Superstar Sleeze

O, The Barbarian, what an awful finisher you had when I was growing up: a boot to the chest. Not a big boot to the head, but just the chest. As a kid, I actually liked the Faces of Fear quite a bit and was psyched for their feud in 1998. Then I became a smart mark and thought people like Barbie suck. Well I have come full circle and Barbarian is totally bitchin'. One question that has been bugging me, is his name Barbarian or The Barbarian. WWF World Tag Champs Demolition vs Powers of Pain - Philly 7/88 This is before the Demos face turn so the Powers of Pain are actually babyfaces here. The double turn was a smart move as the Powers of Pain were not that charismatic to be babyfaces and the Demos were already getting face pops. Weird start to this match as Demolition is announced 3 times and takes 3 minutes before their music hits. Crowd gets a little restless. The one thing I really like about this match is that in every Demolition match so far, the babyface team has to double up their moves to gain the advantage on Demolition. In this match, Demolition has to double their moves to overwhelm the Powers of Pain. Other than that, it did not totally suck, which was a plus. Outside of Barbie nearly wiping out on a second rope elbow, he was by far the best wrestler in the match. Each time Demolition would do their stomping attacks, POP would counter that with their own power moves. Barbie hit a sweet clothesline. The Artist Formerly Known As The Masked Superstar hit a swinging neckbreaker on Barbarian. Barbarian was surprisingly effective in the FIP role, I mean you don't have much choice when you partner is the Personification of Suck, The Warlord. Barbarian starts to mount a comeback and the crowd actually responds, but he charges and his shoulder meets the post. Smash in an incredibly awkward move decides to stretch the other arm. Dude all you had to was take the injured shoulder and slam it against the post. Some chinlokcery follows and Smash runs into the Big Boot of the Barbarian. If this was WCW circa 1998, this match would be over, but it is not. It is 1988 WWF and He's Hardcore! Smash's heart don't pump kool-aid. But he is disoriented enough for Barbie to make the tag and lamest hot tag ever follows. Crowd does not give a shit about the Warlord and his awkward offense. They brawl to the outside and everyone gets counted out. Powers of Pain get their heat back by Irish Whipping Ax and Smash into each other. Demolition needed to use double teams to overwhelm the POP, which was about the only interesting nuance. The match did not suck, but it is nothing I will ever watch again. I do think this matchup of teams will be better once the double turn happens.

I agree with this save for one thing. I skimmed this thread and given the response to this match and I exhorted my brother into watching RAW last night because of the gauntlet. I thought the Bryan/Cesaro got a helluva lot better after the commercial break, but it never reached that MOTYC class for me. I did not think the strikes looked that weak so I am not taking point off for that. I just felt like this was a mish mash of Bryan spots, Cesaro spots and then they added some strike exchanges ala Puro/ROH. It never really felt coherent to me. It was a good match and a very good angle. It just was not MOTYC. For point of reference, I have Cena/Punk, Bryan/Ryback, Bryan/Orton (Street Fight), Del Rio/Ziggler (last week) ahead of that match. Brad Maddox doing the "No!" at the end of his segment was hilarious and had my brother and I rolling. He is pretty good. Del Rio is like clockwork. If he put in a good week last week, you know he is going to shit the bed the next week. He looked so apathetic and it was a lackluster performance. Maybe, he could not attack the bruise because you know it actually would hurt like a muthafucka. Sheamus is Sheamus at this point. Even in cruise control, Sheamus is one of my favorite WWE wrestlers to watch and when he is really on, he is my definite favorite. My brother was remarking how he feels bad for Sheamus because he gets quite vocal chorus of boos and does not seem to handle it as well as Cena especially last week. I think it is just because he is a fuckin awful promo and they have given him a stupid character. Titus/Christian was great. Those two Titus O'Neil spots when he sent Christian flying were bitchin. We are huge O'Neil marks due to his bark. That bark is going to be the next big thing. Ziggler is proving me wrong about not being able to work face. He worked a truly inspired performance against Del Rio last week. This week he stuck to Savage babyface formula, but he really made Darren Young look like a million bucks, who I think is just an awful wrestler. Ziggler is really good at timing hope spots. "My heart don't pump Kool-Aid" - Mark Henry. My brother and I lost out shit for that one. Cena, Bryan, Kane, Orton, Ryback can't beat The Shield, but the Usos can run them off. lol. CM Punk before the Heyman interruption was on fire after it was just there. Still this is a really strong angle. I like Jack Swagger, there I said it. I have always liked him. He is huge, has an amateur background and moves like a cat. He has some great spots and will actually chain wrestle for a bit from time to time. I feel like Eddie/Swagger would have been an excellent match. It was great how much heat he was getting from being from Oklahoma. If only all his matches could be wrestler in OK and TX. It was a pretty ok match. The Ryback/Bryan match was really fun. It was not as good as their previous RAW encounter, but I enjoy Ryback a lot more than most people. Honestly, if they are serious about Ryback, he needs to win the World Title either from Del Rio or someone else yesterday. Bryan would keep coming at Ryback and Ryback would shrug him off. Ryback would bully him and here comes Bryan. Now Bryan gets a little more offensive then Ryback shrug him off. They kept repeating until Bryan was in control It was like two bulls neither one would give an inch. The only thing that did Bryan in was that he was just smaller and Ryback caught him with a powerbomb to the outside, which was a sick, sick spot. I enjoyed the Ryback/Bryan portion of the gauntlet more than Cesaro/Bryan portion. I really hope this Cryback angle was short-lived because is one of the best things they have going now.

WWF Tag Champs Demolition vs The British Bulldogs - Wrestlefest 1988 There was one key difference in this match and the other Demos matches I have seen. Bulldogs did not need to double up on their moves in order to gain the advantage on Demolition. Now Davey Boy is pretty much as big as Demolition and you just cant stop Dynamite from coming so this feels more like a Bulldogs match. However, I liked the Bulldogs better when they were spot machines. It seems like ever since Dynamite's injury in late 86/early 87 they were never the same. This match starts with Smith trading power with Smash and doing the Stampede roll to get wrist control. Dynamite gets dragged to Demos corner and Ax pounds away, but Dynamite fires back ultimately Ax over powers Dynamite. I like more definitive heel transition spots as I think they should be the hook of the match. The Demos are at their best when they are focused and with no limb they just stomp aimlessly. I did like Smash coming out of Dynamite small package attempt by popping Davey Boy. It was just reaffirming that Demolition was still in control and you cant do anything about it. Dynamite hits a reverse elbow out of the corner and tags Davey Boy. No dropkicks, no suplexes, where's the Davey Boy I used to know? In very uncharacteristic fashion for Demolition, Davey Boy is able to beat up both members at once by himself including an awful back body drop on Ax. He tags in Dynamite and hits one of my favorite double team moves: Davey Boy press slams Dynamite so he can headbutt his opponent. This one looked awesome and the dead crowd finally woke up. Thats the Bulldogs I used to know. Ax saves, Fuji on the apron and it is the cane shot we all know that is coming. Demolition let their guard down and let the Bulldogs work their match, but a 1988 Bulldogs match sucks for the most part. It is usually a tame shine segment, a lame Dynamite FIP and a not so game Davey Boy comeback. I do not like Demolition's offense especially when it is unfocused and that is the only part of thsi match that resembled the normal Demos match. I know the MSG match is well-liked so I will give that a shot.

