Superstar Sleeze Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 After finishing up the 2000s Japan project, I wanted a departure from puroresu and the 2000s so I decided it was a high time for me to go through 1980s in America. I have been reading about these matches for a decade plus in some cases and in others I only learned of their existence through this enriching and wonderful project. In either case, I was ready to watch some bitchin wrestling featuring my some of my favorite wrestlers from my favorite decade for entertainment, the 1980s! In my mind America, there was a power six at the start of the decade: WWF, Jim Crockett, AWA, Mid-South, WCCW and Memphis. I am starting with the last four. The one nice thing about doing this after everyone else is that I can use the results as a guide to focus on the best of the best. My current aim is to bring myself up to speed on any every era and every promotion by focusing on the classics before doing any deep dives into any on particular one. Another goal of mine since about 2012 is to determine what I believe to the greatest match of all time is. Now, of course, I can't resist a fun *** or **** match when they come up thus detours into WWF tag team scene and late 90s WCW during this time. It is not my sole focus to find the OMG GREATEST MATCH ever, but I do want to familiarize myself with the classics first so I will not be watching all 150 matches from all the sets. Instead, I will focus on 40-50 from each set that appeal to me either because of the combatants involved or the critiques given, I am about halfway through this project and have posted the match reviews in the 1980s subforum and on my blog with links provided. I though post my general thoughts on each territory thus far. Memphis Wrestling Watched: Lawler vs AWA World Champions, Lawler vs Savage, Lawler vs Idol, Rich and Bam Bam, a total of 22 matches Need to watch: Lawler vs Dundee, Lawler vs Mantell, Lawler vs Funks, Fabulous Ones, Miscellaneous Non-Lawler Classics Match Rankings Thus Far (only >=****1/4): 1. Randy "Macho Man" Savage vs Ronnie Garvin - ICW 1982/1983 Steel Cage Match ****3/4 Violent. Perfect build to piledriver finish. What an awesome finish it was! 2. Jerry "The King" Lawler vs Austin Idol - Memphis 4/27/87 Steel Cage Hair vs Hair Match ****3/4 Awesome selling of punches. Great heel finish. 3. Jerry "The King" Lawler vs Bam Bam Bigelow - Memphis 9/7/86 Texas Death Match ****3/4 Masterpiece. Great David vs Goliath story 4. AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Jerry "The King" Lawler - Memphis 11/8/82 ****1/2 Lawler's big victory over Bock. 5. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Jerry "The King" Lawler - Memphis 10/12/85 ****1/2 Heel Martel! 6. AWA Southern Heavyweight Champion Randy "Macho Man" Savage vs Jerry "The King" Lawler - Memphis 6/3/85 ****1/4 Anit-workrate classic Findings: I think moreso than any other territory I have watched I feel like this is the worst way to watch this territory. This is probably pretty obvious statement for most people. but I think it needs to be stated. I really ought to watch the Memphis TV surrounding each of the matches to better appreciate the context of the matches. That being said I have done my reading and I understand the gravity of the ICW vs CWA war and how much Lawler vs Savage was a blood feud. I understand the ardent desire and journey of Jerry Lawler in facing the AWA World Champions. It is the story of your high school classmate that is the best ball player on your team and you believe he can be a major league ball player. Jerry was the King of Memphis, but when Bock or Martel or whoever it may be strolled into town, That's what made the Bock victory in '82 so special even though it was just for Southern Title, it was a victory over the AWA Champ and it was cool to see him finally get it. it was your local hero getting that crack at playing major league ball. It is a great story no doubt. Even though, I am not watching Memphis correctly per se, I feel I understand the context well enough to make my observations on match style. Jerry Lawler may be the greatest limited wrestler in history. He has right hand and his left hand he is going to ball them up and give you everything he has got. He does not create much movement on his own, but he will bump big. He is great at selling and his comeback is perhaps the greatest in the history of wrestling. There is one comeback against Nick Bockwinkel that is just so fantastic. I think his best matches are these main event style, long build through selling matches. I have liked the Memphis brawls I have seen, but none of there are really any better than great. I think the AWA and Mid-South are much better brawling territories from what I have seen. The only Lawler match ranked above, I would consider a brawl maybe the Idol one, but I ranked that mostly for the amazing selling of each individual and the awesome finish. The Lawler vs Bigelow Texas Death Match, which I think is Lawler's masterpiece so far, is rooted in David vs Goliath storytelling more than anything else. I love how committed Lawler is to his style. Styles make for matches. The homogenization of wrestling has ruined this as so many workers can't tell a story no longer of a contrast of styles. Here we can see how Lawler the puncher works against a giant like Bigelow, frustrates a technical wizard like Martel and controls a wildman like Savage. There is no adaption