Clash of the Champions XII: Lines in the Sand
Wednesday, September 5, 1990
Greensboro Coliseum – Greensboro, North Carolina
Champions
NWA World Heavyweight Champion: Sting
NWA United States Heavyweight Champion: Sid Vicious
NWA World Tag Team Champions: The Steiner Brothers
NWA World Television Champion: Paul Orndorff
The Landscape
Sting begins his reign as NWA World Heavyweight Champion with Lex Luger determined to reclaim the championship he insists was stolen from him.
The reunited Horsemen have once again become one of the most dangerous forces in WCW, while United States Heavyweight Champion Sid Vicious continues destroying everyone placed in front of him.
The Steiner Brothers begin their second reign as World Tag Team Champions with The Midnight Express already targeting the gold.
Paul Orndorff has painted a target on his back as World Television Champion, Vader's arrival has sent shockwaves throughout WCW, and Brian Pillman and Shane Douglas are rapidly becoming bitter rivals.
Elsewhere, the Freebirds' assault on Robert Gibson has reignited their rivalry with the Rock 'n' Roll Express, while Alexandra York promises to revolutionise professional wrestling through the analytical brilliance of Michael Wallstreet.
Backstage Notes
Mark Callous has handed in his notice and will leave WCW, management are very unhappy.
The Samoan Swat Team have departed WCW.
Stan Hansen has signed with WCW.
The Nasty Boys have signed a six-month contract.
Brad Armstrong has signed a full-time contract.
Kevin Nash has signed a developmental deal and will continue working the independent circuit.
Mike Rotunda has adopted the identity of Michael Wallstreet and is now accompanied by Alexandra York.
Television Highlights
Lex Luger opens WCW Saturday Night blaming Ric Flair—not Sting—for costing him the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
"Ric Flair stole my World Title."
"Sting never beat me."
Jim Ross announces that Sting will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Luger in the biggest television main event in WCW history.
Later that evening, Barry Windham appears to have Arn Anderson defeated before Ric Flair interferes. After the match, Flair restrains Windham while Anderson drives a devastating knee into his shoulder from the second rope. WCW officials confirm Windham will be sidelined indefinitely.
The World Heavyweight Championship rematch between Sting and Lex Luger ends in a no contest when Flair and Anderson attack both men. Sting and Luger reluctantly fight off the Horsemen before Jim Ross announces the Clash main event.
Sting & Lex Luger
vs.
Ric Flair & Arn Anderson
Following a victory over Buddy Landel, Brian Pillman is blindsided by Shane Douglas.
Douglas insists Jim Ross has always favoured Pillman because of his football background.
Week after week, Douglas interrupts WCW Saturday Night, accusing Ross of promoting football players ahead of professional wrestlers.
The confrontation reaches boiling point when Douglas storms the commentary position before Pillman races to Ross's aid, sending Douglas retreating.
Their grudge match is signed for Clash.
Outraged by the Skyscrapers ending the Road Warriors' WCW careers, Brian Pillman challenges Mean Mark to a Loser Leaves WCW match.
Mean Mark accepts immediately.
Pillman surprises everyone by arriving with Paul Orndorff in his corner.
As Dan Spivey and Orndorff brawl around ringside, Mean Mark dominates Pillman before throwing him through the middle rope.
Momentarily distracted by the fight outside, Mean Mark turns his back.
Pillman springs from the apron with the Air Pillman.
One...
Two...
Three.
Time: 0:23
Paul E. Dangerously blames Orndorff for costing Mean Mark his WCW career and demands revenge.
Dan Spivey challenges Orndorff for the World Television Championship.
Following an enhancement victory, The Midnight Express launch a surprise assault on the Steiner Brothers.
Stan Lane sends Scott Steiner crashing to the floor before Jim Cornette and Bobby Eaton trap Rick Steiner on the canvas.
Cornette hands Eaton his trademark tennis racket.
CRACK!
The racket crashes into Rick's ribs.
The Midnight Express escape laughing as Jim Ross immediately sanctions a World Tag Team Championship match for Clash.
Vader returns to action against Tommy Rich.
Rich is completely overwhelmed until Junkyard Dog charges to the ring, drawing a disqualification.
