Matches From 1979

[Loss]

Marty Jones v Pete Roberts - World of Sport 06/27/79

 

This was the opener of a show from Wembley Arena, and what a terrific match it was. All sorts of Tiger Mask/Dynamite Kid-style offense and pacing a few years before that feud even got off the ground. I've seen three Marty Jones matches in my life, and they've all three been great (****+ if you like the star ratings), so he's off to a good start with me. Pete Roberts is pretty awesome also, but this is really the Marty show for me because he adds so much really strong heel schtick into all the super-paced athletic stuff. I was thoroughly impressed, and if this match is any indication, it's really worth wading through all the 70s Stampede and British stuff we can find to figure out if Sayama and Dynamite are the ones that created the style, or the ones that popularized it. Who influenced who?

 

Mal Sanders v Chato Pastor - World of Sport 06/27/79

 

I have no idea who either guy is, but they had a hell of a match that was wrestled in that same style, only without the great heel scthick to bring it all together. The most modern wrestling style in the late 70s was most likely taking place in Europe, not Japan or the US, if this pair of matches are any indication.

 

Look forward to watching Jim Breaks v Steve Grey and Marc Rocco/Steve Logan v Chris Adams/Pat Patton from the same show in the near future. First, I need to catch up on all the lucha stuff posted at DVDVR, though, to avoid Phil killing me.

[Loss]

Jim Breaks v Steve Grey - World of Sport 06/27/79

 

This was a pretty spectacular match that was on its way to becoming one of the greatest matches of all time before the totally weird finish where Grey loses his balance and falls outside the ring, necessitating a quick finish and title change. Everything before then is truly awesome, both Breaks working in the heel act to great heat, selling Grey's unique offense like a pro and building some great drama, and also Grey doing oddball things like walking handstands to counter side headlocks and basically using Breaks' face as the pedals on a unicycle to counter a short-arm scissors. British wrestling is way cool. Still the MOTY for 1979 for me in spite of the horrid finish, as it's preceded by 27 minutes of awesome.

[pantherwagner]

Marty Jones has been my "Jumbo Hori find" of 2007 so far. He's a guy I had already seen a few times (vs. Owen, vs. Tiger Mask) and I knew he was good, but not THIS good. You should check Marty vs. Caswell Martin. Martin is a capable worker, but you see how Jones walks him through a great, great match. His mid-90s Reslo "battle of the technicians" vs. Tony St. Clair also are fun matches, even if a bit short. I'm sure there's tons more good stuff, I just haven't gotten to it yet.

 

You should also check out his match in the first UWF vs. Super Tiger - great, great match. Sayama is being a total cunt stiffing Jones, who plays with it being an old school carny heel, then he gives back some and catches some of Sayama's flippy telegraphed kicks - this only annoys Sayama even more!

 

I have WoS episodes 51 to 150 and after what I have watched, I'm looking forward to get even more of this stuff, especially the first shows that are supposed to be an introduction to the style. I love the fact that I don't know about 70% of the guys, even by name/rep, so it's all new stuff open "to be discovered".