Holy Grails

[BBscout]

Post-70s...

 

U.S.

Junkyard Dog vs. Michael PS Hayes (Superdome 8-2-80 Steel Cage Dog Collar Match)

Harley Race vs Ken Patera (St Louis 8-8-80) -jdw

Harley Race vs Bob Backlund (St. Louis 11-7-80/1-4-85) -Tabe

Ken Patera vs. Pedro Morales (MSG 12-8-80 IC Title Change) -MikeCampbell

Bob Backlund vs Don Muraco (MSG 8-24-81 Hour Draw) -jdw

Bob Backlund vs Don Muraco (Boston Garden 12-5-81 Steel Cage Match) -jdw

Bob Backlund vs Jimmy Snuka (MSG 4-26-82) -Qaenos

High Flyers vs Strike Force (AWA St. Paul July82/JIP) -khawk20

Ric Flair vs. Bob Backlund (Omni 7-4-82)

Ric Flair vs. Stan Hansen (Omni 10-3-82 & 6-3-84)

Nick Bockwinkel vs Otto Wanz (Chicago Amphitheatre 10/9/82 AWA Title rematch) -khawk20

Ric Flair vs. Andre the Giant (Orlando 2-13-83)

Ric Flair vs. Greg Valentine (Greensboro 3-12-83 Hour Draw from Final Conflict)

Dynamite Kid vs Curt Hennig/Buddy Rose/Brian Adidas (Portland Aug/Sept/Oct 83) -RobNaylor

Hulk Hogan vs Harley Race (St. Louis 10-8-83) -Tabe

Bob Backlund vs. Masked Superstar (MSG 11-21-83 rematch) -Tabe

Hulk Hogan vs. Iron Sheik (Boston Garden 2-11-84 Texas Death Match) -BrianFowler/Slickster

Harley Race vs Rick Martel (St Louis 10-26-84 Hour Draw) -jdw

Steel Cage Battle Royal (WWF Landover & Omni 11-22-84)

King of the Rings (Foxboro 7/8/85 & 7/14/86, Providence 9/4/87, 10/16/88, 10/14/89)

Ric Flair vs. Dick Murdoch (Jackson 7-30-85 Hour Draw) -Busterira

Ric Flair vs. Buddy Landel (Raleigh 7-31-85) - RobNaylor

US Express vs Hart Foundation (Orlando 8/19/85) -Pbhero

Tully Blanchard vs Magnum TA (NWA TV Taping 10-19-85) -JKWebb

Curt Hennig/Scott Hall vs Steve Regal/Jimmy Garvin (Albuquerque 1-18-86 AWA Tag Title Change 55 Mins)

Jerry Lawler/Dutch Mantell vs Bill Dundee/Buddy Landel (Memphis 3-24-86 Texas Death Match 28 Falls/60 Mins)

Dream Team vs British Bulldogs (WWF Summer86 Cage Matches)

Ric Flair vs. Rick Martel (Quebec City 45 Min Draw 7/22/86) -KanadianKrusty

Owen James vs Steve Lombardi (WWF Ontario TV Taping 7-28-86)

Harley Race vs Ricky Steamboat (WWF Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens 10-26-86 Curfew Draw) -Pbhero

Hulk Hogan vs. Jake Roberts (WWF Providence 12-30-86 & 1-29-87/Winnipeg 2-28-87)

Hulk Hogan/Ken Patera vs. Andre the Giant/Hercules (WWF South Bend 4-28-87 SNME Taping) -Dave2430

Randy Savage vs. Ricky Steamboat (WWF Long Island 5-1-87 Cage Match)

Harts vs. Bulldogs (WWF May/June87 Cage Matches) -MattD

Harts vs. Rougeaus (WWF Montreal 8-10-87 Tag Title Change) -MikeCampbell

R&R Express vs Blanchard/Anderson (Charlotte 10-3-87 Cage Match) - HeavenSeeker

Strike Force vs. Islanders (Cage Matches WWF Miami 11-10-87/Indianapolis 11-14-87/South Bend 11-15-87) -MattD

Ted Dibiase vs Ricky Steamboat (WWF Nov/Dec87) -Andy from NY

Hulk Hogan vs. One Man Gang (WWF Meadowlands 12-13-87 Cage Match) -MattD

Eric Embry vs Jason Sterling (WCCW Dallas 6-17-88) -RobNaylor

Jerry Lawler vs. Doug Furnas (Knoxville 7-22-88) -TimEvans

Battle Royal (Starrcade 88 Dark Match) - JWLJN

John Tenta vs. Mr. Perfect (WWF El Paso TV Taping 3-7-89) -Hadley

Bret Hart vs Mr Perfect (WWF Alaska 8-12-89)