Finally getting to the Rockers!!! Callooh! Callay! I was reading through this and the Demolition thread and I have gathered that the 10/88 had a bit of a rep as a great match. I just watched and I would say that I still prefer the Strike Force/Islanders & Bulldogs/Dream Team a bit more, but this was very, very good for a WWF Tag. I think Rockers/Powers Of Pain is quite a good deal better than '88 Rockers/Demos match. Since there is two reviews above me on the same match, I will keep it brief. WWF Tag Champs Demolition vs The Rockers MSG 10/88 This is the compressed version of the RnRs vs the Russians (well without the babyface title change) as this is one of the better speed vs power tag matches, but it is not just that. Demolition being outquicked is only one part of their match formula. The other is that the babyface always have to double up their moves. I love Smash barking "Stay in one place!" to Marty. It might be the most Darsow has ever added to any of his tag matches. I do like the wrinkle of Demolition matches where it does seem like from the outset that all the babyface teams will overwhelmed immediately only for face teams to find an initial way around it. In this case, it was the rapid arm work as they trapped Smash in their corner. They really made sure to move as quickly as possible. The crowd was really going bonkers for this and this was just a month before Demolition's babyface turn, which really shows how fast the Rockers got over. Marty does a quick FIP, but the real fireworks start when Shawn crashes and burns to the floor when Ax holds down the top rope. Demolition demonstrates a real singular purpose in attacking Shawn's lower back with the Boston Crab, sledges and bearhugs. This is the part of the match, which was psychologically sound, but I agree with Soup was missing that extra something to put this in the all-time classic canon. What is so great about the Rockers is that their is not a huge gulf in talent between the partners. Shawn's FIP is as good as Marty's hot tag. Now we see that Rockers are not only keeping Demos outbalance with quick work, but lots of doubling up of their moves: double dropkicks, double slams, double clothesline. Rockers look like they are going to get the pin, but Ax breaks it up. Ref detains Michaels and Smash carries Marty over to be punched in the face by Ax for the pin. This has all the usual Demolition motifs: babyfaces initially overwhelmed, they use their speed & double team moves; heel transition spot; Demos beatdown; go home. This is definitely the best Demolition match because the Rockers are best suited for this role even though Tama outbumped both the Rockers in his match. Demolition is just there on offense. It makes sense, but it does nothing for me. The Rockers being on offense was definitely the more entertaining parts of the match. Demolition as babyfaces just seem like it is going to be weird.

WWF Tag Champs Dream Team vs Killer Bees - Boston 12/85 Holy shit! It is Jim Brunzell with a beard! "He must got tired of looking 16." - Jesse The Body Valentine is one of the best 80s WWF workers by far and away. He is always great to watch when he is in the ring. He works a great chain sequence with Blair similar to the '87 match. He takes a bunch of suplexes from the Bees He sells well for both Bees as they work over his legs. Of course, he works in TIMBAAAAAAAAH! Blair gets caught trying to put the figure 4 on Valentine. Beefcake comes in. He stomps around and makes a lot of noise but doesnt do much. Valentine forsakes grappling and earns the moniker "The Hammer" with his sledges from the tough. Blair is able to maneuver away from Beefcake to tag in Brunzell. Jim and all his nefwound masculinity overwhelm the Dream Team. His new look does not affect his dropkick, but it does affect his awareness as he gets hit from behind while applying the sleeper to Beefcake. That is the finish. It was a decent match, but demonstrates what could have been with The Hammer.

I have really grown to enjoy Sgt Slaughter's work from my limited viewing of his matches. His matches with Sheik are all they are cracked up to be. Plus I liked his WWF heel runs in '81 & '83. Even his Desert Storm match with Hogan in '91 is wicked good. Since my interest has been piqued in Nikolai Volkoff, I remembered I gave a cursory glance at a tag match with JYD against Sheiky & 'Ol Nik in the Spectrum No Holds Barred. Sgt. Slaughter & Junkyard Dog vs Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff - Philly 11/84 The babyface shine seemed so weak and stilted. JYD looks like a broken down man at this point and is having a lot of trouble moving. All his offense looks awful. EVen Slaughter is hitting the foreigners with some weak weapon shots. I want to feel the hate, but they are giving it to me. It was not even close to the quality of the Slaughter/Sheik stuff even though the Philly crowd was nuclear for the whole match. Sheik & Slaughter were so over everywhere that can not be surprising. McMahon was fuckin loaded in 1984. The match picks up with heat segment as Sheik & Volkoff isolate JYD and then play King of the Mountain with Slaughter. Sarge must have tried to enter the ring a half dozen times and was denied entry each time by the Big Russian. Eventually Sheik & Volkoff do a Double Camel Clutch. Slaughter finally gets on the apron and lets loose on Volkoff. Then I saw something I never thought I see, the babyface collide on a cross-ring collision. Sheik & Volkoff isolate Slaughter this time whipping with a belt while JYD is on the outside. DOUBLE SLAUGHTER CANNON~! Philly loses their shit over this. Slaughter puts on the Cobra Clutch. Volkoff threatens with a chair, but JYD cuts him off at the pass. Sheik has no alternative, but submit to the Might of Americana! This was a pretty disappointing match because I was just expecting Slaughter/Sheik bloodbaths just with the additional awesomeness of Volkoff. It was a decent patriotic match that popped the crowd, but left me wanting more especially when I know the participants could have a lot better matches.

I read the above post before I watched the following match and did not know notice him sweating profusely compared to Barry Windham in fact it looks like Shieky Baby is quite the sweaty one. Then again the video quality was not that good. WWF World Tag Champs Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff w/"Classy" Freddie Blassie vs US Express (Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham) w/ Capt. Lou Albano They would stick Albano with just any tag team whether he fit the demeanor of the tag team or not. Albano with the All-American boys is just weird. Sheik/Rotundo do a good amateur sequence with Rotundo getting the better of Sheik. Sheik does a great begging off for both Windham & Rotundo and really makes them look good. It always takes me by surprise when Sheik busts out his somersault and misses it. I just never expect to see him do it. Volkoff comes in and gets his arm worked over with a series of quick tags. Volkoff hooks the ropes and Windham crashes and burns on a dropkick. Volkoff is not as good as I was expecting. Sheik is hilarious as he attempts to put on one of the most awkward abdominal stretches given that Windham has like 8 inches on him. Between this and Zuhkov ab stretch, Volkoff matches are the place to go to see poorly executed ab stretches. Sheik hits his gutwrench for 2. WIndham is able to hit a vertical suplex to get the hot tag. Even Rotundo is inspired by this molten MSG crowd and is fired up to deliver some dropkicks. In the fracas, WIndham rams Sheik's head into the steel posts busting him wide open. The US Express realizing how useless Rotundo is actually has him give the hot tag to Windham (literally like a minute after the last hot tag), Windham starts unloading rights on the Sheik's cut. This is brilliant. Windham is playing face in peril and the hot tag in the same match how did Ricky Morton not think of that! Windham hits a bulldog and Volkoff sensing the end is nigh makes the save. Rotundo jumps him and it devolves into a donnybrook and a double countout. I liked this match a good deal. It was very energetic and moved along briskly. Windham and Rotundo played babyfaces really well and Shekik & Volkoff are such classic heels you could not go wrong. I would have enjoyed a little more work from Sheik & Volkoff who have impressed me in other matches. I did not think anyone stood out or anything stood out, but it is just good classic wrestling.

Per usual, I am a week behind in my RAW watching, but I just watched Del Rio vs Ziggler from last week and was really impressed. I was totally buying what everyone was saying about Ziggler's ability to perform as a babyface, but I thought he put in one helluva performances. What I really loved about the layout was that it was not back and forth at all. It was Del Rio in control and Ziggler was hanging on by a thread, but would make you believe he could pull it out with all his hope spots. I have not seen hope spots better timed this year from my recollection. He worked his wicked bumps in such a way to induce sympathy rather than be stooging, comedy spot. My dad totally nailed that his repeated elbow drops would go over huge with live audiences so that they could count along with him. Outside of Cena/Punk, Bryan/Ryback and Bryan/Orton, I have this as my Free TV MOTY with only Cena/Punk really outdistancing it. On a more general note, I cant remember a time period when WWE TV from a wrestling standpoint was this good consistently. There is usually at least one really good match a week now on RAW.

