[1984-06-08-Houston Wrestling] Rock & Roll Express & Jim Duggan vs Midnight Express & Ernie Ladd

[Superstar Sleeze]

Hacksaw Duggan & Rock N Roll Express vs Ernie Ladd & Midnight Express - Mid-South 6/8/84

 

Jump plays the Rock n Roll Express down to the ring and Ernie Ladd is introduced as a new member of Midnight Express. What an awesome time to be alive!

 

Ricky Morton is the fucking man in this. It is performances like this may edge him over Bobby Eaton in my book. He works a tremendous segment with an ancient Big Cat Ernie Ladd and it is just wicked entertaining. Morton is moving around a million miles an hour. Ernie is wondering what he has gotten himself into because the Midnights had just been totally shown up by Morton and had to retreat twice and now he is discombobulated. The corssbody Morton hits on Ladd gets a massive pop. Ladd finally catches Morton and hits a double leg drop to give the MX their first advantage. Morton scrappy as ever tags out to Hacksaw who literally fights his way into the ring, which is a cool touch. Eaton rifles Duggan to no avail as Hacksaw comes back with a lariat. Eaton is in retreat mode and the MX can't get anything started. There is a fun spot where the both members of MX try to pin Duggan in rapid fire fashion only to be pressed and then they both pin him and both are sent flying. The crowd is just molten for this match especially Duggan! Ladd busts out the old foreign object to finally stymie the fiery Duggan. Duggan is able to tag out, but Ricky goes flying over the ropes and is nailed with a chair that busts him open. Duggan comes flying around with a chair of his own, but it is too late the damage is done. In the story as old as time, the MX beat the holy hell out of Ricky Morton. Morton is just in his element here working hope spots and selling like a million bucks. Eventually a fracas breaks out, Corny tries to use some sort of knockout spray, but instead he sprays Eaton! The babyfaces pick up the win, but do not win the war as the heels beat them down complete with choloroform.

 

Ricky Morton really gave an inspired performance here: getting the most out of Ladd I have ever seen and a typically great FIP. Duggan is king-sized in there and looks like a ready successor to JYD and the heels were typically awesome. It is a fun, fun match, but nothing that gets to that next level classic, missing that big hook. ****1/4

[shoe]

The card this was on drew a 31,500 dollar house which is pretty damn good at this point in time. It's a hot 6 man to set up a tag title match next month which did over 60,000 dollars. This is why finishes are important. They are part of the story to draw more money down the line.

 

This was just a tremendous match. Everything that happened in the match had consequences one way or the other. We open with a great Cornette heat generating intro. Morton starts witha real fun shine segment. The Ladd/Morton interactions were gold with the rag doll sequence. The triple teaming of Condrey in the corner was so well executed and a real fun segment. We get a tag to Duggan and he just murders Eaton . Eaton was tremendous taking that beating. Duggan has a real energy when he's standing tall and kick ass and taking names. Ladd playing the hiding the foreign object spot was great and a great heat section. Duggan sold the foreign object spot really well. Morton takes a nasty chair shot to the head and is busted open. This allows the heel to just work over the cut. Cornette gets in on the action and the crowd wants to kill him. The heat from the crowd is nuclear. Morton finally makes the hot tag, but the ref misses it. The crowd is beside itself. Cornette seizes the opportunity but his either attempt is foiled and the baby faces turn the tide on it and win. The face pop is short lived becauase the heels do a big time beatdown to nuclear heat that leaves the baby faces leftfor dead. Post match a great MX promo that sets up the return stip match with the MX and Rock N Roll. 4 1/4*

[JKWebb]

Ricky Morton was so good when this started (well, throughout). He's bumping for Ladd, then he catches Ladd with a few arm drags, and they both look to the crowd for their reactions. It's great. When Duggan gets tagged in, that lariat he hits Eaton with is off the charts. The crowd eats up the huge and dramatic Duggan offense. I love the mid-south crowds. I think my favorite spot is when the ref has his back turned and the heels triple team on Ricky Morton. Condrey really kicks the crap out of him, and it gets so much heat. Great match. (loving the numbers shoe, thanks)