The British Bulldogs

[Superstar Sleeze]

I do not think there is a tag team more suited for the hyper-compressed, spot-oriented style of WWF wrestling moreso than the British Bulldogs. Even the fast-paced Rockers weren't so reliant on spots and moreso on traditional babyface shine and heel heat segments. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, were designed to be crowd-popping machines. Every move seems like a highlight reel moment to amaze the crowd. Selling and bumping get in the way of the next crowd pop and are only to be done if necessary to advance the story that is being foisted on them. Heel heat segments in Bulldog matches are like dance breakdowns functionally necessary, but they stand between you and the hook. As opposed to a Rock N Roll Express, where heel heat segments are the hook that bridge to the climax. Both matches get you to the same place, but they take different paths. Those paths are not always equal.

 

Dynamite and Davey, especially Davey, don't strike me as a couple MENSA members. Dynamite was in there because he is a violent muthafucka and seemed like when he was in the ring he was addicted to speed. Davey seemed like he was physically capable to do absolutely anything in the ring, but had no fucking clue how to structure a match. He is like a way more athletic Sting. Quite frankly, you could at least excuse Davey on grounds of ignorance, (though you think someone would have taught him). Is Bret the one that claims Flair never taught Sting and Luger psychology or is that Steiner? Clearly, Bret didn't teach Davey Boy psychology. Dynamite didn't give a fuck. He just wanted to do another snap suplex or headbutt.

 

I feel like I maybe oversimplfying, but that is how I feel Bulldog matches would go unless some like Valentine or Bret reigns them in. They are the WWF equivalent of the Steiner Brothers (so their time periods dont overlap), but I think the comparison is valid. I don't think the Bulldogs should win any greatest of all time awards, but just like blockbuster action movies they have their place in wrestling. You don't have to overthink Bulldogs matches. They just are fun.

 

The British Bulldogs vs The Hart Foundation - 7/85 MSG

 

One of my favorite Bret spots is his leverage spot which results in someone taking a dive out to the floor. What I like about it most is that either Bret or his opponent could take it, which makes it one of the versatile spots in wrestling. Bret is definitely a big fan of the kneelift to set up his heat segments during this time period. Everything does even back in 1985 just looks so crisp. I know Bret prides himself on this, but I still cant help but compliment him on his ability to execute moves without being stiff. I like stiff wrestling as much as the next wrestling fan, but I think it is pretty nifty that Bret can make everything he do look so good without being stiff. Bret gives Davey a backbreaker so Anvil can deliver Demolition Decapitation. Wait, I thought this was the Bulldogs thread. Just on cue, here come Dynamite to bring the offense to this match with his nasty hooking clothesline and Davey Boy comes back in with a running powerslam. Now he takes the leverage move to the outside. After trading a couple Boston Crabs, they are just killing time to the curfew finish.

 

This was an ok first match from these two "vaunted" teams of the golden era of the tag division. It was definitely action-packed, but it felt oddly directionless and unheated for a match involving Bret Hart. I always feel like Bret is more likely to have a boring match than a directionless match. At the same time, the Bulldogs seemed to keep things moving, but didn't bust out their big guns for the match. Recommended only if you are a completist, but arent all we .

 

Dynamite Kid vs Bret "The Hitman" Hart - 9/85

 

Great opening sequence sees a quick criss cross sequence end with Bret Hart taking a catapult into the turnbuckle and bumping to the floor. Hart takes an atomic drop hard and then a snap suplex. Dynamite, oddly, goes for a chinlock, but Bret reverses into a hammerlock and Bret takes his own leverage bump to the floor. I see the chinlock was needed to get Bret to do his bump, I hate those sequences. They do the Stampede reverse of the wristlock, but Bret goes to do it: he just kips up and punches Dynamite. I liked that a lot. Bret hits the knee lift to start his heat segment.