The Islanders (Haku & Sivi Afi) & Bobby "The Brain" Heenan vs British Bulldogs & Koko B Ware - Philly 5/88 Wow, did this feud disappoint as this match was as much of a bore as the Bolsheviks match. The Heenan stuff with Koko at the beginning is what I wanted to see out of Heenan last match. Heenan cowering in the corner -> Koko lays down -> Heenan still apprehensive turns his back -> Koko catches him unawares and sends him into the opposite corner to take the Ray Stevens flip back-first bump. It was all down hill after that. Sivi Afi is a Superfly & High Chief Peter Maivia hybrid ripoff as he has Maivia's tats and Snuka's look. Afi is awkward and lumbering. It is no wonder he lasted for only a cup of coffee. The commentators believe that Sivi Afi is Haku and that Haku is Tama (Toma as it is pronounced). Then the commentators talk how the Bulldogs look like a like. O to be a wrestling commentator in the 80s or any era, actually. You never have to be proficient at your job. Sivi Afi sucked it up in the ring. Haku/Dynamite do their little forearm exchange into a Dynamite headlock into a Haku side suplex, which always looks good. Dynamite hits a hooking clothesline to regain advantage, which in my opinion wastes one of the best spots of the match. It gets very heel in peril at this point with chinlocks. Koko, who is the best worker in this match again, does the best move of the match: a sweet reverse cross body that would make Ricky Martel jealous. Haku for his part jumped into it making it look even better. Dynamite runs into a Haku clothesline and that is your weak, lazy transition to the heat segment where Sivi Afi is super awkward getting into position for anything. Dynamite took a dive to the outside got his head rammed into the railing by Haku and apron by Heenan. Haku hit a couple nice backbreakers while they worked over Dynamite's back and head. Heenan could be doing a lot more to get heat and to really the crowd excited to see him get his ass kicked...oh wait he does not. Dynamite does an excellent block of Haku's suplex attempt with a leg scissors. He hit his suplex. Davey Boy came in hit a back body drop and vertical suplex. He just does not give a fuck anymore. Koko came in and hit two stellar dropkicks that would make Jim Brunzell jealous. His second one was really one of the best I have ever seen. A clusterfuck erupts; Heenan blind tagged himself in and with knucks knocked out Koko for the win. What the fuck? I accidentally watched the Philly match instead of the MSG match, but the finish was the same according to History of the WWE site so I am not watching this borefest again. Bulldogs could not care less. Heenan was not really trying either. Haku was decent. Sivi was actively bad and Koko was pretty sweet. Bring on the Bulldogs/Demolition maybe a tag title shot will wake up the Bulldogs.

Thanks. Too Japanese is a great way to describe them to a fellow hardcore fan, but may lose its meaning with certain people. The British Bulldogs vs The Bolsheviks - 11/87 Primetime Wrestling The Bulldogs did not give one single fuck during this match. Outside of the Dynamite snap suplex on Boris, I do not think worked any sort of story or spots in their shine sequence. It does not help that Boris is a candidate for one of the worst wrestlers I have ever seen. I can't tell if Volkoff is good or if he is just good in comparison to Boris. But believe it or not, 'Ol Nik was the best worker in this match as he worked a great heat segment. He did his bearhug into a pin, he tussled with Dynamite over a suplex attempt that turned into a Dynamite small package and his overhead backbreaker. His headbutts and strikes were great. Boris on the other hand is such an awkward wrestler and put on one of the worst abdominal stretches ever. Gorilla had a field day with that one. Davey Boy came in and no spark. He did his delayed vertical suplex and running powerslam, but not the usual Davey Boy. The finish was Davey Boy hooking of the Bolsheviks' legs on a suplex attempt and Dynamite falling on top for the win. Why the hell are they protecting the Bolsheviks? Borefest and one of the worst matches I have seen. I abhor lazy wrestling. The only good thing to come out of this was it confirmed that Nikolai Volkoff maybe someone worth watching from his prime or at least with Sheiky Baby.

New Dream Team vs The Killer Bees 10/87 MSG I like Valentine enough that I thought this could be good. Actually before the shit finish, I liked the match quite a bit. Valentine did some really excellent wrestling with both the Bees working in a nice fireman's carry by Blair and grabbing a headscissors on Brunzell before tagging out. It was nice to see some actual grappling as a change of pace. Bravo was a little stiff in the ring, but he showed energy and even did a leapfrog. Brunzell played face in peril after Bravo threw him into the Valentine's elbow. I really felt that the Dream Team had the blueprint for how Demolition should work as Valentine has that similar rough and tumble style with a lot of elbows and general rough housing. He is just way more convincing than either of the Demolition, which look like a bunch of cartoon characters as they stomp on the ring. Valentine got kicked off on his figure-4 attempt. TIMBAAAAAAH! They throw Brunzell on the outside and it is Masked Confusion. It is not an inherently stupid gimmick. I think someone who played it off with a little comedic panache like Eddie Guerrero would have made it into a great gimmick. Instead these two white bread wrestlers just seem like dicks for doing this. This is a decent Valentine match, but it shows after a weak 1987 that 1988 does not look too much better for him. I believe he broke up with Bravo shortly after, but with the Hart Foundation & Demolition turning babyface in 1988 and the onset of the Rockers, I think they could have used a Valentine heel tag team to even the sides.

One of my favorite lines of Shawn's incredible late 1997 heel run was the night after the Screwjob, "Give me a break Sarge, I just beat a man who believes he is a legend in his own mind." Shawn was so good at getting under Bret's skin during that run. It always cracked me up as he talked circles around Bret and Bret could not doing anything about it well besides make middle school level homophobic jokes. Now, I just want watch Shawn slaughter Bret on the mic.

Demolition vs "Not Yet Fabulous" Rougeaus - Boston 3/88 This was touted as one of the better Demolition matches, but it did nothing for me. I would say the Islanders/Demos was a much better early Demolition match. At first it seems like Demolition will overwhelm the Quebecois, but miscommunication opens up some double teaming by the Rougeaus. Jacques is able to get a double wristlock on Smash. Raymond gets a high cross body to a dead crowd. Ax starts stomping Raymond. Ax grabs a front facelock and Raymond starts ironically chopping down Ax with some blows to the knee. His name is Ax. An attempted monkey flip cots Raymond and the heat segment begins earnest and it is a snoozer. Outside of a Fuji cane shot, it is just some cranking on Raymond's neck; it doesnt help that Raymond is the bland member of his team. Vertical suplex by Raymond and missed elbow by Smash gets Jacques in there, but at this point the crowd does not care about baby face Rougeaus. Jacques slaps on the Boston Crab in Boston and still no pop! How shameless can you get? Ax with a big boot and then a double clothesline gets the duke for the Demos. This was described as a mugging of the Rougeaus, but it felt like the usual tepid Demolition affair. I never felt any sympathy towards the Rougeaus and they demonstrated no pluckiness. The Demolition as lumbering giants just was not menacing at all. In the Islanders match, the Islanders made Demolition seem like monsters because of their urgency on offense and Tama's bumping. Demolition feels like a team that may only be as good as their opponents.

