[1981-10-14-MACW-TV] Roddy Piper vs Jay Youngblood

[Superstar Sleeze]

Roddy Piper vs Jay Youngblood - MACW TV 10/81

 

Youngblood is seeking revenge for Wahoo McDaniel, who had defeated Piper for the US Championship and was then attacked by Piper's paid mercenary, Abby. Youngblood is defending Wahoo's honor because David Crockett says that Youngblood represents what Wahoo is. Caudle does not dance around the subject, he just says that Indian is angry! It was a funny moment of awkward 1981 political correctness.

 

Roddy Piper reminds me of John McEnroe in this match as he is a total brat in all this especially to the ref and then in his actions down stretch. What I am really impressed with was how Piper was able to adapt to Mid-Atlantic's signature style. The action-packed,hard-hitting, high octane style that revolutionized wrestling, but is not how you think of Piper's style, which is more of a brawling, character-driven focus. Piper had not problem smacking leather with Youngblood. Youngblood had some fucking stiff chops. I loved the beginning of the match. Everything Piper throws at Youngblood, Youngblood counters in kind. Piper chops Youngblood so he chops harder. Piper tries to wrestle Youngblood shows him up on the mat. Each time Piper bitches out and stalls. Piper actually takes control using power of all things. It is a backbreaker and there is a short focus on the back that is until Youngblood headbutts Piper so hard he busts him open. OW! Piper jabs him in the throat with a thumb. Now thats the Piper I know! Piper sleeper, but he cant put Youngblood. They have a terrific Mid-Atlantic style finish stretch where Piper looks every bit like a Carolina boy as he stands toe to toe with the hard hitting Youngblood. They trade nearfalls back and forth, but there is a struggle and urgency to actually winning the match that misses from today's wrestling. Piper headbutts Youngblood so hard it knocks them both out as the time limit expires. Piper is a dick after match and attacks Youngblood from behind and punches him in the head repeatedly.

 

Awesome TV match where there is never a dull moment, Youngblood is a great fired up babyface and Piper the consummate heel. ***1/4

[KB8]

Really cool ten minute bout. Piper's best quality in the ring might be his unpredictability. He'll do a bunch of shit off the cuff that makes all of his matches feel uncooperative. Going for an armdrag? Nope, you're getting flung on your arse. Collar-and-elbow tie-up? Here's a headbutt. Punch exchange? You're getting dragged by the hair into a headlock and a thumb's getting jabbed in your throat. It might look messy sometimes, but I'll take that a hundred times out of a hundred over something that looks like a pre-planned choreography session (yes I am an old man yelling at clouds. I've made peace with it). This started great with some real quick scrambling. Piper would take Jay's back, Jay would take Piper's and muss up his hair, so Piper would grab a handful of Jay's and swing him around. He'd take powders because maybe he underestimated Yougblood, then he'd shit talk Caudle for making that point. He even suggested a death match with Yougblood when Jay made the challenge earlier on the show, now he's having to regroup. This of course annoys him further and it leads to them trading snug headbutts and chops. Last couple minutes are a race to beat the clock, Piper going off on the ref' when he can't put Youngblood away with the sleeper. And of course a draw isn't an acceptable result so he beats on Jay some more after the bell. Piper really feels like one of the great studio match wrestlers of all time.

[JKWebb]

I couldn't agree more KB8.  I love the finish of this too, he hits the headbutt and they both are out of it into the time limit draw.  He's such a great heel on these shows, speaking to all the great stuff you mentioned above.  There's another match with Jake Roberts on 6/23/1982, which isn't as good as this one to me, but Ricky Steamboat is commentary and points out all the little things Piper does as a heel in the match which I love.  I love his Portland TV stuff too.  100% - it goes without saying, but yeah - Piper is perfect for these TV settings - one of the GOATs no doubt!