 

Everything Bret hits just looks so crisp. He was a big fan of the bodyslam on the concrete during his heat segments. Bret is actually pretty decent at working the crowd at this point, it just seems like no one cares because they just see him a newbie. Dynamite and Davey Boy are perfectly capable of selling they just seem unwilling to do it like it is nuisance. Whereas, Bret actually takes the time to sell one of his own headbutts. The sunset flip by Dynamite gets a decent pop so maybe I spoke too soon. No one bites on the backslide. Bret does the attempted backbreaker/opponent flips/opponent hits backbreaker or bodyslam spot, which looks good. One of the reasons, Bret and Flair set themselves apart is because they already have whole matches developed unto themselves. They have multiple spots for their opponents to do to them, which takes the onus off less talented wrestlers.

 

Bret is up first and ties Dynamite up only to take his throw himself in the ropes bump. Dynamite up with his hooking clothesline, hair pull/throwdown (Bret did it earlier) and Bret takes his patented bump chest first into buckle bump. Wicked sweet back suplex by Dynamite only get two follows that up with a second-rope kneedrop and only gets two. On a criss cross sequence, Dynamite trips over Bret and takes a header into the ropes. I have seen plenty of Bret matches and I dont recognize that as one of his spots. Is it a Dynamite spot? If so, it is a really good one. Dynamite takes the Bret leverage bump and while we are on replay we almost miss Dynamite winning with a reverse cradle.

 

This was a helluva sprint for 11 minutes. You could already tell Bret was main event material in the way that this was the total Bret show. Almost every spot was a Bret concoction that he would learn to craft into fantastic 30 minute affairs. Dynamite is a great offensive dynamo and holds up his end on selling. It isn't anywhere near the best Bret match, but it is an important match to show how many tools Bret already had in his arsenal in 1985.

 

 

The British Bulldogs vs The Hart Foundation - 9/85

 

Great match! This one had the better shine than the July affair. The Hart Foundation really milks it and the Bulldogs are bringing their A game offense with Dynamite's catapult, Davey Boy's powerslam and victory roll. Bret does his knee lift to seemingly set up Davey Boy for a heat segment, but it is a pysch out as Dynamite comes in. Only this time, for Dynamite to run the ropes and take a blind knee to the back (a Hart Foundation staple). Dyanmite really throws himself into the bumps thats the good thing, but apparently thinks selling just consists of laying motionless. Bret hits his bodyslam on the outside. Bret and Davey Boy do a good chase sequence, which breaks up the heat segment nicely. The transition is the same as the previous match with Bret tying up Dynamite in the ropes and Bret eating ropes. I would be remiss to mention that they botch the Bret backbreaker->DK flip out->DK backbreaker spot, but thankfully they don't redo the spot. Davey Boy comes in and cant stop Irish Whipping people. The Hart Foundation love having their opponents Irish Whip Bret into Anvil or vice versa. That's the first time I have brought up the Anvil that just seems wrong because he has been entertaining, but I guess nothing noteworthy so far. Davey Boy hits his gorilla press slam, but the Hart Foundation counters into Demolition Decapitation and then a top rope version of the Hart Attack. However, while the ref was distracted Dynamite comes flying off with a diving headbutt and rolls Davey Boy on top.

 

So, I actually watched this match a couple days ago (I am behind on my writing of reviews), but watched the Hart/DK match just now, which is why that one is so much more comprehensive. I am going based off some notes I took at like 2 am, but I do remember thinking that this match was great. I wouldn't say as good as the Dream Team/Bulldogs 2 out of Three Falls, but still very entertaining. I feel like the Hart Foundation are eating up the Bulldogs a bit too much and this match definitely felt more like the Bret show. I think Valentine was able to play to the Bulldogs strengths better.

 

WWF World Tag Champs The British Bulldogs vs Heenan's Family (Studd/Bundy) - 5/7/86

 

Smart big man vs small man match that only lasts 5 or so minutes. The Bulldogs can only gain the advantage momentarily with quickness or with a double dropkick (I prefer their double dropkick to the RnRs or the Rockers). Bundy is more agile than Studd and is more entertaining to watch. I actually got King Kong Bundy's autograph when I was a kid when he did a local New England Indy (NWA New England, I believe). He is one big dude. Studd looks massive compared to the Bulldogs. Dynamite comes in illegally to put Studd in a sleeper and Studd tosses a ref for a DQ. Bundy tries to Irish Whip Studd into Smith, but he eats turnbuckles causing dissension in the Heenan Family. Was Studd supposed to turn babyface? If so, why, there is nothing, about Studd that makes him seem like a decent babyface.