WWF World Tag Champs Demolition w/Mr. Fuji vs The British Bulldogs - SNME 4/88 Demolition is going to encrust Matilda in chrome and mount on their Winnebago when they drive to the Grand Canyon. Seriously, what the fuck? The Wyatts need to listen to some Barry Darsow to really get crazy down. This is a nothing match to re-establish the Bulldogs as the number one babyfaces as Martel was going to take a vacation and their go around the horn to establish the Demos is the Heel Ace of the tag division. The interesting part may be the foreshadowing that Bulldogs may break Demos from their mold Dynamite was going to force his will on the match. This felt like a real struggle with each team looking to give very little to their opponents. Dynamite was the face in peril and took a backbreaker before Davey Boy came in and showed he could match power with Demos. The story seemed like Dynamite would get in a bit over his head, but Davey Boy was the Demos equal in power. Endgame was Matilda chased Fuji to the back. They broke Fuji's cane leaving Jesse to lament the welfare of Fuji and they attacked the Demos with cane. The Bulldogs sure did have a temper. This is the second match where they have grabbed a manager's weapon and attacked their opponents. If they are going to win the titles back they are going to need to keep their composure under stress. I think they need Capt. Lou back to guide them to their second championship run. They never were the same without him. Thats what happens with two British hotheads cant keeps their act together. Heard the Demos/Bulldogs MSG is bitchin as all hell and really looking forward to a great Bulldogs match. Outside their work with the Dream Team, I dont feel like they have gotten there.

This thread is the embodiment of why I love PWO! Where else would you get a poster to write so much and so enthusiastically about Mike Friggin Enos. I am starting to tire of 80s WWF Tag matches. Maybe random midcard WCW wrestlers will be my new thing.

British Bulldogs vs The Islanders 12/87 Superstars Islanders have no floral wallpaper tights and they already look more menacing. Bulldogs in and Matilda goes right after Heenan and Islanders. They are hot because Matilda wont let them back in the ring. Heenan insults the dog and leads a walk out in protest of that mangy mutt being out there. Then he hatches a plan to get back at the dog for embarrassing him. He distracts the Bulldogs allowing the Islanders to really do a number on the Bulldogs including a sweet shoulderbreaker by Haku. Islanders and Heenan make a fast getaway with Matilda. Those dastardly villains surely the Bulldogs will make them pay for this transgression! ------------------------------------------- British Bulldogs vs The Islanders 1/88 MSG I built up the expectations a little too high in my head for this match. I would have this top handful of WWF tags, but it does not touch the first Islanders/Strike Force. Still it is a very good match as the Bulldogs are red hot and the Islanders are showing a much more sadistic, arrogant side. I thought this was the first match, Haku really broke out of his shell and was delivering on the same level as Tama. I have grown to like Davey Boy a bit more than Dynamite and would have liked him to be the face in peril instead of Dynamite. However, Smith's segments at the beginning of the match felt really aimless and were not as tight and meaningful as Dynamite's. Dynamite started this match off hot by attacking at the bell. Tama did his awesome bump back into the ring that someone needs to steal. Dynamite hit a wicked piledriver and then catapulted Tama into Haku. The Smith/Haku segment was decent in establishing two as equal, but I would have liked to see Smith mirror Dynamite's intensity. THEY STOLE MATILDA!!! Heenan has brought a dog collar and leash to remind them in true dick heel fashion. Smith worked a short heat segment off a quick attack by Haku during a tag exchange, which was pretty lame. Dynamite came in and re-energized everyone with his hooking clothesline and kneefrop. In his overzealousness, he ate a double chop from Haku in the corner. I liked this heat segment from the Islanders. I wish there was a better face in peril in there though. They were constantly mocking Dynamite with the dog collar and leash during the restholds. Plus Haku was on fire this segment with his cool back suplex out of the side headlock spot and his sell of a Dynamite headbutt. It was Kawada-esque as he wobbled on jelly legs and fell on his add, but still prevented the tag. Haku was taunting as much as Tama and together they were garnering tons of heel heat. Dynamite hits a double clothesline on the Islanders. Now here is the Davey Boy Smith I have come to love. Double-noggin knocker. Back body drop and then a big vertical suplex. Wicked piledriver, but broken up. Smith hits his big running powerslam and sees the other Islander and gives him a powerslam for good measure. The Garden is rocking. He grabs the leash and collar and starts beating teh Islanders with it drawing the DQ. This had a good heat segment with a great finish. The first the third of the match could have been upgraded and I think with a better face in peril this match would have been a real hidden classic. As it stands, it is a match where the Bulldogs had vengeance on their mind, but got overzealous allowing the Islanders to capitalize. Then Islanders got cocky and handed the match over to the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs could not keep their composure to seal the deal. I think we need a rematch and what better place than Wrestlemania. Lets get that weasel, Bobby the Brain in there so he can take some lumps too! ---------------------------------------------------------- British Bulldogs & Koko B. Ware vs The Islanders & Bobby The Brain Heenan - Wrestlemania IV I didn't like this nearly as much as the six-man from last year. The Brain never really got his comeuppance maybe it is to come in the MSG match, but that was a major downer because I was expecting the Brain to make more of an ass of himself. The Brain did ham it up by wearing an attack dog protection suit neutralizing Matilda. Dynamite and Tama started the match off hot with Tama doing his signature bump and then bumping huge onto the ring post. Smith/Haku did their MSG exchange, but Smith added a crucifix pin. Ware came in with a dropkick and a beauty shades of "Jumpin" Jim Brunzell. There was a nice Ware side-headlock and headscissors combo take over by Ware. Koko is on par with Tama so far as MVP on this match as he has really added some energy. Dynamite eats a Haku foot in the corner. Jesse says that Heenan looks like a Chinaman. Its 1988, Baby! Heenan gets some stomps in and Dynamite sells, but he runs for the hills as soon as Dynamite stirs. Ok, they are building for when Heenan gets his ass kicked. Tama had control, but got caught showboating and ate knees on a Vaderbomb attempt. Koko gets the tag and Irish whips Tama into Haku, but he sets too early and Haku makes him pay with a kick. Heenan comes in with a kneelift. It just feels like Heenan is just another heel wrestler instead of the special attraction heel to get his ass whipped. Heenan barley sells Koko's punches, but he does take the wicked Bret bump into the ring corner and then dropkicked into the post. He still feels like he is selling like a wrestler than a manager. It all breaks down and The Islander slam on top of Koko for the win?!?!?!?! Matilda attacks (read: Davey Boy foists and rubs Matilda all over) Heenan in his dog suit. I loved the dog suit and the first five minutes were fun, but those last five minutes dragged. I really wanted to see the Bulldogs take it to Heenan, but nothing doing. I know Heenan would often wrestle as a sub for Bock or Stevens in the AWA. He was actually expected to wrestle not just be a over the top bumping stooge. In the WWF, he was in a different capacity and I think this match would have benefited him doing a lot more stooging. This was a very disappointing match. --------------------------------------- The Islanders vs Demolition - MSG 2/87 Great match! Islanders started with some early doubling teaming to keep Demolition off balance. So that was not a Strike Force thing it seems that is something the Demos preferred to establish their strength and how babyfaces could still capitalize through superior teamwork. Ax/Tama have a good mat exchange with Tama getting the better of it. MSG seemed to dig the Islanders even though they were just a random ethnic babyface tag team at this time. This is the Demo's MSG debut. Haku begins to work on Ax's leg and some good babyface leg work follows. Lots of quick tags and follow up on Ax's leg that never drags. Tama tries to go toe to toe with Ax even in his weakened state that ain smart as he drives Tama head first into Smash's boot. Smash throws Tama out to the floor hard. Tama takes the first of his two man-sized bumps when Ax whips him hard into the railing. The pugnacious Tama fights out of the corner and covers Ax only to pressed out to the floor in a fucking wicked bump. I am such an unabashed Tama mark at this point. What the hell happened to this guy? Ax reverse elbow gets two and Tama bumped huge off that. Tama takes a wicked hot shot. Tama is a great face in peril and heel. I have feel bad he did not make it further. He kicks Ax, who sets too early and MSG is whistling. Haku is in and he is a HOUSE OF FIRE! Headbutts, Dropkick, big thrust kick DOUBLE HEADBUTTS! Tama high cross body only gets two on an Ax save. Donnybrook ensues, ref holds back Haku and Demolition Decapitation grabs the win for the Demos. This is my favorite Demolition match so far and really reinforces how good the Islanders working both babyface and heel. Tama took some huge bumps and both Islanders had great offense throughout the match. Demolition were great for playing antithesis of the Islanders with all their strength and they worked hard to put over the Islanders moves and in turn Tama bumped huge for Demolition makes the Demos look like monsters.

