[1976-08-25-Joint Promotions] Steve Grey vs Vic Faulkner

[GSR]

Single leg takedown by Faulkner and he goes to slam Grey's leg into the canvas but he hops up.  Wristlock, and Faulkner is starting with his tricks early, motioning with his head for Grey to look up.  He does, then Faulkner immediately headmares him but Grey holds on to the move.  He tries again to no avail, so a nip up, forward roll and he propels himself backwards off the ropes to get the reversal and Grey rolls through to escape.  Side headlock by Grey and Faulkner starts running on the spot, but in the process is repeatedly kneeing Grey in the base of the spine to free himself from the hold.  Dropkick by Grey and they start criss crossing.  Grey stops as Faulkner continues to run the ropes.  He all of a sudden stops, points upwards to distract Grey then lunges at him but Grey ducks out of the way.  Faulkner whips him into the ropes, leap frogs Grey then takes him down with a flying headscissors.  Reverse double leg nelson and Faulkner bridges back to take the opening fall in just 2:35 of the first round.  He then walks Grey back to his corner and towels him down.  Faulkner with a Japanese stranglehold and he pulls it back into a surfboard.  Top wristlock and Grey steps into the hold for the reversal before another random criss cross spot.  Grey turns an over the shoulder arm lever into a crucifix, and Faulkner escapes a full nelson, comes off the ropes and over the top of Grey with a sunset flip.  They criss cross again, Grey drops to the canvas, Faulkner leaps over him, Grey's up and goes 'whoa, whoa, whoa!' whilst signalling for Faulkner to stop running.  He does, turns his back then Grey O'Connor rolls him to square things up.  After being pinned, Faulkner lifts Grey's arm up and starts clapping him (Christ!).  With both men now requiring just the one fall, a double fingerlock sees Grey go for the pin.  Faulkner bridges up, monkey flip and rolls back to cover Grey.  He then starts to work on the arm but Grey picks him up and sits him on the turnbuckle.  Multiple double leg grab attempts by Faulkner and Grey spins him out on each occasion, before getting the winning fall with a backslide.

Disappointing bout with Grey adopting some of the tricks and tactics of Faulkner.  There didn't seem to be much structure to the match and whilst not as blatant as Saint vs Faulkner it did have its similarities.  The first fall coming so quickly was also a shocker as you are almost conditioned for them to come later into the match.  I've now seen three Faulkner matches (I also watched the Royals vs the Black Knights tag) and there is something about the guy to the point I'm disliking him the more I see.  For a face he's so ungodly smug and smarmy; from the permanent grin on his face, to the patronising of his opponents, to a couple of his ridiculous trademarks spots (the criss cross and the 'look up'), that you get the sense he could have been a tremendous heel.  Thing is there are plenty of glimpses that he could be a great wrestler.  He's an infuriating (and probably a polarising) one for sure.