Rockers vs. Rougeaus (WWF Aug/Sept/Oct 89 Iron Man Matches) -Nick/btymb

Great Muta vs Sting (Omni 9-3-89 Vacant TV Title)

Bret Hart vs Dino Bravo (WWF Toronto 10-29-89) -KingKang

Hulk Hogan/Big Boss Man vs. Andre the Giant/Haku (WWF Milwaukee 3-24-90) -flyonthewall2983

Jim Powers vs. Brooklyn Brawler (WrestleMania VI Dark Match) - Lee

Ultimate Warrior/Kerry Von Erich vs. Rick Rude/Mr. Perfect (WWF Aug90 Pre-Summerslam) -flyonthewall2983

Steiners vs. Midnight Express (Jersey 8-24-90 US Tag Title change) - BloodyChamp

Undertaker vs Dusty Rhodes (WWF Syracuse TV Taping 11-20-90 Pre-Debut)

Ric Flair vs. Sting (WCW Meadowlands 1-11-91 Title Change/JIP)

Andre the Giant/Rockers vs Mr Fuji/Orient Express (WWF Belfast 4-26-91)

Battle Royal (WWF Long Island 5-10-91 Andre's last match) -JWLJN

Randy Savage vs Undertaker (WWF Portland TV Taping 7-30-91)

Mr Fuji vs Bobby Heenan (WWF Long Island 8-2-91) -Jerryvonkramer

Sting vs Steve Austin (WCW Omni 8-25-91 US Title Tourney Final)

Ric Flair vs Hulk Hogan (WWF Dayton TV Taping 10-22-91)

Ricky Steamboat/Dustin Rhodes vs. Arn Anderson/Bobby Eaton (45min draw - WCW Omni 91 Thanksgiving) -IronChad

Ricky Steamboat/Dustin Rhodes vs. Arn Anderson/Bobby Eaton (Best of 3 Falls - WCW Omni 91 Christmas) -TeleViper

Jushin Liger vs. Brian Pillman (WCW Omni 12-25-91 Title Change)

Hulk Hogan vs Jake Roberts (WWF Springfield 1-17-92)

Bret Hart vs The Mountie (WWF Springfield 1-17-92 IC Title change) - DracAttack

Money Inc vs LOD (WWF Denver 2-7-92 Tag Title Change)

Cactus Jack vs. Abdullah the Butcher (WCW Omni 2-9-92 Cage Match) -PhilUK

Jake Roberts vs. Randy Savage (WWF Feb/March92 Cage Matches) -MattD

Sid Justice vs. Ultimate Warrior (WWF Boston 4-25-92/Baltimore 4-26-92)

Bret Hart/Owen Hart vs Money Inc (WWF Fresno TV Taping 1-27-93)

Shawn Michaels vs Marty Jannetty (WWF Albany 6-6-93 IC Title Change/Diesel debut)

Steiners vs. Money Inc (WWF Rockford 6-16-93 Tag Title Change) - Sebbeh65

Steiners vs. Money Inc (WWF St. Louis 6-19-93 Tag Title Change) - Sebbeh65

Sabu vs. Owen Hart (WWF Glens Falls 10-19-93)

Sabu vs. Scott Taylor (WWF Burlington TV Taping 10-20-93)

Steve Austin/Brian Pillman vs Ric Flair/Ricky Steamboat (WCW London Royal Albert Hall 10-30-93)

Steve Austin/Vader vs. Ric Flair/Arn Anderson (WCWSN 11-20-93 Finish) -BigRob

Bret Hart/Owen Hart vs. The Headshrinkers (WWF Lowell 12-14-93)

Shawn Michaels/Diesel vs. The Headshrinkers (WWF Indianapolis 8-28-94 Tag Title Change)

Undertaker/Tracy Smothers/Bob Armstrong vs The Gangstas (SMW 4-15-95)

Chris Benoit vs. Bob Holly (WWF RAW Dark Match 6-5-95)

Chris Benoit vs Adam Bomb (WWF West Virginia 6-6-95)

Chris Benoit vs. Owen Hart (WWF Pennsylvania 6-7-95)

Bret Hart vs. Hakushi (WWF Evansville 7-25-95 Cage Match) -Teq

Rey Misterio Jr/Super Calo/Winners vs Sabu/Psicosis/Cactus Jack (AAA/ECW Chicago 10-30-95)

