Ricky Jackson

Awesome to see a pod covering a fresh topic. I'm looking forward to this show giving me the excuse to finally dive into the promotion

My recollection is a friend telling me about reading an article in, I think, Playboy that detailed a bunch of WWF behind the scenes sleaze, including the Snuka stories. This would've been around 1994 or so, but my memories are a little fuzzy

Heeeeeee's Baaaaaaaack!!!! I'm on vacation, resting up from a ridiculous move and my physical job, lying on the couch spending the day listening to 60s garage rock bands (The Seeds!) and watching random wrestling. Life is good. First up is a revival of my Johnny Rodz retrospective. Today's theme: Titans of Tag Teams Back Again Wrestling Johnny Rodz and Tor Kamata vs Tony Garea and Larry Zbyszko - 4/12/1977, Philadelphia Arena, Championship Wrestling (aired 4/23/77) Titans dream team right here, with Rodz and the legendary Tor Kamata. Tony G and Larry Z a rockin' combo themselves. Rodz Fashion watch is off the charts here, as Rodz is decked out in a beautiful multi-coloured vest AND a green singlet. Kamata is wearing pajama bottoms apparently. Larry Z looks like a virginal 19 year old. Tony G's hair outshines everything, of course. Bump-fest to start. Rodz at one point with a great corner bump where he launches himself in the air and comes down headfirst on the top turnbubkle. Faces beat the shit out of the heels to start, but soon enough Rodz and Kamata take over and both Larry Z and Tony G take turns playing face in peril. *A note about the Garea/Zbyszko team: Garea of course is known for having multiple WWWF/WWF tag title reigns with multiple partners in the 70s and early 80s. We just finished reviewing his fantastic run with Rick Martel on Titans of Wrestling. Garea's team with Larry Z is not as well known, but it was actually the longest partnership of Garea's career. They first started teaming in March 1977, and had to bide their time for months as Chief Jay Strongbow and Billy White Wolf (the future Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie/General Adnan) reigned as champs for 237 days. That reign ended when Ken Patera broke White Wolf's neck in storyline, with the belts becoming vacant. However, it still wasn't Tony G and Larry Z's time, as they fell to Mr. Fuji and Toru Tanaka in the tournament final for the straps in September 1977. They continued to team into 1978, repeatedly coming up short as challengers, took a couple months break, and then resumed their chase in July, this time with the Yukon Lumberjacks holding the gold. Finally, on November 21, 1978 in Allentown, they captured the straps from the Lumberjacks, nearly two years after first teaming. Their long-sought reign was relatively short-lived though, as they dropped the straps to the Johnny and Jerry version of the Valiant Brothers on March 6, 1979. They teamed for a few more months before calling it quits. Both men left the territory, with Larry Z returning in the fall to begin the build towards his legendary heel turn and Garea not returning until mid-1980.* Back to the action, and Rodz unleashes a running legdrop on Garea. So now we know who the Hulkster stole that move from. The finishing sequence is totally botched. Kamata is supposed to accidently chop Rodz after Garea ducks, but instead he mistakenly chops Garea as he is attempting to duck. Kamata realizes he fucked up and proceeds to chop Rodz as well, but now it doesn't look like an accident to anyone watching. No audible is called, and they immediately re-do the spot with the correct outcome, hitting the fans over the head with "THIS IS FAKE". Yes, Kayfabe died April 12, 1977, folks. Rodz takes the pin and post-match Kamata attacks him after he complains about the screw up. Rodz is carried away by officials. This was ok. Rodz and Kamata made the good guys look decent with their bumping and stooging. Average TV bout for the time. Tor Kamata lovers be sure to check out the post-match promo he cuts on Bob Backlund! Johnny Rodz and Rene Goulet vs The British Bulldogs - 4/22/85 MSG Rodz' last MSG match is the Bulldogs first. In the dubbed voice over intro, Vince puts Rodz over and explains he is known as "Unpredictable" because of his unusual in-ring behavior and penchant for turning on his tag partners. Match opens with Rodz and Goulet in textbook ass-showing mode for the debuting Bulldogs. Both bump like madmen for the newcomers and the MSG crowd is in love with the Brits from the get-go. Heels eventually take over and maybe take too much of the match. Considering the circumstances of the Bulldogs as the hot new team on the block, from a booking standpoint they probably should have wasted these jabroni's in 4-5 minutes. Once the Bulldogs regain control the crowd is in absolute awe of their fresh, high-impact offense. The finish with Dynamite launching himself off of the back of Goulet as he rests on Davey Boy's shoulders for a headbutt on a prone Rodz is super cool and receives a big pop from the crowd. Fittingly, Rodz bids adieu to MSG by doing the job for his team and putting over new stars making their first appearance in the arena. Next Time: Once again, not the thrilling conclusion to the Java Ruuk Saga (anyone with more details of his time in Montreal circa 1980 than I can find online please let me know), but instead a look at Rodz in some Unpredictable settings!