 

WWF World Tag Champs British Bulldogs vs Sheik/Volkoff - SNME 5/86 2 Out Of 3 Falls

 

What a weird match. We find out in the 3rd fall that Dynamite was injured as up until the final minute Davey Boy wrestled the whole match. First fall sees Volkoff wrangling Smith and dropping him throat first across the ropes. Sheiky Baby comes in with a wicked back suplex and makes him humble old country way.

 

McMahon goes overboard with how gallant Davey Boy is while wondering why Smith hasn't tagged out. The whole fall is Smith taking heat from the Iranian and Soviet. Sheik hits his sweet gutwrench suplex and Volkoff busts out a nice rolling armbar into a pin, seriously that was the coolest thing I have ever seen Volkoff do. However, "that idiot thinks he won the match" and Bulldog rolls him up from behind to win the second fall.

 

The third fall sees Davey Boy continue to make his comeback by hitting a running powerslam, but can't negotiate a pinfall. He tags in Dynamite who is immediately bearhugged to death while McMahon says they will go after the legs (someone didn't get a memo). Gutwrench suplex and Sheik is ready to break his back and make him humble, but Davey Boy thwarts him and rolls him up for the victory no tag.

 

I would say the past couple matches have defied my hypothesis that the Bulldogs are offensive dynamos and dont take heat often, but I think those matches are anomalies of TV wrestling having a different purpose than house show wrestling. In Studd/Bundy, the goal was to put over the size of the Heenan Family versus the quickness of the Bulldogs. This match was to put over how the Bulldogs were fighting champs and gallant. Though that match suffered from the hypercompression of SNME. I may try another Sheik/Volkoff match (I am really digging the Iron Sheik lately) or skip ahead to the late '86 feud against the Hart Foundation.

[thebrainfollower]

That Bret-Dynamite match has a knee drop spot that makes me cringe to this day.

[Superstar Sleeze]

The one where Dynamite comes off the second rope is pretty gnarly.

 

WWF World Tag Champions British Bulldogs vs Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff - 12/86 Primetime Wrestling

 

This was set up by a pretty decent short spotfest between Smith/Sheik when Sheik &Volkoff beat up Smith and Dynamite made the save.

 

Volkoff busts out a cartwheel, which is both impressive and heelish, so double points. I may have been selling Volkoff short. Boring babyface shine consisted of arm work on Volkoff. Dynamite takes a knee to the back while he is running the ropes. Which is usually a Hart Foundation spot, but maybe the Bulldogs liked it. Volkoff has a pretty impressive bearhug when he does the squat and lay the opponent's shoulder's down, but the ref catches him using the Sheik for leverage. Sheik gets in his favorite spots in pretty smart fashion. He begins with the ab stretch and Dynamite hiptosses out, but Dynamite whiffs on an elbow. It was a simple sequence but delivered a hope spot and smartly led to the gutwrench suplex (a favorite of mine) and the Camel Clutch, which Smith breaks up because he is fed up. Sheik goes for his suplex and Dynamite hits his snap suplex. That sequence was really smartly done.

 

Davey Boy is a house afire, but on each cover Volkoff comes in, a grand total of 5 times. Volkoff actually is able to hit an atomic drop and a monster backbreaker, but now Dynamite breaks it up. Volkoff goes for another backbreaker, but Dynamite dropkicks Bulldog on top of Volkoff.

 

Overall, it was a smartly booked big man vs little man match and much better than their SNME affair, but still nothing to write home about. The Bulldogs just didn't match up well with this team because their offense seemed restricted. The finish with the Bulldogs double-teaming after the constant Volkoff saving was ok. The match was simply ok.

