[1984-05-21-WWF-MSG, NY] Sgt. Slaughter vs Iron Sheik

[Superstar Sleeze]

Sgt. Slaughter vs Iron Sheik - WWF, MSG 5/21/84

They slowed down the match but did not sacrifice hatred one bit. Again, most wrestlers would be over the moon to have this be their blowoff match and Slaughter and Sheik are just getting started. I loved the beginning of the match with Sheik spitting and slapping Slaughter and Slaughter just needed one slap to level him. Slaughter tortures Sheik much to the joy of the MSG crowd again. This time he adds the fun wrinkle of loading his boot up and driving it into the face of Sheik. Danny Davis is forced to check boot, but Sarge plays these moments off great. Sheik is so great at just being a total chump wuss when it is necessary to really get the babyface over. Slaughter takes his wild out of control bump over the turnbuckles into the post and crashing to the floor. Sheiky Baby immediately pounces, grabbing a chair and slamming it across his back. Great spot! Slaughter's selling of pain and perseverance is some of the greatest work in the history of pro wrestling. I can't do it justice with words just watch the match if you have not already. The main story now is Sheik wants to drive Sarge's face into his loaded boot. Slaughter avoids it on the first go around, but Sheik finally pays it off and Slaughter is gushing blood. The crowd immediately breaks into U-S-A! chants to exhort on their hero. Sheik claws and gnaws at the open wound building to that red hot comeback. They do the suplex struggle spot, which Slaughter wins to a big pop. His hulk-up gets a huge reaction and he drills Sheik with the Slaughter Canon. In April, he clobbered Sheik with his boot. Now in May, he wants to Sheik to taste his own medicine and be beat senseless with the Sheik's own boot, the very boot that busted him wide open. The ref just doing his job tries to pull Sarge off and this triggers a Double DQ as both wrestlers shove Danny DAvis. Slaughter is able to get the boot off, but the midcarders stop it from happening.

 

Slaughter cuts a money babyface promo while wearing the crimson mask and climaxing with him reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Wow! If that does not make you want to see the Bootcamp match, I don't know what will. They set up perfectly for the payoff of Slaughter nailing Sheik with the boot. Sheik has not gotten color yet so they have that to pay off. Sheik has been an absolute dick in these matches so you want to his head get torn off. It is totally different than Flair/Steamboat, but it is right up there as a really awesome three match series. Maybe the best blood feud three match series. Incredible stuff. ****1/2

[goc]

This shares a lot of similarities with the Cap Centre match, with the transitions being the same (Slaughter bump over the top rope to set up Sheik's offense, Sheik missing a top rope move to set up Slaughter's comeback) and the finish being the same also but this one is definitely the better match. One, it has a much hotter crowd and it has a crazy blade job from Slaughter plus they do more stuff to set up why Slaughter would want to take off Iron Sheik's boot which felt missing from the match 2 days before at the Capital Centre. Also another really bad ass gutwrench suplex Iron Sheik. The only thing the Cap Centre match has over this one is the really nasty looking chairshot and that's probably for the best.

 

So yea if you have seen this one and not the match from the Capital Centre you're not really missing out although it's a nice companion piece if you really loved the feud overall as you can see how these guys worked a really solid match for the smaller market and then turned it up for MSG.

[SmartMark15]

Slaughter comes out decked in the red, white, and blue and boots the shit our of Sheiky baby. Sheik comes off like a real asshole with his spitting. He looks great here too. Good babyface shine for Slaughter interrupted by a catapult into the ringpost. Then shit gets real. Slaughter gets busted open like crazy and bleeds all over the garden. Sheik wails on him with the loaded boot. Loved the double DQ finish as Slaughter tries to get the boot off. Slaughter puts on a crazy good selling performance here and Sheik was a great heel.

 

****1/4

[MichaelZ]

This match was the highlight of the Sarge watch party. I hadn’t heard much hype for this but it was a really great match and worthy lead in to the classic bootcamp match. Sarge’s selling once he is busted open is next level stuff. Sheik was pretty great in this as well and had me wondering if he has been overlooked. Great postmatch as well.
 

Anyway, just wanted to bring a spotlight to this match if you haven’t seen it, it’s well worth your time.