WCW CHI-TOWN RUMBLE - 1989
Chicago, IL
UIC Pavilion
February 20, 1989
(about 7,500; 5,500 paid)
featured Jim Ross & Magnum TA on commentary
- Michael Hayes pinned Russian Assassin #1 (Jack Victory) (w/ Paul Jones) with the DDT at 15:48
- Sting pinned Butch Reed (w/ Hiro Matsuda) at 20:07 with a sunset flip into the ring
- Bobby Eaton, Stan Lane, & Jim Cornette defeated Randy Rose, Jack Victory (sub. for Dennis Condrey), & Paul E. Dangerously in a loser leaves town match at 15:51 when Lane pinned Rose following the Flapjack; stipulations stated the loser of the fall would have to leave the promotion
- Mike Rotunda (w/ Kevin Sullivan) pinned NWA TV Champion Rick Steiner (w/ Scott Steiner) to win the title at 16:21 when Steiner pinned himself as he had a sleeper applied
- Lex Luger pinned NWA US Champion Barry Windham (w/ Hiro Matsuda) to win the title at 10:43 by lifting his shoulder out of a back suplex and bridge by Windham
- NWA Tag Team Champions the Road Warriors (w/ Paul Ellering) defeated NWA US Tag Team Champions Steve Williams & Kevin Sullivan at 8:27 when Road Warrior Hawk pinned Sullivan, the legal men, as Williams had Road Warrior Animal covered at the same time
- Ricky Steamboat pinned NWA World Champion Ric Flair (w/ Hiro Matsuda) to win the title at 23:07 with an inside cradle as Flair attempted the figure-4, moments after the champion avoided Steamboat's crossbody off the top; prior to the bout, Steamboat came ringside with his wife and baby boy while the champion was escorted by several women; during the bout, the Chicago Bears' Brad Muster and Curt Beckler were shown in attendance; replacement referee Teddy Long made the pinfall after referee Tommy Young had been knocked down, with Young raising Steamboat's hand in victory after recovering; after the contest, Steamboat grabbed the mic and called for his wife and son to return to the ring so he could celebrate with them (Flair and Steamboat's first singles match in 5 years)
- Dark match after the show: Kendall Windham defeated Steve Casey at around the 25-minute mark; reportedly, the match went on so long because those in charge forgot they were out there and didn't give them the signal to finish