Actually, the most accurate comparison would be one of the classic WWWF/WWF "old man - young man" teams. Specifically, since Marty stood up for one half of the team on this show, and I'm and old school guy at heart, we are 1978 WWWF tag champs Dom DeNucci and Dino Bravo

Thanks a lot. If nothing else, we want the show to be a fun listen

Or this http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsr76_rockers-vs-rougeau-brothers-10-13-8_news I think I've only seen the former

I think this is it http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x32d1t8_fabulous-rougeau-brothers-vs-the-rockers-london-arena-10-10-89_sport

Don't mistake Marty's unbridled enthusiasm for crass vulgarity ☺

It's a sensational match, only topped IMO by Dream Team vs Santana and Steamboat as far as WWF matches I've watched for the show so far go

Playlist Harts vs Smith/JYD http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xf20xv_hart-foundation-vs-davey-boy-smith_shortfilms Can Am Connection vs Dream Team http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x31iear_the-dream-team-vs-the-can-am-connection-msg-jan-87_sport Islanders vs Harts http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6mqw9_islanders-vs-hart-foundation_sport Islanders vs Rougeau Brothers http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xc066i_islanders-vs-rougeau-brothers_sport Harts vs Bees https://youtu.be/igTphYDReFc?list=PLV6RCTo_Cd0DxIZcvvV8-Je015bl3aKxw&t=5201

http://placetobenation.com/tag-teams-back-again-episode-8-here-comes-the-ax-here-comes-the-smasher/ Kelly and Marty are back with a new year, new teams and another round of exciting action from the WWF to discuss! Six matches are spotlighted: Davey Boy Smith and The Junkyard Dog vs The Hart Foundation 1/11/1987 MLG The Dream Team vs The Can-Am Connection 1/19 MSG The Hart Foundation vs The Islanders 1/26 The Rougeau Brothers vs The Islanders 2/14 Spectrum The Killer Bees vs The Hart Foundation 2/23 MSG Demolition vs The Islanders 2/23 MSG Playlist to follow

Here's your one-stop 1981 WWF Slaughter shop

Haha...yeah, don't hold your breath on "Titans go to the Movies" ever materializing. Heck, outside of a short Titans Xtra, we still haven't got around to doing the 1950s episode we first discussed about 2 years ago

Cool find. Thanks for sharing

Cool. These look interesting. Just a heads up fans, look for a new show around Tuesday or Wednesday, after all the fuss over this weekend has subsided. Marty and I will be looking at some super fun matches from Jan-Feb 1987

In an alternate universe, Fear and Loathing at the Olympic Auditorium, 1971 is the greatest book ever written