Public Enemy vs. Smoking Gunns (WWF Survivor Series 95 Dark Match) -Hadley

Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart (Lumberjack Matches WWF Springfield 3-3-96/Providence 3-4/Austin 3-5)

Dwayne Johnson vs. Brooklyn Brawler (WWF Corpus Christi TV Tapings 3-10-96)

Shawn Michaels/Bret Hart vs. Steve Austin/Vader (WWF Chicago 12-26-96)

Terry Funk vs. Raven vs. Sandman vs. Stevie Richards (ECW Arena 5-10-97) -SeanLiska

Tracy Smothers vs Chris Candido (ECW Allentown 7-12-97) -DylanWaco

Steve Austin vs Bret Hart (WWF Indianapolis 7-25-97/Cleveland 7-26-97)

Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart vs. Undertaker (WWF MSG RAW 9-22-97 Dark Match)

Steven Regal vs. Dan Severn (NWA 50th Anniversary Show 10-24-98)

Owen Hart vs Kurt Angle (WWF RAW Dark Match 5-10-99)

Bret Hart vs. Hulk Hogan (WCW 8-20-99 San Fran/8-21 Reno/8-22 LA/9-3 PCola/9-4 Tallahassee)

FBI vs. Doring/Roadkill (WWF RAW 6-5-01 Dark Match) -BrandonBones

Eddie Guerrero vs. CM Punk (IWC 4-26-02 IC Title Match) -IWCpromoter

Brock Lesnar vs Triple H (WWE South Dakota 9-6-02)

Guerrero/Misterio vs Nitro/Mercury (WWE April05 House Shows 30Min+) -Kostka

Eddie Guerrero vs Undertaker (WWE Aug05 Poughkeepsie/Knoxville/Johnson City/Charleston)

ECW Arena Show (WWE 6-24-06)

Samoa Joe vs Tyson Kidd (WWE RAW 6-1-15 Dark Match)

 

My own list...

Ric Flair vs. Roddy Piper (WWF TV Tapings Wheeling 9-30-91)

Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage (WWF TV Taping Hershey 9-1-92 First Match before Re-Shoot)

Sabu/Hawk vs. Terry Funk/King Kong Bundy (ECW November to Remember 93/CLIPPED)

Eddie Guerrero vs. Marty Jannetty (ECW Enter Sandman 5-13-95)

Sabu vs. Cactus Jack vs. Mr. Hughes vs. Virgil (NWC 6-24-95 Cage Weapons Stretcher Match/CLIPS)

Sabu vs. Chris Kanyon (WCW TV Tapings South Carolina 8-22-95/CLIPS)

Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Mikey Whipwreck (ECW Jim Thorpe PA 11-17-95/CLIPPED)

Rey Misterio Jr. vs. Juventud Guerrera - (ECW Big Ass Extreme Bash Night 1 Queens 3-8-96/CLIPPED)

Bret Hart vs. Sid (WWF MSG 3-16-97 Cage Match)

 

(Less Likely Taped)

Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan (WWF Omni 1-5-92)

Ric Flair vs. Undertaker (WWF Albuquerque 3-27-92 Steel Cage)

Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage (WWF Charlotte 7-11-92)

Ric Flair vs. Jim Duggan (WWF Hyannis 7-19-92)

Ric Flair vs. Tito Santana (WWF Germany 9-24-92)

Ric Flair vs. Big Boss Man (WWF Germany 2-5-93)

Ric Flair vs. Undertaker (WWF Germany 2-9-93)

Chris Benoit/Dean Malenko vs. Cactus Jack/Mikey Whipwreck (ECW Kennett Square PA 2-24-95)

Great Sasuke vs. Al Snow (ECW Arena 10-18-97)

 

JAPAN

Finlay/Roberts vs Fujiwara/Kido - NJPW 7/14/83

Gagne/Brunzell vs Brody/Hansen - AJPW 4/16/84

Funks vs Bulldogs - RWTL84

Tsuruta/Taue vs Misawa/Kobashi - 4/7/92 (Misawa submits Taue)

Kawada vs Hansen - CC93

Misawa/Kobashi vs Baba/Hansen - RWTL93 Full

Misawa/Kobashi vs Williams/Ace - 5/28/94 (Ace pins Kobashi)

Misawa/Kobashi vs Kawada/Taue - RWTL95

Kobashi vs Williams - CC96 Full

Misawa vs Kawada - CC96

Misawa vs Taue - CC96

Kobashi vs Taue - CC96

Kawada vs Kobashi - CC96

Kawada/Taue vs Kobashi/Patriot - 11/17/96 (Patriot pins Kawada)