 

WWF World Tag Champs British Bulldogs vs The Hart Foundation 11/1/86

 

Last time we saw these teams face off was about a year ago. The Bulldogs have wrested the titles off the Dream Team in a fantastic and defended the title against the teams ye likes of Sheik & Volkoff. While the Hart Foundation matured as a team against the Killer Bees in some fun matches. The Hart Foundation trap Dynamite in the corner, but the fights out, which is one of my favorite early shine spots. Now we do Davey Boy vs Anvil, but Bulldog can't budge the Anvil and ends up taking a powerslam. This begins the heat segment a little bit earlier than I was prepared for.

 

The heat segment is a Best Of Hart Foundation spots collection. They are all there for your enjoyment: Anvil slingshotting Bret over the ropes, Demolition Decapitation, the blind knee to the back, Bret's bodyslam on the concrete, Bret irish whipping Anvil into his opponent. I like the Hart Foundation offense just fine, but have three major qualms. First, it made the match totally about the Hart Foundation. It felt like the Bulldogs were just any opponents taking the Hart Foundation's offense. It could have been the Killer Bees, Islanders or Rockers. I like when matches utilize the differences to make a unique match that only these two teams could have. Bret just seemed like he wanted to do "plug and play" in this match. Second, Davey Boy is no Ricky Morton. This could have been Bret eating him up, but some of the onus has to be on him to perform hope spots and make people notice him and not just be a rag doll out there. The first two points culminate in my last point, I hate how this match had no sense of struggle. When wrestling matches become exhibitions, they lose their gravitas. Exhibitions are useful in wrestling for getting over offense or gimmicks, but in title matches against established opponents I expect a sense of struggle towards victory, not neatly defined "my segment, your segment". That is what the Dream Team matches so much better is that there was a sense of struggle in the Wrestlemania and 2 Out of 3 Falls match with both teams working hard to overcome the other.

 

Bulldog is able to pick up Bret and crotch him on the ropes. Dynamite comes in and supplies the Bulldog offense for the match: hooking clothesline, snap suplex and diving headbutt. I loved the Bulldogs' arsenal against the Dream Team and think it was criminal that they didn't get to show it off here. Anvil wipes out the ref and tries to cheat to get Bret to win with lots of dramatic two counts. Before Davey Boy rolls up Anvil for the pinfall after an exaggerated count.

 

I actually dug the finish and I thought it added a lot of drama to a match that lacked heat because it was the Hart Foundation show in the middle. Bret had all the MOVEZ~! in 1986, but he had not quite figured out how to put them altogether yet.

[Superstar Sleeze]

WWF World Tag Champs Hart Foundation/Danny Davis vs The British Bulldogs/Tito Santana

 

I watched the title change, which was a short match because of Dynamite's injury. Davis was busy with checking on Dynamite's well-being after being knocked out with Hart's megaphone while Davey Boy was kicking ass and taking names, Davis missed a Bulldog pinfall. Hart Foundation double DDT -> Hart Attack -> Fast count -> New World Tag Champs and a newly minted molten heel in the form of Danny Davis.

 

This match is wicked fun until the finish. Tito has been such a joy to watch even if he was dragged down by Adrian Adonis and Don Muraco on occasions. The babyface shine segment gets you amped. The heat segment is pretty decent on Dynamite, nothing particularly inspiring until Danny Davis comes in. He is a fuckin awful wrestler. Worst ever? He couldn't even post properly for Bulldog's delayed vertical suplex, unless this was him taking gimmick so far that he couldn't wrestle. Like I understand playing it up you suck at offense, but there is no reason to suck at bumping. What is impressive is the amount of heat he got. If they gave this gimmick to anyone worth a damn, it could have easily been a big upper midcard heel act for a couple years and probably would have gotten a Hogan program. People were going nuts for Tito and Davey Boy's offense (TOMBSTONE~!). I am a sucker for weasel heel takes a bunch of big moves. The finish pretty much sucks because Davis goes over due to nefarious tactics. It makes sense because they were probably planning to push Davis based on the heat he was getting until they realized he was fuckin atrocious. Still a fun Wrestlemania type match that I had actually never seen before.

[Matt D]

I feel a need to contribute to this note. I will watch some stuff soon.