necessary because his style is universal and he melds it with his opponent. There is no plug n play into his spots. He responds to a wrestler's character and his opponent responds accordingly to his. I am always surprised when people say AA is Cena's road agent. Nothing about Cena matches feel very Arn Anderson to me. Cena's character is very Backlund-esque and he has power in common with Backlund, but in terms of match structure he is deeply rooted in the Lawler dynamic. He likes very short shines and likes to get that heat quickly. They both sell fantastically. Lawler was better at the comeback, but they both transition to the comeback through no selling. Lawler has the strap down. Cena has the shoulder tackles. Cena is at his best when adds the wrinkle of cutoffs ala an extended Misawa comeback because the modern style necessitates longer finish runs. Lawler had the advantage of quick finish bursts so that incredible burst of energy would quickly followed by a finish of some sort. Overall, I have enjoyed watching Memphis and think that Lawler is tons of fun to watch when he is selling his ass off and gets you amped for that comeback. There is something lacking in his pure brawls like the tags against Rude/Bundy and Idol/Rich. I don't think he is great at sprints because he is not great at movement. He has quick bursts of energy, but a 10 minute sprint is not his forte. Granted I have only watched 20 of his matches so may be I will see him rock out a good sprint brawl. Quick word on Randy Savage, dude was a fucking rockstar in Memphis. Dude would run up and down the apron and gets a huge pop when he was a babyface and mega-heat as a heel. He is one of the best character wrestlers of all time. If we were not missing a huge chunk of Lawler/Savage Loser Leaves Town I would have that much higher that is the anti-workrate classic. Awesome character work by both men. In addition, I wish we had more of his ICW stuff. He rocked it against Garvin. That was a great violent steel cage match that built and built to the piledriver finish. What a fantastic finish it was! Look forward to more Memphis and to watch some Memphis matches without The King to see what others were up to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peachchaos Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 I'm taking a vested interest in this thread, as I've been making my way through the 1980's for about 4 years now. I would recommend Jerry Lawler vs. Crusher Blackwell (5/4/1981) for a "good sprint brawl". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawho5 Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 I am watching through Memphis as well and I agree his best comeback so far is the match Bock takes the DQ in. That rush of punches by Lawler had me jumping out of my chair! I agree that he's better when he can build up sympathy through selling. I also like the extended version of his comeback setup where he stumbles around a bit, sort of half no-selling punches until the strap comes down and it's ON! The Mantell matches are great, but I still prefer the Bock matches. Does anyone else think that referees grabbing chairs out of people's hands and the like is annoying in a no DQ match? Just make the counts like you're supposed to and let them use the stip. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted September 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 My defense of ref's is that their presence in No DQ matches is ensure the well-being of the wrestlers. Even though anything goes, the ref is there to make sure no one is killed or maimed. The chair shot in the 80s could be considered career-ending so I can see why the ref is doing it. That being said, yes, let them fight is how I feel. I am pretty sure that is the comeback I am talking about. It is truly incredible. I watched the Mantell matches around the time Lawler had a heart attack and really liked them, cant wait to revisit them. Lawler vs Blackwell is a good sprint brawl because I am convinced a bad Blackwell match does not exist (two more Blackwell matches to watch tonight!). Lawler had some good sprint brawls, but it just does not seem like his forte. They are not as great as his long matches.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt D Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 In general, the way you view wrestling is probably a surprisingly healthy middle ground between some of the more extreme camps. It almost gives me hope for the future. I mean, nothing else about you does, but that does! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted September 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 Appreciate that, brutha. Yeah I am definitely no minmalist, but I can appreciate a worker like Lawler or a performance like Olympia in the Chavo match. As long as you tell a good story, I am game to go along for the ride. I got to the halfway point on AWA. I will post my findings later. I would say of the four territories it is my favorite. I love the characters! How can you not love the Sheiks, Mad Dog and Da Crusher! That coupled with classic Bock and Martel it is the most well-balanced promotion of the 80s that I have watched. It feels like the WWF if the WWF did wrestling better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawho5 Posted September 19, 2015 Report Share Posted September 19, 2015 I didn't care for the AWA as much after you get past 1984 or so. I will agree that when all