Superstar Sleeze Posted May 17, 2015 Report Share Posted May 17, 2015 AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Nick Bockwinkel - AWA Winnipeg 9/20/84 WOW! Until the finish, I think this was the best match I have seen so far as part of my 80s watching and is definitely neck and neck with Flair vs Kerry from August of 1982. It featured some of the best selling I have ever witnessed in pro wrestling. It was not just from Martel. It was from both Martel and Bockwinkel. It felt like a war of attrition between the two best wrestlers in the world. It was a game of inches and they were both so good that it was just going to be the details the decided the winner. The small detail was Bockwinkel's nasty little short jab to the ribs. It was his great equalizer. Martel was so focused on his kneework that he would leave himself exposed to these quick punches and that eventually took their toll on Martel physically. The story really became who could overcome their injuries Bockwinkel with his knee and Martel with his midsection. Bockwinkel wrestled most of the match on his knees and he proves why he is one of the all-time best by selling his pain and desperation throughout the match. In this match, Bockwinkel tries to start the match hot and heavy, but he gets overzealous and hits a high knee to the turnbuckle. Martel just pounces on this mistake like in the Lawler match with toeholds and strikes relentlessly. Bockwinkel sells the agony of the holds in such an engaging way that you never lose interest. Bock and Martel trade blows within the toehold and when that does not go well for Bock; he hits a quick jab to Martel's midsection, which forces him off his body. Bock with JYD heabutts to Martel's midsection. Oh shit, this is my kinda match! He pounds Martel's side as best he can with his good knee. This is just dripping with struggle and urgency. Bockwinkel collapses in the middle of the ring while Martel writhes in pain in the corner. Holy shit! Bock uses the wrong knee on a knee lift and can't capitalize soon enough. Martel hits a kneecrusher! Martel is back to work with seatdrops so Bockwinkel just grabs him by his hair and punches him in the head. He forces Martel out of the ring and is basically working a King of the Mountain from his ass and it is awesome! Martel picks the leg and wraps it around the post. Have I gone to Heaven? Bock saves his knee by trying to claw Martel's eyes out. This was no normal eye gouge, he was getting in there. He puts Martel in a stretch where he can constantly maneuver him to expose the ribs to his rabbit punches without the ref seeing. Martel punches to the knee to get out of it and kicks the leg out from under him. Yep, I died and have gone to Heaven. Martel rides high and Bock applies a body scissors, but his leg is so fucked up he can't hold him. They knock heads in the middle of the ring and it is time to hit the finish. Martel goes for the kill first, but misses the reverse cross body from the middle rope. Martel fires through Bock's offense and it looks like he has more gas in his tank. Slingshot splash EATS KNEES! THOSE RIBS! OW! The selling is tres magnifique. They work through a barrage of nearfalls with neither having enough to put the other way. However, the ref gets bumped, Mr. Saito is able to throw salt in the eyes of Martel who has Bockwinkel dead to rites in the Boston Crab. 1-2-3!?!?!?!?!? Bock wins??? After much deliberation, the belt is returned to Martel. I fucking hate that finish. I don't care if it is babyface or heel, it is just stupid bullshit. It is definitely worse when a babyface wins, you get the pop and then rob people. Still even letting the people see Martel get pinned and not lose only hurts the moment when he will actually loses the title. The finish is the only thing that keeps this from *****, but fuck if this is the tenth best match of the AWA in the 80s, I am in for quite treat! This was fucking tremendous. Small critique would be that they just had one or two more highspots down the stretch to take the drama level to the next level. I am thinking a Bockwinkel sleeper and maybe a piledriver or two. It does not have to be an AWA Jumbo match with a ton of highspots, but a couple more would have been enough to overcome my least favorite finish ever. Enough negativity because this is my favorite match so far. It is a master's class in selling and should be absolutely mandatory to be watched by all wrestlers young and old in the industry today. ****3/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKWebb Posted December 30, 2015 Report Share Posted December 30, 2015 Great review of this match. I watched it tonight for the first time and really agree with everything you said. I'm glad I finally got to see this classic and would highly recommend it to anyone that has not seen it. The selling in this match is off the charts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Microstatistics Posted May 17, 2016 Report Share Posted May 17, 2016 The second best match built around dueling body part work ever (behind Samurai vs. Ohtani 1/96). An absolute masterclass of selling and limb psychology. ****1/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G. Badger Posted April 17, 2019 Report Share Posted April 17, 2019 I just stumbled upon this match on YouTube and had no idea that it was a classic. I was just thinking "damn this is really good. They've got plans of attack, they're selling the specific damages as well as the overall fatigue. Still, its a heated fight with guys trading great blows and kicking out because the belt is on the line." I think for '84, you could call this a work-rate match but, its deeper than that. The in ring story is so solid and to have it almost spoiled at the end..oh man. Martel whipping the AWA strap around like a wild man at the end just capped off this beauty of a match. Classic stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makai Club #1 Posted April 18, 2021 Report Share Posted April 18, 2021 Tremendous bout. Bockwinkel delivered a masterclass of selling of his knee while offering some great work on the midsection, primarily the hip of Martel. The match starts with Bockwinkel gaining the quick advantage via a few knees to the stomach but soon gets over hyped and wacks his knee on the turnbuckle after attempting a high knee and gives an opening to Martel. Martel, of course, goes right for it with relentless holds - that Billy Robinson explains perfectly while on commentary. Bockwinkel nibbled at Martel’s ribs and hips, finding a reprieve that backs Martel off for a short while before he uses his bad knee on the move and quickly loses the advantage. And the match follows that formula throughout the match, turning into a dueling limb match. The drama is at a high Martel posting Bockwinkel’s leg, drawing Bockwinkel’s desperate tactics to come out (scratching Martel’s eyes and rabbit punching the hips). Martel wasn't having any of it though and kicked Bockwinkel’s leg out from under him, in an awesome spot. The finish is a bit of a let down but it's a AWA staple. Masa Saito comes in and throws salt in Martel’s eyes while Martel has a Boston Crab locked in, which allows Bockwinkel to score the win and win the title! But wait, the ref reverses his decision after deliberation. Martel retains. Yay. ****3/4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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