[rvd356]

WWF World Tag Champs Hart Foundation/Danny Davis vs The British Bulldogs/Tito Santana

 

I watched the title change, which was a short match because of Dynamite's injury. Davis was busy with checking on Dynamite's well-being after being knocked out with Hart's megaphone while Davey Boy was kicking ass and taking names, Davis missed a Bulldog pinfall. Hart Foundation double DDT -> Hart Attack -> Fast count -> New World Tag Champs and a newly minted molten heel in the form of Danny Davis.

 

This match is wicked fun until the finish. Tito has been such a joy to watch even if he was dragged down by Adrian Adonis and Don Muraco on occasions. The babyface shine segment gets you amped. The heat segment is pretty decent on Dynamite, nothing particularly inspiring until Danny Davis comes in. He is a fuckin awful wrestler. Worst ever? He couldn't even post properly for Bulldog's delayed vertical suplex, unless this was him taking gimmick so far that he couldn't wrestle. Like I understand playing it up you suck at offense, but there is no reason to suck at bumping. What is impressive is the amount of heat he got. If they gave this gimmick to anyone worth a damn, it could have easily been a big upper midcard heel act for a couple years and probably would have gotten a Hogan program. People were going nuts for Tito and Davey Boy's offense (TOMBSTONE~!). I am a sucker for weasel heel takes a bunch of big moves. The finish pretty much sucks because Davis goes over due to nefarious tactics. It makes sense because they were probably planning to push Davis based on the heat he was getting until they realized he was fuckin atrocious. Still a fun Wrestlemania type match that I had actually never seen before.

You're talking about Mania 3 right? "Wrestlemania type match"?? If so, yes I like that much & freaking love that Tombstone. Best Mania Tombstone ever untill Taker killed HBK with the Jumping Tombstone at Mania 26.

 

I love the Bulldogs. God they were just so stiff & crisp & looked like a million bucks in '85-86. They basically had 2 great years & 2 good years. I never have found any of their post WWF AJPW stuff that I fell in love with, but it makes sense cuz Kid was so badly hurting. It's funny I feel like I rate them so high based upon what they *could* have done rather than what they did actually do.

 

My favorite match of theirs is kind of a generic pick. I'm going with the Mania 2 tag title bout vs. The Dream Team. In my book it's a ****, maybe more match. I just watched it the other day and it's just a perfect big time tag title bout & I'd say it's one of the better tag matches in the WWF that decade. Honestly I haven't watched much of their stuff in YEARS so I'm definitely going to check out that Shiek/volkoff match, sounds right up my alley. I wish the Bulldogs could have kept up their pace from '86 for a couple more years, maybe turn heel in '87 & trade the belts with Strike Force. I think those 4 could have had the best WWF tag match of the 80's if they all were 100%. Imagine a healthy Bulldogs vs. The Powers of Pain in '88, bet it would blow that Rockers match out of the water.

 

Ideally, maybe they take some time off at the end of the decade & come back in '90 & say Dynamite turns on Davey & hooks up with Slick or another heel mouth piece. He drops the Union Jack tights and puts some black tights on. You know he had that Punisher bastard heel run in his heart. Could have really done soooo much with more time healthy(as you can be while juicing & doing party drugs every day).

 

Fast forward to '97, Dynamite returns to the WWF(still jacked & wrestling @ 150mph) and joins up with The Hart Foundation in the war against Steve Austin. Can you imagine Austin/Kid with 20 minutes on a ppv? Or a match with prime Foley to see who could kill eachother better?

 

I seriously love the Bulldogs. BUT I think my affection for them is more based on their individual singles careers rather than the tag team, although I definitely like the tag matches a lot. I'm in the minority but I still hold up the Kid/Tiger Mask I match up as some of the best stuff of the 80's, or any decade. Also I love Davey Boy's entire career except the 2nd WCW run. Power & speed, I don't think many guys did it so well as him, except maybe Brock Lesnar. Both guys are in my top 10 favorites & could list great matches from them all day, but ill stay on topic & am looking for recs for tag matches.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Yes it is the Wrestlemania match. What I meant by Wrestlemania-type match is big arena match with lots of big spots designed for audible crowd interaction and not very nuanced.

