Chairshot Classics: WCW The Great American Bash ’90

Match #3: ‘Dirty’ Dutch Mantel vs. Doug Furnas
The two dance around the ring before finally locking up. Side headlock by Mantel. They go for the ride and Mantel runs into a brick wall with an attempted shoulder block. Another tie up and Furnas grabs the head lock, sends him for the ride, and knocks his opponent out of the ring with the shoulder. Mantel is slow back to the ring. Another tie up up and Mantel grabs the side head lock. A series of leaps and ducks from Furnas. Mantel thinks he outsmarted Furnas by stopping short. Instead, his right hand is blocked and Furnas goes on the attack. Military press by Furnas. Mantel calls for a timeout. Collar and elbow tie up and Mantel drives him into the corner.

Furnas takes exception to a face slap and the ref calms him down. Another tie up and Mantel slaps him again. A third tie up to the corner and once again Mantel slaps him. The referee does not stop Furnas’ attack this time. He delivers rights in the opposite corner, back flips back into the ring, sends Mantel for the ride and lands a drop kick. Mantel ducks out to the floor and the crowd is firmly behind Furnas. Wrist lock by Furnas. Mantel grabs the hair. They run and Furnas lands a cross body. Arm drag take down by Furnas and he works Dutch’s left are. Mantel breaks it with an eye poke.

Mantel with some offense and he buries his opponent’s head in the turn buckle. Furnas fights back with rights and he lifts Dutch for a scoop slam. Furnas goes to the top rope but Mantel moves away from the splash. Short clothesline by Mantel. Furnas kicks out and Mantel goes flying. Reverse chin lock by Mantel who then transitions to a modified arm bar. Furnas looks to grab the hair but the ref stops him. Eye rake by Mantel and Furnas is dumped to the floor. Short clothesline by Mantel outside of the ring. Mantel returns to the ring and Furnas shakes it off. Snap suplex by Mantel and another 2 count. Mantel lands on the referee after the kick out. Mantel stays on his opponent with another modified shoulder submission.

He uses the trunks for leverage when the referee isn’t looking. The ref sees what is going on and breaks it up. Furnas is almost able to steal one with a quick roll up but Mantel kicks out. Furnas is sent for the ride, he ducks a clothes line and comes back witho one of his own. Mantel is sent for the ride and Furnas lands a power slam. Furnas sets up for a back body drop but he gets a right boot to the face instead. Mantel sends Furnas running, but the previous result now happens in reverse. Mantel rakes the eyes and takes him down with a shoulder tackle.

They run the ropes once again. Furnas leaps over Mantel and eludes him on the way back. Mantel looks confused as to where his opponent went. He turns around and receives a belly to belly suplex. Furnas picks up the win.
Winner: Doug Furnas (Belly To Belly Suplex)

• EA’s Take: Ol’ Dutch was getting older and nearing the end of his run as an in-ring performer, but he could still give a young gun a great outing. The upstart Doug Furnas looks like a million bucks and if you judge him solely based off of this match, there’s lots of potential there. Of course we’ll see him in the WWF much later as part of a tag team, but you’d think ‘The World’s Strongest Man’ had a very bright future.

Match #4: ‘Wildfire’ Tommy Rich vs. Harley Race
Collar and elbow tie up. Football tackles from Rich but Race comes back with a big clothesline. Race misses an elbow drop and Rich lands a scoop slam and a side headlock take down. Rich holds onto the side headlock. Race gets him to the corner and breaks the hold. Rich reverses an Irish whip and Race goes shoulder first into the post. Rich holds a wristlock. Race breaks it and sends Rich for a knee to the face. Race lifts Rich for a pile driver and he falls out to the entryway. Snap suplex by Race on the raised entryway.

Harley delivers a knee to the head and climbs back in the ring. Race uses the top rope and follows with a head butt. Rich is dumped to the floor. Rich is slow back to the ring. He fights off Race and clotheslines him over the top rope. Race strikes his head on the apron. Rich is out on the floor and lifts him with a scoop slam. Rich is back in the ring and getting the crowd going. Vertical suplex into the ring by Rich who goes to the 2nd turnbuckle and lands a right. He gets a 2 count. Back to their feet and Race lifts his knee into Rich’s mid section. Belly to belly suplex by Race but he cannot get 3 on a lateral press. Straight clothesline by Race followed by a knee to the head.

Standard neckbreaker by Race followed by straight lefts. Rich fights back, sends Race for the ride and strikes his midsection. Race is in trouble on the ropes, but he managed a shot to the midsection. Race lifts Rich for a power slam but they both fall over the top rope. Back to the ring and Rich goes for the top rope. Wildfire lands a flying cross body but Race surprises him by rolling all the way over and he picks up the win.
Winner: Harley Race (Roll–Up)

• EA’s Take: This was a throwback as WCW pays homage to its legacy and the NWA. Commentary made mention of Rich previously defeating Harley for the NWA World Title a number of years prior, so Race gets a measure of revenge in what I found to be pretty enjoyable. Harley’s clearly past his prime, but I’ll be damned if the guy still couldn’t put in some work between the ropes, even at this stage.

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