National Wrestling Alliance: Souled Out 1990

The NWA/WCW's "Souled Out" pay-per-view was a huge success played out in front of 33,302 fans inside the Astrodome. The show received a 1.28 buy rate and was rated as an "A" show by "Pro Wrestling Weekly " magazine.

Based on last Friday's "NWA Worldwide" show, the main event sounded like it was going to be a match between NWA World Heavyweight Champion Bret "The Hitman" Hart and the General Manager, Greg Moe, who on Worldwide took Hart's NWA North American Title by force with help from the Horsemen and Road Warriors and said he would take Hart's NWA World Championship at "Souled Out" himself.

The Show opened with Greg Moe in the ring and with him calling out Bret Hart to meet him in the ring. As Greg waited, Bret Hart's music suddenly blasted above the huge crowd noise that only got louder when Bret walked out from the back and started down the long ramp to the ring. Once in the ring, to the crowds approval, Bret Hart walked straight up to Greg and shouted right in Greg's face.

Bret: "If you want to do this, let's do this right now!"

Greg backing up a few steps.

Greg: "Now hold on Bret, we have plenty of time to settle this disagreement between us. I just want to take a few minutes to get something through your thick scull."

Again, Bret gets closer to Greg.

Greg: "Now I know I told you on Worldwide that I was going to take your North American title, and I did."

Bret: "That's right, you did!"

Fans boo so loud it's deafening. Then the boos turn to thunderous cheers as Bret gets nose to nose with Greg again.

Greg: "Now hold on Bret. I gave you a choice, remember? It's not my fault you didn't listen."

Bret takes a step back and looks out to the crowd, first left, then right as the fans try to urge Bret on to take a swing and Greg.

Greg: "I also told you that at Souled Out, I would take your World Heavyweight Belt from you too, and I think I may have said, myself."

Again the fans boo and jeer as Bret let's a look of antipathy permeate his face then a short smile as he listens to the fans reaction.

Greg: "Yeah, well, here's the problem Bret.....I lied. I've decided that I really don't need to do this myself when......"

Suddenly from out of the crowd jumps WCW's Lex Luger and before Bret could even catch a glimpse of him, Luger was in the ring behind Bret and laid Bret out with a massive forearm shot to the back of Bret's head putting him down in the ring. Lex Luger, who the fans were counting on to take down the powerful Sid Vicious tonight, began to stomp Bret over and over and over again, down into the ring. Greg with a look of evil lust on his face, began shouting at "The Hitman."

Greg: "See Bret, I don't have to take that title away from you! No! No! He's going to take your title! (Pointing at Luger as he continued to stomp Bret), Not me! No, tonight Lex Luger is going to take your title and maybe your lousy career!"

So, there it was, Bret Hart thought he was going to have an easy night of it stomping the crap out of Greg Moe, only to find out he would be defending his title against the man the fans used to love so much in the WCW. The man that once took down the evil Terry Funk, for the WCW World title. The man that fans thought could do no wrong, only now here he was stomping the most loved wrestler in the business, Bret "The Hitman" Hart.

NWA/WCW "Souled Out"

Pre-Show: American Starship (Scott Hall & Dan Spivey) defeated the Hollywood Blondes (Flyin' Brian & Steve Austin) "B-"

These two teams put on one hell of a match, trying the best the could to prove that they should have been on the main show.

Pre-Show: Don Muraco & Ivan Koloff defeated Mike Rotundo & Mark Callous "C"

It was really too bad that none of these four guys made it to the main show. All were deserving and I'm sure will be there again in the future. There just wasn't room this time around.

1. Sting defeated Ric Flair for the NWA North American Title "B"

Strangely enough, there were no run ins by any Horsemen in this match as I think Greg wanted to see these two in a clean match so the fans could enjoy watching the talent of these two great workers.

2. Hart Foundation (Dynamite Kid & Jim Neidhart) defeated the Road Warriors (Hawk & Animal) for the NWA Tag Team Titles "C+"

The Road Warriors were finally beaten, but I'd expect these two teams to go back and fourth for quite some time. Hawk and Animal will be back. Their just too good to not carry the titles for very long.

3. Kevin Sullivan defeated Dick Murdoch "B"

This match came out of a request to Greg from Kevin Sullivan. He and Murdoch go way back and the two work together really well. Greg was quite pleased and you have to believe Sullivan's stock went up in Greg's eyes.

4. Steve Williams defeated Bam Bam Bigelow to retain the NWA Television Title "B-"

This was probably the last time we'll see Bigelow job for another worker. He has been promised a big push in the up coming month.

5. Sid Vicious defeated Junkyard Dog to retain the WCW United States Title "B"

You have to wonder if Sid was upset with this match since it was setup with such a short notice, with fans expecting Sid to be taking on Lex Luger tonight. However, Junkyard Dog did a great job and saved the match between the two big men.

6. "Hotstuff" Eddie Gilbert & Rick Steiner defeated the Fabulous Freebirds (Michael 'P.S.' Hayes and Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin) "B-"

Eddie Gilbert given a big win here with Steiner over the ever flamboyant Freebirds. Terry Gordy comes back tomorrow, so the Freebirds can defend their Six Man Titles.

7. Arn Anderson drew with The Great Muta "B"

These two can really put on a clinic when it comes to wrestling. They went all out the whole match and the fans say they could have stolen the show had it not been for the main event yet to come.

8. The Texas Cowboys ("Cowboy" Bob Orton & Stan Hansen) defeated Midnight Express (Beautiful Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane) for the WCW World Tag Team Titles "B"

Just a fantastic match as the new Texas Cowboys beat James E Cornette's Midnight Express. The two teams work really well together. Look for a return match soon.

9. Tully Blanchard defeated Paul Orndorff to retain the NWA United States Title "B"

Tully Blanchard can just plain wrestle. You have to think it won't be long before he wins a Worlds title, and Paul Orndorff showed he can hold down a near main event match. Great news all around!

10. Terry Funk defeated Jerry "The King" Lawler to retain the WCW World Heavyweight Title "B"

This match was golden. Funk and Lawler are great together, and you can bet on two or three more of these works of art.

11. Lex Luger defeated Bret "The Hitman" Hart for the NWA World Heavyweight Title "A"

During this match, that lasted for over 30 minutes, the fans were on their feet screaming, shouting and cheering the whole way through. Hart and Luger did a fantastic job together and the match ended when Greg Moe came out to the ringside area and distracted the referee just long enough for Ric Flair to run in and hit Hart over the head with a chair as Hart had Luger in the Sharpshooter just seconds away from getting the tap out. Hart went down and out and Luger managed to crawl and lay an arm on top of Bret to get the 1-2-3!