Phil Schneider Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 This is from Wrigley Field and was uploaded in glorious quality by the Chicago Film Archives, I am pretty sure this was unavailable before this week, and it is a treat. Really simple but effective matwork starts the match out, both guys really no how to make a headlock grind. Really picked up when the got on their feet, I love the way Rogers runs the ropes, he really looks completely out of control and make as rope running exchange look like a highspot. Rogers is also an athletic bumper in the Hennig, Michaels vein and he takes a couple of violent spills out of the ring, and the finish of the third fall is a loony Foley ear loss hangman where he gets counted out. I also loved when he got nasty, throwing some sick uppercuts and a snap piledriver. Thesz was more subdued, clearly the grandfather of the Briscoes and Dory Funk Jr., I did love when he got chippy too, he caught Rogers with a huge kneelift which was probably the highlight of the match. I liked they did 3 falls in about 35 minutes, didn't drag, kept a nice pace and it felt like a big deal. Really great piece of history and a hell of match Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loss Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Do you have the link for this? I searched and can't find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khawk20 Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Pretty sure this is it though it isn't dated. The other one up there is dated. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqIHV0m29FU&list=UUWXxP_rvXryBPpjIw7Dl9Tg EDIT: The commentary says this one is from the ampitheater. So is the other one. Those are the only two I can see listed. Colour me confused. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Schneider Posted September 16, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Commentary says from the amphitheater but the wrestling classics guys say it is the wrigly match Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khawk20 Posted September 16, 2014 Report Share Posted September 16, 2014 Weird Davis would make that mistake, unless (a) he dubbed the commentary in afterwards or ( it was such a common entrance statement/phrasing from him that he said it without thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted September 18, 2014 Report Share Posted September 18, 2014 This was the Buddy Rogers Show and it was a joy to watch it. In fairness, Lou was very good, but the straight man tends to get overshadowed when the show piece is that good. I loved that Lou did those subtle heel tactics from the Silverstein match and threw them in Rogers' face to the joy of the crowd. Rogers outcheated him, but Thesz gave as good as he got. It was interesting there was not much of a babyface shine instead Rogers controlled with headlocks. Thesz applied a sweet, sweet drop toe hold. I loved Rogers' burst of energy and the piledriver finish for the first fall. The second and third fall were crazy heated. The knee lifts to the head were nasty. The punches on the ropes and the bumps over them were awesome. AIRPLAN SPIN FU!!!! The highlight of the match to me was at the beginning of the third fall Rogers is about to walk into a Thesz move puts on the brakes and struts. It was crazy cool. "I don't like him either, mother" - Russ Davis, made me laugh out loud. The ending with Rogers head caught in the ropes shows that pretty much everything has been done before. This is a perfect way to do an intense mat-based contest, but blending in color and showmanship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazer Posted September 19, 2014 Report Share Posted September 19, 2014 Wrigley Field didn't have lights in 1951. Comiskey hosted some big matches back then, but not Wrigley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moonsault Marvin Posted September 24, 2014 Report Share Posted September 24, 2014 In the 1951 match between Thesz and Rogers, Rogers occasionally doesn't make a clean break or throws a punch, but in this match, he is an out and out heel. He cheats every chance he gets. I definitely agree that this one was more of a Buddy Rogers showcase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Casebolt Posted September 25, 2014 Report Share Posted September 25, 2014 Shocked someone who loves good punches as much as Phil didn't have more to say about Buddy's uppercuts. Those were amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fxnj Posted August 25, 2016 Report Share Posted August 25, 2016 I would agree on this feeling more like a Rogers heel showcase than an attempt at a great match. I love all the mileage these guys get with a simple headlock throughout from the all the escapes when it's being worked straight early on to Thesz's selling of the accumulated damage from Roger's punches in the 2nd half. Also a nice dynamic here with Thesz playing more of a crafty guy not afraid to try Rogers's own tactics against him instead of just being a clean fighting face playing to the crowd. Of course the finish is nuts and Rogers also takes a hard bump to the outside off a Thesz forearm prior to that, but the hard knee he takes off one of Thesz's dropkick is getting slept on. ***3/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Microstatistics Posted August 15, 2020 Report Share Posted August 15, 2020 A classic world title bout. Rogers was, in many ways, the perfect heel challenger. He was skilled and tough but also incredibly arrogant and had no problem utilizing underhanded tactics to gain the advantage, eventually leading to a one fall lead. Thesz was the no nonsense champion who continued to be extremely aggressive, regardless of the circumstances. Though, you could argue that Thesz shrugged off all those blows a little too easily to go back into attack mode each time. But he sold the accumulated damage well, particularly at the end of every fall. Thesz weathered the storm and used his situational awareness to get himself out of a hole in the second fall and also pull off the third fall. ****1/2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makai Club #1 Posted May 6, 2021 Report Share Posted May 6, 2021 Insufferable commentary aside, I thought this was tremendous. Rogers was great as a slimey heel though, using any cheap tactic he could including punches, cheap spots, stepping on Thesz’s head while he's on the ground. Thesz is feisty in return, but he doesn’t lose his cool and instead uses his frustration with Rogers to his advantage with violent knee lifts and tighter mat-work. The finish to the final fall was great as well with Thesz side stepping Rogers, causing him to tie himself in the ropes. Payback for all he did in the match. **** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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