UPDATE THROUGH JULY 10 1988 - THE GREAT AMERICAN BASH RESULTS
It’s been a season of change in the world of professional wrestling, especially in the National Wrestling Alliance. Magnum T.A. dropped his World’s Heavyweight Title to Ric Flair at the Crockett Cup but then regained the belt less than 3 months later at the Great American Bash PPV.
The NWA continued their successful TV special, Clash of the Champions and saw a new United States Champion crowned in Ron Simmons, who took the belt off of Jimmy Valiant after almost a year (it’s rumoured that Valiant is thinking about retiring now that he appears to be sliding down the card). However, Ric Flair interfered in Simmons’ title match at The Great American Bash and now the new United States Champion is Kevin Sullivan.
This season of change didn’t leave the tag belts alone though. The Crockett Cup was won by a makeshift team of ex-Horsemen, Lex Luger and Ole Anderson (current Horsemen lineup equals Ric, Arn, Tully, and Barry Windham) but they were unsuccessful at Clash of the Champions in their championship opportunity against the Midnight Express. However, Kevin Sullivan’s Varsity Club (Rick Steiner & Mike Rotunda) were able to get the job done at The Great American Bash. Mike Rotunda has now won the tag titles twice in the WWF and once in the NWA. He may be among the greatest tag wrestlers of all time.
In the WWF, the Fed seems intent on pushing Bad News Brown and Ted DiBiase while the mega team of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage is getting some traction. Vince continues to invest in tag team wrestlers with the young and energetic Rockers set to debut any day now and The Powers of Pain making the jump from the NWA to the WWF. The Ultimate Warrior is seeing more usage and Ray Traylor has just debuted in the WWF as The Big Boss Man. There’s definitely significant turnover in the land of giants
Meanwhile in the NWA, there are those who are arguing that Sting should be a bigger deal than he currently is and there is a growing concern that the Varsity Club may be overexposed with the amount of gold they currently hold. If this is an arms race they seem severely overpowered (although Vince’s roster also seems beyond bloated).
Summerslam is said to be a bit of a hot mess to plan at the moment. There is a plan to feature a tag match in the Main Event we’re told but Ted DiBiase’s inability to get over at the level expected may cause some shifts in the original lineup.
WORLD WRESTLING FEDERATION
World Heavyweight Champion: ‘Ravishing Rick Rude - 105 days
Intercontinental Champion: ‘Don Muraco - 105 days
Tag Team Champions: Demolition - 105 days
King of WWF - King Harley Race
NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE
World Heavyweight Champion: Magnum T.A. (3) - NEW
United States Champion: Kevin Sullivan - NEW
Tag Team Champions: Rick Steiner - NEW
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