Misawa/Akiyama/Asako vs Kobashi/Ace/Patriot - 5/24/97 (Patriot pins Misawa)

Misawa vs Kobashi - CC97

Misawa/Akiyama vs Kobashi/Ace - 2/20/98 (Akiyama pins Kobashi)

Kobashi/Ace/Smith vs Misawa/Akiyama/Kea - 2/27/98 (Kobashi pins Misawa)

Misawa vs Kobashi CC98

Kawada vs Kobashi CC98

Kobashi/Akiyama vs Kawada/Omori - 6/3/98 (Akiyama pins Kawada)

Kobashi/Akiyama/Shinzaki vs Misawa/Ogawa/Omori - 10/6/98 (Kobashi pins Misawa)

Misawa vs Kobashi CC99

Kawada/Taue/Shinzaki vs Kobashi/Akiyama/Shiga - 8/23/99 (Akiyama pins Kawada)

Takayama/Omori vs Kobashi/Shiga - 4/12/00 (Takayama pins Kobashi)

Kobashi/Taue vs Akiyama/Takayama - 10/13/00 (Takayama pins Taue)

Ikeda/Sugiura vs Kanemura/Kuroda - WEW 1/31/03 Iron Man Match

Bryan Danielson vs Minoru Suzuki - NJPW 7/20/04

 

MEXICO

Negro Casas vs Fuerza Guerrera - Coliseo Naucalpan 1980

El Satanico vs Mocho Cota 9/26/80

Bob Backlund vs Antonio Inoki 5/1/81

Sangre Chicana vs El Satanico June82

Perro Aguayo vs Tony Salazar 9/17/82

Sangre Chicana vs El Satanico 12/10/82 (Draw, both lose hair)

Perro Aguayo vs Negro Navarro 5/27/83

Sangre Chicana vs. Perro Aguayo 7/1/83

Perro Aguayo vs El Texano 7/15/83

Hulk Hogan/Gran Hamada vs El Canek/Perro Aguayo 7/31/83

Perro Aguayo vs Villano III 8/21/83

El Satanico vs La Fiera 9/26/83

Sangre Chicana vs Tony Salazar 8/5/84

Hulk Hogan vs El Canek 9/2/84

Atlantis vs. Talisman 9/21/84

Stan Hansen vs El Canek 9/30/84

Sangre Chicana vs Tony Benetto 3/31/85

Sangre Chicana vs El Faraon 3/7/86

Perro Aguayo vs El Faraon 10/26/86

Satanico vs. Pirata Morgan 12/5/86

Atlantis vs. Hombre Bala 12/5/86

Perro Aguayo vs Sangre Chicana 2/15/87

Sangre Chicana vs Ultraman 87

Sangre Chicana vs La Fiera Nov87

Perro Aguayo vs vs Babe Face 12/6/87

Perro Aguayo vs vs Sangre Chicana 12/20/87

Perro Aguayo vs Ultraman 7/16/88

Gran Cochisse vs. Blue Panther 9/16/88

Satanico vs. Texano 9/16/88

Perro Aguayo vs vs Sangre Chicana 1/27/89

Haku/Dos Caras/Villano III vs Canek/El Satanico/Pirata Morgan 11/20/92

Dr Wagner vs Pierroth Jr. 4/2/93

Mocho Cota vs Ultimo Dragon 11/19/93

Mano Negra vs Bestia Salvaje 12/3/93

Mocho Cota vs Kato Kung Lee 12/10/93

Emilio Charles Jr. vs La Fiera 4/15/94

Javier Cruz vs. Americo Rocca 10/14/94

Bestia Salvaje vs. Hector Garza 12/1/95

Star of Death Cage Match 12/9/95

Atlantis vs Dr Wagner 12/17/95

Silver King vs La Fiera 3/21/97

Emilio Charles Jr. vs. El Satanico 3/20/98

[JerryvonKramer]

Basically the entire cards of the non-televised King of the Ring tournaments. There are some tasty-looking matches on those, including DiBiase vs. Steamboat 15-minute draw.

[jdw]

Here are the Backlund ones that I can think of:

 

May 22, 1978 Madison Square Garden WWWF World Champion Bob Backlund pinned Ken Patera

 

Several years before their 1980 feud, right at the start of Backlund's reign. Would be interesting to see what they do with each other relative to the greatness of 1980.

 

07/15/79 Maple Leaf Gardens WWF World Champion Bob Backlund cor NWA US Champion Ric Flair at 23:39

 

This might be more interesting than the 1982 match since they both had been working a bit in Toronto at that point, something of a neutral court, and a chance to see a younger Flair.

