GSR

DVDVR Memphis set

I intend to try and intersperse my Smoky Mountain watching with some World of Sport that I haven't seen, and anything for anyone who does't have a thread in the microscope I will whack up here. First up, someone who at times irritates the hell out of me, and at others I just find a joy, Vic Faulkner. Vic Faulkner vs Roy Paul (03.08.78) This match is part of a team tournament where the 'TV All-Stars' (of which Faulkner is a member) are taking on the 'Liverpool Skinheads'. Paul is not a skinhead, but it transpires that at least he is Liverpudlian. These tournaments see each team comprise of three men and there are three single bouts before a one final six man at the end of the night. This is my first time seeing Paul and he is wearing what looks like Daisy Dukes with a pair of braces! Paul sets the tone for the bout early by healing it up (attacking Faulkner when he's on the ropes, using headbutts), almost admitting that he's is not going to be able to compete with Faulkner is a scientific contest. Arm stretch by Faulkner before Paul traps him in a headscissors. Headstand escape and Faulkner turns his attention to Paul's left leg. Nice single leg into full boston crab but Paul powers out. Headscissors by Faulkner, but this time Paul starts biting his leg to force the escape. A closed fist behind the ref's back from Paul and the bell rings to signal the end of Round One. Faulkner comes straight out with a dropkick at the start of the second but Paul steps out the way and Faulkner just hits fresh air. More biting from Paul, but this time Faulkner retaliates by biting his hand. Both become more aggressive (no comedy from Vic today!) before a sloppy criss cross spot. Paul drags Faulkner's arm along the ropes and Max Ward has had enough, finally giving him his first public warning. Paul with a headlock and Ward gets trapped in the corner. As Faulkner breaks he goes to forearm Paul who moves and he hits Ward instead. For some reason Ward blames Paul and as he admonishes him, Faulkner comes through Ward's legs and attacks Paul. Into the third and Faulkner is on top. Paul reverses something resembling a nerve hold with one of his own and as Faulkner gets the escape he backs Paul into the ropes, however he comes back immediately with a bodyslam and covers Faulkner. Vic's leg is outside the ropes but Max Ward doesn't see this and counts the pin. Ring announcer Tony Harris then steps into the ring, tells Ward what happens who then disallows the fall and says the match will continue. Paul goes to argue with Ward and the bell rings to restart the bout. Faulkner dropkicks Paul who then rebounds back off the ropes and falls over Faulkner who had crouched behind him in a schoolboy. Folding press and Faulkner gets the pin in just 7 seconds of the restarted bout. This was an okay 'opener' and supposed served its purpose for the team tournament, but I didn't think much of it and it didn't really do anything for me. Despite being a supposed six year amateur prior to turning pro Paul wasn't very good. He was awkward in his movements and it appeared he was trying to combine parts of Jim Breaks and Sid Cooper with his heel tendencies, but clearly wasn't in the league of those two. Faulkner was fine and worked pretty hard but the issue was with Paul, although he did get the crowd into the bout. The false finish was a nice surprise, but what came after wasn't as you 'knew' what the end result was going to be.

Not seen almost anything of his from the past five years, but when people used to rave about him from the 2000's I just didn't get it. Felt he was incredibly sloppy back then and as if his matches were just running through a segment of pre-planned spots. Not in the same ballpark as a contemporary like Doug Williams.

I remember from past posts that I'm a lot higher on Jordan than you are and there is a bout against Saint from the 80s that I strongly rate. Thomson is there off the back of three matches; again you can argue whether that is enough to judge him, but that is almost all we have. The match against Sarjeant is a must see classic, the one against Trood is a notch below and there was one against Majid Ackra that I also highly enjoyed. As far as I know the only other match of his on tape (pre-Exorcist) is one against Brian Maxine which I haven't seen. I would rank all three of these above anything I have seen involving St. Clair.

