WCW Power Hour

"WCW Power Hour" was the original Friday night wrestling show for World Championship Wrestling, airing on TBS.

Unlike most television (and wrestling shows) that started their program either at the top or bottom of the hour, "WCW Power Hour" aired 10 minutes before the bottom of the hour at 10:20 p.m. Later when it was moved to Saturday mornings, it adopted a more traditional television time slot.

"Debut Episode"

NWA Power Hour debuted on June 23, 1989. Hosts Jim Ross & Jim Cornette welcomed viewers to the show, which would feature 3 matches, an interview with Ric Flair, "Funk's Grill", and The Wrestling News Network.

The first segment features The Road Warriors (with Paul Ellering) defeating The Samoan Swat Team (with Paul E. Dangerously) by disqualification when The Fabulous Freebirds interfered. The SST would take Ellering onstage, brutally smash a pineapple over his head, and lay a floral wrap over him, which Ross called a "Samoan Funeral".

The second segment featured The Wrestling News Network with Gordon Solie. Solie discussed Lex Luger's attack on Ricky Steamboat, Ric Flair's possible retirement, Theodore R. Long purchasing The Skyscrapers' contract, Hulk Hogan's movie "No Holds Barred" lack of critical acclaim, Eric Embry in Texas, and Dustin Rhodes in Florida.

The third segment was a Special Interview with Ric Flair discussing (with Jim Ross) his neck injury at the hands of Terry Funk and the future of the NWA World Championship.

The fourth segment featured NWA World Tag Team Champions The Fabulous Freebirds (with Terry Gordy) defeating Scott Hall & Ranger Ross when Garvin pinned Hall after Gordy interfered and hit a DDT.

The fifth segment featured the debut of Terry Funk's interview segment, Funk's Grill. Funk introduced his guest, the beautiful Missy Hyatt. Funk attempted to put the moves on Missy until The Steiner Brothers showed up.

The sixth segment featured Terry Funk pinning Ricky Sanatana after beating him up all over the arena. Funk then knocked out the referee and beat up several preliminary wrestlers until The Steiner Brothers came on the scene and chased him away.

"WCW Gauntlet"

It was one of three TBS wrestling shows to have WCW's ill-fated "WCW Gauntlet", where a wrestler would have to win all three of his matches on "NWA Power Hour", "NWA World Championship Wrestling", and "NWA Main Event" in order to win $10,000.

Cancellation

The final, and 301st episode of WCW Power Hour (previously NWA Power Hour) aired on March 12, 1994.

Canadian version

A Canadian version of "WCW Power Hour" ran on TSN from 1991 to 1993. That version was originally hosted by Jim Ross and Paul E. Dangerously, who would later be joined by Missy Hyatt. Later broadcast teams on the show would include:
*Eric Bischoff and Missy Hyatt
*Eric Bischoff and Teddy Long
*Tony Gilliam and Teddy Long
*Gordon Solie and Larry Zbyszko (the final announcing team before the show's cancellation in 1993)