 

11/07/80 Kiel Auditorium NWA World Champion Harley Race vs WWF World Champion Bob Backlund 2/3 falls

 

Rematch off the MSG match, back in Harley's home... the home of the NWA. Pins in the first two falls before the expected non-finish in the third. Would be interesting to see how the St Louis fans react to the match, and how they lay out a match that has three peaks rather than building to just one (non) finish.

 

05/01/81 El Toreo De Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City WWF World Champion Bob Backlund vs NWF World Champion Antonio Inoki (18:05, 5:17, 8:01)

 

The only missing Backlund-Inoki match. Would have been very interesting to see how they worked in Mexico. Certainly had lots of time to work. Considering how other New Japan stuff in Mexico was taped and shown in Japan, and how there was a Canak-Fujinami UWA Title match on the card as well... I'm surprised that wasn't tapes and air in Japan. On the other hand, the Inoki-Backlund from wasn't listed in the weekly shot list that Dan Ginnetty translated from a magazine but we know that it did in fact get taped and air in Japan on some kind of unlisted special. So there is perhaps hope that this is buried some place.

 

08/24/81 Madison Square Garden WWF World Champion Bob Backlund drew IC Champion Don Muraco at 60:00

 

We have the Philly 60:00 draw. The MSG blow off was much better than Philly blow off, so there's some hope that the MSG 60:00 draw is better than the Philly 60:00 draw... which is a perfectly good match. Pretty sure this is sitting somewhere in the WWE Library vault. Wish the folks who got an advanced copy of the Race-Backlund could work their magic and get this.

 

12/05/81 Boston Garden WWF World Champion Bob Backlund over Don Muraco (Steel Cage)

 

There are handheld 8mm clips of this, and it looks Fucking Great. As in off the charts great. Highlight clips will do that, but it does make you wish someone filmed the whole thing.

 

08/02/82 Madison Square Garden WWF World Champion Bob Backlund defeated Bob Orton Jr. at 23:38

 

The two Philly matches exist and are out there. This never has popped up. Don't know if they taped that night... this would be another one to see out of the vault. Longer than the Philly matches, and after... so there's a chance they had their stuff down even better. The Philly matches are good, with flashes of some really strong stuff. More time, especially in MSG, probably would have done these two well.

 

01/04/85 St Louis Harley Race drew Bob Backlund

 

This was under a Flair-Brody match, which I'm wondering if was taped for World Pro. Race-Backlund didn't air, but if the Flair-Brody did, it's *possible* this was also taped. If so... who knows where in the heck it would be.

[jdw]

Two others that I came across while looking for the dates on those:

 

08/08/80 Kiel Auditorium NWA World Champion Harley Race vs Missouri & WWF IC Champion Ken Patera

 

Patera at his peak facing Harley for the NWA Title... that would be really interesting to see.

 

10/26/84 St Louis AWA champion Rick Martel drew Harley Race (60:00)

 

You really would rather see these guys work 20:00, or work a 30ish 2/3 fall match. Don't know how well they'd fill the 60:00, but it sure as hell would be interesting to find out even if it was subpar.

 

John

[Loss]

Basically the entire cards of the non-televised King of the Ring tournaments. There are some tasty-looking matches on those, including DiBiase vs. Steamboat 15-minute draw.

That exists as a handheld.

[flyonthewall2983]

I've only seen pictures, but is there any Flair/Andre matches on tape?

[Graham Crackers]

All of my old lucha magazines are in a box somewhere in my parent's old house so I'm unsure of the dates but I would love to see Stan Hansen's matches in Mexico. I believe he had a singles match with Canek as well as a tag match where he teamed with Babe Face against Canek and Dos Caras in El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos. One of the magazines I own has photos from the show and there's a famous Hansen promo on Baba that was taped in Alameda park in Mexico City so it's not hard to imagine that there was a Japanese film crew on hand to film something like this.

 

Those are the first specific examples I could think of but there are tons and tons of old lucha matches you see listed in those magazines that sound incredible but no one will ever see again.

[Bix]

All of my old lucha magazines are in a box somewhere in my parent's old house so I'm unsure of the dates but I would love to see Stan Hansen's matches in Mexico. I believe he had a singles match with Canek as well as a tag match where he teamed with Babe Face against Canek and Dos Caras in El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos. One of the magazines I own has photos from the show and there's a famous Hansen promo on Baba that was taped in Alameda park in Mexico City so it's not hard to imagine that there was a Japanese film crew on hand to film something like this.