The Islanders vs The Killer Bees MSG 12/86 The Islanders have kidnapped Matilda from the Bulldogs as the Bulldogs have slipped to the #2 face team with Strike Force as the Tag Champs. Since the Islanders ended up losing their feud with the Strike Force in order to maintain their #2 heel status (behind the rising Demolition) they ran a program with the Killer Bees so they could collect some victories. The match was decent, but nothing fantastic it was just meant to reinforce the Islanders position on the card against the JTTS babyface tag team du jour of the WWF. The shine segment is dominated by headlock attempts by the Bees. Tama is his usual excellent self as he tries to sucker Blair into shaking his hand going so far as to "crossing his heart, hope to die, stick in a needle in my eye" routine, but Tama telegraphs the kick too early and Blair hits an atomic drop and Brunzell claps Tama's ears. What the hell happened to Tama. He had so much natural heel charisma and he was no smaller than Savage. He could have had a short program with Hogan and had been a great asset in the upper midcard. The Islanders take over on Blair when Haku hits a sweet back suplex out of a side headlock. The blandness of their match may result from the fact that I am writing Blair's name a lot more than Brunzell's name. Tama is really energetic in the heel heat segment with lots of choking and Haku add one his badass kicks to Blair's head. Blair, the most boring babyface ever, hits a couple flying forearms in there to flying get Jumpin Jim in there. Brunzell is a mild trash can fire which peaks with his dropkick and a beauty on Haku. He gets on the sleeper and end game commences. Blair chases Tama around the ring; Tama whacks Brunzell; ref holds Blair back; Tama hits the flying headbutt from the top on Haku and Haku is rolled on the victory. It is the WWF so there is no reason for a clean heel victory. It only adds extra heat on the Islanders going into their Bulldogs feud to have the finish this way. It was a very decisive Islanders victory. The only real notable thing is how good Tama is at crowd interaction much better than the silent Haku and dont know what happened to him. Drugs? The other notable thing is B. Brian Blair could give Tom Zenk a run for his money in most bland wrestler. ------------------------------------------------------------------- The Islanders vs Killer Bees - SNME 3/88 Heenan cracks me up with his Beekeeper Net and Dog Leash to start as him and Jesse play off each other really well. The whole thing that is really holding The Islanders back is their lampshade tights. Brunzell starts off hot with Tama hitting a leg drop and doing a sweet double wristlock takedown into a pin. Does Brunzell have any worthwhile WWF matches? Brunzell misses his patented dropkick when Tama hooked the ropes. Tama heabutts, back rakes and a vertical suplexes his way to a pinfall attempt. A Haku dropkick gets a two and intimidates the ref with the threat of a fist. Brunzell gets an atomic drop in the Islanders' corner, but Tama is able to tag in Haku. Double clothesline and her comes Blair with an atomic drop and a pair of bodyslams. The endgame is Blair has Tama in a reverse victory roll, but Haku clothesline the prone Blair to pick up the victory. For less than 5 minutes of action (it must have been edited because Brunzell ended up with a bloody nose and the Bees seemed sweatier than expected), this was pretty fun and once again keeps the Islanders push going. Cant wait for the Islanders/Bulldogs matches!

WWF World Tag Champs Demolition vs Strike Force - Primetime Wrestling 6/88 This match is just a backdrop for the killer angle that writes Martel off. The match was basically laid out the way the earlier matches have been. Strike Force has needed to double up on their moves to gain the advantage. Demolition can not gain the advantage by sheer size so they back Tito into the ropes so Fuji can jab him the ribs. Tito takes a lickin but keeps on tickin to hit the Flyin Burrito. Martel is clicking on all cylinders before a Boston Crab attempt left him prone to being buffeted to the outside. Smash smashed a chair across the back of Martel's head and hit him with Demolition Decapitation. I didn't think this elicited the level of heat it should as this quite the heinous attack, but maybe I am biased as a Martel fan and Strike Force fan. The stuff with Demolition never got out of first gear, but it does not make me any less disappointed that we are nearing the end of the road for Strike Force. The last match is against the Brainbusters at Wrestlemania V. Nothing is forever. Strike Force vs Brainbusters - Wrestlemania V This was a very bittersweet as it was a well-executed end to Strike Force, but I am sad to see them go. The story is rust of Strike Force versus the fluidity of the Busters. Some early flashes of synchronicity dispel this notion as Strike Force gain the upper hand on Arn & Tully including Martel tagging Tito out of a headlock and Tito coming into bulldog Tully. Some team should rip that as a stock spot as it really does demonstrate good synchronicity. This included all the good Arn & Tully standard spots: Martel punching his way out of the Heenan Family corner, the double dropkicks, double figure-4's, Arn taking the Flair press slam off the top rope. Give these two teams 20 minutes on World Championship Wrestling and we would have had one for the ages. However, a miscommunication seeing Tito hit Martel with a Flying Burrito and this led to dysfunction. At this point, you could see how fluid Arn & Tully were at containing Tito. When Tito did break free, Martel walked away coldly. An Arn spinebuster and spike piledriver out Tito out of his misery. Martel cuts your basic heel turn promo about how Tito was riding his coat tails and he was carrying him. If anything good comes from this, it is the Martel vs Santana feud that I have never really watched. This is the type of match WWF really excels it. It is a match that is entertaining but really well laid out in advancing a storyline in such a way that the Brainbusters are propelled to the No. 1 Heel Tag Team spot and Martel's heel turn and the upcoming Santana feud is treated as a big deal.

WWF Tag Champs Demolition vs Strike Force - MSG 4/88 Demolition reminds me a lot of Hart Foundation very structurally solid, but very uninspiring. Hart Foundation is still better to watch because Bret is way better on offense, bumping and selling than these two dudes. My biggest problem with Bret was his super segmented match structure where it would be shine->>transition->heat->transition->finish and outside of the transitions there would be no real sense of struggle. Each team was just playing ragdoll for each other. That was very much the case in the Wrestlemania match between the two. I will say it did get a bit better in this match. My theory did not come to fruition a Martel heat segment did not lead to more hope spots and a more sense of struggle. He did manage to get one more in than Tito, but it was not exactly a fight. The babyface shine segment sees Strike Force overwhelming Demolition with double teams and quickness. They isolate each member. The best spot of the match is early on with Martel slapping Ax into the Boston Crab within first minute while Tito held Smash at bay with forearms, but eventually Smash saw opening due to the ref holding Tito back to hit Martel. Demolition just cant bump. It looks like they have trouble falling down. Ax took a front flip bump off a arm wringer, so I will eat my words. The Strike Force is using the arm bar and wrist locks as their base. Ax uses the Hart Foundation stock transition the blind strike while the face is running the ropes. We get a Martel heat segment, but it is nothing much. Hey, but the Demos listened to me as they take Martel to the outside and he is driven into the apron. There is some decent lower back psychology. Hot tag to Tito, who runs the two Demos into each other. FLYING BURRITO!!! Fuji on the apron, Martel & Ax going at it, Fuji hits Tito with the cane on a figure 4 attempt. I would say this is right with Strike Force/Hart Foundation matches. It is a bit underwhelming, but it peaked early. All four guys were keeping things moving and establishing that Strike Force was the better pure team and would win a fair fight. Even initially, Strike Force was besting Demolition's power offense because they were the better technical wrestlers before the blindside on the rope run. It took underhanded tactics and brute strength for Demolition to win. It is a great story that has just been told better. I have hope for Demolition.

