[1973-03-14-Joint Promotions] Jim Breaks vs Johnny Saint

[Microstatistics]

Very good match but I thought they clearly topped it in the title match a few months later. Good exchanges and the cool character work you would expect from Breaks. *** 3/4

[Jetlag]

This is a classic pro wrestling job. Breaks is the champion and puts Saint over really strong here to set up their title match a few months later. Saint didn't have his signature crazy reversals at this point (or abstained from doing them here) and is a much more restrained serious babyface, while Breaks is just all over the place with his exaggerated selling and mannerisms. Much of the match was Breaks working over Saint with painful clinical holds and nasty little attacks to set up an explosive comeback from Saint. My favourite thing about Breaks is that he is constantly increasing the pressure, he will get a hold, and then move from there working towards a and elbow popping goal. When Saint gets a pin on him to win the first falls Breaks starts attacking his face in really nasty ways, so Saint comes back furious busting his nose and bloodying Breaks. Walton points out Breaks had his nose broken so many times that there is no bone left but its still really painful. Breaks gets mad and looks to finish the match quickly but Saint one ups him and steals a pin in the blink of an eye. This is classic efficient pro wrestling executed to perfection with some really cool technical prowres on display.

[Clayton Jones]

Excellent match especially for the time period that left me excited for the title bout. I thought they went to the well of the "face treatment" and Saint's hulk ups a few too many times, but Breaks' is such a fantastic heel that it never got old.