 

Those are the first specific examples I could think of but there are tons and tons of old lucha matches you see listed in those magazines that sound incredible but no one will ever see again.

That Hansen promo is from a comm. tape that has various JCP squashes without commentary and a tag match from El Toreo. I THINK it's that one.

[Busterira]

I wish there was more footage of Bob Armstrong as a heel in Southeastern in 1982. The only footage I have seen is when Armstrong was the guest ref in an NWA title match between Flair and Ron Fuller and he attacks Fuller. Supposedly he was amazing as a heel and the heat he generated at that time was off the charts.

 

 

Also any footage of the feud between The Sheepherders and Austin Idol in Southeastern 81 or 82. I think I remember a post where Bix said he saw footage on you tube which is now long gone of Idol showing up in the studio in a police car with sirens blaring in the middle of a Sheepherders match.

 

Hell I would love to see more Southeastern wrestling period from the early 80s. There is not much out there pre 84 at all.

 

 

Wasn't there are a Ric Flair vs DiBiase (I think) match for the NWA title in !985 which Joel Watts said was the best match he has ever seen? He had the film in the back seat of his car and it melted in the middle of a really hot summer day. Thats the way the story goes according to urban legend.

[Frankensteiner]

Wasn't there are a Ted Dibiase vs Ric Flair match for the NWA title in !985 which Joel Watts said was the best match he has ever seen? He had the film in the back seat of his car and it melted in the middle of a really hot summer day. Thats the way the story goes according to urban legend.

It was Murdoch, no Dibiase.

[jdw]

A few from Japan:

 

5/63: Destroyer vs Rikidozan

 

Famous bloodbath where Destroyer beats him with the figure four setting up a rematch. Hell, both of them would be wildly interesting. One would think that if it existed in the vault it would be out. It's in the books and mags far more than the 12/63 match that was aired on a special in the 90s and is out there now on disc.

 

02/28/66 NWA Int'l: Giant Baba vs Lou Thesz (21:13, 2:45, 0:51)

 

Baba won the title in November and then had a quick rematch with The Bruiser. In a sense this is first real defense of his long run with the belt. Lou had just dropped the NWA Title, so was willing to take the payday. From the pics, this has a famous backdrop finish. Would be a great comp to see how Lou matches up with Baba relative to others.

 

01/03/69 NWA Int'l Tag: Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki vs Wilbur Snyder & Danny Hodge (15:46, 17:53, tl)

01/08/69 NWA Int'l Tag: Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki vs Wilbur Snyder & Danny Hodge (18:08, 4:34, 3:45) ∆

01/11/69 NWA Int'l: Giant Baba vs Wilbur Snyder (16:31, 3:27, 3:27)

02/04/69 NWA Int'l Tag: Wilbur Snyder & Danny Hodge vs Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki (23:59, 1:03, 2:59) ∆

02/11/69 NWA Int'l Tag: Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki vs Wilbur Snyder & Danny Hodge (21:32, 3:25, 3:42)

 

A great chance to see how well Snyder and Hodge could go. Most of these had to have been filmed. Whether they're in the vault... who knows.

 

 

12/3/69 NWA Title: Dory Funk Jr. vs Giant Baba (60:00)

 

The Inoki-Funk is more famous, which makes this a great double comp: Inoki-Baba (opposite Dory in 60:00 draws) and Dory-Destroyer (opposite Baba in 1969 60:00 draws).

 

1974/01/24 NWA Title: Jack Brisco vs Race (23:55, 8:56, tl)

1974/01/28 NWA Title: Jack Brisco vs The Destroyer (10:29, 7:32, 9:26)

 

Yeah... those would be great to have available.

 

 

11/27/75 Int'l Tag: Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta vs Dick Murdoch & Dusty Rhodes (13:27, 8:00, 4:50)

 

Almost certainly was taped as it was in Sapporo prior to the start of the singles tourny. So it's sitting somewhere in the NTV Vault.

 

 

08/09/68 NWA Int'l Tag: Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki vs Bruno Sammartino & Ray Stevens (14:52, 4:37)

 

That would be interesting.

 

12/07/71 NWA Int'l Tag: Giant Baba & Antonio Inoki vs Dory Funk Jr. & Terry Funk (16:05, 5:34, 4:12)

 

Inoki got the boot after this one.

 

12/12/71 NWA Int'l: Giant Baba vs Terry Funk (9:57, 7:18, 6:52)

 

Same series, would be really interesting to see young Terry working with Baba.