Put me down in the "Id rather watch Martel than Lawler" camp. I need to watch some more Lawler, but I would say I have watched equivalent amounts of the two and I prefer Martel. WWF World Tag Champs Strike Force vs The Islanders - Philly 12/87 These guys could not have a bad match if they tried. Now, this was not nearly as heated and part of that may be they ran most of the angles at the Garden thus the Philly crowd was not as revved and the wrestlers are wrestling this as a normal match rather than a grudge match. The opening sees the Islanders jump Strike Force for a change but Strike Force is able to ram them into each other to establish control. Martel busts out his hurricanarana early to wow the crowd. Tama takes two big bumps one off a Tito dropkick to the floor and the other is his patented belly flop back into the ring. I love that bump. They tease a Martel heat segment. Strike Force works over Haku's leg in ways that would make the Rockers jealous as it never enters heel in peril territory just good babyface shine fun. Tama breaks up a figure four attempt, which these atrocious announcers call a new Strike Force move (they called Haku Sika once and one guy could not pronounce Tama's name). Haku hits Tito with repeated backbreakers while Tama lays the bad mouth down. Tito is such a great face in peril and this does not compare to their other heat segments, but it is still well-done to make you want to see the Martel. Heel miscommunication sees Tama clotheslining Haku and Tito gets the hot tag. Here comes Martel, baby! Martel takes out both Islanders and tags Santana back in. Tito hits the Flying Burrito on Tama and gets him in the Figure-4, but Haku breaks it up. Only to have Martel sunset flip Haku for the win. This was more of a fun match than the more substantial earlier encounters. I would still say these are better matches than the majority of the WWF tag matches I have seen so far. I am actually pretty disappointed how short-lived Strike Force is. I was going to watch the Demolition series and that's about it in terms of notable matches. Strike Force had the potential of being one of the best babyface tag teams of all time. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WWF Tag Champs Strike Force vs The Bolsheviks - SNME 1/88 2 Out of 3 Falls Only in pro wrestling would 300 lbs communist sympathizers be managed by a street wise black man. I just love that pairing as Slick is going on and on about how Gorby paid him a visit to talk strategy. This is way better than I expected and in fact one of the better SNME matches I have seen. I have never watched Bolsheviks in action. I have seen a couple Volkoff matches and I have seen one Zuhkov match against Martel in the AWA, but I was not expecting. They worked a really well-done sprint with everybody getting a chance to shine including Vince who is obsessed with the size of Boris' head. The beginning was perfectly done with Strike Force using frequent tags and quick pinfall attempts to discombobulate the Pinkos. Tito gets a two from a cross body. Once the Bolsheviks are able to get a hold of Tito they take over with their rough and tumble style. A back suplex gets two for Boris. Tito is able to juke n jive around the Bolsheviks to get the hot tag. Martel makes quick work of Zuhkov with the Boston Crab to take the first fall. Strike Force connect with the double dropkick and Martel commits the Cardinal Sin of Wrestling by trying to apply the Boston Crab again. Volkoff breaks it up this time. Now Volkoff shows off his nifty offense with a nice gutwrench and a huge over the head backbreaker. Volkoff is a massive dude. I always seem to forget that. Martel is much better at doing hope spots than Tito. Volkoff drops Martel throat first across the rope and a big kneedrop gets two. They bash heads and it is a race. ARRIBA! It is a Dropkick Fiesta!!! Flying Burrito gets broken up and Volkoff accidentally hits Zuhkov with Slick's cane. Strike Force just keeps rolling in the great matches as the pull the best Volkoff match out of him in this action-packed sprint. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WWF Tag Champs Strike Force vs Demolition - WM IV Strike Force looks like a bunch of chumps following that entrance by Demolition. Demolition is my next target, but I get started a little bit out of order by watching this match to keep up with my Strike Force groove. The most disappointing Strike Force match so far as the Bolsheviks looked a lot better than Demolition. Instead of playing speed against power, Strike Force played up the idea of doubling up their moves as a way to keep Demolition off the balance. I just did not think shine was as good because even the Bolsheviks sold and bumped better than Demolition did for Strike Force. The transition was really well-done with Smash catching Tito in a bearhug and sort of falling back so Ax could catch him in the throat. This match would have been a lot better if Martel was the face in peril because he would added more dynamics and really made Demolition earn while Tito was just content to sell Demolition's power based offense. Demolition was really just using some bland stuff when they could have added some more outside the ring steel railing or post attacks, maybe some Fuji interference, some more double teaming. Tito connects with the flying burrito and makes the hot tag to Martel. Martel gets the short straw as he quickly puts Smash in the Boston Crab. Then we hit end game where Tito knocks Ax out of the ring with the Flying Burrito and then attacks Fuji. Fuji tosses the cane into the ring for Ax to smash Martel in the head. While Tito is preoccupied with Fuji, Smash falls on top to win the Tag Titles. It is a perfectly good finish, but they should have set up Tito's anger towards Fuji better by actually having Fuji participate in the match earlier. Overall, a very disappointing end to Strike Force's title reign. Now I have found title switch matches are generally lackluster as are big supercard matches. So maybe when I watch April MSG match I will see a more game Demolition than the one out there that dragged down Strike Force.

Since I have been watching a ton of 80s WWF Tag matches, I would say as of today 1. Strike Force 2. The Islanders 3. British Bulldogs 4. Dream Team 5. Hart Foundation

