks down Luger with his cowboy boot as another referee comes out. Hansen touches all four turnbuckles and is announced as the winner! But the original referee says that Luger already won the match! Lex Luger is announced as the new United States Champion.

Result: Lex Luger wins the United States Championship.

Review: This was a good match. Two different styles but two men with good chemistry. Lex is an over babyface at the moment and is synonymous with the US title. A decent enough match here tonight.

Rating: 6.75/10

Jim Ross does a quick interview with an elated Lex Luger.

Doom (Ron Simmons & Butch Reed) (c) vs. The Horsemen (Arn Anderson & Barry Windham) – Street Fight for the World Tag Team Championships

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match involving these four men, Barry Windham wasn’t involved in the previous encounter at Halloween Havoc.

Starrcade PPV Record: Doom are 0-3, Arn Anderson is 2-1 and Barry Windham is 1-1.

Match: All four men go at it, in the entranceway and in the ring. Butch Reed busts Barry Windham open ringside early on. There’s lots of whipping with belts and chair shots. It’s carnage and hard to tell which team are doing better. It isn’t long before Ron Simmons and Butch Reed are busted open too. Simmons hits a big spinebuster on Windham for a two count. Arn Anderson has his head split open too so everyone is bleeding. Ron heads to the top but Windham hits him with a low blow and then a superplex for a near fall. Butch Reed hits Barry Windham with a big piledriver but doesn’t pin him. Barry Windham then rolls up Butch Reed at the same time as Ron Simmons pins Arn Anderson. There’s a three count not it’s unclear who wins. Is it a draw? The two teams fight to the back.

Result: Double pinfall. Doom retain the titles.

Review: I enjoyed this match, it was chaotic, it was bloody, it was fun. All four men had a good showing but I think Doom dominated for more of the match. The draw keeps the feud going but that is two draws between Doom and The Horsemen on back to back PPV’s. I would have liked to have seen a more decisive winner tonight.

Rating: 7.5/10

The Steiner Brothers (Rick & Scott Steiner) (USA) vs. The Great Muta & Mr Saito (Japan) – Pat O’Connor Memorial International Cup Tag Team Tournament Final

Previous PPV matches: This is a first time match between these two tag teams.

Starrcade PPV Record: Rick Steiner is 5-1-1, Scott Steiner is 4-1, The Great Muta is 2-3 and Mr Saito is 2-0.

Match: Scott Steiner and The Great Muta kick off the match. There’s a nice back and forth between the two men. Rick Steiner tags in but eats some impressive kicks from Muta. Mr Saito tags in but gets hit with a big Steinerline. Muta hits a nice handspring elbow but Scott counters a second attempt and hits a belly to belly suplex. Outside the ring Muta nails Rick Steiner with the bell. There’s some double teaming from the Japanese as they keep Rick away from tagging in Scott. Eventually Rick hits a Steinerline on Saito and tags in his brother who picks up the pace. Muta and Santo hit a spike piledriver on Scott as the USA chants break out. Saito applies a sleeper to Scott but Rick comes in off the top with a sunset flip for the three!

Result: The Steiner Brothers win by pinfall.

Review: This was an ok match but not an amazing one. It didn’t quite click for some reason. But The Great Muta was so impressive, I’d love to see more of him in WCW. It was a predictable win for The Steiner’s in the end.

Rating: 5/10

The Steiner Brothers cut a terrible acceptance speech.

Sting (c) vs. The Black Scorpion – Cage match for the World Heavyweight Championship with Dick The Bruiser as special guest referee

Previous PPV matches: This is technically the third PPV match between these two men and Sting won the previous 2.

Starrcade PPV Record: Sting is 3-1-1, “The Black Scorpion” is 5-2-2.

Match: Four Black Scorpions walk out before a weird spacecraft object lowers from the ceiling. The Real Black Scorpion then emerges from the pod in a flashy robe. It’s a cagey start to the match, excuse the pun. The Black Scorpion wrestles like nobody I’ve ever seen before. Sting is the more powerful of the two. The Black Scorpion applies a head scissors for quite a long time. He also uses heel tactics like putting his feet on the ropes for extra leverage. There’s a cameraman sat on top of the cage. The match has a bit of a slow pace to it. It’s back and forth but it doesn’t feel like Sting has got into second gear yet. Sting does start to pick up the pace and he hits a Stinger splash before applying the scorpion deathlock but the Black Scorpion manages to escape. Sting then rips off the mask but The Black Scorpion has another mask on underneath! The two men continue to go back and forth until Sting dominates again, throwing the Scorpion into the side of the cage repeatedly. Sting hits a hiptoss and a clothesline and it’s becoming increasingly obvious who is under the mask. Sting hits a cross body and gets the 3!

Result: Sting retains the World Heavyweight Championship by pinfall.

Review: This match was a slow pace for a Sting match. It didn’t really click and I think it’s because Ric Flair was concealing his identity. It wasn’t a great match and I’m glad this storyline has come to an end. I like that Sting won and I know these two men can put on a much better match.

Rating: 5.5/10

After the match the other Scorpions get into the ring but Sting and Dick The Bruiser fight them off. Arn Anderson and Barry Windham hit the ring and attack Sting, hitting him with a DDT on a chair. The Steiners hit the ring with Terry Taylor, Ricky Morton and Z-Man. Sting finally manages to unmask The Black Scorpion and it’s Ric Flair!

And that was Starrcade 1990. It really wasn’t a good show. There was absolutely no need for this tag team tournament. You’ve got The Nasty Boys in a rivalry with The Steiner Brothers, just give me that match. How would The Nasty Boys or The Southern Boys feel watching this after grafting all year? It was a terrible and unnecessary tournament. And predictable in the end but the right team definitely won. The main event was disappointing between Sting and The Black Scorpion. Flair was fighting such a strange style to hide the fact that it was him. I hated that storyline too and I’m glad it’s over. On the plus side Doom and The horsemen had a really good match it was just a shame about the result. Lex Luger won the US title back in a good match too. Ricky Morton and Tommy rich got revenge against The Fabulous Freebirds, Michael Wallstreet got a big win under his new gimmick and Bobby Eaton started his singles run with a win against Z-Man.

Overall Rating: 44.03/100 (ranked 19th out of 21 WCW/NWA PPV’s reviewed so far)

Match Of The Night: Doom vs. The Horsemen
Worst Match Of The Night: Team Canada vs. Team USSR
Surprise Of The Night: Doom and The Horsemen draw again
Worst Booking Of The Night: Having the tournament on this show
Superstar Of The Night: Sting
Starrcade 1990 Will Be Remembered For: Ric Flair being unmasked as The Black Scorpion