Last Battle of Atlanta

[goodhelmet]

This will be a huge topic because of the hype. Let's keep it here for discussion and we will move this thread later once people have had a chance to watch it.

[Grimmas]

Watching this it feels like the first War Games, a **** 3/4 absolute war.

I loved the early arm work, then the bloody beatdown afterwards. The crowd was awesome. Need to see this a bunch more to gather all my thoughts.

[NintendoLogic]

I posted my initial thoughts in the WWE Network thread, but I'll move them here.

 

 

-That cage Ellering was suspended in looked really rickety. I would've been terrified if I was in that thing.

 

-One huge pet peeve of mine is when a match between guys who are in a blood feud begins with a lockup. I didn't like it in Magnum/Tully, and I didn't like it here.

 

-I also wasn't a huge fan of Sawyer working an armbar in the opening minutes. But Rich breaks it by going low and from that point on, it's basically all punches and ramming each other's heads into the cage, which is exactly what I want from a match like this.

 

-I liked how they started a ten-count whenever both guys were laid out. It got over the brutality of the match while forcing them to keep things moving. In fact, I totally would've bought passing out from blood loss as a finish because they both bled buckets.

 

-I was a bit worried when I saw that the video was 28:53. Matches like this shouldn't be anywhere near that long. So I was pleasantly surprised when the match ended at 13:00 (the rest of the video is Ole/Ellering which took place immediately afterward). It ended up being the perfect length.

 

-Really good match overall. On first blush, I'd rank it behind Duggan/DiBiase among 80s cage matches but ahead of Final Conflict, Magnum/Tully, and Lawler/Idol.

 

 

I don't want to seem like I'm trying to be nitpicky, so let me just emphasize that the opening lockup/armbar stuff was literally my only problem with the match. Everything after that was pure gold.

[soup23]

This was worth the wait for me. Buzz starts out going after the hand and in a great move Rich gets a glimpse of offense in using his leg. Buzz remains on the attack and Rich is bloodied three minutes in. He really is a bloody mess and only gets some offense in on a low blow. The cage gets introduced and the blood continues to pour as this match reaches that visceral level where you can feel the hatred of both men. Tremendous punches are shown by Rich. Buzz is presented as a great heel that is resourceful and able to capitalize even when overwhelmed. His piledrivers were tremendous and utilized to allow him to take advantage. Rich's head is a complete reddish hue halfway through the match. Buzz misses a big elbow drop and the crowd comes alive. Rich cant get up and is fighting laying down with kicks and the punches on the ground showing both the fatigue of the beating and the fighting nature of Wildfire. A great exchange happens with both men just waylaying into each other with stiff shots that Rich takes the advantage on. Rich then bites Buzz. Rich misses a fist drop from the top rope and the damage that was worked on in the onset by Buzz on the fist and arm is worse now. Buzz misses a wild splash into the corner to a huge pop. Rich's selling off the blood loss is next level with him wobbling after performing each move. Rich sends Buzz wobbly into the cage and is able to cover him to pick up the win. Buzz is a complete bloody mess as well and has to be consoled by Ellering after the match. Finish may be slightly anticlimactic but strike exchange leading up to it with both bloody is something to behold and even at 12 minutes, this felt like the perfect length. I compare it to something like Necro vs. Joe. *****

As an added bonus we get Ole going after Ellering and get the main event of the show. Ole is in his jeans and boots and rips them going after Paul. Paul had a bandage in the hype for this show and that gets opened up and the blood is flowing again. The match is all Ole on offense until Paul gets an inverted atomic drop. Ole gets sent into the cage and is cut open along with everyone else. Crowd rallies around Ole now that he is in peril. Ole makes his comeback with his clubbering forearms and we get a good strike exchange before Ole just tackles Paul down. Ole sends Paul head first into the cage and then hits a stomp off the middle rope. In a surprise, Paul reverses the tide again sending Ole head first into the cage. Ole fires back and we get another great strike exchange with Ole getting the knockout blow and winning. Closing angle finishes with Jake Roberts coming and whipping Ole with his belt and leaving him a bloody mess in the cage. This portion is really fun but it also shows the difference in intensity that we just watched with Buzz and Rich and the fact that in Georgia at this moment, Rich had more heat with the crowd than anyone including Ole. This felt like a way to shoe horn Ole in as the closing moment of the night.

[Loss]

I am disappointed in myself but I didn't care for this match too much. It struck me more as a historical landmark than a great match. I'll wait to elaborate until the novelty wears off so I don't ignite a mob.

[bradhindsight]

I felt like the opening arm work worked because Buzz knew it would be a slugfest so why not weaken your opponent's best weapon? It helped limit Rich early (Rich was clenching his fist and coddling the arm) so Buzz could go on the attack and inflict more damage as well.

 

I liked this a bit more after watching a second time. Posted my thoughts in the designated match thread Chad created. ****3/4 from me.