WWF @ New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden - October 21, 1985 (19,000) Televised on the MSG Network - featured Gorilla Monsoon & Jesse Ventura on commentary; included Bruno Sammartino as a guest of Piper's Pit in which Sammartino demanded Bob Orton Jr. leave the ring so that Piper could conduct the interview one-on-one; moments later, after receiving a number of insults from Piper, Sammartino shoved him down and was then assaulted by a chair; Sammartino eventually chased Piper away with the chair; prior to Sammartino's appearance, Piper had future WWF referee Tim White and a woman named Stephanie, both from New York, on as guests; Stephanie was forced to leave after saying Paul Orndorff was her favorite wrestler and White was forced to leave after saying Hulk Hogan was his; Sammartino appearing on Piper's Pit was later reshown during Prime Time Wrestling on 11/5/85; featured Gene Okerlund hosting a segment in which Vince McMahon was presented with an outstanding achievement award for the success of WrestleMania; during the segment, it was announced that the video of WrestleMania had gone platinum; Arnold Skaaland, Jim Troy, & George Scott, and the British Bulldogs were present for the presentation: Prime Time Wrestling - 11/5/85: Steve Gatorwolf pinned Terry Gibbs (sub. for the Masked Superstar) at 7:17 with a double tomahawk chop to the chest Prime Time Wrestling - 11/5/85: Adrian Adonis (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned SD Jones at 6:51 with the DDT Prime Time Wrestling - 11/5/85: Mike Rotundo & Tony Atlas (sub. for Barry Windham) defeated Barry O & Iron Mike Sharpe at 16:45 when Rotundo pinned Barry following the airplane spin; after the bout, Atlas fought off Barry O and threw him onto Jesse Ventura at ringside, leading to a heated verbal confrontation between Barry O and Ventura to set up their match the following month Prime Time Wrestling - 1/27/86: King Tonga pinned Ron Shaw at 9:25 with a side kick to the face Prime Time Wrestling - 11/5/85: Pedro Morales pinned Rene Goulet with an inside cradle at 14:03 Andre the Giant & Hillbilly Jim (w/ Capt. Lou Albano) fought Big John Studd & King Kong Bundy (w/ Bobby Heenan) to a double disqualification at 14:08 when all four men began brawling in the ring as Albano and Heenan fought on the floor; after the bout, Andre, Jim, and Albano cleared the opposition from the ring Prime Time Wrestling - 11/5/85: Paul Orndorff pinned the Spoiler (sub. for the Missing Link) at 12:35 with a clothesline in a $50,000 bounty match; had the Spoiler been able to put Orndorff out of action, he would have won the bounty put on Orndorff's head by Bobby Heenan; prior to the bout, the Crush Girls - Chigusa Nagoya & Lioness Asuka - were introduced to the crowd as the Japanese Women's Tag Team Champions Prime Time Wrestling - 11/5/85: Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid defeated the Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff (w/ Freddie Blassie) at 6:46 when Smith dropkicked Volkoff from the top rope, as Volkoff prepared to slam Dynamite, with Dynamite landing on top for the win (The British Bulldogs)

Awesome! We have discussed Bob a ton and still have a lot more ground to cover before we're finished

I'd say he would've been lucky to make it out of the 80s but you never know. He did seem to slim down a bit in subsequent appearances, plus he shaved his mustache and ditched the camera. Maybe he turned his life around after the excesses of the 70s

Haha...Marty and I are recording tonight. It'll hopefully drop on Saturday, but maybe a day or two later. Let me know what you thought of the match

This match is really awesome. Marty and I will be reviewing it on the next Tag Teams Back Again podcast. Fantastic work from everyone, Beefer and Zed Man included. The finish is original and I really dug it. I'm at work now so I'll elaborate later. If anyone wants to check it out it's on Dailymotion. Search for Best of the WWF volume 11. It's the first match on the tape after Gene's intro. Highly recommended

This is one I haven't seen in years, probably 20+. I don't remember it being anything special. I've seen it mentioned in various places as one of the best WWF tag matches ever and that has always baffled me. It's been in the back of my mind to rewatch for ages to see if it is better than I remember. I think now with having the Network I'm going to sit down and watch the whole card, it was one of my favorites when I was a kid

Haha...oh yes, that picture is as famous in Titans circles as the Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot photo. And still alive in 82, baby!