 

I didn't realize how bad Dynamite fucked up his back until I saw they were using JYD as his replacement (Dog connection I s'pose). Personally, I would have rather seen Tito/Harley at Wrestlemania as they have a good match at some house show. Harley takes a crazy bump down the ringsteps breaking the only rule in the Sleeze Household: No Fighting On The Stairs. I forget if I reviewed that match. Damn, I meant to.

 

Took a bit of a break from the WWF tag scene because it just wasn't doing it for me and was in the mood to listening to someone talk about wrestling so I listened to the Wrestling Party podcasts for the AWA matches. I had seen most of the matches already, but man was that a grand ole time. You guys had me laughing the whole time. During one of the matches, which isn't posted on youtube, I watched Blackwell/Bravo from 1980 and I can't believe it didn't make the set given some of the reviews for the matches. Plus Blackwell works friggin holds, so even it has novelty. I have seen two matches from Bravo and have liked both of them so far. Anyways back to the Bulldogs...

 

WWF World Tag Champs Hart Foundation vs The British Bulldogs - SNME 2 Out of 3 Falls 5/87

 

I got to put over Jimmy Hart huge early as Matlida fuckin shoots on him and actually bites him in the leg. Then there is an awesome shot of Matilda with the megaphone in her mouth. Matilda is my fuckin bitch, now. (Get it? I totally slay me) Seriously, Matilda seems ridiculously lame (to me at least), but her entire tenure was validated in that one minute.

 

It is an SNME match, so you know what that means: SPRINT! Davey Boy starts off per usual. Wows us with the Stampede reversal out of the wristlock, then does his standard show of strength by picking up Bret while in a knucklelock, some quick armwork before a Bret knee lift as usual sends right into FIP. No meandering here as Anvil and Bret are following up everything quickly and crisply. But in their haste, Smith gets his knees up in the corner. Hot tag, Dynamite is ready to go to town: Bret takes his turnbuckle bump, hair pick up, hooking clothesline, snap suplex, diving headbutt. Anvil looks to make a save and throws Davey Boy out to the floor, where Davis takes advantage of him. Tito chases Davis while the Hart Foundation double teams Dynamite and they do not heed the ref's admonishments leading to the DQ.

 

Second fall, they continue to work on Dynamite and do Demolition Decapitation. While some choking goes on, we do a chase sequence and when we comeback, we get Bret's favorite transition: hang Dynamite in ropes only to cross body block the ropes. Hot tag! HOLY SHIT! Davey Boy hits two MASSIVE dropkicks on the Hart Foundation. Brunzell's are prettier, but these dropkicks actually look like they got some mustard on them. A delayed vertical suplex gets two, but Anvil gets in some forearms before clobbering Bret on the apron. Tito hits the Flying Burrito on Davis to a huge pop. Bulldog gorilla press slams Dynamite onto Anvil and the place erupts. Alas, the title can't change hands on a DQ. That is some grade-A bullshit right there.

 

After a drought of fun Bulldogs' matches, this one comes on like a monsoon of non-stop action. Everyone is hitting their stuff crisply and the transitions are really well-done. Transitions are important to me and I think Bret setup each one nicely and the match felt like a contest between a couple offensive juggernauts. Nowhere near the best with stuff with the Dream Team, but I would put around the 9/85 match with the Hart Foundation in terms of quality.

 

WWF World Tag Champions Hart Foundation vs British Bulldogs - MSG 7/87

 

If I am not mistaken, this is the last major match these two teams would have together. They went out with a bang. Definitely my choice for the best match these two teams have ever had with each other. Three Hart Foundation/Bulldogs matches have made WWE DVDs I cant believe this one has not. To me this is finally the match that rivals the stuff with the Bulldogs were having with the Dream Team.