The two monsters fight through a wall of security as officials struggle to restore order.
Their collision is signed for Clash.
The Freebirds brutally attack the Rock 'n' Roll Express after a television match.
Robert Gibson suffers a serious knee injury and is ruled out while undergoing surgery.
Jimmy Garvin mocks Ricky Morton.
"Without Robert Gibson... you're only half a tag team."
Morton demands revenge.
Garvin accepts.
Alexandra York unveils the newest member of the York Foundation.
Mike Rotunda is reborn as Michael Wallstreet.
York claims her portable computer can identify every opponent's weakness before they even step into the ring.
Wallstreet begins compiling an impressive winning streak under York's guidance.
United States Heavyweight Champion Sid Vicious continues bulldozing opponent after opponent, extending his dominant reign with another series of crushing squash victories.
No one has come close to stopping him.
Everything is now set for Clash of the Champions XII: Lines in the Sand.
Clash of the Champions XII: Lines in the Sand
Wednesday, September 5, 1990
Greensboro Coliseum – Greensboro, North Carolina
Attendance: 14, 876 (Sell Out)
Nielsen Television Rating: 5.8
Broadcast live on TBS, Clash of the Champions XII: Lines in the Sand delivered one of the most memorable nights in WCW television history. A new Television Champion was crowned, rivalries intensified, and two legendary names returned to alter the course of WCW.
Jim Ross welcomed viewers.
"Ladies and gentlemen... welcome to Clash of the Champions!"
Michael Wallstreet (w/ Alexandra York) vs. Tim Horner
Alexandra York spent the opening minutes feeding instructions to Wallstreet from her portable computer, calmly directing every move.
Whenever Horner mounted an attack, Wallstreet seemed one step ahead.
After avoiding a crossbody, Wallstreet caught Horner with the Stock Market Crash for a convincing victory.
Winner: Michael Wallstreet by pinfall.
Time: 7:58
Jim Ross questioned whether computers could really replace instinct inside the ring.
Ricky Morton vs. Jimmy Garvin
With Robert Gibson sidelined through injury, Ricky Morton fought with desperation from the opening bell.
Garvin repeatedly targeted Morton's knee before attempting to finish him with the DDT.
Morton escaped at the last second and caught Garvin with a quick jackknife cradle.
One...
Two...
Three.
Winner: Ricky Morton by pinfall.
Time: 11:19
Following the match, Garvin and Michael Hayes attacked Morton from behind.
The numbers game proved too much until Brad Armstrong sprinted to the ring.
Armstrong cleared the ring, sending the Freebirds retreating up the aisle.
Jim Ross exclaimed,
"Brad Armstrong has seen enough!"
Brian Pillman vs. Shane Douglas
Douglas wrestled with a chip on his shoulder from the opening bell, constantly glaring towards Jim Ross at ringside.
Every time Pillman gained momentum, Douglas shouted,
"Is this your favourite, Ross?"
Pillman weathered the insults before mounting a spectacular comeback, rocking Douglas with a spinning heel kick before whipping him hard into the corner.
As the referee moved to separate the two men, Douglas quietly loosened the top turnbuckle pad.
Pillman charged across the ring looking for a running corner clothesline.
Douglas sidestepped at the last second.
Pillman crashed shoulder-first into the exposed steel turnbuckle.
Douglas immediately rolled the stunned Pillman into a schoolboy, grabbing a handful of tights.
One...
Two...
Three.
Winner: Shane Douglas by pinfall.
Time: 12:43
Douglas rolled from the ring before Pillman could recover, pointing towards Jim Ross as he backed up the aisle.
"Who's your favourite now, Ross?"
Jim Ross replied,
"You didn't prove you were the better wrestler."
"You proved you'll do anything to win."
NWA World Television Championship
Paul Orndorff (c) vs. Dan Spivey
(w/ Paul E. Dangerously)
Orndorff repeatedly fought back against the larger challenger, refusing to stay down despite Spivey's power.
Spivey methodically wore the champion down with heavy strikes and punishing slams, keeping Orndorff grounded and unable to build sustained momentum.
Late in the contest, Orndorff rallied with a series of right hands and nearly retained the championship with the Piledriver, but Paul E. Dangerously placed Spivey's foot on the bottom rope to break the pinfall.