I just want to preface this with that I am really appreciative that there is such a great resource here to help guide me through my wrestling watching as I try to catch up to all the great stuff everyone here has seen. That being said, I wanted not just to take in this knowledge, but also contribution. My contribution is the Rick Martel (eventually Tito Santana) vs The Islanders. Maybe, somebody has already pimped this, but not to my knowledge. I am pimping this as one of the best storylines in and out of the ring WWF ever did during the Hulkamania. This series was the series that really cemented Martel in my mind as one of the elite wrestlers of the 1980s and one of the best natural babyfaces of all time. The Islanders vs Can-Am Connection -Superstars 6/87 The AWA had the Rockers, the NWA had the Rock N Rolls & Fantastics, WWF took their stab at the pretty boy babyface tag team with the Can-Ams. After two years of the Bulldogs on top, the female fans must have been certainly grateful. Strike Force obviously turned out to be a better end game because you are substituting Tito Santana for Tom Zenk, but I actually believe the Can-Ams would have been a great act too. I mean if Valentine could wrestle matches basically by himself while Beefcake stood on the outside I think Martel would have been just fine. The Islanders are still faces at this point, but have been wrestling more aggressively against fellow face acts like the Rougeaus and Killer Bees. Bruno fucks up worse than Heenan at Bash at the Beach when he says isnt this match where Heenan said he would unveil his new tag team. Vince was all like well Harley Race and Hercules are tagging later on tonight, damnit Bruno. Tama looks like one scary muthafucka. Haku actually looks pretty gentle, not intimidating at all and positively thin. Haku vs Martel starts off awesome with some great Martel offense: reverse cross body block and hurricanarana. Zenk comes in and does his usual blase stuff. My favorite spot of the match is Zenk telegraphs a back body drop and Haku kicks him with so much momentum he actually walks through it. At this point, Heenan comes out and distracts the Can-Ams. The Islanders bum rush The Can-Ams whipping Martel head first into the steel post and doing their dreaded double standing headbutt. Tama whips Zenk to the outside and delivers the headbutt from the apron. The Islanders win by countout. This was a wicked effective angle for TV. It immediately gives the Islanders a ton of momentum to have Heenan as their manager and to really beat up the Can-Ams. This gives the Can-Ams the first angle where they will be seeking revenge. The best part is that Zenk ends up leaving so the angle gets even better once Tito gets involved. It was so well-executed that I actually wanted to watch the whole angle play out at MSG. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rick Martel vs Tama - 7/87 MSG Zenk has departed the WWF and thus Martel has activated AWA World Champion mode. He says he would wrestle the two Islanders himself (in separate singles). Throughout this match, if you did not know any better it felt like it was of his really high end AWA World Championship defenses. Martel is such an offensive dynamo and Tama is trying his best to break it up anyway he can with underhanded tactics. Martel is looking for revenge for Superstars and that fire conveyed really well here. For those who have trouble keeping the Samoans straight (I think that is everyone), Tama is Rikshi's twin and Haku is unrelated and from Tonga much like The Barbarian. Haku & Tama double team Martel to start, but he explodes with a double clothesline that gets the crowd going and sends the Islanders to the floor. Tama keeps trying to break Martel's momentum: putting himself in the ropes, pointing at his clenched fist, not giving him clean breaks, but Martel is too much to handle and eventually gets a hold of Tama's leg. They break up the leg work with some fun stuff as Martel outsmarts or outquicks (nice cartwheel, Martel) him at each turn to get him back into a toehold or leglace. The way Martel is working this with all this energy just makes it feel so pertinent that he win. Tama sells the knee work very well. The one thing about wrestling barefoot you better not have sensitive feet. Eventually Martel lays a little too far back and Tama has the chance to lay some shots in. Tama still selling gets caught with a shinbreaker and Martel grabs Tama by the feet while he is holding the bottom ropes giving him the ol' heeve ho. This has been some really excellent stuff so far with Martel wrestling more like a World Champion than an upper mid carder in the tag ranks. Martel drops all his weight on Tama's knee before going into the spinning toe hold as he gives Tama his back that is enough to push him off and send him crashing to the floor. That was such a good transition spot. Tama, still selling the knee, takes Martel and runs him headfirst into the steel ring post. Haku adds some shots for good measure. Tama hits his flying reverse elbow, but he is still selling and is frustrated with only a two count. Tama knows he needs to contain Martel's explosiveness slaps on a Vulcan Nerve Pinch. Martel hope spot is ended by a Tama knee lift who immediately winces in pain and tries for another cover off the knee drop. Much like Martel using a toe hold as his base, Tama is working the Vulcan Nerve Pinch. At this point, both guys are in such a groove that they still have me enthralled with their energy in the hold and another hope spot. This time Tama punches Martel in the face on his sunset flip. A Tama clothesline gets two and it is back to the nerve pinch. This time it looks like our French Canadian hero is fading. The Garden just wont let him die and a third time is a charm...Martel crashes and burns on his reverse cross body and now Tama is just relentless with the stomps and tosses Martel to the outside. He rams Martel's head against the apron. Martel just keeps coming. Haku now rams him headfirst into the ramp. This match is so fuckin good. Tama brings Martel in with the vertical suplex and Martel kicks out again. YOU CANT HOLD DOWN RICKY MARTEL!!!! Martel ducks a clothesline and hits a kneelift on Tama. Tama with some more, but Martel is coming back with strikes. Tama bodyslam and misses the diving headbutt. Lefts by the southpaw, Martel and a back body drop. ITS RICKY MARTEL TIME, MUTHAFUCKAS!!! Tama begs off and Martel connects with the reverse elbow that sends Tama to the floor. Martel gives Tama a taste of his own medicine ramming his head into the apron. Now he jerks the ropes so that Tama does a belly flop into the ring. That was a frigging awesome spot. Tama is now tied up in the ropes and Martel does a running headbut to Tama's midsection. Haku helps him get out, but Martel catapults Tama into Haku. This only gets 2, surprisingly, great false finish. Martel reverses a crossbody into a pinning combination. Martel celebrates like he just won the World Title. The dastardly Islanders double team and where is Tom Zenk?!?!?!? That coward. Islanders hit their double headbutt. The refs try to break up this mugging, but Islanders are relentless. Ricky, dont be a hero! You need to find a friend in arms to combat these nefarious Islanders. This is a strong WWF MOTYC for 1987 and I think I might vote it over Savage/Steamboat right now. This is truly an incredible match on par with Martel's AWA matches against Bockwinkel, Saito and Jumbo and a real testament to Martel's natural babyface charisma and his relentless work ethic. This did not feel as segmented as so many 1980s WWF matches, but a true struggle where they constantly mixed in hope spots with their sound psychology. I can not wait for the next chapter in this feud. ARRIBA! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rick Martel vs Haku - 8/87 MSG Both Islanders play King of the Mountain and won't let Rick Martel into the ring. Ricky is like two can play at that game and goes to back to bring out Tito Santana! STRIKE FORCE, BABY~! This angle has been excellent and the addition of Tito as Martel's partner due to Zenk's departure only makes it better. Gorilla explains that during of the Islander's 2 on 1 muggings of Martel, Tito made the save from the Spanish Announce Team. After a great 3 year run anchoring the upper midcard, it only made sense to use Tito in a new capacity as he stil something to give as a major babyface player. The British Bulldogs were withering in the face of injuries, so by pairing the recently AWA World Heavyweight Champion and recent WWF Intercontinental Cheampion made Strike Force an instant babyface superteam. The Islanders started off as their establishment feud with the Hart Foundation & Bulldogs wrapped up their feud. Strike Force went over the Hart Foundation to establish themselves as the number one babyface tag team only to drop the titles at Wrestlemania IV to establish Demolition as the lead heel team. Man, I miss this Vince, just really simple, but highly effective booking. In the summer of 1987, Rick Martel is my pick for the best wrestler in the WWF. As I mentioned in the last match, he is working as if he is still the AWA World Champion, who is hot at the heel's underhanded tactics. Martel & Haku begin the match off hot with a BIG Martel cross body block. Martel just starts throwing hands because he aint gonna take it, anymore! My favorite aspect of this match is the sense of struggle as both men are constantly attacking each other, but not in a way that is hapahazard or chaotic. One examples is early when Martel sets early for a back body drop and Haku pounces leading you to think Haku will capitalize, but Martel cartwheels out of a Haku back body drop and hits a hurricanrana, which he punctuates with some punches to Haku's skull. When Haku takes over, he does have to work very hard to keep Martel because Martel just wont stop moving forward. He uses a chinlock effectively and follows up with a back suplex. However when Haku gets a bit careless and gives Martel that separation by Irish WHipping him into the corner, Martel responds with reverse cross-body off the second rope. That is the story of this match, Haku has to stay on top of Martel. One lapse in Haku's offnese and Martel will explode. In a desperation maneuver, Haku grabs Martel's trunks and throws him out of the ring. Martel seems more pissed that hurt on the outside. Haku brings Martel in the hard way with a vertical suplex. Haku misses his second rope headbutt and here comes the signature Martel left and Martel is on fire. Martel gets cocky trying the rana again, cardinal wrestling sin, Haku dumps him headfirst onto the top turnbuckle for his infraction. Haku with a diving headbutt only gets two and he drapes him over the second rope to choke him. Tama hits the prone Martel with a chair. In a rare WWF mistake, we actually miss the pinfall as we focus on the proud Tama. Tito rushes to the ring to make the Islanders pay for their transgressions and ensure Martel's safety as he actually does a stretcher job off the chair shot. They have put some serious heat on this feud and have really built their first tag encounter well. I am sitting here twenty five years in the future and I can not wait for the first Strike Force vs Islanders match. -------------------------------------------------------------- Strike Force vs The Islanders - 9/87 MSG Holy shit! How has no one ever told me of this match before. This match was an instant classic for me and currently one of my favorite matches. Before the match (shown on MSG Classics), Mean Gene shows a clip from Superstars where Tito gets assaulted by the Islanders due to him saving Martel from an earlier attack. So it is now personal between all four men. They do not wait for the formal ring introductions as Strike Force storms the ring and KATIE BAR THE DOOR BECAUSE THERE IS A PIER-SIX BRAWL A BREWIN!!! Islanders bail and Heenan leaves his hand on the apron and Strike Force stomps each hand. Then Martel brings in Tama the hard way who does a belly flop into the ring. A Martel dropkick send Tama over the top rope. I am loving every bit of this and so is the Garden. Tama asks for time out, bitch please. Martel ducks a corner shot and he levels him. They set up the arm bar as the base of their attack with Tito coming off the ropes with an elbow to Tama's elbow and then swiftly knocking Haku off the apron. Tito leapfrogs over Tama and then turns around leveling Tama with a clothesline. Tama breaks up the armbar with headbutts and he tags Haku in. Haku promptly misses his big elbow. Time for him to play pinball for Strike Force. Once again, the armbar is the base with Martel using his speed. This is the best face shine sequence I have seen save for the MX/RNR Wrestlewar '90, which is also wicked fun. All good things must come to an end and while the ref's back is turned, Tama comes off the top rope with an illegal forearm on Tito to set up the heat segment. Tama hits a wicked reverse elbow. The Islanders do all the good stuff: double teaming, choking with the tag rope, and false hot tag. Haku hits a monster superkick, but Tito kicks out at two. Haku goes for the kill with a SOMERSAULT SPLASH, but misses. TITO MAKES THE HOT TAG!!! THE GARDEN EXPLODES! ITS RICKY MARTEL TIME, MUTHAFUCKAS!!! He is one man wrecking crew, but as he has Tama in a pinning predicament Haku blasts Martel with the ref distracted. Haku vehemently chokes Martel with his foot. Tama had Martel scouted on his reverse cross body. Martel has been watching his share of film too and avoids the second rope headbutt. The ref busy with keeping Tito out of the ring allowed Haku to hit Martel with a headbutt and throw Tama out to get the pin. I loved this match. It was bell-to-bell action with great face/heel dynamics. When you have watched the whole angle progress you just couldnt wait to see Strike Force manhandle The Islanders that is what you get in the outset. The Islanders are no slouches in the offense department and really work a solid heel tag team. They could be a bit more vicious and there were times they were, but this is late 80s WWF so given the circumstances it was good enough. Santana and Martel are two of the best babyfaces of all time and holy shit is Rick Martel a MONSTER hot tag. I have this as my favorite 80s tag team match topping the Bulldogs/Dream 2 Out Of 3 Falls SNME match. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Strike Force vs The Islanders - 10/87 MSG 2 Out of 3 Falls Strike Force try to start off early, but the Islanders are wary of this and bail. Bock is on commentary again and does not know what to make of it when Gorilla posits that The Brain maybe in drag somewhere in the building. Neither do I, Bock. Was there an angle at the time? There is obviously the Weasel Suit, but I know nothing of drag. Anyways, Strike Force starts off hot with Strike Force controlling the action. They use a headlock as a base in this match. Tito hits a pretty sweet Thesz Press that only gets two. Haku catches Martel with a back suplex while in the headlock shades of Mr. Saito. Tama and Haku do some double teaming on Martel. Martel is a lot better than most WWF babyfaces in working underneath by mixing in hope spots. He tags in Tito who immediately goes in for the kill with the Figure-4. However, the Islanders break it up. Haku sends Tito crashing to the floor and as pay back attacks Tito's right knee. THIS AINT MEXICO, HAKU!!! Tama follows this up by stomping the left knee. This leads to a continuity problem the rest of the match as Tito & Haku are on the same page with the right knee psychology, but Tama works over the left knee. The knee psychology is sound and refreshing in this match up. Tito maybe a bit better at selling than Martel as he is really milking this injury. The Islanders are really relentless making this a very dramatic segment. Martel gets fed up with this, but inadvertently allows The Islanders to hit their double diving headbutt to pick up the first fall. There should be a short respite in between the falls, but the Islanders want to keep the full court press on Tito's knee. So Martel stands over the fallen, hurt Tito challenging to take both the Islanders on at the same time. It is just a great visiual and I am a total sucker for things like this as it is such great drama. The second fall is wicked short as they work on the knee briefly before Martel reverses a cradle attempt for Strike Force to even it up. THE CROWD ERUPTS!! The babyface cheating is justified by the Islanders being total assholes constantly blindsiding Tito and Martel throughout the build-up. They do same angle during the respite. Haku just slaps Tito around a bit to start. At this point, Gorilla notices the leg discontinuity, he claims that Haku is the one who fucked up by going after the right leg even though Tito had been selling the right leg. But like most Americans, he was accustomed to left side work so did not notice that Tito was selling the right leg. The Islanders go for the kill with the double headbutt, but Thou Shalt Not Hit The Same Spot In The Same Match In America. ITS RICKY MARTEL TIME, MUTHAFUCKAS~! THE GARDEN IS ROCKING!!! Backdrop, strikes, reverse crossbody. Haku thinks he has Martel, but YOU CANT HOLD DOWN RICK MARTEL and he moves out of the way causing Tama to send Haku crashing to the apron and Martel to get the reverse sunset flip victory. STRIKE FORCE WINS!!! Martel does his usual I just won the World Title celebration! I would say this is below the September tag match, which just had so much more action and really showed how much Strike Force wanted to pummel The Islanders. I liked the drama with Tito's knee, but it just felt a little too compressed. Plus I would have liked a little bit more definitive ending like a Boston Crab or cross body block to really put Strike Force over. That being said, they had the Garden with them every step of the way. This series has had incredible heat. This would be my WWF Feud of the Year and best Tag Feud I have seen from 80s WWF. This is just really classic stuff and just a great representation of why Martel was a such an incredible wrestler in the 80s.