Admittedly this list includes the likes of Sarjeant and Thomson where we only have a handful of footage of either, but I would have no problem putting the following above St. Clair (in alphabetical order, although Grey, Breaks and Cortez would be the top three): Boscik, Breaks, Cooper, Cortez, Cullen, Faulkner, Finlay, Grey, Haward, Jones, Jordan, Joyce, Kellett, Johnny Kidd, Kilby, McManus, Myers, Roach, Roberts, Rocco, Saint, Sarjeant, Steele, Szakacs, Thomson, Turpin and Veidor. I've yet to see any Terry Rudge who gets heavily praised by most and I would also have both Dynamite and Young David over him too. So definitely doesn't hit a top 29 at least, and likelihood is with a bit more thinking, checking my notes, old reviews etc I could probably add to that list.

The audio is up on youtube is anyone isn't a subscriber to the Observer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF1NH4wuUVg

Comfortably wouldn't make a top 20 of British guys from that WOS era for me, and it's doubtful if he'd sneak into a top 30 either.

Here is what I wrote about the main event from what I posted in the Yearbook forums. I wasn't enamored one bit with their first title being awarded on a DQ and Bullet Bob playing Superman one bit!

There's a bit of talk about it here: http://prowrestlingonly.com/index.php?/topic/31102-best-youtube-dailymotion-channels/page-5

Great shout on Bolin. Don't think I've ever heard or seen anything with him when he is not in full on gimmick mode. Haven't listened to all of this yet, but as per your previous episode with him, so good to hear Cornette in this environment just talking old wrestling and especially liking the talk on ICW.

Has anyone seen his early Hammerlock stuff? I've got a bunch of compilations but the quality on the DVD conversions are very hit and miss that it makes them a trial to get through. His stuff against Andre used to get tons of praise, but they may have been of the time (were ECW influenced (frying pan ladder anyone!)) and may not hold up well. Still that gives him nigh on two decades working a variety of styles, in various places all over the world against a whole variety of different opponents.

I've a ton from '93 to '95, but the only one I have from '92 is a handheld from Shinnston, WV on 09.07.92.

jesus christ man I think something similar whenever I see your wonderful posts and 'contributions' to the board... Take it you've not heard of multi quoting?

Doesn't help when they just cut to the advertisements at random times too during the podcast.

Agree fully with this. If you are not prepared to talk about something on the show why bring it up? As a listener it's very infuriating when something is touched on or mentioned (like this thing with Baron Corbin) and then not fully elaborated on or explained. It happens on Between the Sheets too.

Just go to cagematch.net, search for Kazuchika Okada to bring up his details, click on matches and then in your browser go to 'find' and enter Tanahashi and it will highlight all the times they opposed each other.

I've not seen any of Stone's UK stuff, but I remember him being tremendous in an old Chikara 'King of Trios' teaming with Terry Frazier and Sha Samuels doing that exact yobbish, hooligan gimmick.

Lawler for starters sure would be, as he was there whenever she was and she was also involved in some angles with him. Same goes for Bruno Lauer if he is still involved in the WWE in some backstage capacity.

Paul Roma was another who flirted with boxing and I've vague memories of Brian Adams too.

Hahaha, you say this every episode! You seem to know all the answers to all the questions ever set on the show bar the ones you get asked! You always claim if you had your opponents questions you would have won, or if you were on any other episode you would have won. Hahaha.

Listening to this earlier, in the Mike Sharpe talk is it possible Brian was getting him confused with Steve Lombardi when he thought he did something with Bad News Brown? Lombardi and Brown worked a few tag matches together before splitting and having a match with each other. McAdam had a copy of that Rod Price incident on one of his tapes, but his is the only list I've ever seen it on.

Shelley Martinez/ECW Ariel is another.

Cortez would have absolutely made it if I was still submitting a list, had him third (behind Grey and Breaks) on my WOS guys at the time I dropped out of things. He was a part of my favourite WOS match in both the 70s (against Breaks) and the 80s (Grey from 07.27.81) and the latter is a huge recommendation if you have not seen it yet.

Yeah, 05.26.76 from Royal Albert Hall. Jon Cortez vs Jim Breaks from that same show is also well worth watching if you've not seen it yet. Probably my favourite WOS match from the 70s.