the older big names were around they had a lot going on and it was a really exciting promotion. I also find Verne's booking too safe for my tastes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted October 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 AWA Progress Report I finished the halfway point around a month ago, but I have been pressed for time and did not get a chance to write a progress report. I am procrastinating at work so I figured I write this up. Watched: Bockwinkel vs Martel vs Jumbo (8), Best of Crusher Blackwell (7), Best of High Flyers (5), Rockers vs Rose & Somers (7, includes Adonis & Orton Bonus Match) a total of 25 matches Need to watch: Bock vs Hennig vs Hansen, Bockwinkel Misc Classics, Misc. Non-Bock Classics Match Rankings Thus Far (only >=****1/4): 1. Blood in the Sand: AWA World Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers vs Midnight Rockers ***** 2. AWA World Champion Rick Martel vs Nick Bockwinkel - Winnipeg 9/20/84 ****3/4 3. Brawl in St. Paul: AWA World Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers vs Midnight Rockers - St. Paul 12/25/86 Steel Cage Match ****3/4 4. The Sheiks (Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell & Sheik Adnan Al-Kassie) vs Greg Gagne & Da Crusher - Steel Cage Match ****3/4 5. Vegas Cage Match: AWA World Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers vs Midnight Rockers - Las Vegas 1/17/87 Steel Cage Match ****1/2 6. AWA World Tag Team Champions High Flyers vs Strike Force -8/29/82 ****1/2 7. AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Jumbo Tsuruta - All Japan Title Change ****1/2 8. The Sheiks (Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell & Sheik Adnan al-Kaisse) vs High Flyers - Steel Cage Match 4/18/82 ****1/2 9. AWA World Champion Jumbo Tsuruta vs Rick Martel - AWA 9/25/85 ****1/2 10. Crusher Blackwell vs Mad Dog Vachon - Algerian Death Match ****1/4 11. Crusher Blackwell & Sgt. Slaughter vs Sheik Adnan al-Kaisse, Masked Superstar & Haku - Steel Cage Match ****1/4 12. Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito vs High Flyers ****1/4 13. The Sheiks (Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell & Sheik Adnan al-Kaisse) vs Mad Dog Vachon & Baron Von Rascke - Taped Fist Match ****1/4 14. AWA World Champion Rick Martel vs Mr. Saito ****1/4 15. AWA World Tag Team Champions Midnight Rockers vs Adrian Adonis & Bob Orton Jr. - AWA January 1988 ****1/4 Notes: I included Bock vs Jumbo title switch because it was an AWA title switch. Also since I had matches with Bock vs Martel and Martel vs Jumbo, I wanted to close the loop and include Bock vs Jumbo. Please heed my advice when I say avoid the AWA Title rematch in 1984 Bock and Jumbo have in Osaka, which is pretty boring. It is a good match, but nowhere near the awesomeness of the title switch. Terry Funk is the special guest ref in both so it is easy to confuse like my sorry ass did. Findings: I LOVE THE AWA! This is my kinda territory. It is like the WWF, but with better workers and better matches. I loved all the over the top gimmicks and power wrestlers. Fuck all those people that complain about the old timers, they were so much fun in this! I loved Verne coming back for one more match with his arch nemesis, Mad Dog (remember Verne you OWE Mad Dog the favor!) against the Sheiks. Da Crusher is just the coolest muthafucka ever. When his woman lost 50lbs he kicked her to the curb because she could not do the polka as good. That's hilarious! That steel cage match against the Sheiks is just awesome, raucous mayhem. This brings me to my next point, AWA kicked fucking ass at the tag team steel cage match. It is probably because most of them involved Blackwell and al-Kaisse, who are two of the best cage match workers ever. They always cut a frenetic pace and coupled that with brutal violence. I honestly do not think Blackwell ever had a bad match. Obviously not everything is a classic, but there is always something entertaining about his matches. He bumped HUGE, sold so well, timed everything to perfection and had some nasty offense. I loved how all his matches were worked around his deadly splash. It was such excellent psychology and after all those years of missing his home run shot and losing the match, he finally fucking nailed against friend turned rival, Sheik Adnan al-Kaisee. I hate to be Debbie Downer, but I actually was not that high on that match that seemingly everyone loved. I thought it was a great revenge match, but did not think it was next level. It was a bit too slow at times and did not have that fist-pumping feeling to it. Also, I am incredibly shocked by the high ranking of Hansen vs Blackwell. Yes it was OMFG BLACKWELL VS HANSEN~!, but I thought it was an entertaining TV match to set up a house show loop, cant see how it is the 20th best AWA match of the 80s. Then you had the Rockers & Rose & Somers uphold that legacy with two different, but both all-time classic cage matches in their feud. Those cage matches have been dissected to death and you can look at my reviews to get my take. Yes, I hold the opposite view of the mainstream that St. Paul match is the better one. This was one of the best tag team feuds of all time and probably my choice for best American tag team feud. I would say Blood in the Sand is the best American tag team match in history. I am going to through the RnRs and MX in depth soon, we shall see. Finally, took a pretty decent look at Martel's AWA