[1981-07-27-Joint Promotions] Jon Cortez vs Steve Grey

[GSR]

Prior to this match Johnny Saint comes into the ring as this is to be an eliminator for a shot at Saint's World Lightweight title later in the year. This is fought at a much quicker pace than the previous bout with Cortez having the advantage in the first round, even going for a pin attempt when turning a Grey back hammer escape into a sunset flip. At the end of the first we see Grey lose his temper thinking Cortez's attack came after the bell. Into the second and a front head chancery by Cortez which Grey spins out of and again Cortez is not breaking when on the ropes. Great action towards the end of the second as Grey tries to keep hold of a wrist lever whilst Cortez does all he can to escape. Full nelson by Cortez which is reversed by Grey, which Cortez then turns it into a crucifix for another pin attempt, but he's not happy with the referee thinking he's slow with his count. Cortez goes for a straight arm lift submission and then continues to concentrate on this hold, applying it a second time and when he goes for it a third (which could well get him the submission) Grey responds with a forearm smash that drops Cortez who has a look of 'Well the f____, so it's like that is it?' on his face. The bell rings to end the third but the two continue to argue after the bell with Cortez not happy at all about how Grey got out of the hold. Both are sweating considerably at this point with Cortez again looking at the left arm of Grey. Another straight arm lift but Grey escapes the fingerlock, stands on Cortez's shoulder, leaps to the canvas and hits a dropkick. Cortez barely beats the count and looks shattered. He bides his time trying to rest in the corner and slowing the pace whilst Grey beckons him to come in to the centre of the ring to continue. Leg grab from Grey and a kick to the thigh of Cortez and he isn't happy, complaining to the referee again. Grey has him backed up to the ropes and Cortez strikes him which prompts Grey to retaliate with a forearm to the chest and another kick to the leg. They again continue arguing after the bell and butt heads this time. The penultimate round and Grey looks for the surfboard, but has to give up when he can't get Cortez's arms. Cortez continues to suffer and sells the surfboard attempt nicely with his legs seemingly giving way. Monkey flip attempt from Cortez and Grey lands on his feet, tries it again but to his dismay he again lands on his feet. Goes for it a third time, but Grey drops him down for a folding press and Cortez just about kicks out in time and yet again there is more argy after the bell with Grey slapping Cortez. With one round left, Cortez jumps Grey immediately. Grey ends up getting his legs caught between the bottom two ropes and falls backwards hanging upside down outside the ring. The Red Cross and St. John's Ambulance come to help Grey, but the bout is called off with him unable to continue and Cortez is the victor by TKO.

 

This is a great, great match, and is probably the best match I've watched from 80's WOS so far. It doesn't have the high impact moves of Haward vs Myers, but I feel is a better match. The bout is really heated with both being more aggressive than normal (you rarely see Grey like he is in this one), as the added incentive of the title shot against Johnny Saint for the winner gives an added dimension to the contest. It'll take something special to beat this for my WOS match of the decade.

[Cap]

Sort of at the beginning of a dive into WOS (at least high end stuff) right now and was given this match in the Match Exchange project going on right now. i really enjoyed this a lot. This had a lot of grit and teeth to it. Everything was a struggle and the match got a little more chippy with every single exchange. I thought the head/neck work early was good by Cortez and I really liked how Grey came back with a frustrating combination of limb work and strikes. The between the bell stuff was great and I loved the touch of Cortez getting fired into the corner where the pad was down just seconds earlier (narrowly avoiding disaster) only to turn around to get Grey's ankle stuck in the ropes following a scuffle. It was sort of a strangely poetic ending to the match. It gets called because one man couldn't continue in sort of a fluke accident, but the other man was just seconds away from his own accident right before. I thought the elevation of violence was good, but patient. I thought both men did well to communicate the urgency of the match (with the title shot on the line). Really, this is great stuff.

[Jetlag]

Super intense contest in front of a really responsive Wembley crowd. I don't remember this being so one sided as Cortez takes most of the bout with Grey making the occasional fired up comeback one upping him, but they used that structure to great effect. Really one of the best examples of build in a wrestling match I can think of as the intensity is just simmering and both guys liking eachother less and less over the course of the match. Starts off with Cortez working a bunch of headlocks, which sounds boring but Cortez is such a high end wrestler it's ridiculous. Him yanking Grey by the chin or nose was a bit like Volk Han throwing someone by the wrist, and he really wrenches Greys face. Eventually Grey puts him in a headlock of his own for a nice pop which is the WoS equivalent of Dick Murdoch building to his punch. This match is remarkably simplified down altough they are working ultra tight and there are a small handful of beautiful reveras (partially the armlock escape Grey does which was like something a luchador should steal). Eventually it breaks down to Grey trying to jump on Cortezes injured leg whenever he gets the chance. I didn't remember the finish at it comes a bit out of nowhere and isn't really what you want but it really makes you want to see the rematch which unfortunately we never got.

[dawho5]

I have loved this match for a while and watched it again today.  Amazing stuff with headlocks as highspots (unbelievable at first, but the way they are applied is incredible.  Lovedthe subtle heel work by Cortez and Grey getting more and more fired up as the match went on.  Cortez's own anger later on when he gets a taste of his own medicine is perfect as a whiny heel move.  I know the style may seem dated watching it now, but I think that the way these guys built this match and the way the intensity just kept building is absolutely incredible.  If you are going to do a babyface vs. babyface match where things get more competitive as the match goes, this is a great blueprint.  No real big theatrics, just two guys getting consistently more frustrated and upset with the other for different reasons.

If the idea of a more pure, technical style of wrestling seems boring watch this match.  This is how you make technical wrestling marketable.

[tcg91]

This was absolutely tremendous. Cortez was probably having the best performance of his career here, starting this as a babyface match and gradually getting more and more heelish to keep controlling the pace. Grey is a good hand himself and, as seen in previous matches, loves to fight from underneath. I liked the growing tension and battle for supremacy, Cortez finally found a weakness in Grey's arm and started working on it without mercy. The last two rounds were all about Grey's reaction, with some rare vicious strikes and and a good comeback. The finish, although creative, was a bit of a let-down as I really wanted to see somebody get the victory here. Especially with no funny characters and both wearing basic black trunks, this is the best example of how great and simple Joint Promotions was
****1/4