On this date in WCW history: Jim Cornette plummets from the scaffold at Starrcade

by Jesse Holland on Nov 27, 2011 10:00 AM EST in History

On November 27, 1986, WCW held Starrcade with the ominous "Night of the Skywalkers" tagline, referencing the scaffold match between the Road Warriors and the Midnight Express.

And I get butterflies just looking at that contraption.

In a pay-per-view loaded with gimmicks, including a "Hair vs. Hair Match" and an "Indian Strap Match," the aforementioned "Skywalkers Match" didn't seem that out of place.

Until Jim Cornette took to the air.

While Animal was able to sell that thing like a boss, Lil' Jimmy wasn't nimble enough (or stoned enough) to let the bump work itself out. Instead, he dangled from the top and upon release, made the fatal error of landing with his legs locked and extended.

He's lucky they didn't explode upon impact.

Corny landed in a heap and began whimpering -- but why was he even up there in the first place? Well, Dusty Rhodes had "sold him on the finish," and as Jimbo explains, "Dusty could sell you the glasses off your own face."

Hear him retell the Skywalkers fiasco after the jump.

Any Cagesiders remember this painfully hilarious moment?

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Looking at this puts Mick Foley’s career into perspective, doesn’t it? This might be the most insane bump ever, because of the level of danger and the fact that a manager, not a wrestler, was taking it, and also the fact that apparently it was botched really badly.

I didn’t see this live, because it was 1986 and I think it was only on closed circuit, but I received the videotape for Christmas. So I remember the incident, but I didn’t see it until a bit later. The match itself, by the way, was terrible. The wrestlers were so worried about falling and being killed that they just sort of shuffled around on the scaffold, there was no way to do most of the usual moves.

by Finian1 on Nov 27, 2011 1:30 PM EST reply actions

Scaffold matches IMO are the line betwen exciting and downright scary.

by IRodC on Nov 27, 2011 1:37 PM EST reply actions

Cornette kicks ass

Release...the KITTIES!

by GoForthAndDie on Nov 27, 2011 2:19 PM EST reply actions

His dusty impression!!!

by 8bitDan on Nov 27, 2011 2:46 PM EST via iPhone app reply actions

Jim Cornette is a great story teller. I could listen to him tell stories all day long

My porn name is HogOfHawkness

by HeartOfHawkness on Nov 27, 2011 5:17 PM EST reply actions

Same here.

by Finian1 on Nov 27, 2011 11:10 PM EST up reply actions

i watched it the next summer when the show came out on VHS..awesome show!!

To be the man, you got to beat the man!!

by wisco on Nov 28, 2011 9:16 AM EST reply actions

Listening to Cornette tell about what all was coming out of his knee is terrifing.

that is all

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Lloyd, Andy Russell, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
"YOU ARE A FACTORY OF SADNESS" Angry Browns fan
Canal Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Nov 28, 2011 10:10 AM EST reply actions