title reign, I skipped over the Jimmy Garvin feud though I have seen the matches before. The September '84 Bockwinkel match is the high water mark for me, just an excellent exhibition of how much selling means in a match. Then diametrically opposed, but almost as good, is the 1985 bomb-throwing fest between Jumbo and Martel in St. Paul.In short, AWA was a tremendous tag team territory right through early 1987 with a special niche in the tag team steel cage match that never ceased to entertain me. I loved all the gimmicks. Hogan on Flair's podcast said that Verne for all his real shooter instincts, loved gimmicks and crazy characters. I think it showed in '83 & '84. It is just too bad he could manufacture so more in the mid-80s when it was time for your Mad Dogs, Crushers and Barons to hand it up. Nick Bockwinkel is indeed The Man in the AWA. I need to see more to really flesh out who really is and I really look forward to revisiting the matches with Hennig and Hansen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goc Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 Appreciate that, brutha. Yeah I am definitely no minmalist, but I can appreciate a worker like Lawler or a performance like Olympia in the Chavo match. As long as you tell a good story, I am game to go along for the ride. I got to the halfway point on AWA. I will post my findings later. I would say of the four territories it is my favorite. I love the characters! How can you not love the Sheiks, Mad Dog and Da Crusher! That coupled with classic Bock and Martel it is the most well-balanced promotion of the 80s that I have watched. It feels like the WWF if the WWF did wrestling better. I really liked the early 80s AWA but man I did not like Mad Dog AT ALL. That little shit didn't want to sell ANYTHING. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victory Posted October 14, 2015 Report Share Posted October 14, 2015 AWA Progress Report I finished the halfway point around a month ago, but I have been pressed for time and did not get a chance to write a progress report. I am procrastinating at work so I figured I write this up. Watched: Bockwinkel vs Martel vs Jumbo (8), Best of Crusher Blackwell (7), Best of High Flyers (5), Rockers vs Rose & Somers (7, includes Adonis & Orton Bonus Match) a total of 25 matches Need to watch: Bock vs Hennig vs Hansen, Bockwinkel Misc Classics, Misc. Non-Bock Classics Match Rankings Thus Far (only >=****1/4): 1. Blood in the Sand: AWA World Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers vs Midnight Rockers ***** 2. AWA World Champion Rick Martel vs Nick Bockwinkel - Winnipeg 9/20/84 ****3/4 3. Brawl in St. Paul: AWA World Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers vs Midnight Rockers - St. Paul 12/25/86 Steel Cage Match ****3/4 4. The Sheiks (Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell & Sheik Adnan Al-Kassie) vs Greg Gagne & Da Crusher - Steel Cage Match ****3/4 5. Vegas Cage Match: AWA World Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose & Doug Somers vs Midnight Rockers - Las Vegas 1/17/87 Steel Cage Match ****1/2 6. AWA World Tag Team Champions High Flyers vs Strike Force -8/29/82 ****1/2 7. AWA World Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Jumbo Tsuruta - All Japan Title Change ****1/2 8. The Sheiks (Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell & Sheik Adnan al-Kaisse) vs High Flyers - Steel Cage Match 4/18/82 ****1/2 9. AWA World Champion Jumbo Tsuruta vs Rick Martel - AWA 9/25/85 ****1/2 10. Crusher Blackwell vs Mad Dog Vachon - Algerian Death Match ****1/4 11. Crusher Blackwell & Sgt. Slaughter vs Sheik Adnan al-Kaisse, Masked Superstar & Haku - Steel Cage Match ****1/4 12. Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito vs High Flyers ****1/4 13. The Sheiks (Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell & Sheik Adnan al-Kaisse) vs Mad Dog Vachon & Baron Von Rascke - Taped Fist Match ****1/4 14. AWA World Champion Rick Martel vs Mr. Saito ****1/4 15. AWA World Tag Team Champions Midnight Rockers vs Adrian Adonis & Bob Orton Jr. - AWA January 1988 ****1/4 Notes: I included Bock vs Jumbo title switch because it was an AWA title switch. Also since I had matches with Bock vs Martel and Martel vs Jumbo, I wanted to close the loop and include Bock vs Jumbo. Please heed my advice when I say avoid the AWA Title rematch in 1984 Bock and Jumbo have in Osaka, which is pretty boring. It is a good match, but nowhere near the awesomeness of the title switch. Terry Funk is the special guest ref in both so it is easy to confuse like my sorry ass did. Findings: I LOVE THE AWA! This is my kinda territory. It is like the WWF, but with better workers and better matches. I loved all the over the top gimmicks and power wrestlers. Fuck all those people that complain about the old timers, they were so much fun in this! I loved Verne coming back for one more match with his arch nemesis, Mad Dog (remember Verne you OWE Mad Dog the favor!) against the Sheiks. Da Crusher is just the coolest muthafucka ever. When his woman lost 50lbs he kicked her to the curb because she could not do the polka as good. That's hilarious! That steel cage match against the Sheiks is just awesome, raucous mayhem. This brings me to my next point, AWA kicked fucking ass at the tag team steel cage match. It is probably because most of them involved Blackwell and al-Kaisse, who are two of the best cage match workers ever. They always cut