Episode #42 – The TOWER OF DOOOOM! July 10, 1988

What’s a hot southern summer night in 1988 without a wacky Jim Crockett and/or Kevin Sullivan gimmick cage match? We break down this Bash classic with 10 of the NWA’s finest and settle the hot summer Sullivan/Garvin feud once and for all. Check out the original Tower of Doom construction plans above found in depths of the Habuda Dean’s Self-Storage Pod in the greater Chicag0-land area.

This episode has been archived in the Season 1 digital box set available for $9.99 at the OSWP Merch Store!

21 Comments

  1. Eric Darsie says:

    “The Bash of Doom Doom ’88”

    Hello everyone again
    Sullivan is shaking her rapidly
    Spooking everyone
    Even David Crockett
    But that’s alright
    5 years later
    Against the Hulkamanics
    He’ll have “Andre” choke him out
    But this tower is very tall, sure
    Three cages all like a cake
    Stacked upon each other
    The middle stays warm each night
    Hot southern summer night
    Come back to me again
    Along with an awesome podcast
    Brought out of Chi-town
    Kickin’ it old school
    With Sir Dre and Doctor Black Cat!

    • Black Cat says:

      Thank you for recognizing my years in Pro Wrestling Higher Education with the proper salutation.

      • Eric Darsie says:

        You’re welcome. With the years in the college system, I recognize Doctor’s when I see (or hear) them. If I am interested on becoming a Doctor in Pro Wrestling, where can I go? 🙂

  2. Trak9 says:

    First of all thanks for doing an episode on the Tower of Doom. I would love for Kevin Sullivan, Dusty Rhodes (who was still booking Jim Crockett at the time) or one of the Crockett’s explain why instead of having say the Midnight Express, the Fantastics or some lighter wrestlers in the match you have a bunch of guys who hover around the 300 pound mark (and in some cases over 300 pounds)?

    I will always remember never to watch wrestling on an airplane (even if it’s something good like Mid South) and to have a Tower of Doom groom cake (well not really) if I ever get married.

    The Russian Assasin (Jack Victory) was at Clash of the Champions 3 along with Paul Jones
    seconding Ivan Koloff in a Russian Chain Match against Ricky Morton.

    The Great American Bash 1998 which featured The Tower of Doom was the last PPV that Jim Crockett did. Ted Turner bought the company in November of 1988 and the rest as they say is history. The Great American Bash was still considered an NWA event until 1991 when WCW took over the name.

    I can’t wait for a Great American Bash 1988 show talking about Jim Cornette hanging from a “shark cage”, the Maryland State Athletic Commission, Dusty’s tag team championship time limit draws,
    Tully and Arn’s last major match before becoming the Brain Busters in the WWF and of the course the never ending quest of trying to push Lex Luger and make him a huge star.

    • Black Cat says:

      Regarding your first point – From my understanding Kevin Sullivan never liked the smaller guys, or at least felt like they had their place on the bottom of the card, so I imagine that’s why we ended up with, say, Jack Victory and the Road Warriors in the Tower of Doom.

      And glad you’re taking our advice. This really is a life advice podcast as much as it is a wrestling podcast.

      Good info on the Crockett > Turner transition. I’ve never been clear on when exactly things switched over.

      The entire Bash 88 show is great.

  3. A wedding cake made of steel cages is the perfect way to describe the Tower of Doom.

    Dre, where’s the heat with Edge?

    Excellent find on the old fishing show commercial that aired before WCW Saturday Night.

    • Dre says:

      Why the hatred for Adam Copland?
      1) he broke a guys neck
      2) he wrote a terrible book
      3) he got someone fired because he stole the guys girlfriend.
      4) the “girl” was Lita
      5) he cut Kurt Angle’s hair
      6) he claimed to be Chris Benoit’s best friend during the memorial episode
      7) his face looks like a horse
      8) I hate vampires
      9) he stole his name from U2
      10) as much as he thinks he is, he’s NOT funny, I repeat he is NOT funny.
      11) he’s Canadian

      • Eric Darsie says:

        Dr. Dre, I have the same hatred for Adam Copland.

        12) He lost the World title to Ziggler.

        • Black Cat says:

          Did he really? I can’t even remember this stuff a month out anymore.

      • Whose neck did he break?

      • Black Cat says:

        WHAT PROOF DO YOU HAVE THAT HE STOLE HIS NAME FROM U2???

        But I agree on every other point, especially his horribly unfunny promos.

      • Eric Darsie says:

        Wait a second, do you hate all people of Canada then? Like Chris Jericho? Oh man, I don’t know if I can follow a podcast if they dislike my favorite pro wrestler on a technicality that wasn’t his choosing. 🙂

        • Black Cat says:

          Dre’s the wildcard. We have a OSWP legal team just to deal with his publicity stunts.

        • Dre says:

          Chris Jericho’s charisma and wrestling ability make up for his Canadian ethnic shortcomings. The Lion Heart is A-OK in my book.

  4. Uncle Soda says:

    Damn, that Superstar promo had me scratching my head. I’ve only seen promos from his glory days. Did he always sound like during that period? And when/where was it from?

    Yes, we need a background on the Edge diss.

    Top episode as always, and if you ever make that tower of doom cake I am sending a free Uncle Soda bumper sticker \m/

  5. Jeff says:

    I have an interesting story similar to the gay porn on the plane.

    I saw an Andre the Giant throwback shirt and had to buy it. The picture on the front had Andre clearly in his AWA days, afro and all. Well one day I was wearing my favortite shirt, and was called out by one of my friends for wearing a shirt with a guy in his underwear on it. In front of a crowd. Yeah. That guy. Had to share that story. Don’t wear that shirt in public anymore.

    • Black Cat says:

      No wrestling on an airplane is my second rule of wrestling fandom.

      My first rule of wrestling fandom is never buy a wrestling shirt with a half naked dude on it for this very reason.

      The only shirt I broke that rule for was my ECW Tajiri shirt in 99 and, really, no one could mistake the badassery of that shirt for anything else.

  6. Uncle Soda says:

    One day the iPad sunglasses will arrive, and then we can all enjoy our favourite wrestling in public without shame. The t-shirt problem might take longer to solve.

    • Black Cat says:

      The is no solution to the tshirt problem except not to wear them.