[1984-04-06-Houston Wrestling] Mr Wrestling II vs Magnum T.A.

[shoe]

This is for the North American Title. I've been on record as saying I like 2 as a babyface more, but here his heel work was incredible.

 

It's start out with a quick burst of offense by TA. 2 starts his game plan and it's to take TA down to the mat so they're the same height. 2 knows TA has the strength and size advantage. Everytime 2 would take down TA, Magnum had a counter. Magnum would gain control with a headlock, and eventually a head scissors. This is working the neck. 2 would play a game of cat and mouse. TA would chase him into the ring and 2 caught him with his million dollar knee lift. That was a nasty shot. 2 starts to work on top just wrecking TA's arm and shoulder. He'd even use the Million Dollar Kneelift on the arm. 2 was constantly rubbing his forearm into Ta's arm. He uses the ropes for leverage. TA was just a surly SOB here. Wrestling 2 was destroying the arm to eliminate the Belly to Belly. Finally TA makes a comeback. 2 loads the mask and is about to pin him, until the foreign object falls out of the mask for a DQ. What a great match. 4*

 

[tcg91]

I liked this, they had good chemistry and 2's ability to be a good heel surprised me here, as he was really popular with the fans only a few weeks before the start of his feud with TA. Smart match, as 2 knew TA's skills and worked on his arm for a long time, trying to keep his former partner grounded as his only way to compete with TA's fire and strength. 2 controlled this well and TA showed good selling, then driving the crowd crazy when his comeback started. Funny and quite smart non-finish, as 2 tried to hide a weapon in his mask, but then dropped it. This was a classic veteran vs freak of nature youngster
***1/2