Moments later, Orndorff hit the ropes, Spivey caught Orndorff with a thunderous Spike Slam.
One...
Two...
Three.
Winner and NEW NWA World Television Champion: Dan Spivey by pinfall.
Time: 10:51
Jim Ross put over Spivey's incredible run.
"First the Road Warriors..."
"Now Mr. Wonderful!"
"Dan Spivey is becoming one of the most dangerous men in WCW!"
NWA World Tag Team Championship
The Steiner Brothers (c) vs. The Midnight Express
(w/ Jim Cornette)
The Midnight Express dissected Rick Steiner's injured ribs throughout the contest, believing the damage from Cornette's tennis racket would finally win them the championships.
Despite the punishment, Rick refused to quit.
Scott exploded into the ring with a hot tag, suplexing both members of the Midnight Express before planting Stan Lane with a thunderous Belly-to-Belly Suplex.
Rick followed with a Steinerline before Scott delivered a spectacular Frankensteiner.
One...
Two...
Three.
Winners and STILL NWA World Tag Team Champions: The Steiner Brothers.
Time: 17:06
Cornette was furious as the Steiners celebrated another successful title defence.
Vader vs. Junkyard Dog
Junkyard Dog met Vader head-on, refusing to be intimidated.
It made no difference.
Vader crushed JYD with clubbing blows before flattening him with a powerslam.
One Vader Bomb wasn't enough.
Neither was two.
After the third Vader Bomb, the referee stopped the contest.
Winner: Vader by referee stoppage.
Time: 4:36
Vader stood over the fallen Junkyard Dog.
Suddenly...
The Greensboro Coliseum erupted.
Stan Hansen marched purposefully to the ring, swinging his trademark bullrope.
Vader charged straight at him.
The two monsters collided in the centre of the ring, trading heavy right hands to a deafening ovation.
Hansen stunned Vader with the bullrope, sending the monster retreating to the floor for the first time in WCW.
Officials flooded the ring before the fight could continue.
Jim Ross shouted,
"Stan Hansen is back!"
"We've just witnessed a collision between two of the toughest men in professional wrestling!"
United States Heavyweight Championship Showcase
Sid Vicious (c) vs. Terry Taylor
Terry Taylor tried to outmanoeuvre the United States Heavyweight Champion, but Sid barely gave him the opportunity.
One clothesline.
One Chokeslam.
One Powerbomb.
One...
Two...
Three.
Winner and STILL NWA United States Heavyweight Champion: Sid Vicious by pinfall.
Time: 2:04
Sid crawled from his fallen opponent and spoke straight to the camera,
"I am Sid Vicious, and.... well you know the rest."
Main Event
Sting & Lex Luger vs. Ric Flair & Arn Anderson
The uneasy alliance between Sting and Lex Luger was tested from the opening bell.
Every time momentum swung towards the babyfaces, Flair and Anderson cut the ring in half with trademark Horsemen precision.
Anderson dragged Sting through the ropes and the fight spilled onto the arena floor. Sting eventually trapped Anderson in the Scorpion Deathlock outside the ring, leaving Luger and Flair alone inside.
Suddenly...
Gary Hart walked onto the entranceway.
The crowd erupted.
Standing beside him was...
Terry Funk.
For the first time since 1989, Funk and Flair came face to face.
Brandishing his trademark branding iron, Funk charged towards the ring.
Flair ducked.
Luger stepped forward at the same moment.
CRACK!
The branding iron smashed into Luger's forehead.
Funk stood frozen in disbelief as Gary Hart berated him for striking the wrong man.
Flair wasted no time.
He dropped onto Luger for the cover.
One...
Two...
Three.
Winners: Ric Flair & Arn Anderson.
Time: 24:18
Sting rushed back into the ring just as the bell sounded and checked on the fallen Luger while Gary Hart ushered Terry Funk towards the dressing room.
Jim Ross was stunned.
"Terry Funk is back!"
"Gary Hart has brought Terry Funk back to WCW!"
"What in God's name have we just witnessed?"
Clash of the Champions XII: Lines in the Sand faded off the air with Ric Flair and Arn Anderson celebrating in the ring while Sting knelt beside the unconscious Lex Luger.