 

The Hart Foundation finally learns and attacks the Bulldogs during the Matilda routine. They isolate Davey Boy, while Dynamite gets Matilda out of harm's way. It is all for naught as Bret runs into Anvil on a criss-cross. It actually comes off as a really well done spot. Someone pissed in Dynamite's corn flakes that day because he is ripshit the whole match. Just tearing into people and snapping at the ref to get into position better and this makes for a way better match. After a hooking clotheslines, Bret rolls away and Dynamite follows him and just starts rifling elbows at him. Bret in desperation eyerakes, but Dynamite still controls to get Davey Boy in there and do a double headbutt. This has been what is missing in this series. That feeling of a real contest and urgency. The Bulldogs are hungry and the Hart Foundation are cheating like muthafuckas. None of this, let me you ragdoll for 5 minutes, now you be my ragdoll. Everyone is trying to cut each other off and there is a real sense of struggle.

 

When I started online, I always heard Dynamite get these rave reviews, but Davey Boy Smith is way more fun to watch in my opinion. He is both the better FIP and hot tag. Davey Boy's hot tag dropkick can't fuckin be beat. That thing is disgusting. But I digress, fisherman's suplex by Davey Boy gets two. Here is a bit of weak transition as Bret punches Dynamite and is able to tag Anvil. I say it is weak because I do not think a heel should gain the upper hand in that fashion especially in the WWF where closed fists are commonplace. In Japan, a closed fist is one of the ultimate dick moves. In WWF, it just feels like another move. I would have rather seen something more heelish end the shine.

 

Anvil is feeling into tonight with manical laugh and sledges before sending Dynamite out to be slammed into the rial by Bret. Back in now Anvil is biting him, this is the point when I was like "Ok, finally these two teams are really bringing it". Demolition Decapitation, which always looks nasty, gets two. Dynamite dazes Bret with a headbutt and falls on top on a slam attempt. Now Anvil tries to headbutt Dynamite. Bad idea and Anvil knocks himself out. I love it. Smith gets in prematurely, but Anvil ends up forcing Bret to take his trunbuckle bump and Anvil is back body dropped to the outside. HOT TAG! No dropkick, booooo. Makes up for it by busting out the monkey flip, which he has not done yet. Then falls that up with 2nd rope kneedrop, another move Smith has not done. Davey Boy rules. Now his more conventional offense: delayed vertical and running powerslam both get two. Bret grabs a sleeper only for Dynamite to headbutt him. In one of my favorite spots, Davey Boy goes to gorilla press slam Bret, but "loses control" and drops Bret crotch first on the ring ropes. That one is a always a Sleeze Pleezer.

 

They do a common finish, where Anvil from the outside trips Smith on a suplex attempt and Bret falls on top for the win. Excellent, excellent match. Zero down-time, felt like a struggle with a real sense of urgency from both teams. If someone had to pick the representative match for this series, I would pick this one because it is just that much better than the rest. The title change, unfortunately due to the mitigating circumstances of Dynamite's injury, is just a 3 minute match. Then all the other matches feel of equal historical importance, so I would just pick the best one and that is this one in my opinion.

[Superstar Sleeze]

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.

[Stuttsy]

I do not think there is a tag team more suited for the hyper-compressed, spot-oriented style of WWF wrestling moreso than the British Bulldogs. Even the fast-paced Rockers weren't so reliant on spots and moreso on traditional babyface shine and heel heat segments. The Bulldogs, on the other hand, were designed to be crowd-popping machines. Every move seems like a highlight reel moment to amaze the crowd. Selling and bumping get in the way of the next crowd pop and are only to be done if necessary to advance the story that is being foisted on them. Heel heat segments in Bulldog matches are like dance breakdowns functionally necessary, but they stand between you and the hook. As opposed to a Rock N Roll Express, where heel heat segments are the hook that bridge to the climax. Both matches get you to the same place, but they take different paths. Those paths are not always equal.

I just want to say I think this is dead on and for me personally this perfectly sums up a years-long argument that I've never quite been able to articulate as to why the Bulldogs just plain were not my cup of tea. They were good for sure and fun to watch for sure but I prefer that southern style of working and the southern style teams: Eaton & Condrey, Lane & Keirn, Ricky & Robert, Tully & Arn, etc. In previous conversations with friends I've described the Bulldogs as being "too Japanese" but in future conversations about them I am going to pull from this description because I think you hit the nail on the head as to why I didn't love them like some others did.

[Superstar Sleeze]

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.

[Superstar Sleeze]

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.