a frenetic pace and coupled that with brutal violence. I honestly do not think Blackwell ever had a bad match. Obviously not everything is a classic, but there is always something entertaining about his matches. He bumped HUGE, sold so well, timed everything to perfection and had some nasty offense. I loved how all his matches were worked around his deadly splash. It was such excellent psychology and after all those years of missing his home run shot and losing the match, he finally fucking nailed against friend turned rival, Sheik Adnan al-Kaisee. I hate to be Debbie Downer, but I actually was not that high on that match that seemingly everyone loved. I thought it was a great revenge match, but did not think it was next level. It was a bit too slow at times and did not have that fist-pumping feeling to it. Also, I am incredibly shocked by the high ranking of Hansen vs Blackwell. Yes it was OMFG BLACKWELL VS HANSEN~!, but I thought it was an entertaining TV match to set up a house show loop, cant see how it is the 20th best AWA match of the 80s. Then you had the Rockers & Rose & Somers uphold that legacy with two different, but both all-time classic cage matches in their feud. Those cage matches have been dissected to death and you can look at my reviews to get my take. Yes, I hold the opposite view of the mainstream that St. Paul match is the better one. This was one of the best tag team feuds of all time and probably my choice for best American tag team feud. I would say Blood in the Sand is the best American tag team match in history. I am going to through the RnRs and MX in depth soon, we shall see. Finally, took a pretty decent look at Martel's AWA title reign, I skipped over the Jimmy Garvin feud though I have seen the matches before. The September '84 Bockwinkel match is the high water mark for me, just an excellent exhibition of how much selling means in a match. Then diametrically opposed, but almost as good, is the 1985 bomb-throwing fest between Jumbo and Martel in St. Paul. In short, AWA was a tremendous tag team territory right through early 1987 with a special niche in the tag team steel cage match that never ceased to entertain me. I loved all the gimmicks. Hogan on Flair's podcast said that Verne for all his real shooter instincts, loved gimmicks and crazy characters. I think it showed in '83 & '84. It is just too bad he could manufacture so more in the mid-80s when it was time for your Mad Dogs, Crushers and Barons to hand it up. Nick Bockwinkel is indeed The Man in the AWA. I need to see more to really flesh out who really is and I really look forward to revisiting the matches with Hennig and Hansen. I'm right with you on the Blood in the Sand match being the best American tag match. I still remember watching that when it first aired and I was blown away then and still am now. I still can't decide which one of those cage matches with the Rockers and Rose/Somers I like better. If I had to choose right now I think I would go with the St. Paul one as well. Both are great though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted October 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2015 I am definitely more enamored with Mad Dog the character, but that being said I really loved him in those Blackwell matches as this crazy monster babyface. Where Taz failed, Mad Dog succeeded. There are a couple American tags MX/Fans in Crockett, Luger&Windham/Horsemen, Steamboat&Rhodes/Enforcers that might come close that I have not watched in a while, but I think Blood in the Sand takes it for now.I just got to the halfway point on Mid-South. Hacksaw Duggan is awesome and I want to say one of the most unique characters in wrestling history. It only took a couple of Dick Murdoch matches, but I felt like I knew this man my whole life what an absolutely tremendous wrestler. I would say Mid-South is there with AWA in terms of match quality and may exceed it in some ways. I think I was more entertained by the characters of the AWA, but Mid-South has been a close second in terms of my favorite territory. I will have more detailed progress report once I write up all these Murdoch reviews, but snowflakes will be falling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted October 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2015 Mid-South/UWF Progress ReportI still have to write a bunch of Murdoch reviews, but I wanted to write this up now and not wait as long as I did with the AWA. Watched: Best of Magnum TA (5), Best of Hacksaw Duggan (8), Best of Guerreros (4), Best of Dick Murdoch (6), 23 Total Need to watch: The Nature Boy in Mid-South, Best of MX & RNR Express and Miscellaneous matches Rankings (>=****1/4): 1. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (No DQ, Loser Leaves Town, Coal Miner's Glove on a Poll, Tuxedo, Cage match) ***** 2. Hacksaw Duggan vs. Buzz Sawyer - 11/11/85 ***** 3. Mid-South North American Champion Dick Murdoch vs Butch Reed - 10/14/85 ****3/4 4. Mid-South North American Champion Dick Murdoch vs Butch Reed - 9/22/85 ****3/4 5. Mid-South North American Champion Magnum TA vs Ted DiBiase- Tulsa 5/27/84 No DQ ****1/2 6. Mr. Olympia vs. Chavo Guerrero - Mid-South 6/24/83 ****1/2 7. Hacksaw Duggan vs Buzz Sawyer - 12/27/85 Dog Collar Match ****1/2 8. Dick Murdoch vs. Barry Windham - 7/11/87 ****1/2 9. Ted DiBiase vs. Dick Murdoch - 12/31/85 ****1/2 10. The Fabulous Ones vs. Chavo & Hector Guerrero (Mexican Death Match) - Houston 1/24/86 ****1/4 11. Ted DiBiase vs. Jim Duggan (No DQ) - 3/8/85 ****1/4 12. North American Champion Magnum TA vs Ted DiBiase - OKC 5/27/84 No DQ ****1/4 13. Ted DiBiase vs. Hacksaw Duggan (Street Fight) - Houston 7/29/83 ****1/4 14. Rock N Roll Express & Hacksaw Duggan vs. Midnight Express & Ernie Ladd -6/8/84 ****1/4 Findings: Mid-South is one of the most loaded promotions of the 1980s having a strong core of babyfaces with Junkyard Dog, Hacksaw Duggan and Magnum TA in 1984 and then in 1985 by turning Butch Reed as a babyface to replace the departed Dog and by the end of 85 turning DiBiase to create another incredibly strong trio of babyfaces. On the heel side, they had Butch, DiBiase, Midnight Express and Dicky Slater & Buzz Sawyer. In mid-1985, Dick Murdoch returned full-time and was the perfect flexible champion to play face when necessary, de facto heel against Butch Reed to prepare him for the Flair match, and outright heel against DiBiase. It only took a couple matches for me to feel like I knew Dick Murdoch my whole wrestling fandom. He is so readily accessible and versatile playing babyface and heel. His stooging spots are among the best ever to exist. He is an absolute pro at torturing someone with arm work and may be my selection for best at arm work in history. At the same time, he has explosive offense attacking the neck and leading to the Brainbuster! He is definitely a lock for top 100 list for greatest wrestler ever. At the end of the day, there is only one major star of the Mid-South set so far and that is Hacksaw Duggan, who has one of the all-time great babyface runs from the summer of 1983 to the summer of 1987. Duggan is such a different babyface than almost any babyface that has existed since Bruno. In a lot of ways, I see him as an heir to Bruno. He has a Northern, blue collar everyman feel that I think outside of Da Crusher and Bruno that has totally been ignored by pro wrestling. Most everyman characters like Steve Austin or Dusty Rhodes have a southern feel to him. Someone like John Cena could be that guy and sometimes he is, but he has too much Hogan in him that does not make him realistic enough to be that true Northern, blue collar man. Growing up in the North, I have always thought this was sad reality that the unique Northern, urban aesthetic has been mostly ignored even though Boston, NYC, Philly and Chicago fans are among the most rabid. Leave it to Bill Watts to push a strong Northern character in the deep south, the dame way he broke the mold by pushing a strong black babyface to massive success. I think that is Bill Watts is greatest characteristic is ability to know when to stick with tradition and when to depart. In a territory of power wrestling, he was not afraid to use the Midnight Express and Rock N Roll Express as main event acts. The Hacksaw Duggan push is among his greatest pieces of booking. Duggan fit like a glove in Mid-South's power-oriented environment. I love great power wrestling and it is probably my favorite style. In addition, he had the ex-football background that Watts loved. He knew how to cut an earnest, ass-kicking promo. In between those ropes, during his heyday, he was in the upper-tier of brawlers. Having bloody brawl after bloody brawl with Ted DiBiase and Buzz Sawyer. His work single-handedly made Mid-South in my opinion the premier brawling territory I have watched. I cant' say enough great things about Duggan and it only makes me angry how he was used in WWF when he was so fucking good in Mid-South. Of course, you can't talk Mid-South, without discussing Ted DiBiase. This may controversial to some and to others it is just reinforcing existing opinions. He was just kinda there. He was in there for some of the best matches in history, but I thought in the case of Duggan and Murdoch matches he was the second best wrestler. In the Magnum matches, he did seem to finally be leading the matches. The Duggan match is one of the ultimate payoff matches and DiBiase is great in that, but it is Duggan that really shines. There is still more DiBiase to be watched. I just don't have a feel for him. I know his stock spots, but what's his gameplan in each match? I will keep in an open minded. I am definitely looking forward to some more great brawls from Mid-South and all the Ric Flair classics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted November 12, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 12, 2015 World Class Championship Wrestling Progress Report Watched: Flair vs Von Erichs (7 matches), Freebirds vs Von Erichs (16 matches), total of 23 matches Need to watch: Von Erichs vs Dynamic Duo, Best of Chris Adams and Misc matches. Rankings (>=****1/4) 1. Fabulous Freebirds vs Von Erichs -7/4/83 ****3/4 2. Kerry Von Erich vs Michael Hayes - 11/24/83 Loser Leaves Town, Cage Match ****3/4 3. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich - 8/15/82 2 out of 3 Falls ****3/4 4. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kevin Von Erich - 5/5/85 ****1/2 5. Kerry & Kevin Von Erich vs Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts - 2/16/88 ****1/2 6. Kevin Von Erich vs "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin - 7/18/83 ****1/2 7. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs David Von Erich - 10/11/82 ****1/2 8. Kevin & David Von Erich vs Jimmy Garvin & Terry Gordy - 8/15/83 2 Out of 3 Falls ****1/2 9. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich - 12/25/82 Steel Cage Match ****1/2 10. Fabulous Freebirds vs Von Erichs (Kerry, Kevin & David) - 9/5/83 ****1/2 11. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kevin Von Erich - 4/1/83 ****1/4 12. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich - 5/6/84 For the emotional moment Notes: I have the least to say about World Class. I definitely got swept in the fervor of the Von Erich boys when I was watching, but over time there were diminishing returns. They were always portrayed as world beaters and they never really faced any real sense of danger. The Freebird matches were always fun, but so many lacked drama because the heat segment was either short or non-existent. Kerry and Kevin were both awesome workers and totally different. Kevin embodies "think shoot, but work" and is just a scrappy muthafucka. Kerry Von Erich was incredibly charismatic power wrestler. I just wished both would show a little more vulnerability to really hook me in. They did not finally have that violent, chaotic brawl until 1988! That would have been huge in 1983. World Class had the thinnest roster of any promotion I have looked at and ultimately was not sustainable, but that single year of 1983 maybe the hottest one year in the history of pro wrestling for anyone promotion. Every crowd was absolutely molten for the Von Erichs/Freebirds. I love their July 4th match to death and that crowd is one of the best crowds ever.I loved Flair vs the Von Erich boys. The matches with Kevin are just absolute wars. I think they hold water with Flair's stuff against Wahoo and Garvin. Flair vs Kerry is only eclipsed by Flair vs Luger in terms of that classic Flair vs. Power Wrestler match. I have never seen a WCCW Chris Adams or a Gino Hernandez match in my life. So I am looking forward to the last half of my watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted November 25, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 25, 2015 I think the AWA has an unfair advantage over these other territories because Prince is the menu music on all of them! Gotta love that Minneapolis Sound! Not going to let the elevator bring us down UH OH Let's Go Crazy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted November 30, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2015 I am going to do a WWF and JCP update soon, but I pretty much finished the AWA through 1987 so I figure I give an update since 1988/89 are being handled separately for all territories. I hope to get the Bock vs Hennig series reviews up by the end of Tuesday at the latest. What was watched: Bockwinkel vs Martel vs Jumbo (8), Best of Crusher Blackwell (7), Best of High Flyers (5), Rockers vs Rose & Somers (7, includes Adonis & Orton Bonus Match), Best of Nick Bockwinkel (4 matches), Best of Bock vs Hennig vs Hansen (7 matches) and AWA Classics (6 matches) for a total of 42 matches. What is left to watch: Jerry Lawler vs Curt Hennig (7/16/88), Jerry Lawler vs Kerry Von Erich (12/13/88), Nick Bockwinkel vs Larry Zbyszko (7/11/87) Is there anything I missed? 1. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig - Showboat 11/21/86 ***** 2. Blood in the Sand ***** 3. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Nick Bockwinkel- Winnipeg 9/20/84 ****3/4 4. Brawl in St. Paul Steel Cage Match ****3/4 5. The Sheiks (Sheik Adnan & Crusher Blackwell) vs Da Crusher & Greg Gagne - AWA 3/25/84 Steel Cage Match ****3/4 6. Las Vegas Cage Match ****1/2 7. AWA World Tag Team Champions High Flyers vs Rick Martel & Tito Santana - AWA 8/29/82 - ****1/2 8. AWA World Tag Team Champions High Flyers vs Crusher Blackwell & Sheik Adnan - AWA Steel Cage Match 4/18/82 ****1/2 9. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Wahoo McDaniel - AWA ****1/2 10. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Jumbo Tsuruta - AWA 9/29/85 ****1/2 11. Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito vs Fabulous Ones - AWA 9/30/84 ****1/2 12. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs Curt Hennig - AWA Superclash II 5/2/87 ****1/2 13. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs. Leon White ****1/4 14. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel vs. Curt Hennig - Brawl in St. Paul 12/25/86 ****1/4 15. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Curt Hennig - AWA TV 5/31/86 ****1/4 16. Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell vs Mad Vachon – AWA 5/22/83 Algerian Death Match ****1/4 17. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen vs Nick Bockwinkel - AWA Wrestlerock '86 ****1/4 18. Crusher Blackwell & Sgt. Slaughter vs Sheik Adnan, Masked Superstar, King Tonga - AWA Starcage 4/21/85 Steel Cage Match ****1/4 19. High Flyers vs Nick Bockwinkel & Mr. Saito - 3/7/85 ****1/4 20. Sheik Ayatollah Blackwell & Sheik Adnan Al-Kaisse vs Mad Dog Vachon & Baron Von Raschke - AWA 3/13/83 ****1/4 21. