[1981-12-04-Houston Wrestling] Tully Blanchard vs Manny Fernandez / Tully Blanchard vs Dick Slater

[shoe]

This paired with the Dick Slater match is one of those special Houston moments that the people there still talk about today. Manny is focusing on Tully's arm. All of Manny's work is full of vigor, and most importantly it looks like all the arm work hurts like hell. Manny is one of the great strikers of all time. In a small touch Tully positions his body so his arm is as far away from harms way is possible. Throughout the match Tully would get in some cheap shots. Eventually this leads to the flying burrito.

 

The 2nd fall is short and sweet. Manny misses the burrito and hits his neck on the ropes. He then rebounds into a nasty Tully knee. It had a real UFC feel that knee KO.

 

The 3rd fall is just a fight. Both guys bringing everything they have to the fight. The crowd is hot and when Gino comes out the heat is molten. Gino saves Tuly from getting pinned. Dick Slater is out with a 2x4 chasing Gino into the ring. As Gino runs into the ring, Tully is irishwhipped right into him and they bang heads and Manny gets the win. Slater beats on Gino with the 2x4 making him a bloody mess. Gino can't go on so Tully has to fight Slater.

 

1st Fall Slater is just taking it to Tully. Tully bumping all over the place. Slater is super agressive and full of anger. Slater takes the 1st fall. The 2nd fall Tully hits a slingshot head butt into Slater's bad arm. This was a great spot and lead to Tully just destroying the arm. Slater musters up enough fight for a comeback. Only problem Gino comes out all spirit of 76 and interferes giving Slater the match. Post match the heels lay out Slater until the cavalry arrived. This was great stuff. 4 1/2*