Match #5 for the NWA United States Tag Team Championships: NWA United States Tag Team Champions The Midnight Express (‘Beautiful’ Bobby Eaton & ‘Sweet’ Stan Lane) w/Jim Cornette vs. The Southern Boys (Tracy Smothers & Steve Armstrong)
Eaton blindsides Armstrong and Lane takes care of Smothers. They’re tossed out of the ring and Midnight gives chase but they are unsuccessful in their pursuit. Back in the ring, Eaton is given a double back body drop and a double shoulder block and Lane is knocked off the apron. Cornette regathers his troops, and then mouths off to the fans. It’s Eaton and Armstrong locking up in the ring. Arm drag take down by Armstrong. Collar and elbow tie up and Eaton pushes Armstrong to the corner. Straight rights from Eaton followed by a scoop slam.

Bobby goes for the top rope but Armstrong beats him. Military press from he top rope before Eaton is sent for a monkey flip. Left jabs by Steve and he sends Eaton for a drop kick. Armstrong goes for the top rope and lands a flying clothesline. Eaton rolls out of the ring and consults with his manager. Cornette tells the camera to quit following him. Eaton steps back in and he looks frustrated. Collar and elbow tie up and Smothers is tagged in. The Southern Boys deliver a double clothesline and Eaton retreats to his corner. He doesn’t tag Lane yet and he ties up with Smothers.

Side headlock before the two run the ropes. Eaton can’t land his offense and Smothers hits a savate kick. The crowd chants “Cornette Sucks” and he reacts. Still no tag to Lane and Eaton ties up again. He lands some forearms and right sin the corner. Smothers reverses an Irish whip and hits a back body drop. Another karate kick to Eaton and Lane is finally tagged in. Cornette tells him they’re going to match karate with karate. The two line up in karate stances and Lane hits a right. Lane shows his martial arts prowess with several kicks. Smothers blocks a right chop and he takes advantage of Lane before kicking down a rushing Eaton as well. Cornette is incensed.

Lane and Smothers tie up and Smothers puts a hammer lock on by Lane reverses it with a drop toe hold. Smothers retakes control with a hammer lock but Lane rakes the eyes. Eaton is tagged back in and Smothers takes him down with an arm drag. He holds onto Eaton’s left arm. Back to their feet and into the far corner, Eaton breaks the hold and delivers sharp rights. Irish whip by Eaton, Smothers leaps over to the apron and re-enters with a drop kick. Eaton is outside, and Smothers kicks him while holding on to the top rope. Lane sucker punches Smothers and the Express double team him. Smothers moves out of the way after an Irish whip and Armstrong helps his teammates with a flying cross body.

It’s mayhem in the ring and the Express have their heads bashed against one another. They roll out of the ring and Cornette screams for them to get up. Eaton and Smothers gather in the ring as the crowd cheers on the Southern Boys. Collar and elbow tie up, Eaton sends him. Smothers reverses into a waist lock take down but there is a blind tag. Lane dumps Smothers over the top rope and abuses him on the outside while Cornette distracts the referee. The ref is now distracted by Armstrong’s protest and Cornette uses the tennis racket. Armstrong chases Cornette and the ref backs him off. Smothers is sent into the steel railing for a 2nd time. Back to the ring, Eaton is tagged in.

Atomic drop by Lane followed by a back breaker by Eaton. Eaton keeps the pressure on the back. Smothers tries to fight him off but Eaton hits a short clothesline. Lane is tagged in and there is more patented double team work. Karate kicks from Lane followed by a snap mare. Eaton is tagged in and he gets 2 off a lateral press. Smothers fights his way out of the corner with some kicks but he can’t make the tag. Scoop slam by Eaton and he goes for the top rope. Flying leg drop by Eaton but he doesn’t make the pin. He tags in Lane who delivers a right and chokes Smothers on the top rope. Lane goes for a back body drop but Smothers reverses with a sunset flip. Lane sends him for the ride while tagging in Eaton.

Savate kick by Lane and a neck breaker by Eaton. Smothers is thrown to the floor. From the apron, Eaton uses the top rope to pull Smothers into the ring. Lane is tagged in and he lands a double armed suplex for 2. Tag back to Eaton. Smothers tumbles outside after a straight right. From the apron, it’s Smothers who pulled Eaton over the top rope and to the outside this time. Lane comes in and blind sides him with a clothesline. Smothers blocks Lane from bashing his head in the turnbuckle and instead reverses the idea. Lane rakes the eyes to stop the momentum. Tag is made to Eaton who curiously tags right back to Lane.

They send him for a double back body drop but Smothers pulls them both down on a sunset flip. Smothers makes the hot tag who takes the champs down with rights and chops. Lane is sent for the ride and a flying shoulder block. Eaton breaks it up and Armstrong fends him off. Lane is held by Smothers as Armstrong comes off the top rope with a missile drop kick. Armstrong has the pin but the ref is distracted by Eaton and Smothers’ scuffle. By the time he gets there, Lane kicks out. Armstrong goes for the top rope but Eaton shoves him off with the refs back turned and he’s hot shotted off the top rope. Eaton to the top rope and Lane scoop slams him.

The Express land their patented rocket launcher but the ref is slow to make the count and Armstrong kicks out. Lane gets in the refs face and Cornette is on the apron. Smothers swaps places with Armstrong without the Express realizing. He pulls Eaton into an inside cradle but Lane saves the count. Armstrong punches Lane out to the apron. Eaton sends Smothers for the ride and Lane lands a savate kick from the outside. Eaton rolls him up and the ref turns around a makes the pin.
Winners and STILL NWA United States Tag Team Champions: The Midnight Express (Eaton/Roll-Up)

• EA’s Take: The Midnight Express were such an impressively well-oiled machine and The Southern Boys could absolutely hang with them. I’d love to see a rematch between these guys and something tells me I just might get that.

Match #6: Big Van Vader vs. ‘Z-Man’ Tom Zenk
Vader takes control immediately with rights and an uppercut. Forearms from Vader in the corner. Irish whip and a splash in the corner from the big man. Z-Man is given a short clothes line and he falls to the apron. Vader lifts him back in by the head. Z-Man is sent for the ride, he ducks a clothesline and lands an ineffective drop kick. He runs again and Vader catches him in mid air and lifts him for a military press. Standing elbow drop by Big Van Vader. Vader lifts him for a vertical suplex. Z-Man is sent for another ride and receives a clothesline. Vader lands a big splash and picks up the W.
Winner: Big Van Vader (Splash)

• EA’s Take: It’s time, it’s time, it’s Vader time! This was Vader’s debut and the Z-Man had the unenviable task of being squashed by the company’s new monster who had already captivated the crowd with his entrance that included an impressive mask shooting steam. It was VERY cool for 1990 and gave something to WCW that was instantly marketable. Wasn’t much of that going around!

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