1987 Crockett Cup Winners: Dusty Rhodes & Nikita Koloff (The Super Powers)

The partnership of “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes and “The Russian Nightmare” Nikita Koloff was the feel-good story of the year.

A scant six months earlier, a car accident ended 1986 finalist Magnum TA’s in-ring career. Their shared respect for the former NWA United States champion unified these “Super Powers,” who competed in the ‘87 Cup in his honor.

Seems only fitting Koloff and Rhodes faced The Horsemen in Baltimore during the tournament finals. They defeated Tully Blanchard and Lex Luger April 11, 1987, to take the crown.

Matters didn’t end there. Far from it!

The pair soon enlisted previous winners The Road Warriors to wage ongoing war with The Horsemen. The rivalry among these eight (ten, counting managers Paul Ellering and JJ Dillon) was so heated, it spilled into the following year.

Readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated voted their legendary battles the 1987 “Feud of the Year” in the popular magazine’s annual ‘Year End Awards.’