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Clash of Champions was a series of quarterly scheduled specials on TBS originally created in March 1988 to compete with WWF PPV events. The first was held on 3/27/88, taking place live and free on TBS opposite Wrestlemania IV, which was airing on PPV. The main event featuring Sting literally becoming a star overnight, going to a 45 minute draw against Ric Flair for the NWA World title.
The Clash concept was to put main event quality matches on the broadcast, a stark contrast from most weekly wrestling TV during that era which would usually feature enhancement matches, promos and angles and possibly one marquee match designed to build storylines for PPV and house show events.
The move to run the first Clash was actually retaliation against WWF, which ran the first Royal Rumble for free on the USA Network opposite Jim Crockett Promotions' first PPV, The 1988 Bunkhouse Stampede.
While only one other event would go head to head vs. a WWF PPV (Clash of Champions VI featuring a classic Best of Three Falls bout between Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat opposite Wrestlemania V), the Clash would remain a regular staple of the WCW calendar for years, presenting some great wrestling and angles over the years.
The Clash of Champions events would discontinue at the beginning of the WCW Monday Night Wars era where quality main event caliber wrestling began being presented weekly.
The DVD set will be released on 5/22.
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