[Loss]

A second watch helped a lot. I don't think it ever escalated to the degree that it seemed like it was going to escalate, but I was paying more attention this time, and there were some key things I missed before. Strong match -- not an all-timer for me, but still great.

[Matt D]

I'm not ready to put it into context yet. I do think it's innately different than something like Tully vs Magnum because Mad Dog being a crazy sadistic heel as opposed to a chickenshit one. This was very much what it should have been, with Rich outquicking and finessing Sawyer to begin, Sawyer getting an advantage due to Rich being overzealous. The armwork UNLOCKING the ability for Buzz to slam Rich into the cage, and then a lot of heat with some big comeback spots, and them going toe to toe for the finish. In general, I'll take a match, even a bloody cage match, which is heat-centric over one with a lot of even brawling. It's all the more appropriate considering who was in there.

 

It's funny. I'm not sure people would have thought this lived up to the hype if it showed up ten-fifteen years ago, but after a bunch of 80s sets, I think it very much does.

[NintendoLogic]

After rewatching, I have less of a problem with the opening arm work. It was presented as Sawyer being opportunistic after Rich banged his arm on the cage rather than a strategy formulated beforehand. Given that, it made sense for him to abandon it after Rich kneed him in the groin. it was like he realized there was no real point in working holds in a match where your opponent can escape by gouging your eye or hitting you in the balls.

[Jmare007]

I loved it. It was exactly what it was supposed to be, a bloody brawl between two bitter rivals beating the fuck out of each other. Really liked the short length and how they kept things moving.

[flyonthewall2983]

What was on the rest of the card?

[peachchaos]

GCW @ Atlanta, GA - Omni - October 23, 1983 (10,600)

 

The Last Battle of Atlanta

1. Bruno Sammartino Jr. defeated Pat Rose

2. Les Thornton defeated Joe Lightfoot

3. The Great Kabuki (w/ Gary Hart) pinned National TV Champion Ron Garvin; Garvin remained champion since the decision came after the first 15 minutes of the bout

4. Mr. Wrestling #2 pinned Bob Roop (sub. for Mr. Wrestling #1) in a mask vs. mask match; after the bout, Mr. Wrestling #1 was unmasked as Jesse Barr

5. National Heavyweight Champion Brett Wayne fought Jake Roberts (w/ Paul Ellering) to a no contest

6. National Tag Team Champions the Road Warriors (w/ Paul Ellering) fought Jimmy Valiant & Pez Whatley to a double disqualification

7. Tommy Rich pinned Buzz Sawyer (w/ Paul Ellering) in a steel cage match; Ellering was suspended above the ring in a cage; stipulations stated Ole Anderson would face Ellering if Rich won

8. Ole Anderson pinned Paul Ellering in a lights out steel cage match

 

[peachchaos]

Also interesting is the fact that the annual Thanksgiving night tag tournament drew more (12,000) and featured Buzz and Rich as a team in the main event.

 

GCW @ Atlanta, GA - Omni - November 24, 1983 (12,000)
Thanksgiving Day
$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Opening Round: King Kong Bundy & Jim Neidhart defeated Joe Lightfoot & Tommy Rogers
$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Opening Round: Butch Reed & Pez Whatley defeated Randy Rose & Jim Randolph
Tag Team Tournament Opening Round: The Bruise Brothers (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Nikolai Volkoff & Korstia Korchenko
$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Opening Round: Ron Garvin & Jim Duggan defeated Chic Donovan & Bob Brown
$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Opening Round: Randy Savage & Magnum TA defeated the Mongolians
$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Quarter Finals: Butch Reed & Pez Whatley defeated King Kong Bundy & Jim Neidhart
$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Quarter Finals: The Bruise Brothers (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Ron Garvin & Jim Duggan
$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Semi Finals: Randy Savage & Magnum TA defeated the Bruise Brothers (w/ Jimmy Hart)
$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Finals: Butch Reed & Pez Whatley defeated Randy Savage & Magnum TA
Debbie Combs defeated Donna Day
National Heavyweight Champion Ted Dibiase defeated Brett Sawyer
Jake Roberts (w/ Paul Ellering) defeated Mr. Wrestling #2
Tommy Rich & Buzz Sawyer defeated the Road Warriors (w/ Paul Ellering)

[TravJ1979]

I think this is comparable to the Magnum/Tully Starrcade match, but I'm not sure I know the backstory of THIS match to the extent of the I Quit. I know nothing besides they were feuding. I did really enjoy this though.

[Matt D]

Also interesting is the fact that the annual Thanksgiving night tag tournament drew more (12,000) and featured Buzz and Rich as a team in the main event.