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Mr. Saito - AWA Winnipeg 4/24/85 ****1/4 22. AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel vs Terry Gordy - 8/85 ****1/4 23. AWA World Tag Champions Midnight Rockers vs Adrian Adonis & Bob Orton - AWA January 1988 ****1/4 Notes: I missed Da Crusher, Mad Dog and Baron! They added so much color to the promotion. Stan Hansen had some badass matches. I really liked the Sarge series. I thought the Hennig & White matches are two of the best World Championship television style bouts. It definitely left me wanting more. I know a lot of people really dug that second Hennig studio bout and I thought it was a badass sprint, but it just did not have that next level for me. Stan Hansen in the AWA is definitely some great resume padding for The Lariat, but there was nothing hear that I thought would really boost Hansen's resume if you werent a Hansen fan. It was just Hansen being Hansen. I would say Bock vs Hennig definitely trumped Bock vs Martel as much as it pains me to say it as a huge Martel fan. Every match you can feel the intensity from the opening lockup. There was just such great conviction in every one of their movements and the way you could hear the sound of flesh on flesh was great. The psychology was always top notch and you could really feel Hennig grow with every match. Bock looking that good that late in his career is amazing. I will say their one hour draw is a contender in my mind for not just best match of the 80s, but the best match of all time. It was so, so, so awesome watching that one again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted December 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2015 You know what does not get enough play is how friggin good the camera work was in AWA. You really felt like you were in the ring. It was gritty and you could really hear those flesh on flesh sound effects. Really dig it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawho5 Posted December 6, 2015 Report Share Posted December 6, 2015 Reading back through this I think you should look up a few Jim Breaks matches. It's not the territories per se, but the man had some of the nastiest arm offense I've ever seen and played his role as a heel to perfection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted June 16, 2016 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2016 All in due time, my friend. World of Sport will be after all American and puro is complete. Portland and Puerto Rico are almost out so it is high time to wrap up the four projects I was working on. As of this morning, what I wanted to watch from World Class has been completed and that is the top rated matches through 1987. What was watched: Best of Freebirds vs Von Erichs (15 matches), Flair vs Von Erichs (7 matches), Best of Dynamic Duo vs Von Erichs (7 matches), Best of Chris Adams singles (5 matches) and 8 miscellaneous classics including one that did not make the set: Harley Race vs Kerry Von Erich. 44 matches were watched (I know the math does not add up, but trust me 44 matches were watched). Match Rankings (>****1/4) 1. Six-Man Tag Team Champions Fabulous Freebirds vs Kerry Von Erich - WCCW 7/4/83 2 Out of 3 Falls 2. Kerry Von Erich vs Michael Hayes - WCCW 11/24/83 Loser Leaves Town Cage Match 3. Terry Gordy vs Killer Khan - WCCW 11/22/84 Texas Death Match 4. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich - WCCW 8/15/82 5. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kevin Von Erich - WCCW 5/5/85 6. Kerry & Kevin Von Erich vs Dynamic Duo - WCCW 10/6/85 Hair vs Hair 7. Kerry & Kevin Von Erich vs Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) - WCCW 2/16/88 8. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race vs Kevin Von Erich - WCCW 6/17/83 9. American Heavyweight Champion Kevin Von Erich vs Gorgeous Jimmy Garvin - WCCW 7/18/83 10. Kevin & David Von Erich vs "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin & Terry Gordy - WCCW 8/15/83 2 Out of 3 Falls 11. Kerry & Kevin Von Erich vs Dynamic Duo - WCCW 2/22/85 12. NWA World Heavyweight Ric Flair vs David Von Erich - WCCW 10/11/82 13. NWA World Heavyweight Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich - WCCW 12/25/82 Steel Cage Match 14. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kevin Von Erich - WCCW 4/1/83 15. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Terry Gordy - WCCW 2/4/83 16. Harley Race vs Kerry Von Erich - WCCW 6/4/82 17. Von Erichs & Iceman Parsons vs Fabulous Freebirds & Jimmy Garvin - WCCW 5/27/83 18. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Kerry Von Erich vs Ric Flair - WCCW 5/11/84 19. Six-Man Tag Team Champions Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez & Jake the Snake Roberts vs Kerry, Kevin & Mike Von Erich - WCCW 12/31/84 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superstar Sleeze Posted July 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2016 I am going to edit in analysis later for both World Class & Mid-South later. Here is the best of Mid-South, 53 matches were watched. If AWA was my favorite, Mid-South has been with a whopping 31 matches at ****1/4+, which is almost a 60% batting average. 1. Ted DiBiase vs Hacksaw Duggan (No DQ, Loser Leaves Town, Coal Miner's Glove on a Poll, Steel Cage Tuxedo Match) 2. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Terry Taylor - Superdome 6/1/85 3. Hacksaw Duggan vs Buzz Sawyer - 11/11/85 4. Mid-South North American Champion Dick Murdoch vs Butch Reed - 10/14/85 5. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich - Tulsa 4/28/85 6. Mid-South North American Champion Dick Murdoch vs Butch Reed - 9/22/85 7. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Terry Taylor - Houston 5/3/85 8. NWA Western States Heritage Champion Barry Windham vs Dick Murdoch - 7/11/87 9. Mid-South North American Champion Magnum TA vs Ted DiBiase - Tulsa 5/27/84 No DQ 10. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Ted DiBiase - 11/6/85 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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