 

06/01/72 NWA Int'l: Giant Baba vs Johnny Valentine (12:41, 4:15, 0:52)

 

Dittos Valentine.

 

08/09/74 PWF: Giant Baba vs Terry Funk (12:18, 6:40, 1:44)

 

Another chance to see Baba and Terry work.

 

11/05/74 PWF: Giant Baba vs Dick Murdoch (12:58, 7:05, 2:03)

03/08/76 PWF: Giant Baba vs Wahoo McDaniel (11:18, 3:05, 1:44)

 

 

Same with those two.

 

10/21/77 NWA Int'l Tag: Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta vs Bobo Brazil & Ken Patera (10:33, 4:38, 5:15)

 

Would be really interested to see Patera and Jumbo work.

 

10/24/77 PWF: Giant Baba vs Ken Patera (10:29, 5:31, 5:50)

 

Okay... I'm a Patera fan.

 

07/26/78 NWA Int'l Tag: Giant Baba & Jumbo Tsuruta vs Terry Funk & Dick Slater (16:16, 5:20, 6:55)

 

A match with a lot of time to breath.

 

There are loads more. I'd have to look at another list at home where I have more of Inoki's UN and NWF matches filled in.

 

John

[Frankensteiner]

I don't really have any holy grail matches, just wish we had pro-shot footage of early-to-mid 90s WWF House shows (MSG, Boston Garden, Spectrum) like we do from the 80s. I'd love to see those Bret/Owen and Bret/Flair Iron Man matches pro-shot with commentary.

[Loss]

I just wish there was as much JCP footage as there is WWF footage from that time period.

[Dylan Waco]

Any substantial amount of LA footage would be nice. There are clips of Chavo v. Terry Funk, really wish that existed in full.

[Busterira]

Wasn't there are a Ted Dibiase vs Ric Flair match for the NWA title in !985 which Joel Watts said was the best match he has ever seen? He had the film in the back seat of his car and it melted in the middle of a really hot summer day. Thats the way the story goes according to urban legend.

It was Murdoch, no Dibiase.

 

 

 

Ahh ok I stand corrected thanks.

[Graham Crackers]

All of my old lucha magazines are in a box somewhere in my parent's old house so I'm unsure of the dates but I would love to see Stan Hansen's matches in Mexico. I believe he had a singles match with Canek as well as a tag match where he teamed with Babe Face against Canek and Dos Caras in El Toreo de Cuatro Caminos. One of the magazines I own has photos from the show and there's a famous Hansen promo on Baba that was taped in Alameda park in Mexico City so it's not hard to imagine that there was a Japanese film crew on hand to film something like this.

 

Those are the first specific examples I could think of but there are tons and tons of old lucha matches you see listed in those magazines that sound incredible but no one will ever see again.

That Hansen promo is from a comm. tape that has various JCP squashes without commentary and a tag match from El Toreo. I THINK it's that one.

 

I decided to do some searching and that does seem to be the case. I found a Box y Lucha thread with embedded youtube videos but they've been taken down. It's cool to know that it's out there.

[Ditch]

Misawa vs Kawada, Champions Carnival 1996. Shown ultra-ultra-clipped on the comm, so it was taped.

[Death From Above]

My answer hasn't changed in a long time. Destroyer vs. Billy Robinson happened at some point(s) in the 1970's, but never in All Japan, places like New Zealand or something. As far as anyone knows, none of it ever made tape. But I can't imagine that not being pretty darn fun. Too bad it is probably on that long list of things just lost to the void.

 

Also, the Dick Murdoch/Flair 60 minute draw from Mid South that Joel Watts claimed was the best match he'd ever seen, but he left the master film in his car trunk on a very hot day and the film melted, lost forever. Poo.

[Cox]

As a huge SMW mark, I've been hoping that somehow, this match found its way onto a handheld somewhere, from April 1993:

 

5. The Rock-n-Roll Express beat The Heavenly Bodies (Lane & Eaton).

 

Not sure if it was Ricky and Robert (Gibson missed a few shots around this time and was replaced by Tim Horner), and even though the description says Lane and Eaton, I'm not sure it was them, as from the next night on, it was Lane and Prichard vs the Rock 'n' Roll. But even though there are literally hundreds of Rock 'n' Roll vs Midnight Express matches on tape, I'm really curious as to what their 1993 version of that match looks like.

[Death From Above]

I'll also throw out the obvious of "Every big match in Stampede Wrestling ever".