Rick Martel (eventually Tito Santana) vs The Islanders is the best Tag Team feud if not the best feud of the Hulkamania era. It had excellent heat throughout with Martel first saying he would fight The Islanders alone due to Zenk departure in singles matches, but he would keeping getting mugged after the matches. So eventually Tito joined him to form Strike Force and then Tito would get assaulted 2 on 1. Not only was the build great and it had the Garden rocking for every match, but the Martel singles and the tag matches were some of the best quality WWF matches in that era. Outside of Steamboat/Savage, I really cant think of a feud that delivered both in and outside of the ring as well as Strike Force vs The Islanders in the late 80s WWF.

Basically, Mrs. Piper thought Flair spent too much time carousing around town with his fans when he ought to be at home spending time with the kids of his fourth wife. Is Fifi The Maid his current wife? Anyways, her plan was to make him go to the grocery store incognito so that he could get a taste of normalcy. This seems fine but then they slapped that ridiculously fake mustache on his face. My parents thought that was a howl though so maybe that was the idea. Flair was selling the show for all its worth. My favorite line was "I just bought ham. I don't even eat ham." that made all of us laugh. Piper seems a pretty cool dude when he is subdued and not a total spaz. Flair has all the problems that we know. Piper's problems is that he is a bit of a cheapskate and he lets his wife do all the chores around the farm/ranch.

Since I went through most of first Bret's heel run, the singles match of choice is definitely the Savage SNME match. The only thing I have seen pre-1988 from him that I would rate 4 stars. Granted, I have seen zero Stampede. From his heel tag work, there is Strike Force match from MSG I just watched, which I thought was really good, a good Rougeaus match from Boston, the Islanders match from MLG and a Bulldogs match. Going back and watching this stuff, the Hart Foundation/Bulldogs has to be up there with Dynamite/Tiger Mask as one of the most overrated series in wrestling. The Bulldogs were much better against the Dream Team and I liked the Hart Foundation as faces though I have to review those matches again at some point. I have mentioned this before, but Bret comes off as a great worker destined for big things that is being reigned in. I understand the arguments that other wrestlers have done more with 10-12 minutes and short time should not be a hindrance, but I think when you look what is being asked of him by Vince he delivered in spades time in and time out.