 

GCW @ Atlanta, GA - Omni - November 24, 1983 (12,000)

Thanksgiving Day

$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Opening Round: King Kong Bundy & Jim Neidhart defeated Joe Lightfoot & Tommy Rogers

$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Opening Round: Butch Reed & Pez Whatley defeated Randy Rose & Jim Randolph

Tag Team Tournament Opening Round: The Bruise Brothers (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Nikolai Volkoff & Korstia Korchenko

$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Opening Round: Ron Garvin & Jim Duggan defeated Chic Donovan & Bob Brown

$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Opening Round: Randy Savage & Magnum TA defeated the Mongolians

$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Quarter Finals: Butch Reed & Pez Whatley defeated King Kong Bundy & Jim Neidhart

$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Quarter Finals: The Bruise Brothers (w/ Jimmy Hart) defeated Ron Garvin & Jim Duggan

$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Semi Finals: Randy Savage & Magnum TA defeated the Bruise Brothers (w/ Jimmy Hart)

$50,000 Tag Team Tournament Finals: Butch Reed & Pez Whatley defeated Randy Savage & Magnum TA

Debbie Combs defeated Donna Day

National Heavyweight Champion Ted Dibiase defeated Brett Sawyer

Jake Roberts (w/ Paul Ellering) defeated Mr. Wrestling #2

Tommy Rich & Buzz Sawyer defeated the Road Warriors (w/ Paul Ellering)

Can we have that show too, please? Since WWE is being so giving and all.

[flyonthewall2983]

Was Bruno Sammartino, Jr. David?

[victory]

I don't think there was anyway this match could live up to the hype I had for it. A 33 year build up will do that sort of thing.

 

I liked it. The opening like has been mentioned was great with the early arm work by Buzz. Rich bleeding before the 4 minute mark was exactly what I wanted to see in a cage match blowing off a feud of this magnitude. I didn't like how Rich kind of no sold all the arm work the the rest of the match. Maybe a second watch will make me notice it differently. Both Rich and Buzz bumping into the cage was not as violent as I wanted it to be. Camera angle possibly gave it this effect. It becomes more noticeable when Ellering comes out and does a better job of it when he wrestles Ole.

 

The both do a good job with a sense of struggle and desperation throughout the match. The finish seemed maybe a minute or two premature. I guess I would rather have it that way than too long or seem predictable.

 

I will certainly watch this again as I still think I was so shocked it was being aired to begin with. I also wish we had more footage of Ellering after this as I thought he did a great job.

[victory]

Was Bruno Sammartino, Jr. David?

Yes.

[NintendoLogic]

Also interesting is the fact that the annual Thanksgiving night tag tournament drew more (12,000) and featured Buzz and Rich as a team in the main event.

 

Yeah, Buzz turned face shortly after this match when he rescued his brother Brett from the Legion of Doom.

[peachchaos]

 

Also interesting is the fact that the annual Thanksgiving night tag tournament drew more (12,000) and featured Buzz and Rich as a team in the main event.

 

GCW @ Atlanta, GA - Omni - November 24, 1983 (12,000)

Can we have that show too, please? Since WWE is being so giving and all.

 

Hell, I'll take the rest of the 10/23 card. But yeah, Magnum and Savage as a team sounds pretty incredible.

[BrianB]

Enjoyed the match. I'd go ****1/4 atm. I'll watch again a few more times this week. I also liked the opportunistic arm work early that fed into Sawyer's cage slamming offense. I wasn't as crazy about how Rich stopped selling the arm as much by the end, and the finish seemed a bit too soon or possibly just not quite a hard enough head bash into the cage? But both guys really convinced me of the core thing they needed to for this match that it was a brutal, bloody fight where both wanted to win and keep going hard after each other but becoming beat down and exhausted by the end. I prefer Tully/Magnum from Starrcade 85 but I think the two matches are worked a bit differently given the given personalities involved.

[shoe]

I feel some of Duggan's matches with Buzz were around this level, maybe even slightly better.

[fxnj]

The match would have been a lot better if they had gotten a few more minutes and did more with the arm work in the beginning. I say that not because I'm the type to get annoyed when a guy stops selling a body part when it's not being worked, but because as it is the match lacks a hook to really get it to the next level, content to settle into being a nice fisticuffs brawl with blood but not much more than that. Match needed to feel a bit more brutal for me to feel comfortable putting it on the level of Magnum/Tully given its short length and the somewhat anti-climactic ending also knocks it down a bit. I enjoyed it but it's debatable if it's even the best match in the collection as there's Thesz/Gunkel as a great NWA title match that's a masterclass in working holds and Ali/Wolfe as a really entertaining boxer vs wrestler match followed by some vintage Ali promos.

[Lee]

There's a Rich/Sawyer playlist on WWE.com if you want some additional context building the match up: http://www.wwe.com/videos/playlists/last-battle-of-atlanta-playlist

[JKWebb]

I loved this. A bloody slugfest. It really escalated as they were slugging it out fatigued on their knees, just really brutal. Since others have compared... I don't think this was as good as Magnum and Tully, the Final Conflict, or Sawyer/Duggan from Mid-South... However, I don't want that to take away from this. This had a lot of hype, and I do think it delivered. Those are all-time classics, and I do think this is close to that level.