[1980-08-09-PNW] Rick Martel vs Buddy Rose

[SAMS]

1980-08-09
PNW
Rick Martel (c) vs Buddy Rose
NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title No Disqualification Best Two Out Of Three Falls Match
Sports Arena, Portland, Oregon, USA
Card
★★★

Two really good falls bookending a subpar one. Rose’s mask by now was really looking worse for wear, with more than half the original wig gone and it was completely frayed at the edges. Early on Rose did his usual stalling, but added in a few nice touches like turning his back to Martel in the corner and started to pray (at least that’s what it looked like to me). Martel got his own back in the end with a late flurry and his signature Hurricanrana into a pin got him the first fall. 
The second fall was pretty pedestrian. I liked Martel’s focus on the back but it didn’t really go anywhere and lacked any intensity or grit. Ultimately, after having gotten barely anything in for two falls, Rose dumped Martel balls first onto the turnbuckle for the equaliser.
I really loved Rose doing the Ali shuffle to start off the third fall, full of confidence and bravado after winning the previous fall. A few wild punches that missed their mark was enough though for Martel to gain control and in the end he did unto Rose what he himself had delivered earlier, and unceremoniously dumped Rose balls first onto the same turnbuckle for the decider.
Rose’s antics are always entertaining, but often his heat sequences can feel a bit sparse. Here, when he did get on top, he didn’t do anything that made me feel like Martel was in any real jeopardy, which was disappointing considering that this was a no DQ match. The callback and mirroring of the two fall enders in the second and third was a nice touch and the highlight for me was the tease of Martel pulling Rose’s mask off. They eked that one out as Rose was applying a claw type hold to Martel’s stomach and they got over halfway, revealing the natural dark brown hair Rose had underneath. However, ultimately that reveal would have to wait for another day.

[tcg91]

Much like the Sammartino/Zbyszko cage match, this was a really good match but, as it was the blowoff of a great feud (their loser leaves town was never taped), I was expecting a bit more from them as I loved this series. Portland was hot as usual, Rose's control and Martel's flashiness wee still a joy to watch. I liked the idea of using the No DQ stipulation as just to get them to hit each other harder, but a decisive spot would have been nice. Even the "hairy mask" removal was just teased again and it didn't take place, but most of its heat has gone.
***1/4