 

Pretty much everything was clipped to hell, with God only knows how much good stuff left on a cutting room floor and probably swept into a trash can. Bloody shame that, even if you have to put up with Ed awful Whalen on commentary because he was such a big local media figure. I don't know how exactly Stampede would have measured up to the other major territories, but sadly we'll never even really have the footage to properly make a judgement call.

[Bix]

Unfortunately, according to Ross Hart, Stampede was shot live to tape with the cameraman being told when to start rolling. Except for the TSN era, if something is cut on the regular TV show, there was never a longer version.

[jdw]

Misawa vs Kawada, Champions Carnival 1996. Shown ultra-ultra-clipped on the comm, so it was taped.

True on that one. From the pics in the mags, it looked like a helluva match. If I recall correctly, it's the one where Kawada gave Misawa that big scar on the chin.

 

Kobashi-Williams from Carny had the finish shown on TV, but if I recall it was a single cam... as if they sent a camera there simply to capture Kobashi's first pin on Doc.

 

Along the same line, Kawada's first pin on Hansen in Carny 1993 would be something awesome to see if it popped up on a handheld. Those two worked magic together in 1993.

 

The "missing 7 minutes" of the 11/30/93 Misawa & Kobashi vs Baba & Hansen would be nice to have since we know it was filmed. The 1994 tag league draw between the two was released on comm... one wished this one had been instead.

 

The Misawa & Kobashi vs Kawada & Taue "league" match in the 1995 RWTL is the only missing one between those teams.

 

John

[cm funk]

In 1994 Chris Benoit had matches with Jerry Lawler and Terry Funk in Dennis Coraluzzo's New Jersey promotion, were they taped?

[jdw]

My answer hasn't changed in a long time. Destroyer vs. Billy Robinson happened at some point(s) in the 1970's, but never in All Japan, places like New Zealand or something. As far as anyone knows, none of it ever made tape. But I can't imagine that not being pretty darn fun. Too bad it is probably on that long list of things just lost to the void.

The also had a match up in Montreal if I recall.

 

A Destroyer vs Jumbo singles match on tape would be nice. There were very few of them.

 

Look at some of the matches around the Baba & Jumbo vs Texas Outlaws title match:

 

1975/11/18 Iwakuni, Yamaguchi

Murdoch & Rhodes (2-1; COR in 3rd) Baba & The Destroyer

 

1975/11/21 Kamo, Niigata

Baba def Somers

Tsuruta & Destroyer (2-1; DQ in 3rd) Murdoch & Rhodes

 

1975/11/30 Muroran, Hokkaido

Tsuruta & Destroyer (time limit draw) Murdoch & Rhodes

 

We know this was a TV taping since so much of it made Classics on G+

 

1975/12/06 Tokyo - Adachi Ward Gym

Masanobu Fuchi (4:57 pin) Kazuharu Sonoda

Munenori Higo (6:19 pin) Atsushi Ohnita

Open Championship League: Mighty Inoue (15:32 DCOR) Wrestling

Open Championship League: Jonathan (8:00 COR) Anton Geesink

Open Championship League: Kintaro Ohki (12:58 pin) Mantell

Jumbo Tsuruta & The Destroyer (30min limit draw) Murdoch & Hoffman

Open Championship League: Race (10:41 pin) Rhodes

Open Championship League: Abdullah (10:02 DQ) Dory

Open Championship League: Giant Baba (8:09 pin) Raschke

 

ALL-JAPAN G+ CLASSICS 34 Apr. ‘05

- Harley Race vs. Dusty Rhodes (12/6/75)

- Dory Funk, Jr. vs. Abdullah the Butcher (12/6/75)

- Giant Baba vs. Baron Von Raschke (12/6/75)

 

The Don Leo Jonathan vs. Anton Geesink and Mr. Wrestling vs. Mighty Inoue were on original Classics (along with Baba-Baron and Dory-Abby). So five matches on the card were taped, including two lower on the card. Hoffman would be pushed pretty hard in the Open League... this was opening night of the league... so that might have been taped.

 

Some other interesting stuff from the period:

 

1975/12/11 Tokyo - Nippon Budokan "Rikidozan Memorial Show" (14,500)

* Joint card by "JWA", IWE, and All Japan

Baba & Destroyer (2-1) Tsuruta & Dory

1: Destroyer (13:56 pin) Dory

2: Tsuruta (2:27 pin) Destroyer

3: Destroyer (5:29 pin) Tsuruta

[Busterira]

Are any of the 3 MSG Backlund vs Peter Maivia matches from 11/78, 12/78 and 1/79 available? When they had the Peter Maivia HOF on WWE classics, I was surprised they didnt show any of these matches. Specifically the Jan 79 cage match.