Curt Hennig vs. Assassin (7/9/83)

[goodhelmet]

Curt Hennig vs. Assassin (7/9/83) (Coal MIners Glove)

[garretta]

There was so much action in this one that it's hard to believe that the match took less than eight minutes. They packed enough into this for a bout at least three times that long.

 

The excitement level was absolutely off the charts, both with the crowd and the announcers. Dutch in particular was going crazy, which fit perfectly since he's the man most closely associated with this type of match.

 

We got a lot of climbing spots, but there was also a nice stiff brawl to go with them. I didn't think they'd go for blood here until and unless it was caused by the glove, so Assassin opening Curt up on the post surprised me.

 

Nice catch by Dutch of Sandy counting Curt and Assassin out of the ring when there's no such thing as a countout in this type of match. I'm sure it was an honest mistake, but most announcers won't say anything in that situation for fear of hurting someone's feelings unnecessarily. Better that than making everyone involved look like idiots who don't even know the rules of their own matches, though.

 

I loved Curt's strategy of trying to tear the mask, not to guess Assassin's identity but to get at the object he supposedly keeps hidden in there. He even bit Assassin through the mask, and if anything will let you know if metal is anywhere around, biting will. The strategy made extra sense when you stop to consider how many times Curt's been waylaid by Assassin's headbutts over the last few months.

 

How they managed to work so many twists and turns once Assassin got the glove I'll never know. I lost track of how many times the glove changed hands before Curt finally got it and knocked Assassin cold with it.

 

I wish this one had been a bit longer, but they did a superlative job with the limited time they were given. Congratulations to everyone!